17 Things to Do in Banff in Winter [Activities for Families]

Are you looking for the best things to do in Banff in the winter? Activities that you can do with your whole family? 

Banff is one of Canada’s best destinations year-round, but it can get crowded in the summertime. Visiting Banff in the winter is a little quieter. Plus, you’ll be in the heart of a winter wonderland.

But what to do in Banff in winter? As temperatures drop, won’t you be stuck in the hotel all day? 

Not at all!

And that’s why, today, we’ll share our 12 best Banff winter activities you can do with your family this winter season. All activities can be done as a family, including families with younger kids. Some are free, while others are paid tours.

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No Time to Read? What to Do in Banff in Winter RECAP

• Best Things to do in Banff with toddlers in winter: Enjoying a hot chocolate at Central Park, Banff
• The Ultimate BEST thing to do in Banff in the winter: Ice skating on Lake Louise
• The best things to do in Banff in winter for FREE: Hiking to Johnston Canyon Upper Falls

1. Go Ice Skating on Lake Louise

Any time you visit Banff, you’ve probably got a trip to Lake Louise lined up. This is one of the prettiest views I’ve ever seen in Canada, perhaps one of the top I’ve seen anywhere. Frozen Lake Louise is as unique as summer turquoise Lake Louise.

We got lucky because we visited when there weren’t too many people around, and we’ve been able to go quite a few times.

The thing we missed our first time visiting during the winter? Ice skating (don’t worry, we finally went back). 

At Lake Louise, they make a public ice rink that lets you skate over the lake. It’s a really cool family things to do in Banff in winter.

Kids will enjoy the activity, and parents will get to soak in the views (guaranteed to be nicer than the skating rink at your local mall). 

Bring your own ice skates or rent them at the Fairmont Château Lake Louise. 

After an hour or two of slipping and falling with your kids, you can all wrap up in a nice blanket and go for a horse sleigh ride, too. 

There are other great places to go ice skating in Banff National Park:

• 40-mile creek to Vermilion Lakes
• Two Jack Lake
• Lake Minnewanka

⚠️ Warning:
Follow the rules for ice skating on the lake. You can to make sure the ice is thick enough. While the lake starts to freeze in November, you won’t likely be able to ice skate until the end of December.
Parks Canada does not monitor these lakes, and your safety and your family are your responsibility. Be sure to avoid hazards and skate safely.

Some of Parks Canada’s recommendations when it comes to wild ice skating are:

– Contact the visitor center for more information about ice skating.
– Verify with a drill the depth of the ice. You need a minimum of 15 cm thick to safely walk or ice skate alone. For groups of people, you’ll need 20 cm thickness.

2. Winter Horse Sleigh Ride In Banff

Bundled up and get ready to explore Banff in another way.

Starting from the Warner Stables, you’ll go on a wonderful winter horse sleigh ride across Banff. On this group horse sleigh ride, you’ll be told stories and soak on Banff National Park’s spectacular views. You may even see some wild animals, such as elk and deer.

Start your tour in Banff, where you will meet a member of the riding office, who will check you in for your sleigh ride. Now it’s time to climb into the sleigh and get cozy with your loved ones under a wool blanket.

This winter horse sleigh ride ends by the fireside with a hot drink to warm you up.

If you don’t feel like sharing the ride with other visitors, you can do a private winter horse sleigh ride.

Brewster Adventures also offers winter horse sleigh rides around Lake Louise up to Victoria Glacier. You’ll enjoy the views of the ice lake, and the ice falls beneath a warm blanket.

3. Banff Gondola 

I’ll be honest: It took us more than two years to finally the ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain on the Gondola in Banff. Why? We’ve spoken to people who have, and we got mixed reviews. 

We finally went, and it was AMAZING!

It’s an epic ride up Sulphur Mountain with views unlike any other in Banff. On a clear day, you’ll see the valley, the mountains, and the beautiful Banff (you can even stop at the Fairmont Banff Spring hotel).

On the other hand, it’s expensive and can be challenging for families traveling on a budget. 

This is reputed as being a “must-see” attraction in Banff, and judging by the pictures, you can totally see why! But the cost for a family can add up with prices costing $60+ per adult and $32/child (one child is free if you book before 10 AM). 

But if you’re traveling on a strict budget, you may want to consider a stroll downtown instead. 

More information on pricing and booking here. 

