How To Plan A Trip to Banff in Winter – A 6 Day Itinerary

The splendour of Banff National Park is undeniable all year round, but there’s something magical about coming here when it’s transformed into a winter wonderland. Not only is there the opportunity to ski and snowboard some of the best powder on earth, you’ll also see larger-than-life snow sculptures, be able to watch a ridiculous sport called skijoring, and your taste buds will be delighted beyond measure.

The legendary Banff and Lake Louise and SnowDays awaits. With this 6 day itinerary, you’ll see how you can plan an adventure-filled trip that covers the best of Banff in winter.

Banff in Winter 6 Day Itinerary

Winter is a magical time to visit Banff and Lake Louise in Alberta. Nestled in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and Banff National Park, this is a rare perfect mix of majestic mountain peaks, world-class ski resorts, unbounded adventure opportunities, culinary delights, and a vibrant town that knows how to celebrate the snowy season.

Contrary to popular belief, winter is one of the quietest times of the year to visit, making it low key, the best time to come to Banff. You’ll feel like you have the mountains all to yourselves, the streets are never packed, and there’s child-like wonder that oozes throughout.

Similar to our other travel itineraries such as 10 days in Patagonia, 5 day Maui itinerary, Richmond BC 4 day itinerary, we’ll jump straight into how to plan your own car-less 6 day Banff in winter itinerary.

Make sure to also visit Banff and Lake Louise’s trip planner tool, a handy tool that has trip ideas and produces a full-blown itinerary that can be shared and viewed online.

Why Visit During SnowDays

Hands down, the best times to visit Banff in the winter is during the SnowDays festival.

SnowDays is an annual festival in January that celebrates all things winter.

This is a completely free event that shines a light on what makes winter so much fun. In addition to the ambiance of string lights and twinkly snowflakes, you’ll find these scattered throughout Banff and Lake Louise:

• Snow sculptures
• Live entertainment
• SnowDays Play Zone
• Skijoring

SnowDays is the ultimate après, no matter what kind of adventures you’re up to during the day or throughout the week, and made for everyone including kids, or the kid inside.

The specific dates for SnowDays changes year to year but it’s usually on the third week of January and runs for 12 days.

Day 1 – Discovering SnowDays

Welcome to Banff in the winter! While there will be a bit of travel time to factor in, you will no doubt have the same type of reaction we had when we first arrived – “wow!”. When you’re on Banff Avenue, lined with historic architecture and the towering Cascade Mountain, it’s hard not to stop and stare.

Most travellers arriving will be flying into Calgary International Airport (YYC). Since you’re still 2 hours away from Banff, catch a ride with Banff Airporter, a shuttle service that’ll take you straight to your hotel.

We opted to not get a car rental for this itinerary because of how there was a transportation solution for every segment of the trip. It’s a cheaper way to go and more importantly, it’s a more sustainable way to travel, and better for the environment.

Banff & Lake Louise has a helpful Getting Around guide especially for those that are thinking of going car-free.

After settling in, make your way over to the SkiBig3 Adventure Hub on Banff Avenue, mere steps away from Mount Royal Hotel. This is where you’ll be picking up your ski or snowboard rental for those that didn’t bring their own.

Having a convenient rental shop in town, with gear suited for all skill levels, means that you don’t need to lug your gear from home. Simply drop by, get fitted, and they’ll even drop it off at your hotel if you want.

You’ll also be able to pick up your SkiBig3 Lift Tickets where one ticket gets you access to all three mountains – Lake Louise Ski Resort, Mount Norquay, and Banff Sunshine.

After you’re done your fitting, you’ll bring your gear back to the hotel or you can have it delivered by SkiBig3.

The afternoon is open for you to explore Banff as you please. Get to know the town by exploring the main street of Banff Avenue, and also the popular street that runs parallel to it, Bear Street.

Drop by shops, boutiques, and enjoy the snow sculptures and the live performances on Bear Street. Don’t worry about seeing everything as you’ll have plenty of days to see them all.

For dinner, the start of your culinary adventure starts at Brazen which is conveniently located inside of the hotel you’re staying at. Inspired by the explorers and pioneers of Banff, they’re decorated in a chic mid-century modern style and deliver on bold tastes with smoke, lots of smoke.

