Winter in the Canadian Rockies

By Clair Morton
Published: Tuesday, July 24, 2018

Every year as the sun’s rays sizzle bather-clad bodies on the beaches of South Australia, the Canadian Rockies are being dusted with layers of white, powdery snow. Pack your thermals (lots of them) and get ready to explore. Here are our five must-dos.

1. Hit the slopes

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a skier, snowboarder, or if you’ve never set foot on snow before – there’s plenty of mountain to go around. Just 20 minutes from Banff, the Sunshine Village Ski Resort is great for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and abilities. Just a ride on the cable car up the mountain is enough to take your breath away.

If you’re looking for a bit more of a challenge, Nakiska is the place to go. Built for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, it boasts 14 different black diamond runs. For a different way to move through the mountain, they also run guided snowshoeing tours. Most resorts open in early December and close in May.

Tip: Make sure you’re covered for snow sports when taking out travel insurance.

Skiing is a great day out

2. Grab a bite in Banff

Nestled at the bottom of the mountain ranges, the resort town of Banff is truly one of the most picturesque places I’ve ever seen. Most people who stay here use it as a base to visit the ski slopes, and that means just one thing – when they come back into town, they’re ravenous. Luckily, there are enough eateries to whet even the biggest appetite. If it’s views you’re after, head to Sky Bistro for a taste of Canada at the top of Sulphur Mountain, or the Northern Lights Café for some more casual fare.

Refuel your body in Banff

3. Ice skate and make a snow angel at Lake Louise

In the warmer months, the emerald-hued Lake Louise is often so still that its reflective surface acts as a mirror for the soaring mountains that surround it. In winter, it’s whitewashed, but no less spectacular.

The world-renowned luxury resort – the Fairmont Chateau – is a great place to experience it, and you can still walk around the lake. Better yet, the snow builds up not far from the lake’s edge, making it the perfect place to test out your snow angel technique. If playing in the snow isn’t your thing though, you can always skate on it. Ice-skating is available from mid-December to mid-April at Lake Louise, open both day and night. Skate rentals are available.

Ice skating, Lake Louise

4. Drive the Icefields Parkway

The road from Banff to Jasper is often claimed to be the ‘most scenic drive in the world’, and even with those expectations it’s not likely to disappoint. Around every turn is a view more beautiful than the last and every corner brings a new vista of the spectacular Rockies. It’s no secret they’re the main attraction in this area and, if you take this drive, they’re impossible to miss.

This is also the place to keep an eye out for wildlife. Coyotes and elk aren’t uncommon, and if you’re lucky you may see the occasional moose or wolf – two animals even some Canadians never get to witness.

Icefields Parkway

5. Go for a sleigh ride

No winter wonderland experience would be complete without a sleigh ride through the snow. On the shores of Pyramid Lake in Jasper, or even in Banff and Lake Louise, you can do just that.

Most rides last about 30–45 minutes and leave daily through winter. They have all the bells (literally) and whistles too – a team of horses at the helm, snuggly throw blankets to get cosy in the open carriages, and nothing else to do but take in the glistening white surrounds. Can you hear those sleigh bells jingling yet?