💡 PRO-TIP: Besides a regular gondola ride in Banff, from November 18, 2023, to March 30, 2024, you can experience “Nightrise”. This interactive experience, a partnership with the Stoney Nakoda Nation, lights up Sulphur Mountain with art structures, multimedia effects, video projections, and music. Kids will surely enjoy both the ride and the lights!

4. Johnston Canyon Icewalk

This is a unique winter adventure if you don’t want to hike alone.

In this tour, you will join a professional guide to admire the lower and upper frozen waterfalls. You will also learn geology and history about how this canyon formed.

The reservation includes:

• round-trip transportation,
• ice cleats,
• hiking poles,
• a light snack and a hot chocolate to warm you up after walking in the cold!

▶️ Check this tour & look at the schedule.

5. Road Trip along the Icefields Parkway

Yes, we are big fans of getting outdoors. But sometimes, when the weather is cold, it isn’t very good. 

If your winter trip to Banff has a day or two of freezing temperatures, drive through the Icefields Parkway. This road runs from Lake Louise in Banff National Park all the way north to Jasper National Park. And it offers some of the prettiest views of the Canadian Rockies that you’ll ever see. 

The Icefields Parkway route can also be an excellent way to get the kids down if they have difficulty sleeping at the hotel. That was our trick, at least. 

Along the Icefields Parkway, there are many stops to do:

• Bow Lake
• Peyto Lake
• Tangle Falls
• Columbia Icefield
• Goat and Glacier
• Sunwapta Falls
• Athabasca Falls
• and a few other viewpoints along the way

But make sure to check the road conditions before you leave. The parkway is usually well-maintained, but our last trip had deep snow that forced us to turn around. Granted, our car isn’t 4-wheel drive (if you have 4-wheel drive, you’d be fine), but it’s worth checking before starting the trip. It can also happen a few times per winter that the road is completely closed for avalanche prevention.

You can check Alberta road conditions using this map. 

6. Overnight Stay in a Cabin

This is the ultimate winter wonderland activity. While many great hotel options exist in downtown Banff, we recommend cabin-like accommodation. You and your family will have an amazing experience in the heart of the snowy Rockies.

You’ll find many different cabin-style resorts across Banff National Park, but we personally tested the following one and had a wonderful time:

Baker Creek Mountain Resort

Baker Creek Mountain Resort is part of the Charming Inns of Alberta collective. It’s a nature boutique resort in the heart of the Rockies. They have a family cabin with 2 bedrooms and a kitchenette.

It’s located near Castle Mountain. It’s a great location to explore Banff National Park, halfway between downtown Banff and Lake Louise. It’s also at the intersection of AB-93 South that leads to Kootenay National Park (and Marble Canyon Hike) and Radium Hot Spring.

The Baker Creek Mountain Resort is perfect for a family winter getaway. You can play in the snow, have some hot cocoa, and skate on the well-maintained ice rink. Then, you can end the night with a family board game by the fireplace. The resort even offers complimentary snowshoes and sled rentals.

▶️ Find prices availabilities for Baker Creek Mountain Resort

⛰️ Read our Baker Creek Mountain Resort review here ⛰️

7. Banff and its Wildlife Winter Tour

If you want to visit Banff National Park and learn more about the wildlife, this Banff & Wildlife tour is for your family.

This morning tour will bring you to Lake Minnewanka, Banff’s largest lake, see the Bow Falls, the Castle of the Rockies (the Fairmont Banff Spring hotel), and the Hoodoos trail.

During the entire tour, you’ll keep an eye open to spot elks, deer, and bighorn sheep.

This tour is not wheelchair accessible.

At the end of the tour, you’ll get to relax with a hot chocolate and some maple cookies

8. Banff Ski Resorts

While there are many activities other than skiing, skiing is still a must when visiting Banff in the winter. Banff National Park has three world-renowned ski resorts (Mt Norquay, Banff Sunshine Village, and Lake Louise Ski Resort).

Multiple packages are offered, or you can buy a day lift ticket to one of the resorts of your choice.

Mt. Norquay is a great option for beginner skiers or skiers with young children. This ski resort is the closest to the town of Banff. Plus, it offers drop-in ski classes for little ones.

Find more information on the SkiBig3 resorts here.

9. Cross-country skiing and Snowshoeing

Banff offers skiing resorts or hiking trails and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails with magnificent views. 

If you haven’t tried any of these activities with your kids yet this winter, try something new! And a big plus: they’re both excellent cardio workout options!

There are more accessible and more challenging trails for your skills and comfort. Please remember to avoid walking or snowshoeing on XC ski trails!