From modern takes on classic cocktails such as Smokin’ Warden and Whisky Creek, to the beef tartare, smoked sticky ribs, ginger beef and crème brûlée dishes, fire and smoke are what really sets the food apart in their creativity, presentation, and taste.

Day 2 – Lake Louise Ski Resort

Your day 2 is like being shot out of a cannon because this mountain that’s part of the SkiBig3 collection of resorts is big and epic. As you carve your way down, you’ll have an unbelievable cheek-to-cheek smile, that’ll be hard to rub off.

On top of Mount Royal Hotel being centrally located, the parking lot behind is also a pick up location for the SkiBig3 shuttles. After grabbing breakfast at Brazen or or one of the nearby cafes in town, grab your gear and hop on the bus heading up to Lake Louise Ski Resort.

You’ll have an unbelievable cheek-to-cheek smile, that’ll be hard to rub off.

With the rugged Rockies all around and looking directly at the legendary Lake Louise and Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise across the valley, you can’t help but pinch yourself and ask “how is this possible?”.

Covering 4 mountain faces (front, larch, west bowl, and back bowls), there’s a ridiculous wealth of terrain to explore here whether you’re a beginner or advanced. From free-ride runs, forests to soar through, challenging steeps, open bowls, and more, there’s no shortage of exhilaration.

When you’re ready for a break, there are plenty of food options at the the base and on-mountain. For something unique for a ski resort, check out Kuma Yama which translates to ‘Bear on the Mountain’ in Japanese. They offer a mix of traditional and fusion sashimi, nigiri, rolls, ramen, and appetizers.

You’ll definitely get your ski or snowboarding legs back after this day and when you’re ready, take the SkiBig3 shuttle back into Banff.

Once you’re back in town, drop off your gear at your hotel’s ski storage locker, and you can either hit the hot tub or continue your exploration of the town of Banff.

As part of SnowDays, remember that there are snow sculptures scattered throughout town, there’s Play Zone, and there’s live entertainment.

Cozy around the fire pits on Bear Street while listening to live music and then head to dinner at Three Bears Brewery & Restaurant.

You can’t go wrong with ordering their spicy shrimp bao buns, juicy smash burger, and elk and kale pizza, along with pints of their infusion beer and seasonal winter ale.

Along with good times, leave here with satisfied tummies.

Day 3 – Mount Norquay and Fat Bikes

Letting your legs take a break doesn’t mean you can’t still hit the slopes. On day 3 of your Banff in winter itinerary, not only will you have the thrill of your life snow tubing, you’ll also get to pedal through more of the quintessential Canadian mountain town you haven’t seen yet.

After breakfast, take the SkiBig3 shuttle to the resort that’s closest to Banff – Mount Norquay. While not the largest, it’s the only one that offers night skiing, is incredibly close to town, and has the longest and fastest tube lanes in Alberta.

Situated by a separate parking lot that’s a little further up from the base of Mount Norquay is a rollercoaster on snow that’ll have you screaming from the top of your lungs.

Mount Norquay is a rollercoaster on snow.

With your tubing ticket on hand, you’ll be passed a red tube and take the magic carpet to the top. From here, you’ll have a choice of several lanes. You’ll soon learn that some are faster than others, and there’s one that actually loops back around.

If you’re with your significant other, family, or friends, you can also link up it different ways to amp up the excitement (or terror). Ask the snow tubing attendant for ideas, let them know how much spin you’d like, and off you go.

After taking the shuttle back to town, grab a lunch at a spot like Wild Flour Bakery which serves bakery items, soup and bread, and coffee.

In the afternoon, you’ll go on an exciting excursion around Banff in the hottest ride in town, either a fat bike or battery-powered e-fat bike, with locally-owned Bikescape.

With the help of the certified guide, you’ll learn how to operate your fat bike and before you know it, you’ll be riding to various viewpoints that you likely haven’t been able to make on foot.

A majority of the winter fat bike tour will take you around the Bow River Trail but there’ll also be few other surprises along the way. There’ll also be plenty of stops along the way for photos.

In the afternoon, you’ll have free time again to use the Mount Royal Hotel rooftop hot tubs, but one place we encourage you to check out during SnowDays is the Play Zone which is only open from Wednesday – Sunday.

