Winter Activities
Sightseeing Gondola
The magnificent views from the Banff Gondola can be enjoyed year round, indeed many would say that the mountain views are even more impressive with a blanket of snow and a clear winter sky. The gondola is located on Sulphur Mountain, just a short drive or bus ride from the centre of Banff, and is an ideal way for a non-skier to appreciate the mountains in the winter.
Skiing & Snowboarding
The main reason for people to visit Banff in the winter is to go skiing or snowboarding at the three world class ski resorts in Banff National Park. Whether you are visiting every weekend from Calgary, or are on a 14 night ski holiday from the UK, the ski resorts in Banff will impress you with their quality of snow, lack of lift lines, and variety of terrian.
Apres Ski & Evening Entertainment
The sun sets early in the winter, but that doesn’t mean that the fun is over. On the contrary, the town of Banff has plenty to offer for anyone looking for a special evening, a great meal, a fun activity, or lively entertainment.
Heliskiing
For an advanced skier or snowboarder, there is no better sensation than gliding through fresh light powder snow in virgin terrain, and the best way to find this experience is to go heliskiing or heliboarding. Heliskiing in Canada is famous throughout the world, and from Banff there are two options for heliski day trips, flying either out of Golden BC or Panorama BC.
Dog Sledding
Taking a dog sled tour is a wonderful way to experience the Canadian Rockies winter, in the same way that many original pioneers first discovered the region. Typically a team of six or eight dogs pulls a sled of two or three people, with a professional driver or ‘musher’ stood at the back, and some tours allow you to take a turn at ‘mushing’ yourself! Dog sledding in Banff actually takes place above the town of Canmore along the Spray Lakes Reservoir.
Snowmobiling
A thrilling way to get out into the wilderness and fly around on snow covered trails is to take a snowmobile tour. The sheer speed of the machine allows you to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time enabling you to access areas of mountain wilderness that would take a day or two to reach under your own steam, and of course the journey itself is exciting. Most tours allow you to choose between taking a passenger, or riding the snowmobile on your own.
Sleigh Rides
The idea of a horse drawn sleigh ride conjures up all sorts of romantic winter images, and in the Banff area, those sleigh rides take you through such spectacular Canadian Rockies scenery, that all your romantic expectations will probably be exceeded. You can generally choose between joining a group on a shared sleigh, or paying more for a private sleigh.
NHL Ice Hockey Games
Ice hockey is by far the most popular spectator sport in Canada, and our local NHL team, the Calgary Flames, play regularly at their home stadium, the Pengrowth Saddledome, throughout the winter months. You can take an organized tour from Banff to go and see one of these exciting, action filled games, which will be appealing for anyone interested in live sport.
Snowshoeing
A wonderful way to explore the mountains in the winter is on a snowshoe tour. Snowshoeing is very easy to do and without any experience you can join a guided tour, or if you want to be more independent you can rent the equipment and discover winter trails on your own.
