Banff National Park has a high season for winter enthusiasts and those after that perfect North American summer getaway. The best powder is between December and February, but spring skiing is quite good in late March and April. There’s wildlife all year in the Canadian Rockies. But there are also many days where the sun’s heat can be very warming on a blue sky day with no wind. 2. However, be prepared to pay higher rates at hotels during these peak periods. 5. From the frosty white blanket of winter to the rich life-filled green of summer. Expect snow and fog and only a few hours of sunshine a day; it’s pretty cloudy. I want to spend may be 6 to 7 days. Clear, cloudless skies at night equal great stargazing conditions, but bring some layers – it’s about 7°C at night. Travelers favorites include #1 Banff Sunshine Village, #2 Banff Gondola and more. My favorite hotel is the Moose Hotel and Suites – it’s one of the newer hotels in town, it’s right downtown (you can walk to everything), and the views from the roof top hot tubs are dreamy! 1. For epic skiing and snowboarding the best time to visit Banff is between December and March. It’s also pretty much right in the downtown core, so it’s one of the best locations. I think Lake Louise is magical in the winter. Throughout these 3 months, Summer blooms will be in full effect and it can get very hot. Why not try all 4 seasons! Book your accommodations well in advance, as prices will be a little higher than normal during this 2-week period. The temperature on average is about 10°C, and after dark, it can drop below freezing. Answer 1 of 32: I want to visit the beautiful Canadian Rockies for the first time in my life. Average daytime temperatures are -5°C, and the nights drop to around -10°C. In short, January in Banff means a lot of cold and a lot of snow. This is when the weather is hot and the kids are out of school and everyone is on summer vacation. The Gathering Music Festival also takes place in mid-February across several nights. 1) When is the best time to visit depends entirely on your interests. A pair of cute winter boots are a must! Perhaps one of the most beautiful and most sought after sights in the mountains is the northern lights. If you’re an autumn lover, now is the best time to visit Banff National Park. Book well in advance for summer stays in Banff, at least a few months ahead of time. However, the crowds can be a bit insane at Lake Louise, Peyto Lake, and Lake Moraine. If you want to avoid the summer crowds, this is the best time to visit Banff, though expect varying weather. These are generally cold, cloudy, and what some may call “miserable” months. It’s beautiful all year long, and I’ve visited in every season. My favorite is this DEET-free lotion that also repels ticks, which is a growing concern in Alberta. The Best Time to Visit Banff & Lake Louise. It’s the start of fall. To experience the golden larch trees at their peak, visit Banff from mid-September to early October. Norquay, and Banff Sunshine. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in February. If you don’t have a car or prefer not to drive on the winter roads, there’s a winter wildlife tour you can take with locals guides who will do their best to find deer, elk and bighorn sheep from the comfort of the tour van. See Lake Louise covered in ice. Visiting Banff in Winter: November to February. Budget priced accommodation by Banff standards can be shocking. Wherever your travels take you, I'll help make sure you like where you're going! The start of the day was pleasant and sunny, but by the end of the evening it was cold and snowy. Well, there are a number of factors at play to answer that question. LIKE WHERE YOU'RE GOING IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN FEES BY LINKING TO AMAZON.COM AND AFFILIATED SITES. Banff & Jasper National Parks. There’s still only a light breeze though, so there’s not much windchill to worry about, and it’s still great to be outside when you’re in the sunshine. The Lake Louise Alpine Ski World Cup is a huge event that’s watched by some 73 million fans around the world. The famous lakes are still frozen and the access road to the iconic Lake Moraine is not open yet. Conclusion: The Best time to visit Banff is September. This is one of the best all-around credit cards for travel! Alternatively, if you want nice summer weather before the crowds arrive, the end of May is also my choice for the best time to go to Banff. There are so many fantastic places to visit in Banff it needs a whole new post. Check out my other recommendations on women’s shoes, and we have a post on the best safari boots. November marks the start of the ski season and you’ll find SkiBig3 resorts open, but the runs will likely be visited by locals. The sun shines over the mountains this time of year (12 hours a day, people), the snow glistens, and signs of spring can be seen in less snowy places. My next choice is the Banff Ptarmigan Inn. We hike HaLing Mountain in early April. By April you can start biking, and even challenge yourself to a few low elevation hikes (with the proper gear!). But if you’re here to see the beautiful turquoise lakes, you’ll be out of luck. In April, there’s the Cochon555. Another iconic lake in Banff National Park is Moraine Lake, which is not accessible in the winter. That said, the nights in the Rockies still drop to below zero. Snowfall is unpredictable. If you pay for AllTrails Pro you’ll also be able to download offline trail maps to your phone. Daytime maximum temperatures average around a cold 11°C (51°F), whilst at night -2°C (29°F) is normal. Most visitors to Banff will rent a car in Calgary as this is the easiest way to get around. It’s covered in snow, there are ice sculptures at the Chateau Lake Louise. Few tourists are here in November, meaning now crowds and low prices. But they’re still going to be super cold all summer long. If good weather for you is a winter wonderland than the best time to visit Banff is between December and February. I’ll let you in on a little secret, we have a small list of places we…, Peyto Lake in Canada is the most famous lake in Banff National Park you’ve probably never heard of before. You can do this any time of the year. I want to visit the beautiful Canadian Rockies for the first time in my life. Ideally end of May is the best time for us to go due to other plans for the rest of the year. And you can definitely get a trip planned in time! The end of summer crowds have left, the weather can still be very pleasant. Banff in winters turns into a vanilla frosting cupcake. But you likely won’t encounter major snow storms, making it the