Play Zone might seem like it’s just for kids but it’s honestly a fun area to be a kid. The activities available change year to year but expect to find opportunities to slide down hills, warm up around fire pits, try your hand at curling, go fat biking once more, and see more snow sculptures.

SnowDays Play Zone is honestly a fun area to be a kid.

You’re in for a treat this evening with dinner at The Grizzly House. It isn’t easy to find a good fondue place in Canada, but of course, there’s one right in the heat of Banff.

With their complete fondue dinners, start off with their classic French onion soup, followed by a traditional Neuchâtel Swiss fondue with garlic and bread. For the main, you’ll be cooking your pick of surf, turf, and exotic meats on a hot stone. To close it off, you’ll be in heaven with bowls of fruit and wafer that can be dipped in a pot of silky smooth Toblerone chocolate.

We’d also be remiss to mention that this used to be a disco club. This is why each table has a phone where you can dial other tables. Let’s just say that this can lead to be a bit of crank calling fun.

Day 4 – Banff Sunshine Slopes and Snowshoes

The Continental Divide isn’t a well-known geographical term for North Americans but there’s a massive ridge of elevated terrain that separates the drainage that largely follows the Rocky Mountains. More simply, if you drop water on one side of the divide, it’ll flow to the Pacific Ocean, and if you do it on the other side, it flows towards the Atlantic Ocean.

Banff Sunshine of SkiBig3 is perched on the Continental Divide and is also right by the border with British Columbia. In fact, some parts of the resort do criss cross into BC. This puts Banff Sunshine in quite the unique territory.

To start day 4 of our Banff in winter itinerary, you’ll have to grab early breakfast and catch one of the first SkiBig3 shuttles so you can maximize your half-day on the slopes.

Out of all 3 mountains in the SkiBig3 portfolio, this one might have the nicest snow, because it is in fact, the highest altitude ski resort in Canada. It also has the honour of being the only one that has a ski-in ski-out hotel, giving visitors access to 3 mountains; Goats Eye Mountain, The Eagles, and Lookout Mountain.

Banff Sunshine (previously called Sunshine Village) is massive and what is most memorable are its powdery light snow and the expanse of ski and snowboard-able terrain. Personally, as snowboarders, we loved how much space there is to carve.

It’s best known for its powdery light snow and the expanse of ski and snowboard-able terrain.

To get to the Village, you have to take the gondola up from the Base. There’s a midway stop that gives you access to the Goat’s Eye part of the resort. Keep going to get all the way up to the Village. From here, there are a number of quads to help you explore the rest of Banff Sunshine.

Since you’ll be doing snowshoeing after, drop your hiking boots in the locker at the basement of Mad Trapper’s.

For lunch, return to Centennial Lodge in the Village for a power-up smoothie at Flamingo Smoothie Bar, and tacos from the Sixty Five South food truck outside.

Next, change into your boots, put anything you don’t need back into the locker, and meet your White Mountain Adventures guide at the pre-coordinated location in the Village.

The Snowshoe Sunshine Meadows excursion will take you trekking out to the backcountry where a blanket of deep snow amongst phantom-like pines and never-ending mountains awaits.

With your expert guide, you’ll make tracks on fresh snow towards Rock Isle Lake, entering into British Columbia’s Assiniboine Provincial Park before looping back around to the Village. You’ll take the gondola back down to the base of Banff Sunshine and White Mountain Adventures will have a van waiting to take you back to your hotel.

Feeling a bit peckish? Not to worry! During the snowshoeing excursion, your guide will set up a mini basecamp where you’ll be able to take a break with hot chocolates and a variety of snacks.

For dinner, make your way to Bluebird Restaurant & Lobby Bar. This is a restaurant that’s gotten rave reviews ever since it opened. Built in a nearly 100-year-old building, it’s been completely renovated with a 15-metre fireplace centrepiece, bringing in a classic elegance that combines mountain chalet chic with mid-century modern class.

The heart of the kitchen is open for everyone to see with their woodfired hearth and this is where they also prepare their astonishingly juicy prime rib – a must-order. Sides like their ultra cheesy mashed potatoes and maitake & oyster mushrooms are also essential.

Their desserts shouldn’t be slept on either with our favourites being the authentic key lime pie and baked-to-order brown butter madeleines.

