Banff in Winter – 14 Banff Winter Activities

Why Visit Banff in Winter?

Banff is one of the most beautiful alpine towns in Canada, with wooden chalet style buildings set against a backdrop of towering snowy mountains. I visited Banff in winter as a non-skier, and was a little concerned that, while pretty, my options for Banff winter activities might be somewhat limited. However, I’m pleased to report that there’s plenty of things to do in Banff in winter for snow bunnies and non-skiers alike.

Visit Banff in winter to experience a true winter wonderland, from scenic drives to winter hikes and frozen lakes and waterfalls. If you’re too chilly in the great outdoors, warm up from the outside at the Banff hot springs or from the inside with apres-ski drinks.

Once you’ve discovered what to do in Banff in winter, find out how to combine these Banff activities into your Banff itinerary.

Things To Do In Banff In Winter

The best things to do in Banff in winter centre around Banff’s incredible mountain and lake landscapes. Even better, most of the outdoor activities are free!

But don’t worry, if you’re more of an indoorsy type, you can still make the most of the stunning scenery from the comfort of your car, or park up beside a cosy fireplace with a warm glass of mulled wine.

Banff Winter Activities – Scenic Drives and Viewpoints

1. Drive the Scenic Bow Valley Parkway

The Canadian Rockies have some of the most scenic drives in the world. (Yes, the ENTIRE world.) The most beautiful drive close to Banff is the scenic Bow Valley Parkway Highway 1A.

The Bow Valley Parkway is a 51km stretch of road that winds through the valley below the Banff mountains, skirting alongside the Bow River with various picnic spots and hiking trails along the way.

If you’re on a longer vacay, make a road trip of it and take the even more picturesque but slightly further afield Icefields Parkway to Jasper. We drove this road in summer, and words or even pictures just can’t do it justice.

I’m from New Zealand, and I often say that Canada is the only country I’ve visited to date with natural beauty to rival NZ. The soaring mountains and icy blue lakes around Banff remind me of a larger scale version of New Zealand’s incredibly beautiful South Island.

Where: The Bow Valley Parkway is Highway 1A, which starts around 5km west of Banff off the main Highway 1, and ends at Lake Louise.

Cost: Free!

2. Vermilion Lakes Scenic Drive

Vermilion Lakes is a series of picturesque lakes and marshlands framed by the statuesque Mount Rundle and Sulphur Mountain. The scenic drive is around 4km one way. You can’t drive around the entire lake, and need to turn back and return the way you came. Good thing it’s a rather gorgeous drive!

You can also walk the Fenland Trailhead, a 2km loop through the marshlands at the start of Vermilion Lakes. Keep your peepers open, as you may be lucky enough to spot some of Canada’s wildlife around the Vermilion Lakes like moose, elk and beavers.

Where: The Vermillion Lakes are 2.4km west of Banff, and are easily accessible by walking, cycling or driving.

Cost: Free

3. Surprise Corner Viewpoint 

Surprise Corner Viewpoint is a scenic viewpoint with views over Bow Valley and the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel (see photo under 9 below).

You can also take hikes from the viewpoint, including the Hoodoo Trail (see 5 below).

Where: Surprise Corner Viewpoint is at the start of Tunnel Mountain Drive, around 2km from Banff town, just across the river from the Banff Fairmont Springs Hotel.

Cost: Free

Banff Winter Hikes & Outdoors Activities

4. Walk the Johnston Canyon Winter Hike

The Johnston Canyon ice walk is a beautiful scenic hike to waterfalls that flow freely in summer and are frozen and surrounded by snow in winter. Johnston Canyon is the perfect route for beginner winter hikers, as the trail is easy and well maintained.  Wear ice cleats on your shoes for good traction in the snow.

The walk is 1.1km to the Johnston Canyon lower falls, or 2.5km to the Johnston Canyon upper falls. The Johnston Canyon hike is around 5-6km return, if you visit both sets of falls and take the little side trails to the falls. Those keen for a longer hike can continue onto the Ink Pots, which is around 11km return.

There’s lots of great photo spots along the way to capture the magical frozen falls. We even saw some brave climbers scaling the frozen waterfalls with ropes and ice picks. Think I’ll leave that one to the truly adventurous …

Where: The Johnston Canyon trail is around 17km into the Bow Valley Parkway from Banff (see 1 above). The entrance to the Johnston Canyon winter hike is on the right hand side of the road from Banff. Keep driving past the first ‘Johnston Canyon’ sign on the left which directs you to the campground.

Cost: Free

5. Other Banff Winter Hikes

If hiking is a focus of your Banff winter vacation, be sure to check out some of the other hikes around Banff. I recommend wearing ice cleats on your shoes for Banff winter hikes through the snow.

Some of the popular Banff winter hikes include the Hoodoo Trail and the Tunnel Mountain Trail.

Hoodoo Trail: The Hoodoo Trail is a 4.8km one way hike along the Bow Valley to the the amusingly named ‘hoodoos’, which are tall rock spires made of sandstone.

Tunnel Mountain Trail: The Tunnel Mountain Trail is a 4.3km return hike up Banff’s smallest mountain, with views over the valley and town below.

Where: The Hoodoo Trail is located at the Surprise Corner Viewpoint carpark. The Tunnel Mountain Trail starts in downtown Banff from St Julian Road.

