Banff winter bucket list: 5 amazing places to go & things to do

last updated: October 2023

Frozen lakes, towering mountain ranges, endless pine forests filled with snow… But Banff National Park offers so much more than just breath taking photography. A chance to escape into the wilderness and live an adventure worthy of the ones we dreamt off when we were kids. In fact, a trip to Banff National Park is a bucket list trip filled with bucket list destinations and experiences. A journey of a lifetime for some, or a short plane ride away for others, this quintessential Canadian hot spot is well worthy of its cult status… Let’s explore. 

NO 1.  BANFF WINTER BUCKET LIST: ICECAPADES IN LAKE LOUISE

Starting off with the big hitter, of course, Lake Louise’s must see status is justifiable all year round. In winter, the lake looks completely different than the summer turquoise lagoon photographs you have probably seen online. It is still spectacular though. A frozen treelined wonderland amidst tall, rugged mountains all perfectly encircling the ‘centre stage’. Indeed, the lake’s frozen surface (with plenty of fresh snow on top) is the perfect venue for all sorts of ice capades… ice skating, ice hockey or just leisurely walks… on the ice! 

Don’t let anyone discourage you from visiting Lake Louise because ‘it is too crowded’ or ‘too touristy’. Not sure what happens in the summer, but when we visited in late March, it was busy all right, but we were still able to comfortably appreciate and admire the lake’s jaw dropping beauty. 

You can easily spend the better part of a day in Lake Louise, even in winter. I won’t go into more detail here as this post would get really long but check out my blog post dedicated to our time in Lake Louise. I look back on that day with great fondness and excitement, truly a unique memory… 

READ MORE:

An unforgettable winter’s day in Lake Louise, Canada

NO 2. BANFF WINTER BUCKET LIST: DOG SLEDDING

For me, this was probably THE highlight of a trip filled with highlights, a truly unforgettable experience. Dog sledding is one of the best ways to experience the winter wonderland that is the Canadian wilderness. Furthermore, you also get a glimpse of what life was in arctic and subarctic climates up to a few decades ago and, of course, hang around with cute Canadian huskies. Do you need more? Really? The doggies are not enough? Ok, there’s more. You can drive your own sled if you want to!

SO, WHAT WAS IT LIKE? 

Running through snowy forests where the only sound was the dogs’ running and the muffled gliding of the sled on the fresh snow was simply… mind blowing. I will not forget the moment we came out of the narrow treelined path and into a huge open space; we were gliding on top of a frozen lake! Nothing but ice, my partner and I, our instructor and the doggies! In the distance, we could see the snowy trees along the lake’s shore and on the background, the majestic peaks of the Rockies. We, then, stopped in the middle of the lake in order to admire the incredible scenery; the sound of the sled’s breaks onto the ice was a bit unnerving! 

On route, while chatting with the instructor, we learnt a lot about the Canadian tradition of dog sledding, the doggies, the thickness of the ice on the lake (thinner than I expected!). He also put our minds to rest as to the happiness and wellbeing of the dogs and the quality of their life from when they are puppies until after their retirement from working life. Indeed, the dogs looked healthy and had tons of energy. Our lovely mini-adventure ended with many pats on the doggies’ heads and hot beverages by the fire!  

THE DETAILS

While in the town of Banff, we popped in Discover Banff Tours and booked this 2h dog sledding experience in Spray Lakes. I would definitely recommend it. If you are thinking of taking a shorter one, I would say that it will probably leave you wanting more… I could easily do the longer one as well! 

On the sled, my partner and I switched turns between sitting cosily on the front of the sled or standing in the back, two feet on one of the sled slats, next to the instructor. It is not as easy as it looks! The sled goes fairly fast, so this is a relaxed yet thrilling experience. Driving the sled all by yourself can also be pre-arranged, but you really need to pay attention to the instructions given beforehand! My partner and I quite liked having the instructor with us because we didn’t have to worry about driving the sled and were able to relax and take in the awe-inspiring landscape all around us. And, as I mentioned previously, chatting to him was great. 

Lastly, I should mention that I am not one for organised group fun but this one was nicely done. Even though there were many people at the starting point of the route, once we got on the sled and on our way, there was quite the distance between our sled and the ones before and after. At some instances, we couldn’t see anyone around us. 