Some of the most popular trails in Banff to try out for XC skiing are:

• Tunnel Mountain Trailer Court Campground: Basic level, 4.9 km loop.
• Brewster Creek: Moderate level, 10.5 km one-way to Sundance Lodge.
• Goat Creek: Moderate level, 18.7 km one-way from trailhead south of Canmore.

If you choose to snowshoe your way through Banff, here are some options:

• Tunnel Mountain Drive: Basic level, 2 km one-way.
• Johnson Lake: Basic level, 2.8 km loop.
• Surprise Corner to Hoodoos: Moderate level, 4.8 km one-way

If you don’t have any equipment to experience either of these activities, don’t worry! You can rent them out at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. They have a lot of options for several winter activities!

10. Winter Hikes

Banff National Park offers wonderful opportunities for winter hiking. Most trails are open in the winter and are well maintained. You may want to bring (or rent) spikes, as some trails can get pretty icy.

Johnston Canyon is a family favorite hike. The hike is not too long:

• To the Lower Falls: 2.4 kilometers (round trip)
• To the Upper Falls: 5 kilometers (round trip)

The security gates and bars are well-maintained, so you have something to hold on to through the slippery patches. 

At the end, there’s a cool cave that you can enter, where you get an intimate view of a waterfall. 

You can also book a Johnston Canyon Icewalk tour. This tour is for 8+ years old.

Marble Canyon is also another great winter hike. It’s in Kootenay National Park but pretty close to Castle Mountain Junction.

In the past, we’ve written about the Marble Canyon hike and how it’s one of our favorites. I don’t think I’ve been on a more enjoyable hike than this one.

Not with two young kids, anyway. 

Marble Canyon is a short drive from Banff and is only 1.8 kilometers or so (round trip).

Hiking is the perfect free Banff winter activity to do with kids. Other great winter hikes in Banff are:

• Fenland Loop
• Jonhson Lake
• Bow Falls

💡 PRO-TIP: If you’d like to enjoy views of Banff covered in snow, hiking up Tunnel Mountain with your kids is something you can’t miss. It’s a short and sweet trail at 4.3 km out-and-back with 262 m of elevation gain, nothing too technical, and the views are just WOW!

11. Grab a Hot Chocolate and Candy in Downtown Banff

If the weather isn’t too chilly, you may want to bundle up and stroll downtown. The views are incredible.

Plus, if you’re feeling cold, there are plenty of places to get hot chocolate: you can go to super local cafes or just run into McDonald’s or Starbucks for a quick cup. 

I like the idea of “buying local,” but sometimes they’re more crowded more expensive, and take twice as long to get the hot cocoa. Time can be a major factor when dealing with cold kids, so use your best judgment. 

As you’re strolling through the downtown area, you’ll want to stop at the Banff Candy Store. They have some wonderful little treats that will make the whole family smile. It may not be your healthiest day out, but you’ll burn off all that sugar while walking. 

Just walking in the town of Banff is fun. Stop at Central Park and walk in the Cascade of Time garden. Then, you’ll want to admire the castle-style hotel at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. The view from the back patio is also breathtaking.

12. Banff Upper Hot Springs

Hot springs are fun all year round, but there is something extraordinary in the winter. Soaking in naturally hot water when it’s cold outside is fantastic. It’s even better when fresh snow is falling softly—a short drive outside downtown Banff following the Sulphur Mountain sign.

The Banff Hot Springs were discovered back in 1883. There used to be a public hot spring pool where the Cave & Bassin National Historic Site now is. The pool facility is much smaller than the one in Radium Hot Spring, but the view is pretty neat.

While soaking in the warm water, you’ll have the perfect view of Mount Rundle. The Banff Upper Hot Springs shares its parking lot with the Sulphur Mountain trailhead. It is also on the same road as the Banff gondola.

13. Winter Festivals

There are many great winter festivals held in Banff in the winter.

SnowDays Festival in Banff

This festival is all about admiring an outdoor gallery of snow sculptures. Like the ice sculptures in Lake Louise, this is a fun winter activity to enjoy outdoor time while marveling at Canadian and international talents.

This festival occurs in Downtown Banff: Whyte Museum, Bear Street, and Banff Avenue Square. 

After this, you can enjoy a warm cup of tea or hot chocolate in the many coffee shops in the vicinity. 

SnowDays Play Zone at the Banff High School Field

Another excellent winter celebration in Banff to enjoy with your kids is the SnowDays Play Zone. This free activity allows you to bike, climb, and slide in this designated play zone. It’s fun for adults and kids alike!

