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Compiled by the Street Journey Alberta staff
Final up to date on January 14, 2024
In Banff, Alberta, winter wraps itself across the city with a frosty white embrace. Bundled up like marshmallows, guests waddle by means of the streets, having fun with the diminished crowds and the winter wonderland ambiance. The mountains are draped in white fluffy powder, and lights twinkle all through city like stars. That is Banff in winter…and it’s a magical place to go to with a lot to see and expertise. Overlook a purple carpet, it’s a ravishing white one which welcomes those that come to go to throughout these chilly months!
Tips on how to Put together to Go to Banff in Winter
One have to be ready to go to Banff through the winter months. Having enough heat clothes, together with jackets, toques, gloves, scarves and ski pants, is a necessity as climate can change rapidly. The chilly can and will probably be excessive at occasions (under -40 levels Celsius) so test the climate earlier than you enterprise out.
Should you’re driving to Banff Nationwide Park, you’ll want to have an emergency automobile package ready as roads might be extraordinarily icy. And should you’re venturing out on the Icefields Parkway, it’s necessary to have your car outfitted with winter tires or chains.
Issues to Do in Banff in Winter
Banff SnowDays
Banff and Lake Louise are rocking each January for just a few weeks with the annual SnowDays celebration. There are PLENTY of outside winter actions to participate in, together with snow sculpting, stay leisure within the streets, dogsledding, a winter carnival, plus far more!
And don’t miss the thrilling occasion of skijoring as horses pull skiers down the streets of Banff at full velocity! SnowDays is a bunch of enjoyable for the entire household
Attempt Winter Mountain climbing
Don’t be afraid of mountaineering in Banff in winter… the truth is, some folks favor it over summer season mountaineering! Banff Nationwide Park has many nice winter hikes; the bottom line is sticking to the simpler, extra accessible trails, as you don’t need to put your self at risk by straying too far within the snow. A few of our favorite winter mountaineering trails embrace Johnston Canyon, Fenland Path, Lake Louise Lakeshore, Fairview Lookout, Tunnel Mountain, and Sulphur Mountain.
We suggest bringing mountaineering poles and ice cleats on these trails in winter, as they make it a lot simpler if the path is icy. Most of the mountaineering trails in Banff may also be explored by snowshoes, which is one thing to remember!
Get pleasure from Downhill Snowboarding and Snowboarding
Should you’re visiting Banff in winter, likelihood is you like to downhill ski or snowboard. Thankfully, Banff Nationwide Park has a few of the finest mountains on this planet! Get pleasure from the fantastic thing about the snow-capped mountains in all their glory in winter. With one of many longest ski seasons in North America, you’re spoiled for choices; select from Mount Norquay, Banff Sunshine Village, and the Lake Louise Ski Space, which mixed provide you with over 8,000 acres of terrain. It doesn’t matter what degree you’re, there are ski hills in Banff Nationwide Park that can go well with you.
Don’t have your personal skis or snowboard? There are many locations to lease ski tools in Banff Nationwide Park, so there’s no excuse to not attempt it in your subsequent go to!
Go Ice Skating
There’s no scarcity of spots to go ice skating in Banff Nationwide Park! Probably the most iconic locations to ice skate is on Lake Louise itself, as there are additionally ice sculptures and an ice fortress there in your enjoyment. For wild ice skating on frozen lakes – which takes quite a lot of planning and precautions – Lake Minnewanka, Johnson Lake, and Two Jack Lake are all well-liked choices.
If you wish to go ice skating on a maintained rink, go to the Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre, the Prepare Station in Banff city, or the Lake Louise Recreation Centre for an indoor rink. And don’t fear should you don’t have your personal ice skates, as there are many locations to lease them round Banff and Lake Louise!
Expertise Christmas
Is there something extra magical than experiencing Christmas in a winter wonderland like Banff? Christmas in Banff is among the finest occasions to go to, as you’ll have your decide of Christmas lights, markets, live shows, procuring, parades, and extra.
