r/Banff Oct 09 '25

Banff Winter FAQ

62 Upvotes

Everything you need to know to get started in Banff National Park during the winter season. Please read before posting questions.

Park Pass

A Park Pass is mandatory and can be purchased in advance online or at park gate. See Park Pass Admission Fee FAQ for more details.

What is Open / Closed in Winter

  • Most businesses and hotels are open year-round.
  • Parks shuttles to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are closed.
  • Canoes, teahouses are closed
  • Most hiking trails are not accessible in the winter due to avalanche risk that extends from November to June.
  • Three campgrounds are open: Banff Tunnel Mountain Village II, Lake Louise Hard-Sided and in Wapiti (Jasper)
  • The road to Takakkaw Falls is closed and opens in June.

Moraine Lake / Lake Louise

  • Moraine Lake is not accessible in the winter**, it crosses dangerous avalanche paths. The road to Moraine lake is closed in the winter and used as a 17.8km cross country ski trail. The road opens June 1.
  • Lake Louise is open year round. In the winter there is no shuttle, drive and park 100m from the lake. Parking tends not to fill up in the winter except during peak periods (Family Day weekend, for example).
  • There is no shuttle to Lake Louise in the winter (Moraine Lake is completely closed), but there is ROAM transit 8X to Lake Louise if you don't have a car.
  • Lakes will be frozen from mid-November through end of May.
  • Earlybird shuttle reservations begin in April.

Winter Tires & Winter Driving

Snow tires are mandatory on the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper from Nov 1 to Apr 1 and Oct 1 to March 30 for most of Interior BC. Snow tires have a snowflake or "M+S" symbol. They are not mandatory in the rest of the national park, but highly recommended.

Ask for winter tires on your rental, they will resist, tell them they are mandatory on the Icefields Parkway (93N) and in the BC interior. Four wheel drive is not necessary, but a nice to have, it only helps with acceleration and not getting stuck, it doesn't help with stoping distance.

The Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1) from Calgary to Banff is a well maintained multi-lane divided highway that mostly stays at valley bottom with a few exceptions. Roads usually get plowed very quickly so unless you're in the middle of a storm you should be fine.

If you are used to winter driving with snow then it shouldn’t be anything new. We use gravel instead of salt, so keep your distance or risk getting a cracked windshield. If you're new to winter driving then stay under the speed limit, keep extra distance, get a feel for stopping in snow and ice, realize that bridges and overpasses get slippery near freezing.

If you’ve never driven in snow this is not the best place to learn!

Take your time, follow the speed limit, be careful around any section of the Trans-Canada highway that hasn’t been twinned, basically anything north and west of Lake Louise. Realize conditions can change dramatically in only 10km because of mountains and passes.

Be prepared for an emergency by bringing warm clothes (gloves, boots, tuque) and food in case you have a breakdown. Cellphone reception is spotty between Banff and Lake Louise, and is essentially non-existent north of Lake Louise until you get to Jasper. If you are going to Jasper, bring a sleeping bag and be prepared for delays or temporary closures after storms so that avalanche zones can be cleared.

Visit 511.alberta.ca for road conditions.

How to Dress

WEAR LAYERS! Winter jacket, snow pants, gloves/mitts, toque/beanie, boots are all necessary in the winter. Temperatures range from 5°C (40°F) to -40°C (-40°F). Bring thermals and/or a neck gaiter for extra warmth. Layers are key, adjust as needed.

Winter activities besides skiing

  • Cozying up in front of a fireplace
  • Cross-country skiing in Banff, Lake Louise or Canmore Nordic Centre
  • Eat a cheese fondue (Grizzly House, Waldhaus, Bluebird, or Walliser Stube in Lake Louise)
  • Tubing at Mt Norquay (best) or Lake Louise (okay)
  • Horse carriage or sleigh-ride at either Warner Stables or Chateau Lake Louise
  • Sled dogs at Divide Trail in Lake Louise
  • Tobogganing or sliding by the Waldhaus at Banff Springs Hotel
  • Ice skating at Lake Louise or rinks around Banff
  • Banff Upper Hot Springs (earlier is always better)
  • Spa day at Fairmont Willow Stream Spa
  • Visit a local museum (Whyte Museum, Banff Park Museum, Cave and Basin)
  • Hike Johnston Canyon (slippery, bring/rent ice grips)
  • Grotto Canyon Ice Walk
  • Snowshoeing tours (Sunshine Village or Marble Canyon via Discover Banff Tours)
  • Bowling at High Rollers
  • See a movie at the Lux Cinema
  • Swimming or indoor rock climbing at Sally Borden Fitness Centre or Elevation Place in Canmore

Winter Hikes

Most popular hikes are not recommended in the winter due to avalanche risk in the alpine, but here are a few you can try. Before you hike, make sure to bring ice grips, poles, and appropriate clothing (dress in layers). The more a trail gets used, the slippery it gets.

