Gday guys,

Myself and a mate are coming over from Australia to visit and stay with a friend who has recently moved to Toronto. We are keen to spend some time in Banff before we head over to the East coast, but have a alot of questions.

Firstly, is it worth visiting late November/Early December, I was thinking a week.

Is it fine to stay in Calgary and drive a rental to Banff and surrounds, or is staying in Banff the better option due to winter driving conditions?

Furthermore, we are both avid hikers but shite at skiing (being Aussies), are any worthwhile hikes open this time of year or do they get snowed over?

Many thanks

Has anyone been today or yesterday? How are the conditions?

Hello! My partner and I have one last night /morning in Banff before we head to Calgary tomorrow afternoon. We've been incredibly lucky in all our wildlife sightings so far, but the last critter to tick off the list (aside from a Grizzly) is the Beaver.

We've heard from many not the best time of year for them but would still like to give it a go.

Any recommendations on where we might be able to spot them? We're assuming sunrise is the best time too.

Thanks in advance!

how terrible is the parking in the remembrance day long weekend? I wouldn't want to be turned down for parking and roam is quite inflexible with the time for buses. thanks!

Hi Reddit!

I am recently engaged and currently planning our elopement. We are interested in eloping at Moraine Lake.

Has anybody done this? If so, I'm wondering if there's any companies you recommend using? It will just be my fiancé and I, no guests!

Also this will be our first time there. What is the best month to go? We are thinking September, but is it too cold then? Lol

Any and ALL insight would be super helpful!!!

Hi folks Looking for your recommendations.

I will be travelling to Banff during the last week of November for 3 days. I am planning 1 day for drive on Icefield parkway and another day for lake Louise, Johnston canyon (is crampon a must have?) and checking out the city of Banff.

That leaves me with one day to explore other areas. I am looking for mostly scenic lookout on drives or short /easy hikes.

Which of the other parks between Yoho, kannanaskis , glacier should I check out? Or any other suggestions will be really helpful.

Thanks in advance

Going on vacation this December (20-30). I am from Louisiana and don’t really have any idea on what to expect temperature and snowfall wise. I know you can’t see the future, but what kind of temperatures do y’all expect? Will it be actively snowing most days I’m there? When it snows, how much should I expect and will it stay like the whole time I’m there or does it melt then come back throughout the day(s)?

Also, never seen the northern lights but that’s a huge bucket list item. Y’all think I’d have a chance of seeing them at some point I’m there? Idk if it’s a once every few months thing or once every couple days thing. Sorry for all the questions or if they’ve already been answered somewhere..

Planning a trip in January and was thinking of renting a Tesla Model Y at YYC via Hertz. I'm not too worried about the charging situation as I see plenty of destination chargers and super chargers. I was just wondering how the cold weather affected the battery. If there is an extra cold snap, will it need to be constantly plugged in? How is it driving on the snowy roads?

Hello. My partner and I would like to work in a Canadian resort for a season (Alberta ideally). He is Canadian (lived in UK since birth), I would need to apply for the IEC Working Holiday visa when the 2025 pools open. We have done loads of research but have some questions that maybe someone will be able to help us out!

In your experience, when do employers start hiring for Summer 2025, and Winter 2025? Where is best to look for jobs (Indeed, Lakelouise job site, banff hospitality collective - anywhere else we can look?)

Main concern is regarding housing: If we are both applying to jobs separately but in the same resort, how can we go about getting into the same accommodation as roommates? Thanks in advance!

I’ve only got all season tires on my vehicle at the moment and i plan on snowboarding in banff all weekend. I was curious how the current road conditions are and if you think it’ll be safe for me to head there with only all season tires.

Hey y’all! I’ve been skiing at Sunshine and Lake Louise for a few years and am a pretty standard skier. I want to take two of my buddies to ski for their very first time in the next couple of weeks. I’m wondering which hill would be the best for our group given they are beginners? We plan on staying in Banff or Canmore. Thanks!

Edit: Open to Norquay or Nakisha as well

Hiya!

Just a heads up that the gondola is closed from November 4th to 15th for renos. I've been seeing it recommended to folks visiting during this time, and it's a bit of a disappointment to see no tickets online.

Hope everyone can make it up there on their trips after the 15th!

Hey everyone, I'm from Vancouver & I'm planning to visit Banff around Dec 8 ish. Is it a good idea? None of us are brave enough to drive from Calgary airport to Banff though because we don't have our full licenses. We are planning to take a bus from the airport to our hotel. Do you think the weather conditions would be okay and safe? Anyone know about the vivo green buses? Please help us out. We are so confused. We're 4 girls ages 18-28.