Day 5 – Skijoring and Banff Gondola

You could say that your first 4 days in Banff are really a build-up to this one. Skijoring is usually near the end of the SnowDays festival and it is a fitting finale that’s packed with highlight reel stunts and a thrill for anyone that hasn’t seen this in-person before. You’ll also cap off your last full day with the most scenic views at the top of Sulphur Mountain.

So what is skijoring? It’s a winter sport that’s derived from Norwegian, meaning “ski driving”. Originating as a way of travelling in the winter, it’s now a showcase of skill, speed, and style, where cowboys or cowgirls on horseback tow a skier or snowboard simply with a long rope.

For one day during SnowDays, Skijor Canada puts on a superb show, where they show the full range of the sport with champion equestrians partnered with snow riders, wowing the crowd with a series of jumps and unbelievable tricks along Banff Avenue.

For lunch, if you’re feeling something quick, the sandwich and coffee combination at The Uprising Bakery is a great deal. For Banff’s best pizza and Italian, you can’t go wrong with LUPO on Wolf Street.

From town, you can call a cab or take the ROAM Transit route 1 which is 10 minutes from downtown to Banff Gondola.

Quintessential for any Banff in winter itinerary is a trip up to Sulphur Mountain on the historic Banff Gondola. Early pioneers summited the mountain on snowshoes for meteorological purposes but as tourism started to take hold, the first gondola was built in 1959.

Today, you can take the 8-minute gondola ride that soars above treetops and provides spectacular views of peaks and the town of Banff below. Arriving at the upper terminal, you’ll be greeted by state-of-the-art facilities that provide visitors with multiple observation decks and interactive experiences.

Once you arrive at the summit, your breath will be taken away by the 360 degree scenery. Starting from the first level, you can walk out to the viewing platforms right outside or you can make the walk along the boardwalk up to Sanson’s Peak and the Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station.

Head up to the Rooftop Observation Deck on the 4th floor for the best unobstructed views of the Canadian Rockies, and in particular, Spray Valley and Bow Valley. Here, you’ll also find Parks Canada’s iconic red chairs.

The best seats in the house though are at Sky Bistro. With their floor to ceiling windows you’ll be treated to the most spectacular show as the sun slowly sets and the skies burst into vivid colours.

Not just a pretty view, this restaurant is known for their modern take on Canadian culinary traditions where local ingredients, attention to detail, presentation, and knowledgeable staff take centre stage.

For our meal, the seafood chowder, scallops and pork, braised lamb shank, and arctic char with BC prawns are excellent choices.

The photos from here don’t do the whole experience justice so watch our video. Or better yet, just go!

As the alpenglow dissipates, Nightrise awakens at the summit, revealing a spectacle of soundscapes, dynamic lights, and a blizzard of emotion through their Four Wonders.

Created in collaboration with the Stoney Nakoda Nations, they’ve done an amazing job of bringing the music, spoken word, and culture of the Indigenous peoples of this land by creating an ethereal place where visitors an connect with winter, the surrounding landscapes, and its ancestors.

Look up and listen to the stars

It’s more than just a light projection show. You are fully part of the experience, leaning into “sonic binoculars” to hear the sounds of Indigenous peoples, interacting with waves of light by walking through them, and creating music of the mountain by jumping from pad to pad.

Take as long as you’d like at Nightrise before taking the gondola back down, and either taxi or bus back to your hotel.

Day 6 – Final Day in Banff

6 days will feel awfully short by the time you get to the end of your Banff itinerary, but depending on your flight or next destination, there just might be some time to squeeze in some extra mountain rejuvenation.

Enjoy another hearty breakfast at Brazen and the rest of the morning is yours to explore the town after an action packed few days. Check out shops like Rocky Mountain Flannel Company, Rocky Mountain Soap Company, Roots, pick up some souvenirs, and treat yourself to Banff Sweet Shoppe treats, BeaverTails or COWS ice cream.

A fitting way to bid farewell to Banff would be on the steamy bubbles atop Mount Royal Hotel. Grab your robe and head up to the rooftop and take it all in, one last time.

If you have time for lunch, you’ll have a blast eating at Sushi House Banff, one of the very few restaurants in Canada that serve sushi on a conveyer belt, or in this case, a toy train track.

Check out of your hotel and for those taking Banff Airporter, they’ll pick you up at the hotel at the scheduled time and bring you back to Calgary International Airport.