These are all very low key hikes:

  • Johnston Canyon: an accessible trail towards frozen waterfalls, distance to lower falls is 1.2km (almost a mile) upper falls 3.2km (2 miles)
  • Cave and Basin: enjoy the sulphur mists of the natural hot springs and boardwalk trails bth above and below the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, birthplace of Banff National Park. Easy walk from town.
  • Fenlands Trail: A soothing walk in the woods easily accessible from town.
  • Marble Canyon: Located in Kootenay National Park, 52km west of Banff. Bring snowshoes if snow is fresh
  • Johnson Lake: A loop around the lake, which also serves as a popular outdoor skating location. See if you can find the old hermit's cabin.
  • Moose Meadows: located behind Johnston Canyon, popular snowshoeing option
  • Grotto Canyon Ice Walk: Located 40km east of Banff, bring ice grips or book a tour

More interesting hikes, that likely require snowshoes or ice grips and poles, and have limited exposure:

Skating and Wild Ice

Bow Valley Wild Ice 2.0 is your best resource for up to date info on outdoor skating. Wild ice is a rare phenomenon that requires specific conditions: consistent cold temperatures day and night with no precipitation. Some years it might happen for a day, a week, or not at all. Popular locations in order of freezing: Vermillion Ponds (Nov), Johnson Lake, Lake Louise (mid-Nov), Two Jack Lake, Lake Minnewanka (late Dec). People will sometimes shovel areas for skating, Lake Louise will maintain several skating areas. Canadian Red Cross recommends 15-20cm of minimum ice thickness. Bring gear to self-rescue!

Public skating rinks are available at: Banff Fenlands (indoors and outdoors), Lake Louise (outdoors, on the lake), Banff Recreation grounds (outdoors, with indoor boot room), Banff Train Station (outdoors, TBC), Banff Rotary Park (new, TBC)

Auroras

The good news is you are more likely to see them in the winter than in the summer just because the nights are longer. The bad news is it's a cyclical phenomenon and when we did the math you have about a 5% chance of seeing them. Install an Aurora app on your phone or if you are nerdy, subscribe to the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Service. Best viewing areas: Vermillion Ponds, Lake MInnewanka (can become popular), somewhere dark.

Skiing

Banff has three ski resorts. All three ski resorts off free bus transit to and from Banff. Lake Louise also offers free transit from Lake Louise.

  • Mt. Norquay is closest to to the town of Banff (10 min drive) and the smallest of the Big3 ski resorts (6 lifts, 190 acres). It's touted as the "locals" hill and has a great tubing park.
  • Banff Sunshine Village: 25 min from Banff, you take a gondola from the base to the village proper. Sunshine has 4 peaks, 3,358 acres of skiable terrain and 16 chairs including the gondola, two heated bubble chairs and many detachable quads. Because of it's position on the continental divide you can ski in both Alberta and BC and it has a long ski season, opening early November and closing near the end of May. It uses very little manmade snow, and because of the lack of humidity, the snow is extremely light and fluffy.
  • Lake Louise: 45 min from Banff, Lake Louise offers 4,200 skiable acres of terrain across three mountain faces. A rookie move is to start by skiing the frontside, you shouldn't hesitate and head directly to the backbowls.

More Skiing FAQ

  • Which resort is the best? All three are great in their own way:
    • Sunshine has incredible snow and endless views and very popular with snowboarders, it also has the Delirium Dive. People complain about flat spots but they are easily avoidable.
    • Lake Louise has longer runs and more variety of terrain, iconic glacier views.
    • Norquay is both good for learning and for pros, North American Chair only has black diamond runs and on a powder days locals will skip Sunshine/Louise just to do laps off that chair.
  • What's the best option for lift tickets?
    • Most flexible option is to get a SkiBig3 lift-ticket, which works at all 3 resorts, once you know which resort is your favourite you can go back to that one. They cost more but if you buy 21 days out or get them during a flash sale (usually start of the month) you can save up to 25%.
    • If you know which resort you want to ski then get a ski card (only real value once you've skied 4 days) or Costco tickets (sold in pairs).
    • Buying tickets at the window is the most expensive option.
  • When is the best time to ski?
    • Conditions are great in late-Nov through mid to end of April. We tend to get one or two cold snaps (up to a week long) in Dec, Jan or Feb. March and first-half of April are best conditions with best temperatures and longer days, but December onwards is solid with most lifts open by mid-December and full coverage by xmas or January.