You can visit the play zone from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm Wednesday to Friday, and from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm Saturday to Sunday.

Skijoring

Have you ever witnessed someone skiing while being pulled by a horse and doing some stunts at it? If not, head to Downtown Banff to attend the Skijoring event on January 20, 2024. 

Bear Street Live Entertainment

In addition to the exciting winter activities, Downtown Banff offers live entertainment and performances during the SnowDays Festival. 

Don’t miss out on the live music, circus acts, street performers, and stilt walkers who will be there to amaze you. The festival will occur from January 18 to January 29, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Ice Magic in Lake Louise

If you want to drive further, go to Lake Louise to enjoy Ice Magic.

This annual winter festival welcomes people of all ages who will enjoy ice sculptures built by world-class ice carvers! You can’t miss it!

This festival will run from January 26-28 and February 2-4, 2024, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. I highly recommend going during the week so it’s less crowded and free of charge, and at night, you can appreciate the ice sculptures with floodlights! During the weekend, an admission fee and your paid parking or shuttle service are applied. 

14. Dog Sledding Adventure

Dog sledding is a popular winter activity, and you can do it in Lake Louise. Banff Tours offers 1.5 hours of dog sledding through the Canadian Rockies. During this tour, you’ll cover more than 16 kilometers to discover the most scenic spots in Banff National Park.

15. Bow Valley Parkway with a Stop at Morant’s Curve

If you want a calmer, less busy alternative to the Trans-Canada Highway, the Bow Valley Parkway, a picturesque route linking Banff and Lake Louise, is the way to go.

If you hike in Johnston Canyon, this route will also bring you there.

On this road, you will be surrounded by trees, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see wildlife such as elk, bighorn sheep, grizzly bears, and deer. It’s a winter wonderland – so beautiful when it’s all snowed in!

The Bow Valley Parkway offers several areas with picnic tables if you need to stop for a little break. You can also bike on this road; there are several campgrounds if you decide to stay longer. 

Although you can drive through this route pretty much all winter, there is a seasonal closure from March 1st to June 25th between 8:00 pm and 8:00 am every year. The reason behind this closure is to provide wildlife with some quiet time to travel through the area and feed themselves. 

Furthermore, the Bow Valley Parkway is the road to the famous Morant’s Curve. This is one of the most famous viewpoints to snap a picture of the surrounding mountains, such as Sheol Mountain, Devil’s Thumb, Popes Peak, and Mt Aberdeen, with a Canadian Pacific train. 

The views are fantastic year-round; however, winter adds some extra magic to the moment!

💡 PRO-TIP – For safety reasons, there is no public schedule for when the freight trains will pass by, so it’s up to you to decide how long you’ll wait.

BONUS: Fun Things to Do in Banff in the Winter to Get in the Holiday Spirit

16. The Spirit of Christmas

Located in the heart of downtown Banff, on the commercial Banff Avenue, you’ll find The Spirit of Christmas store.

Open year-round, it’s the best place to find a souvenir ornament from Banff. Once you find your ornament, take some time to wander along Main Street and discover other great places for shopping.

17. Cascade of Time Garden “In Search of Christmas Spirit”

If you’re looking for a meaningful winter activity to do with the family, In Search of Christmas Spirit is an excellent option. This family activity in Banff takes place in the Cascades of Time Garden on Cave Avenue.

This is a free activity, although you need to register for it. You may need around 45 minutes to complete the trail and story journey. 

The Christmas story employs life-sized illuminated animal figures such as wolves, bears, and moose, accompanied by stunning lights, sound, and other special effects.

This very popular activity sells out fast, so make sure to get your tickets!

Final Thoughts: Things to Do in Banff in the Winter

Banff in the winter is great. There are so many great family things to do in Banff in winter. You can get the best winter wonderland. While it may be cold, dress well and enjoy Banff’s fun winter activities.

Of course, when we think of Banff in the winter, we think about skiing. But there is so much more in Banff for winter activities than taking a lift to the mountain peak and skiing down. 

These have been 12 Banff winter activities that you can do with the kids. There are others, but we thought we’d share a few different from what we’d seen on many other lists. 

Are you ready to plan a trip to visit Banff in the winter?

Related articles – Banff in the Winter

You may also want to read:

• 5 Reasons Why You Should Consider Visiting Banff in November
• 13 Best Winter Hikes in Banff for Families (All Skill Levels)
• 11 of the Best Hotels in Banff for Families