We extremely suggest visiting the Cascade of Time Backyard in Banff for an interactive vacation expertise, the Banff Christmas Market, and seeing the lights on the Banff Springs Resort.
Go for a Gondola Journey
The Banff Gondola is a incredible method to see the majestic Canadian Rockies from a distinct viewpoint, and it’s some of the well-liked issues to do in Banff within the winter.
Take the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain for unparalleled views and enjoyable choices on the high, together with an interpretive centre with eating choices, 360-degree views, and even the occasional stay occasion. Discovered not removed from downtown Banff, the Banff Gondola is simply as stunning in winter as it’s in summer season.
Go Cross-Nation Snowboarding
Certain, we could immediately consider downhill snowboarding on the excessive peaks of the Canadian Rockies once we consider Banff Nationwide Park, however there are some incredible cross-country snowboarding trails within the park, too! There are scenic track-set and skate snowboarding choices in Banff, and also you’ll discover many various trails to attempt all through the Banff and Lake Louise areas.
A few of our favorite cross-country snowboarding trails embrace the Tunnel Mountain River Trails, the Spray River West Path, the Lake Louise Loop, the Bow River Loop, and Moraine Lake Street.
Expertise the Banff Springs Resort
Visiting the Banff Springs Resort in winter is like stepping onto the set of your favorite Christmas film!
Apart from the superb Christmas lights on show on the resort, the Fairmont Banff Springs has unimaginable eating, procuring, and spa choices. Often known as the “Fort within the Rockies,” the resort makes for a photogenic and memorable cease throughout your journey to Banff Nationwide Park.
See the Northern Lights
One of many advantages of visiting Banff in winter is the flexibility to see the Northern Lights. Shining their brightest from December till February, the Aurora Borealis dance their manner throughout the Alberta skies in shades of inexperienced, blue, and even purple!
You possibly can take a Northern Lights tour or attempt to catch them by yourself; your finest wager to see them is on a transparent night time. There’s additionally the close by Darkish Skies Protect in Jasper, among the finest locations to see the Northern Lights in Alberta.
Go Snowshoeing
One in all our favorite Banff winter actions is snowshoeing. Good for traversing by means of deep snow, many of the mountaineering trails in Banff in winter may also be used as snowshoe trails. Unsure the place to start out? You possibly can take one of many snowshoe excursions within the park.
We personally love the Johnston Canyon stroll as you may see the frozen waterfalls, however many individuals love Tunnel Mountain and Peyto Lake, too.
Go to the Banff Higher Sizzling Springs
We don’t find out about you, however we favor winter sizzling springs over summer season! There’s simply one thing additional magical about seeing the entire steam within the air and experiencing the nice and cozy water in distinction with the chilly climate.
Arguably essentially the most well-known sizzling springs in Alberta, the Banff Higher Sizzling Springs are family-friendly; there’s additionally a present store, café, and a day spa with numerous therapies that embrace therapeutic massage, steam rooms, and aromatherapy, so your time right here can take the higher a part of the day. Discovered close to the Banff Gondola, the recent springs are a incredible method to calm down and unwind on a wintry day.
Take a Tour
Whether or not it’s your first time to the Canadian Rocky Mountains or your hundredth, there’s at all times one thing new to see and find out about. Unsure the place to start out? Take a tour! Thankfully, there are many excursions to attempt in winter in Banff; we love relinquishing all accountability to a tour firm and never having to fret about driving, parking, or the place to go.
A few of our favorite winter excursions in Banff embrace these run by Banff Adventures, the place you will discover excursions on the whole lot from mountaineering to helicopter flights and past.
Attempt Dogsledding
Should you’re in search of a novel method to see Banff in winter, why not attempt dogsledding? Discover the gorgeous Canadian Rockies with a staff of energetic Huskies and a musher (your information) as you zip by means of the panorama such as you by no means have earlier than.
Our suggestion is Kingmik Canine Sled Excursions, which has operated in Banff since 1982.
