Want To See Banff National Park At Its Best? Try Visiting In Winter

08.03.2024 - 18:48 / forbes.com / National Park

Banff National Park might be one of North America’s top ski destinations, but that doesn’t mean non-skiers should stay away until summertime. In fact, winter is arguably the best time to visit Banff—even if downhill skiing isn’t your thing.

Banff offers a treasure trove of things to do in a picture-perfect winter wonderland. You can snowshoe across iconic Lake Louise in all its icy glory, take a dog sled adventure, explore gentle trails that literally sparkle with fresh snow, and hike to spectacular frozen waterfalls. Trust that a visit to Banff in the winter is worth bundling up and braving the cold—you’ll be rewarded by seeing the park sans the crowds of summer.

Here’s how you can have an unforgettable trip to Banff in the winter—no ski poles required.

One of the top things to do in Banff in the winter is the Johnston Canyon Icewalk. The guides at Discover Banff Tours can outfit you with a pair of ice cleats, then take you into the canyon for a wintry experience you’ll never forget.

You’ll strut along steel catwalks jutting out from the canyon walls, burrow through a tunnel to get an up-close view of a turquoise pool at the Lower Falls, and hear the snow crunch beneath your feet in serene forests filled with towering trees.

The experience culminates at the “Cathedral of Ice” at the Upper Falls—gigantic pillars of glowing bright blue ice that tower nearly 100 feet overhead. You can marvel at the daring ice climbers who brave these pillars as you take a break with a maple cookie and cup of hot chocolate (courtesy of your guide) before heading back to the trailhead.

Even if the idea of zooming down a slope doesn’t thrill you, visiting Banff in the winter might just inspire you to slip on a pair of skis for a cross-country adventure. The experienced (yet laid-back) guides at woman-owned Bikescape will show you the ropes of Nordic skiing and undoubtedly help you fall in love with the sport in a private 2-hour lesson.

Your guide will meet you at Chateau Mountain Sports to get you fitted with gear. Then, you’ll head out on a nearby trail, such as the Spray River West Trail near the Fairmont Banff Springs, to learn the basics on paths dusted with so much glittery snow, it feels like a daytime disco.

The gorgeous scenery serves as motivation to keep practicing on your skis (even if you fall once or twice), as your guide coaches you every step of the way. You’ll take a break on the bank of a crystal clear river with a cup of tea and homemade cookies before heading back to town—only wishing that you had even more time on the trails.

The Fairmont Banff Springs has been showing travelers Banff’s “million dollar view” for more than 135 years. William Cornelius Van Horne, the general manager of the Canadian