Hi All,

My girlfriend, who lives in Winnipeg, is coming to Alberta next week and we are headed to the mountains for a day. This will be her first time in the mountains, and I was wondering what are the best affordable/not too difficult activities/hikes/places to see that I should show her? My first thoughts are Johnston Canyon and the walk around Lake Louise, but I want to know what you all think?

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

Park Pass

• If you are visiting or stop in the national park then a park pass is mandatory. The only exception is for people driving through on the Trans Canada Highway or 93 South to British Columbia.
• A pass can be purchased at the park gates, at any visitor information centre, or can be purchased online in advance beforehand.
• A Day Pass is valid in Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay national parks
• A Discovery Pass is valid at all National Parks through Canada for a year from date of purchase.
• A Discovery Pass becomes worth it around 7 days or longer for the year
• If you are coming in by bike or bus, technically you need a pass, but they only ever check cars.

Winter Tires

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.

Winter Driving

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.

Current Road Conditions

Visit 511.alberta.ca for road conditions or . If you are going to Golden/Kicking Horse/Revelstoke, review the Kicking Horse Canyon Construction Calendar.

Lake Louise / Moraine Lake / Parking / Shuttles

• Moraine Lake is not accessible in the winter, it crosses dangeraous avalanche paths. The road to Moraine lake is closed in the winter and used as a 16km cross country ski trail. The road opens June 1.
• Lake Louise is open year round. In the winter you simply drive up and park 100m from the lake. Parking tends not to fill up in the winter.
• There is no shuttle to the lake in the winter, but there is ROAM transit 8X to Lake Louise if you don't have a car.

Winter activities for those who don't ski

• Tubing at Mt Norquay (best) or Lake Louise (okay)
• Banff Upper Hotsprings
• Spa day at Fairmont Willow Stream Spa
• Visit a local museum (Whyte Museum, Banff Park Museum, Cave and Basin)
• Ice skating at Lake Louise or rinks around Banff
• Hike Johnston Canyon (slippery, bring/rent ice grips)
• Snowshoeing tours (Sunshine Village or Marble Canyon via Discover Banff Tours)
• cozying up in front of a fireplace
• Bowling at High Rollers
• See a movie at Lux Cinema
• Horse carriage or sleigh-ride at either Warner Stables or Chateau Lake Louise
• Dog sledding
• Grotto Canyon Ice Walk

Winter Hikes

Winter hiking is not common in Banff National Park due to the steep terrain and avalanche conditions. Most popular hikes are not recommended in the winter, 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:

• Tunnel Mountain
• Sulphur Mountain
• Boom Lake
• Chester Lake

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), Lake Louise (outdoors, on the lake), Banff Recreation grounds (Outdoors, with indoor boot room), or Banff Train Station (outdoors, TBC).

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 / 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, a heated bubble chair 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. Amateur 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 snowbaorders, it also has the Delirium Dive.
  • 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.

Hey Reddit! My partner and I are heading to Banff for our newlywed trip in december for 3 nights, and we're looking for some advice on which hotel would be the best fit for us.

We've narrowed it down to the following options:

• Moose Hotel & Suites
• Banff Aspen Lodge
• Peaks Hotel & Suites
• Buffalo Mountain Lodge
• Hidden Ridge Resort

Here's what we're looking for:

• A great mountain view from our room or at least from the hot tub at the hotel.
• We're considering renting a car if it's worth it, so proximity to the town center or key attractions could be a factor.

If you've stayed at any of these places, could you share your experience? Which one has the best combination of comfort, view, and amenities (especially a scenic hot tub)?

Also, any input on whether renting a car for our stay would be worth it during this time of year would be greatly appreciated!

We are planning a road trip from Sa Jose, CA to Glacier National Park to Banff in the last week of December 2024. It will be our first trip to Glacier National Park and Banff National Park, and I don't have much experience driving in snow.

I am considering getting an AWD SUV rental, would that be safe enough to drive in winter in snow conditions, or do I have to have winter tires as well?

I am looking for other people's experiences who drove to Glacier and Banff National Park in the last week of December.

Any recommendations?

here on vacation, got a notification on my phone that it’s likely to see it tonight. can anybody see anything? is the KP high enough? says it’s 4.33, not sure if it’s worth driving out