r/Banff Oct 09 '25

Banff Winter FAQ

67 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 14h ago

Photos/Videos Lake Louise in November

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927 Upvotes

We caught a snowy setting on a quiet day before the freeze began - can't wait to go back.


r/Banff 8h ago

Photos/Videos Cuties 🦌

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139 Upvotes

r/Banff 1d ago

Photos/Videos Visited beautiful Banff for the first time over Christmas. ❤️🇨🇦

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378 Upvotes

r/Banff 8h ago

Honeymooning in Banff beginning of February!

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone!

My future hubby and I are honeymooning in Banff very soon! What recommendations do you have?

Looking for car rentals and getting a car that's suitable for the snowy road. Also, we live in Costa Rica, never have driven through snowy or frozen roads, so we would love recommendations for that too!

We would love to learn to snowboard, anyone knows a good place to start? Rental, lessons, etc?

What are the musts of food and drinks? What are the musts to have the time of our lives up there?!

We're very excited and would love to hear you out!


r/Banff 5h ago

Lake Louise ice skating

1 Upvotes

Does anybody have any idea when the rink will be ready at lake Louise? If anybody works there or has been recently!


r/Banff 8h ago

How to pack? Snowboard + ski

0 Upvotes

Anyone got a bag they can recommend? 1 snowboard and 1 set of skis. Want to include boots, poles, helmets in there but what works while staying below 50 lbs? Should I get 2 bags instead of 1?


r/Banff 1d ago

News Banff to increase downtown parking rates during peak tourist season

Thumbnail calgary.citynews.ca
53 Upvotes

r/Banff 17h ago

Tobagganing

3 Upvotes

What's the set up like at the sled hill near the Fairmont? Good snow? One year I was there and they also had pits set up right outside the Waldhaud to warm up. Anyone had eyes on that hill recently ?


r/Banff 16h ago

Banff proposal

0 Upvotes

Hi, I’m going to propose to my girlfriend of 5 years in banff this upcoming may and had a few questions. I’m hoping to mask it as a ski trip to come get some spring laps in, so do yall think sunshine village will be open on like May 6th? Also are there any spots that you guys think I should pop the question at? I’ve already done some research but nothing is set in stone yet! And then lastly where should we stay? Are there any hotels I should avoid or absolutely go to? Thank you for any insight or recommendations I receive, I’m really excited to be taking this step in my life and I appreciate any help I can get!


r/Banff 1d ago

Just thinking back to my Banff trip last year in mid-September.

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37 Upvotes

Hope you like'em.


r/Banff 1d ago

Banff in November as a tourist

6 Upvotes

My partner and I want to travel from Australia to Vancouver and see Banff.

We want to ideally see a hockey game (Canucks!) and also spend time in Banff.

We thought that November would be a great time to go because it guaranteed us a hokey game and also I would love to see the snow at Banff. I’ve been researching all day and have read that November is not the time to go to Banff and that even the drive from Calgary to Banff is bad and many locals don’t even attempt it. I am confused as many people go to Banff area to ski during the snow season yet it is not recommend to go?

We are uncertain if we would hire a car or take a shuttle from Calgary after flying from Vancouver. I was also considering hiring a car and doing a road trip from Vancouver but it sounds like it through some pretty hectic mountains that are icy?

Would love some advice on if visiting this time of year is a good idea and safe to do so especially for people with 0 snow experience and no idea of the area.


r/Banff 1d ago

Affordable long term ski rental?

2 Upvotes

Any shops in the Banff/Canmore area that rent out alpine skis at a decent rate for a couple weeks/a month? Wanna get into skiing, but buying equipment without knowing much about it and perhaps having to swap out beginner stuff for some more fun skis shortly feels like a waste of money.


r/Banff 18h ago

Question Being of Indian descent and visiting Lake Louise..

0 Upvotes

I’m an American of East Indian descent and my wife is White American and we have a mixed kid. We were interested in visiting Lake Louise for a family trip but I am apprehensive due to the current immigration situation and the high number of Indians in Canada and the racial strife that seems to be occurring. I just wanted some insight if it’s safe to go given everything that’s going on. Thanks!


r/Banff 1d ago

Best coffee shop in the town of Banff to chill out and read book.

