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Compiled by the Street Journey Alberta workforce
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 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. Neglect a purple carpet, it’s a lovely white one which welcomes those that come to go to throughout these chilly months!
Learn how to Put together to Go to Banff in Winter
One should be ready to go to Banff in the course of the winter months. Having satisfactory heat clothes, together with jackets, toques, gloves, scarves and ski pants, is a necessity as climate can change rapidly. The chilly can and will likely be excessive at instances (beneath -40 levels Celsius) so examine the climate earlier than you enterprise out.
For those who’re driving to Banff Nationwide Park, be sure you have an emergency automobile equipment ready as roads might be extraordinarily icy. And when you’re venturing out on the Icefields Parkway, it’s obligatory to have your car geared up 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 out of doors winter actions to participate in, together with snow sculpting, dwell 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 pace! SnowDays is a bunch of enjoyable for the entire household
Strive Winter Climbing
Don’t be afraid of climbing in Banff in winter… in reality, some folks favor it over summer season climbing! Banff Nationwide Park has many nice winter hikes; the bottom line is sticking to the better, 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 climbing trails embody Johnston Canyon, Fenland Path, Lake Louise Lakeshore, Fairview Lookout, Tunnel Mountain, and Sulphur Mountain.
We advocate bringing climbing poles and ice cleats on these trails in winter, as they make it a lot simpler if the path is icy. Most of the climbing trails in Banff will also be explored by snowshoes, which is one thing to remember!
Take pleasure in Downhill Snowboarding and Snowboarding
For those who’re visiting Banff in winter, chances are high you like to downhill ski or snowboard. Happily, Banff Nationwide Park has a few of the finest mountains on this planet! Take pleasure in the great 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 stage you’re, there are ski hills in Banff Nationwide Park that can go well with you.
Don’t have your individual skis or snowboard? There are many locations to lease ski tools in Banff Nationwide Park, so there’s no excuse to not strive it in your subsequent go to!
Go Ice Skating
There’s no scarcity of spots to go ice skating in Banff Nationwide Park! One of the iconic locations to ice skate is on Lake Louise itself, as there are additionally ice sculptures and an ice citadel there in your enjoyment. For wild ice skating on frozen lakes – which takes loads of planning and precautions – Lake Minnewanka, Johnson Lake, and Two Jack Lake are all in style 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 when you don’t have your individual 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 without doubt one of the finest instances to go to, as you’ll have your decide of Christmas lights, markets, live shows, purchasing, parades, and extra.
We extremely advocate 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 Lodge.
Go for a Gondola Journey
The Banff Gondola is a implausible strategy to see the majestic Canadian Rockies from a special viewpoint, and it’s some of the in style 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 dwell 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
Positive, we could immediately consider downhill snowboarding on the excessive peaks of the Canadian Rockies once we consider Banff Nationwide Park, however there are some implausible 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 alternative trails to strive all through the Banff and Lake Louise areas.
A few of our favorite cross-country snowboarding trails embody 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 Lodge
Visiting the Banff Springs Lodge in winter is like stepping onto the set of your favorite Christmas film!
Apart from the superb Christmas lights on show on the lodge, the Fairmont Banff Springs has unbelievable eating, purchasing, and spa choices. Often called the “Fort within the Rockies,” the lodge 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 power 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’ll be able to 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, probably the greatest locations to see the Northern Lights in Alberta.
Go Snowshoeing
One in every of our favorite Banff winter actions is snowshoeing. Good for traversing by deep snow, many of the climbing trails in Banff in winter will also be used as snowshoe trails. Undecided the place to start out? You’ll be able to take one of many snowshoe excursions within the park.
We personally love the Johnston Canyon stroll as you possibly can see the frozen waterfalls, however many individuals love Tunnel Mountain and Peyto Lake, too.
Go to the Banff Higher Scorching Springs
We don’t learn about you, however we favor winter scorching springs over summer season! There’s simply one thing further magical about seeing all the steam within the air and experiencing the nice and cozy water in distinction with the chilly climate.
Arguably probably the most well-known scorching springs in Alberta, the Banff Higher Scorching Springs are family-friendly; there’s additionally a present store, café, and a day spa with numerous remedies that embody 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 implausible strategy to loosen up 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 all the time one thing new to see and find out about. Undecided the place to start out? Take a tour! Happily, there are many excursions to strive 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 embody these run by Banff Adventures, the place you’ll find excursions on all the things from mountaineering to helicopter flights and past.
Strive Dogsledding
For those who’re searching for a novel strategy to see Banff in winter, why not strive dogsledding? Discover the gorgeous Canadian Rockies with a workforce of energetic Huskies and a musher (your information) as you zip by 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 might have tried snowboarding or snowboarding in Banff Nationwide Park… however have you ever tried tubing in Banff?! For those who’re searching for one thing enjoyable and thrilling, tubing is without doubt one of the finest issues to do in Banff in winter.
Top-of-the-line locations in Banff to strive it’s at Mount Norquay Ski Resort, the place there’s a complete 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 Scorching Chocolate Path
For those who love scorching chocolate, you’re in luck! Banff has a particular “Scorching Chocolate Path” with over 20 collaborating eating places and cafés to strive, all providing a novel festive-themed scorching chocolate.
Good for a enjoyable winter exercise in Banff – this yr, it’s operating from November seventeenth till December twenty third – take pleasure in all the things from Raspberry Ripple to Banana Bliss to boozy concoctions with Cointreau and Maple Rye!
Strive Fats Biking
Fats biking is a comparatively new exercise to the park, however it’s a good way to expertise Banff within the winter. It is a implausible 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 follow the Banff townsite or enterprise additional afield to one of many trails – the Lake Minnewanka Path, Sundance Path, and Spray East Path are all in style – there are many methods to discover the park on a fats bike. You can even join a fats biking tour. And there’s no have to carry your individual bike, as there’s 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
One of the memorable (and maybe most romantic) of all of the Banff winter actions? Occurring a horse-drawn sleigh journey within the park! There are fairly just a few choices for horse-drawn sleigh rides in Banff Nationwide Park, however we nonetheless advocate reserving your sleigh journey as far prematurely as potential.
Breathe within the contemporary air, take within the views of the Canadian Rockies, and revel in the great thing about this winter wonderland throughout you. You’ll be able to even e book a non-public sleigh journey for an additional particular expertise!
Deal with-yo-Self on the Spa
In any case of these Banff winter actions, you may really feel the necessity to loosen up! 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 open air, particularly within the chilly climate!
Take pleasure in Buying
Let’s face it: typically we want a break from all of the outdoorsy adventures and simply really feel like a purchasing spree! Fortunately, there’s loads of nice purchasing in Banff Nationwide Park, each in downtown Banff and Lake Louise Village.
Stroll alongside Banff Avenue for a wide range of retailers providing all the things from winter gear to souvenirs. In Lake Louise, don’t overlook to take a look at all the 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 nearly 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.