TOP TIP -DOG SLEDDING EXPERIENCE

I would definitely recommend wearing water resistant trousers or your ski pants because you can get sprayed with fresh snow on route. You can rent some at the starting point of the route, though, I would say that for a winter trip to Banff you will be needing them anyway. So, make sure to include them in your packing list and wear them on the day! 

NO 3. BANFF WINTER BUCKET LIST: SNOW SPORTS

SKIING & SNOWBOARDING

Banff National Park boasts three world class ski resorts, also known as the ‘Big 3’: Sunshine Village, Lake Louise and Mt. Norquay. During my trip in the Canadian Rockies in late March, my friends and I skied in Sunshine Village and Lake Louise. Our group was quite diverse in relation to skiing ability and, collectively, we have visited several ski resorts worldwide. The verdict, however, was unanimous. It was an incredible experience. The quality of the snow was excellent, the landscape beautiful and the variety and scale of terrain could have kept us going for many more days. 

One of the most notable things about skiing in Banff is the length of the season. In Sunshine village, the seven month ski season stretches from early November until late May. This is the longest non-glacial ski season in Canada. Lake Louise ski resort season is only marginally shorter than that. Mt. Norquay’s ski season spans from November to April. 

I can rumble on about skiing forever but I don’t want to derail this blog post! Check out my dedicated skiing in Banff blog posts for more skiing related tips and guides!

READ MORE:

Skiing the Canadian Rockies: Sunshine & Lake Louise ski resort guides

Skiing the Canadian Rockies: Sunshine & Lake Louise VS the Alps

UNIQUE WINTER ACTIVITIES

Even if you are not a skier / snowboarder, there are so many unique outdoors activities to dive into in Banff National Park. Fun in the snow is not just for kids! Snowshoeing, tobogganing and tubing, cross country skiing, ice hiking and climbing… even ice fishing! Canadians have a winter version for so many of our favourite pastimes, active or relaxed. Make sure to allow a generous amount of time in your itinerary to try out something new! 

Check out the official Banff and Lake Louise tourism website for more details on some of these more… unique endeavours! 

NO 4. BANFF WINTER BUCKET LIST: JOHNSTON CANYON HIKE

During my winter trip to Banff National Park, we spent a lovely morning on the very popular hike in Johnston Canyon. Walking along steel catwalks built into the canyon walls and admiring the airy views into the icy gorge below was super fun. We even passed through natural caves formed by the cascading water inside the rock, and, of course, through snowy treelined terrain all the way to the impressive frozen upper falls. The Johnston Canyon ice walk is an easy hike and an opportunity to admire beautiful bubbling waterfalls turning into ice sculptures in the colder months! 

Starting at the Johnston Canyon parking lot on the Bow Valley Parkway, there are two options for this hike:

• Hike 1.2km (0.75miles) one way to the lower falls.
• Hike 2.5km (1.6miles) one way to the upper falls (includes the lower falls route).

The trail to the lower falls is paved and mostly flat, but not very wide; often less than 1m (3ft). Continuing past the lower falls, the trail becomes narrower and steeper. If you get tired easily, travelling with children or in a bit of a hurry, hike to the lower falls only. You will still be able to see many of the frozen falls the route is famous for. In both cases, you have to go back the way you came from. 

THE DETAILS

We hiked Johnston Canyon through a tour called Johnston Canyon Icewalk. It was interesting to hear the guide talk about the geology and history of the place, and everything was well organised. In my opinion, however, you don’t really need a guide for the hike. The route is quite obvious and there is signage along the way too. Also, there are plenty of people around, so you will have to try really hard to get into some sort of trouble! 

Nevertheless, the same company also organises a night hike in Johnston Canyon which we were really intrigued about! Let me know if you have done it!

Need more information? When it comes hiking, I like checking All Trails.

TOP TIPS -HIKING IN JOHNSTON CANYON DURING WINTER

Although we did see people hiking in random shoes, I would recommend having winter boots with ice cleats attached to them. We visited Banff in late March and there were plenty of ice patches on the hiking trail as well as some fresh snow. In my opinion, this was the hardest thing in the whole hike which would otherwise be really easy. You can rent a pair of ice cleats in one of the many gear shops in the town of Banff. 