Cost: Free

6. Ski the Big 3

Mt Norquay Ski Lodge

Many people visit Banff in winter to Ski the Big 3. The Big 3 refers to the three mountains around Banff where you can ski and snowboard: Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise and Mt Norquay.

I’m most definitely not a snow-bunny, but my husband loved boarding at Sunshine and Lake Louise. Non-skiers can also take advantage of the scenic drives to the mountains and parktake in some apres-ski activities by having a tipple at the mountain lodge bars.

Where: Mt Norquay is on Banff’s doorstep, around 7km from Banff town. Banff Sunshine resort is 18km from Banff, and Lake Louise ski resort is around 60km from Banff.

Cost: The price for lift tickets varies depending on the mountain, times, and number of days. Adult day tickets are $114 for Sunshine and Lake Louise, or $89 for Mt Norquay. With Ski Big 3 you can buy multi-day tickets covering all three ski resorts, with added perks including free shutttle transport to the mountains and a free ticket to the Banff hot springs.

7. Ride the Banff Gondola

Ride the Banff Gondola for the most spectacular panoramic views of Banff’s mountains and the valley and town below. Make sure you leave time to walk the boardwalk at the top, which takes around 30 minutes. It’s best to visit Banff Gondola on a clear day, or at least not a completely grey and overcast day, to make sure you can actually see some of the view!

Where: The entrance to the Banff Gondola is on Mountain Avenue, to the south of Banff around 5km from town.

Cost: The Banff gondola costs $64 return for adults, or can pay additional to include lunch or dinner. Yup, this one is pretty pricey, but it really is spectacular. If you’re on a budget and are up for some exercise (or are just plain cheap), you can skip the expendy gondola and walk up the mountain for free.

8. Soak in the Banff Upper Hot Springs

Brave wearing a swimsuit and escape the cold with a soak in the Banff Upper Hot Springs. The Banff Upper Hot Springs are outdoor mineral pools with views of the snow capped mountains.

The pools are usually a toasty 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) – pretty essential if it’s -20c out! I was a little sceptical about donning a bikini in winter, but it’s really not that bad as you ease into the pools from a shallow heated indoor walkway.

Where: The Banff Upper Hot Springs are on Mountain Avenue, to the south of Banff near the Banff Gondola, around 5km from town.

Cost: Around $10 for adults for entry to the hot pools and towel hire.

Other Banff Winter Things To Do

9. Visit Fairmont Banff Springs

Fairmont Banff Springs is a majestic luxury hotel in Banff, and has to be one of the most iconic and photographed sights in Banff. The castle like hotel dates back to 1888, has several bars and restaurants, and is located on the footsteps of the beautiful Bow River.

Where: The Fairmont Banff Springs is 2km south of Banff town off Spray Avenue.

Cost: Free, although you may want a drink or meal.

10. Bow Falls

The Bow Falls are famous waterfalls on the Bow River in Banff that are frozen in winter.

Where: The Bow Falls are a short walk from the Fairmont Banff Springs.

Cost: Free

11. Stroll Around Banff Town

Banff town is a cute alpine village centred around Banff Avenue. Banff Ave is filled with wooden chalet style shops and restaurants, with a stunning mountain backdrop and bridge over Bow River at the south end.

Where: Banff Avenue is the main street that runs through the middle of Banff.

Cost: Free to stroll, but you’ll definitely want to stop in at one of the cute bars for a drink!

12. Cave and Basin National Historic Site 

The Cave and Basin is a historic site around which Banff was established as Canada’s first National Park. The Cave and Basin is home to a small museum, boardwalk trails, and a cave with hot springs. Note that you can no longer bath in the hot springs. We visited in summer, so didn’t return on our winter Banff trip.

Where: The Cave and Basin National Historic Site is on Cave Avenue around 2km south east of Banff town.

Cost: Entry to the Cave and Basin is $3.90 for adults, or $11.35 with access to the Banff Upper Hot Springs.

Banff Attractions – Visit Nearby Towns

13. Visit Lake Louise

Visit Lake Louise, one of most beautiful lakes in Canada. In winter, you can ice skate on the lake, take a walk around the lake, check out the ice sculptures, have a drink at the ice bar, and marvel at the beautiful Chateau Fairmont Lake Louise, a grand hotel with bars and restaurants.

Where: Lake Louise is around 57km from Banff. You can either take the main Trans Canada Highway 1, or the more scenic (and slower) Bow Valley Parkway Highway 1A (see 1 above).

Cost: Free

14. Visit Canmore

What: Canmore is a super cute mountain town near Banff with a dramatic snowy mountain backdrop. Take a stroll around Canmore town and stop in at one of the cute cafes or pubs for a meal. For an easy scenic walk from downtown Canmore, try the 2km Bow River Loop track or the Policeman’s Creek Boardwalk, a 3.9km return walk along a trail and boardwalk. If you have longer to spend in Canmore, check out the Grotto Canyon hike just north of Canmore and take a scenic drive to the iconic Three Sisters mountain range peaks just south of Canmore.

Where: Canmore is 25km south east of Banff on the Trans Canada Highway 1.

Cost: Free

So there it is. I absolutely loved Banff in summer, and was surprised to find that I equally loved Banff in winter! Let me know if I’ve missed any awesome Banff winter activities and I’ll add them to my next Banff trip.

Read More: Want another iconic Canadian winter experience? Visit Yellowknife Canada for a far north winter experience, including the northern lights and dog-sledding. Check out my guide on all the best things to do in Yellowknife.

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