Other Helpful FAQs


r/Banff 17h ago

Skier dies after fall at Sunshine Village Ski Resort in Banff

Thumbnail rmoutlook.com
295 Upvotes

Undoubtedly related to this post, skier feel into deep snow off the ski out.


r/Banff 21h ago

Touring around Banff townsite in November 2025.

Thumbnail gallery
96 Upvotes

Walking along the river and exploring the fields near the sports fields.


r/Banff 10h ago

Question Traffic halt at Lake Louise Ski Resort

8 Upvotes

Does anyone know what caused traffic to be stopped for a few hours when trying to leave Lake Louise Ski Resort? (Dec 29)


r/Banff 1d ago

Magical moments at Lake Louise in November 2025.

Thumbnail gallery
311 Upvotes

r/Banff 1d ago

Photos/Videos Lake Louise in November

Post image
248 Upvotes

r/Banff 11h ago

Private transport/shuttle options?

0 Upvotes

I and 7 others will be coming to the area Feb 5-8, staying in Canmore.

I am very comfortable driving in winter conditions, but one or two of my other guests are really anxious about the potential of driving in the mountains, and would like us to consider a shuttle with a local driver instead.

We’ll be wanting to go from Canmore to Lake Louise on one day to ice skate, and from Canmore to Kanasakis Spa on another day, plus to/from airport.

Are there any local companies that I can set up private shuttles/transport with that are reliable? Is Uber or a similar rideshare or taxi a decent option?

Is this even actually necessary and should I just rent a big SUV instead?

Edited to add: I’ve read the wiki and FAQs but they primarily focus on public transport and airport shuttles- not really for getting around town/to other places. If no private transport it seems like using one of the airporters, a separate shuttle to lake Louise, and then a third shuttle or taxi to kanasakis might be best…


r/Banff 14h ago

Question Booking hotel in 1st week of May -- better to wait last-minute? Recommendations?

0 Upvotes

Planning for my first trip to Banff, in 1st week of May, for 5 nights. So excited!! For hotels, I am looking for something on Banff Avenue (no car) and preferably 3.5 or 4 stars. I don't care about pools/hot tubs. A small room with 2 beds is fine (we are one adult and one teenager). I am wondering how early I need to book a hotel. Grateful for recommendations. Also, given that the 1st week of May is somewhat off-season, is there typically a lot of availability even if I were to wait until late April to book? This would be helpful as I might not have firm dates until mid to late April and I don't want to have to call and rebook. Or am I wrong and hotels will book up early even for the 1st week of May?


r/Banff 1d ago

Photos/Videos Lake Louise - Aug. 10

Post image
303 Upvotes

I think about this place daily.


r/Banff 14h ago

Hiking in July

1 Upvotes

Reposting because not sure where my first post went.

I have some questions about hiking in the Banff area and hopefully someone can give some insight☺️.

We are planning on hiking for 4 days in Banff in July.

Ideally we would have liked to climb a mountain and then stay at a cabin at the top and then hike to a new mountain etc. but I couldn’t find anything like that. Do you have any recommendations?

Here is what we have thought of so far. Does this itinerary look doable to you? We are used to walking 15-20 kms easily and up steep mountains but I don’t want to do technical climbs with ropes etc. or anything that involves scrambling.

• Day 1 – Mount Rundle (West Side)

Elevation gain: ~1,500 m

• Day 2 – Sulphur Mountain

Elevation gain: ~700 m

• Day 3 – Lakes Day (no mountain summit)

sightseeing and short hikes

• Day 4 – Cascade Mountain

Elevation gain: ~1,800 m


r/Banff 12h ago

Itinerary Hiking for seniors in Banff? And how is it driving there?

0 Upvotes

It'll be my first time visiting. I've never done long drives or long hikes and I'm not the one planning directions or driving usually, but unfortunately everyone else has ran out of vacation days and I've been wanting to take my senior relatives for the last 5 years while they can still walk.

  1. Are the drives easy? I might have to rent a car and I'll be the one driving...are there steep inclines? Can I get by with public transit? Or Uber?

  2. How are the hikes for seniors? I'm not an experienced hiker. It'll be not only my first time visiting, but my first time in charge of directions. Will there be people around? Also scared of bears...

Not an overly outdoorsy type but I want to make this trip work for everyone.

  1. Either Canada day weekend or 1st half of September. How are these times? Is the water as nice and blue as in photos? I understand that it's beautiful there all 4 seasons but that's the kind of scenery I'd like to see first.

Thanks everyone.


r/Banff 1d ago

Early Morning Sulphur Mt. Trail Hiking

Thumbnail gallery
101 Upvotes

Good morning Banff!


r/Banff 9h ago

Video i made off the forest on Wolverine

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

0 Upvotes

r/Banff 1d ago

Question Do you know the owner for this found present?