Where to Stay in Banff & Lake Louise

For your winter in Banff, you’ll want to make sure you pick the right hotel for you. These are our top picks for places to stay in Banff.

Map of Banff in Winter Itinerary

If you love planning trips with maps, we’ve included an interactive Google Map below that has pins on all of the ski resorts, restaurants, activities, and recommended hotels mentioned in this Banff in winter itinerary.

TIP: Expand the map and create a copy in your logged-in Google account. WIth this copy, you’ll be able to access it in your Google Maps app under Saved. Scroll to the bottom and look for “Maps”.

What We Missed in Banff

While 6 days in Banff and Lake Louise might seem like a lot of time, you’ll quickly realize that it’s not possible to fit everything in.

Recognizing that this itinerary is certainly more geared towards skiers and snowboarders that have an adventurous itch, we also wanted to mention a few Banff winter activities that you might want to consider in your itinerary if you’re looking for something a little different.

• Lake Minnewanka – This is an epic spot to go ice skating on a frozen lake and only a 20 minute drive from town.
• Vermillion Lakes – These cluster of lakes are close to the town of Banff and offers great views of Cascade Mountain, especially at sunrise.
• Ice Walk – The region is blessed with an abundance of epic locations for ice walks including Johnston Canyon (lower and upper falls), Grotto Canyon, and in and around the town of Banff where you’ll see things like frozen waterfalls.
• Sleigh Ride – Great for families, this is a charming and scenic 40 minute tour that all visitors love.
• Abraham Lake – If you’re wondering where you can see the ice bubbles near Banff, this is the lake where you have a good chance to see this natural phenomenon typically mid-January to early February. To view it safely, consider this ice bubbles helicopter tour.
• Wildlife Viewing – There are incredible opportunities to see animals such as elk and deer if you know where to go. This winter excursion is a great option.
• Lake Louise – You’ll be able to see Lake Louise from a distance from the ski resort but a great winter activitiy is to see Lake Louise and the Fairmont property up-close.
• Banff Hot Springs – Soak in the sooting mineral-rich waters of Banff Upper Hot Springs. Just make sure they have enough water flow in the winter before you go.
• Tunnel Mountain – Grab or rent ice cleats and hike the Tunnel Mountain winter trails that offer great views of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Cascade Mountain, and Mount Rundle. At the summit, you’ll find Parks Canada’s classic red chairs. Check for trail conditions before you go.
• Dog Sledding – There are several mushing providers to check out if you’d like to thrill of exploring the snowy tundra with the help of friendly and hardworking huskies.
• Cross Country Skiing – Take this cross country skiing lesson and tour with Freeheelin’ Adventures.
• Full Day Tour In The Winter – If you want to be able to see as much as you can of the area and you don’t have a car, a private full or half day tour is a great option to see spots like Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and Johnston Canton all in one day. Chances are high you’ll see wildlife along the way as well!l
• Peyto Lake – One way to see Peyto Lake is to combine it with the ice bubbles of Abraham Lake with this guided tour and snowshoe hike.
• Jasper National Park – This is ab it more than a day trip but if you have Jasper in your sights, this winter wildlife discovery tour is amazing.

There’s of course more to see and do in Banff and Lake Louise but these should give you more ideas to help put together your winter getaway.

Final Thoughts on Banff in Winter

Believe it or not, this was our first time to Banff in the winter and our expectations were blasted away at every turn with this 6 day itinerary.

The food – Banff and Lake Louise isn’t traditionally thought of as a culinary hub but it really should be. Each of the restaurants you’ll visit on this trip will surprise you.

The powder – In addition to the vast variety of terrain, take advantage of the fresh snow which will feel like skiing or snowboarding on a cloud. The mix of cold weather, altitude, with fresh and dry air is a blissful formula that’ll have you dreaming of it even after you leave.

The vibes – We often go out of our way to escape the cold or simply take it for granted but SnowDays and the abundance of winter activities triggers something inside of you that’ll make you want to stick out your tongue on fresh falling snowflakes.

Banff will leave you in awe and have you chuckling inside because you’ve stumbled upon something you didn’t know you could find.

Frequently Asked Questions

This trip was in partnership with Banff & Lake Louise and SkiBig3.