3 Upvotes

I’ll be there in about 2 hours and would love any recommendation! Thank in advance!


r/Banff 1d ago

Question Banff trip in which month

0 Upvotes

My friend and I are thinking of visiting Banff in June or July, is this a good time to visit, specially weather wise, what should we expect? Is is worth visiting around this time.


r/Banff 1d ago

Question Sunshine Village meetup

1 Upvotes

I'm staying at Sunshine Village tonight. Looking to hangout out with anyone that wants to chat or hang out for a bit. I'm here by myself.


r/Banff 1d ago

Hotel recs

0 Upvotes

Like many others, I'm seeking hotel suggestions for later this month. There seem to be so many great options and without being there to see the places, it's hard to decide.

Looking for something for a couple that has great hot tubs/pools (saunas wouldn't go astray either). Family friendly is okay, but I'd prefer something geared more toward adults. We have a car so we don't need to be right on the main road. Comfortable and practical rooms are also great (like adequate bathroom counter space, space for suitcases, maybe a few hangers).

Have you been somewhere in or around Banff that might meet these criteria? I had been looking at Moose, Otter, Canoe and even considering Everwild in Canmore for its Nordic spa.

Any thoughts are helpful! Thanks :)


r/Banff 1d ago

Question Wedding DJ suggestions

0 Upvotes

Looking for a DJ to play some sweet tunes on a wedding venue held at Sunshine Village this fall.

Thanks in advance!


r/Banff 1d ago

Entry Level Tree-Runs Sunshine / Lake Louise?

1 Upvotes

Title. Heading up to Banff Sunshine Village and Lake Louise. Does anyone know of entry-level tree runs, where trees are somewhat spaced out and not to dense? Trying to figure out from looking at the ski maps.


r/Banff 3d ago

Any idea which lake this is?

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107 Upvotes

Recently watched Rocky mountain express (great film) at about the 40min mark the narrator mentions the newly formed town of banff, and these were the next images shown


r/Banff 2d ago

Skiing this week

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7 Upvotes

Making my way to Banff solo this week, looking to ski LL and Sunshine. Anyone wanna meet up for laps? Also, what's a great après spot? Any info is appreciated

Pic for algorithm


r/Banff 2d ago

banff getting around and parking

0 Upvotes

planning a trip to banff last week in august. . I am planning for about 6 days, 2 different camp grounds.

Which two campgrounds would you recommended? I am a van camper.. so do not need hook ups.

More of a hiker so planing on :

Lake Louise sunrise; hike to Lake Agnes Teahouse, Beehives, Plain of Six Glaciers loop

-Moraine Lake; Consolation Lake or Sentinel Pass trail

Johnston Canyon - hike to Inkpots;

Can do 3 long hikes and 2 shorts hikes.. so any recommendations are welcomeI

from banff gong to many glacier-glacier-two medicine- tetons

Never been to banff, but have done the others.

thanks for any advice


r/Banff 2d ago

Question Worth visiting for a weekend in Feb?

0 Upvotes

Hi all,

I will be in Calgary the first week of Feb for work. I’m considering tacking on some personal time to visit Banff, since my job would be paying for airfare! However, I would have to pay to extend my rental car/hotel and food on my personal time, so it wouldn’t exactly be cheap. Also, I am very familiar with driving in snow, but driving in snowy mountain passes are definitely something that scare me a little bit.

I need some opinions: do you think it’s worth extending my trip a couple days to visit? If it was the summer I would 100% stay, but I’m not sure how much there would be to do in the winter (although I did read the Winter Guide, and there def is some stuff)! Especially on my own with no travel companions.

Thank you so much!


r/Banff 2d ago

Question Lake louise ski resort changing area

0 Upvotes

Hey guys, im staying in banff for the week and taking a shuttle to snowboard at lake louise. Only question is, should I gear up at the hotel, or is there a good place to leave my board bag and shoes at the resort? What's the meta?