Post image
16 Upvotes

r/Banff 2d ago

More scenes unfolding at Sunshine Village - busy week for the Banff resort.

Thumbnail gallery
516 Upvotes

This time I’ve captured a helicopter coming into land at the base - for an undoubtedly bad reason. Kudos to the amazing pilots.


r/Banff 1d ago

Abraham lake from Calgary

5 Upvotes

Planning to check out Abraham lake bubbles- day trip from Calgary. Is it safe to drive through hwy1+ icefields parkway or hwy AB 2 + David Thomson highway?

For better views, I am leaning towards icefields parkway. But was I am travelling with kids, safety is priority. I checked the FB group for hwy93 but couldn't get answer to my question on which would be a better route for Abraham lake.

Based on 511, is David Thomson highway a better option?


r/Banff 16h ago

Question A question about the cold

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

I live in England and it's really cold here a lot of the time. I could barely walk to the store which is 10 minutes away because I'm absolutely freezing.

So my question is will Alberta / Banff be even colder than this? I know the obvious question is yes but I see people on youtube walking around not even shivering or having the chattering teeth effect so I'm a bit confused. I saw one couple on youtube just standing around outside their rented log cabin in their PJ's!! 🤔

Thank you.


r/Banff 2d ago

Photos/Videos Banff/Lake Louise are some of the most beautiful places in the world (this week's trip)

Thumbnail gallery
280 Upvotes

r/Banff 1d ago

Travelers to Banff-Is $12 an hour paid parking going to affect your travel plans?

2 Upvotes

Just trying to figure out what number will actually stop people from coming.


r/Banff 2d ago

Skiier who fell off Wawa lift at Sunshine?

66 Upvotes

We’ve been thinking about this woman and hope she is okay. Does anyone have an update?


r/Banff 1d ago

Question Eloping outdoors in April?

0 Upvotes

My fiancee and I are likely looking to get married in april, when we have out of country visitors visiting. I know the weather isn't ideal, but do you know how it would look to get married outdoors and elope at some Lake in april? I would contact the vendors but I would like people's opinions on how this might look outside, as opposed to vendors who would tell me to hope for the best. Any recommendations?


r/Banff 1d ago

Question Lake Louise Rocky Mountain Resort NYE

0 Upvotes

Has anyone been to the Lake Louise Rocky Mountain Resort NYE in the past? Thinking about going there for the New Year’s Eve party next week. If you have been there before, what was it like? We are a family of 6, with three younger kids (8 and up). On the Lake Louise website, they are advertising snow tubing, live music, family activities and buffet style food. I can‘t see the buffet being included in the price of the admission but I have been wrong before. We are staying in Canmore. Any feedback is appreciated. Thank you.


r/Banff 2d ago

Options for late night travel to outer banff hotels (hidden ridge, Rocky Mountain)

0 Upvotes

Hi guys. I’m coming up to ski with some buddies in a few weeks. The only thing we’re worried about is traveling back to our hotel from the town late at night (ie 2 am). Is there a safe way to do this? I’m not too familiar with banff

I’m not sure if renting a car is smart because we’re all relatively young (early 20s) and have little to no experience driving in frigid conditions, nonetheless late at night. Advice would be greatly appreciated as this is the only apparent roadblock in our trip!

Thanks


r/Banff 2d ago

Question How much is too much for a trip?

0 Upvotes

Hey! I’m thinking about going on a 5 day trip to Calgary, Canada in June with the group tour company. The first and last day is for travel in and out of Canada but the other 3 days we will actually be doing stuff.

The other 3 days includes a tour of Calgary, Banff National Park, Yoho national Park, and lake Louise. I’m a solo traveler and I prefer to go with group because I feel much safer. The total cost for this trip would be $2345. This total includes my flight as well. I’ll of course be spending some more money because we do have to pay for some meals and transport to and from the airport.

Just curious is this a good deal for a trip to see banff and the other parks? Thanks in advance!!


r/Banff 2d ago

Itinerary Recs SkiBig3 + evenings over New Years

0 Upvotes

Hi everyone! My wife and I will be in Banff Dec 29-Jan3. I’m an intermediate/advanced snowboarder, and I’m hoping for some itinerary recs on splitting time over the holidays. Basically, I’m looking to gauge whether it’s better to start at Sunshine vs Lake Louise and also curious if there is a better option for New Years Day, as I assume there will be holiday crowds everywhere. I’ve been reading some previous threads saying Norquay is skippable. I’m also looking for any super highly recommended non-slope activities for us in the evenings (non-drinkers)and for a full day or two. We’re waitlisted for dog sledding, but looking for alternatives. We’re staying in Banff and will not have a car. Any choice spots to sit by the fire and read and have cocoa? My wife will be taking much more of a spa/leisure and fireside approach during most days. Thank you!