NO 5. BANFF WINTER BUCKET LIST: SULPHUR MOUNTAIN & BANFF UPPER HOT SPRINGS

SULPHUR MOUNTAIN

Sulphur Mountain, named for the two sulphurous hot springs found on its slopes, offers awe-inspiring 360-degree views of the rugged mountain range, Bow Valley, and the town of Banff. An 8min ride with the Banff Gondola climbs 698m (2,292ft) to the summit ridge. There you can chill at the observation deck, have lunch at one of the panoramic restaurants or learn more on local geology and history in the visitor’s centre. We particularly liked walking along the boardwalk which gets you to the Cosmic Ray Station and the old Weather Station. Overall, a great way to spend a relaxing morning amidst the mountains.

If you are an experienced hiker, you can hike up to the summit ridge and take the gondola back down! 

BANFF UPPER HOT SPRINGS

In the highest operating natural hot springs in Canada, the thermal waters at Banff Upper Hot Springs travel vertically through the rock layers for over 2,000m (6,500ft). Nestled almost next to the Banff gondola base and after spending our morning amongst the clouds, visiting the Upper Hot Springs took us to even higher levels of relaxation. As if the endless mountain views weren’t enough, the moment we dipped our bodies into the hot water pools… bliss! If only there weren’t that many people in the pool…

Even though the temperature outside was around 0^oC / 32^oF when we visited, we pretty much had to come in and out of the water several times to avoid overheating! Water temperature varies but it is generally around 37-40 ^oC / 98-104 ^oF. 

TOP TIPS -VISITING SULPHUR MOUNTAIN & BANFF UPPER HOT SPRINGS

It is definitely worth visiting these two sites on the same day. If you are not staying in the town of Banff, you can also check out the lively town on the same day. It is just a 10min drive from the centre of Banff to the base of the gondola and the hot springs. 

READ MORE:

Best things to do in the town of Banff, Canada

ABOUT THE ICEFIELDS PARKWAY

The 232km (144miles) stretch of double lane highway linking Lake Louise to Jasper is one of the most epic drives in the world. The road known as Icefields Parkway (part of Highway 93) is surrounded by year-round glaciers and features many iconic sights. During the colder months, snow covered trails entice you to pull over and snowshoe or ski to stunning spots such as the lookout point to Peyto Lake. 

It takes 3 hours to drive from Lake Louise to Jasper town (or vice versa) on the Icefields Parkway. However, with all the sights along the way you should allow for a day to cover the route as well as spending the night in Jasper. Accommodation along the Icefields Parkway is limited. So, if you are planning to extend your itinerary to include Jasper National Park, driving on the Icefields Parkway is an absolute must! If, however, you are primarily visiting Banff National Park then make sure you have allowed for enough days to explore all that Banff has to offer before venturing further away. Visiting Banff National Park is a proper trip on its own right, as tempting as it is to include all of Alberta in it!

I did not explore Icefields Parkway myself because we had too much fun exploring Banff, and this was also a ski trip for us… It’s on my list though! In the meantime, head over the official Icefields Parkway website for more information. 

READ MORE:

12-day Banff winter wonderland itinerary: Ski & see the best

AND WHAT ABOUT LAKE MORAINE?

You have probably heard of Moraine Lake already, and you may be wondering how come it has not made the top 5? Well, visiting Banff National Park during the colder months has one disadvantage. You can’t witness the beauty of Moraine Lake. During winter, the road is used as a skiing trail and the lake itself is inaccessible due to avalanche hazard. The road to the lake opens mid-May and closes in mid-October; exact dates depend on snow conditions. One for your summer trip to the Rockies! 

USEFUL RESOURCES 

Feeling the wanderlust? Ready to plan your trip? Make sure you head over to the rest of my Banff blogs for practical information such as winter weather and local climate, information about the Banff National Park Pass and more. 

READ MORE:

Banff National Park in winter & early spring: 7 things you need to know

Travelling to Banff, Canada in March: Why go & what to expect

FINAL THOUGHTS

A winter trip to Banff National Park certainly fulfilled many of my winter fantasies and daydreams. Even a few I didn’t know I had! Dog sledding through snowy forests, check. Walking on ice, check. Skiing in Canada, check. Swimming in an external hot water pool in arctic temperatures, check. The list goes on. This is the land that dreams are made of, so don’t delay. Time for a winter adventure.