Go Tubing
You’ll have tried snowboarding or snowboarding in Banff Nationwide Park… however have you ever tried tubing in Banff?! Should you’re in search of one thing enjoyable and thrilling, tubing is among the finest issues to do in Banff in winter.
Among the finest locations in Banff to attempt it’s at Mount Norquay Ski Resort, the place there’s a whole tube park devoted to the exercise. Journey down Alberta’s longest tube lanes on an inflatable tube for a snowy exercise you’ll always remember.
Indulge within the Sizzling Chocolate Path
Should you love sizzling chocolate, you’re in luck! Banff has a particular “Sizzling Chocolate Path” with over 20 collaborating eating places and cafés to attempt, all providing a novel festive-themed sizzling chocolate.
Good for a enjoyable winter exercise in Banff – this yr, it’s operating from November seventeenth till December twenty third – take pleasure in the whole lot from Raspberry Ripple to Banana Bliss to boozy concoctions with Cointreau and Maple Rye!
Attempt Fats Biking
Fats biking is a comparatively new exercise to the park, however it’s an effective way to expertise Banff within the winter. It is a incredible manner for avid cyclists to maintain up their passion, even when the snow falls, however newbies love this distinctive exercise, too!
Whether or not you persist with the Banff townsite or enterprise additional afield to one of many trails – the Lake Minnewanka Path, Sundance Path, and Spray East Path are all well-liked – there are many methods to discover the park on a fats bike. You may also join a fats biking tour. And there’s no must convey your personal bike, as there may be a lot to lease in Banff!
Go to Lake Louise
Seeing Lake Louise in winter is a should. Whether or not you’re skating on the frozen lake, popping into the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, having fun with the Lake Louise Ski Space, or wandering across the village, don’t miss out on visiting this a part of Banff Nationwide Park.
Whereas many guests to the park keep in downtown Banff, you might simply spend many days exploring all that Lake Louise has to supply… and it’s solely a brief drive away from the Banff townsite! Snowshoe, ski, skate, hike, store, eat… Lake Louise in winter actually has all of it.
Get Cozy on a Sleigh Journey
Probably the most memorable (and maybe most romantic) of all of the Banff winter actions? Occurring a horse-drawn sleigh trip within the park! There are fairly just a few choices for horse-drawn sleigh rides in Banff Nationwide Park, however we nonetheless suggest reserving your sleigh trip as far prematurely as doable.
Breathe within the recent air, take within the views of the Canadian Rockies, and luxuriate in the fantastic thing about this winter wonderland throughout you. You possibly can even guide a non-public sleigh trip for an additional particular expertise!
Deal with-yo-Self on the Spa
In spite of everything of these Banff winter actions, you would possibly really feel the necessity to calm down! Fortunately, Banff Nationwide Park is dwelling to fairly just a few wonderful spas. Each the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and the Fairmont Banff Springs are standouts, however there’s additionally Cedar and Sage Co. Spa, Meadow Spa and Swimming pools, Bliss Valley Therapeutic massage and Wellness, and plenty of extra, most of which might be discovered within the city of Banff.
There’s nothing like a little bit of relaxation and rejuvenation after a protracted day of being outdoor, particularly within the chilly climate!
Get pleasure from Purchasing
Let’s face it: typically we want a break from all of the outdoorsy adventures and simply really feel like a procuring spree! Fortunately, there may be quite a lot of nice procuring in Banff Nationwide Park, each in downtown Banff and Lake Louise Village.
Stroll alongside Banff Avenue for quite a lot of retailers providing the whole lot from winter gear to souvenirs. In Lake Louise, don’t overlook to take a look at the entire retailers on the grand Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
Dalene Heck is a co-founder of Street Journey Alberta. She was born in Edmonton, grew up within the Peace Nation, and has ventured to virtually each nook of Alberta and the world (she’s travelled to 60 international locations)! She is a serial blogger, the CEO of HMI Advertising and marketing, co-creator of the Journey Chaser card sport, a leukemia-slayer, and cat whisperer.