perfect month to experience several seasons at once! I want to spend may be 6 to 7 days. Best time of year to visit . Rainfall in May increases to about 50mm – still not that much. Another budget alternative is to get a group of people together for a campervan trip. Early October means larch season and a good time to go hiking! These months will give you all the snow with fewer crowds. With easy access to pristine wilderness, endless outdoor adventures, and all the amenities you need, in Banff National Park you feel truly immersed in nature. As far as accommodations go, July and August will be the most expensive time of year to stay in a hotel in Banff. Summer will be warm and comfortable, but usually not overly hot. You can also get in spray-form. The average temperature, if you were wondering, is about -4°C; so yeah, it’s frigid. If good weather for you is a winter wonderland than the best time to visit Banff is between December and February. Prices are super reasonable in the spring shoulder season, but get more expensive in the summer. If you want a unique place to stay in Banff, try camping in a luxury canvas tent. And you can sign up for email alerts or check the Aurora Watch website, which is run by the University of Alberta and predicts the possibility of catching the Aurora Borealis each night. SafetyWing is perfect for digital nomads. Though Banff is beautiful year-round, one could argue that the best time of year to visit is either in the summer (June – August) or in the winter (December – March.) As you get deeper into June and throughout July and August, the tops of the mountains will be dry with little snow on top, like the photo above taken in July. When is the Best Time To Visit the Canadian Rockies for Wildlife? Sulphur Mountain is also a good year-round hike. Overall, summer is a popular time to visit the Rockies. Not only are there beautiful colors adorning the mountainside, but there’s some Scottish heritage to be peeped at the Canmore Highland Games. After Labor Day the crowds start to fizzle out as the kiddies go back to school and summer vacations are over. If you aren’t one of the lucky ones you can park at the overflow parking 2 km away from where you can pay $4 to be shuttled into Lake Louise. We love the Chase Sapphire Preferred as it was one of the first travel rewards we received and it’s well-loved by plenty of others. During these two winter times, you’ll find higher prices on accommodation. This is the time of year when the weather is very volatile, meaning it could be super warm and sunny or you could  be hit with a late season snow storm. Answer 1 of 32: I want to visit the beautiful Canadian Rockies for the first time in my life. Nights can still get quite cold, though, around 7°C, so you might want a sweater or something warm to wear for the evenings, but days can climb to the mid-twenties. Depending on the season of your travel car rentals in Calgary can be quite affordable. If good weather for you means sunshine and long days then the best time to visit Banff is July and August. Sure it rains a bit, but it’s cooler than the peak of summer, but still warm enough to hike in a t-shirt and shorts. The best times to visit Banff National Park for ideal weather are. It will not only make you uncomfortable and look like a fool, but it can be potentially dangerous if you attempt a mountain hike you are not prepared for. Canmore Cave Tours – One of the Best things to do near Banff. It is perhaps a good month to visit Banff, with some surprisingly good weather at this time of year. The average temperature for this month is around 18°C, but nights – as always – can feel quite cold. These plummet to an average of 3°C. For beer, wait till November for Banff Craft Beer Festival. Some winters it’s heavy and can provide epic powder days, while other Februarys have seen little snowfall. So always be prepared. Summer attractions are closed for the season, and the winter attractions won’t be open yet. If you click one of them, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The changing of the seasons will be towards end of May, so you could get lucky with great weather, or the lakes could still be slightly frozen, but it will be before the crowds, which is a plus. If good weather for you is a winter wonderland than the best time to visit Banff is between December and February. As residents, we definitely have favourite seasons, and those are generally determined by the weather, and Banff's 'crowdedness'. Foodies, listen up; Banff Springs Food and Wine Festival, held in October, sees a delicious array of food (and wine) from around the local area offered up, shown up, and consumed. Be aware that in peak summer even the overflow lot can fill up and the lines may exceed two hours. In our opinion, the best time to visit Banff is August-September. It depends. I want to spend may be 6 to 7 days. While Banff is beautiful year round, winter is absolutely the most magical time to visit. The tap water is so good here – seriously please don’t be one of those tourist that buys plastic water bottles in Jasper. The first time we visited Banff we stayed at Elk+Avenue hotel in Banff which had a great location right on the main street and across from a grocery store. But there are good reasons for this! The Best Time To Visit Banff Perched in the Canadian Rockies , Banff is one of North America’s most iconic outdoor adventure destinations. All that sunshine and melting snow has made the mountainsides a lush carpet of greenery. If you are two or more and staying for a few days a Group Discovery Pass at $139.40 CAD is the best option. Best time of year to visit . If you want to guarantee seeing some bears and other wildlife, you can go on a full day grizzly bear tour. You can hike the same trail in the summer, fall and winter and have a completely different experience every time. If you’re visiting Banff in winter or early spring, skiing is basically a necessity. It gets the town into the holiday spirit, with a Santa Claus parade, illuminations, and tasty food galore. All year you’ll also stand a chance of seeing foxes, owls, and plenty of birds. The Arc’Teryx Canmore Ice Climbing Festival at the beginning of March kicks off spring with a variety of clambering for climbers of various levels. If you are staying in Banff for an extended amount of time and have a jam packed Banff itinerary you may want to consider purchasing a Discovery Pass. By mid June parking at some of the main sites becomes an issue, and you’ll definitely need to secure camping spaces early during this time. It’s a good idea to bring some wet Banff weather clothes, since there’s the chance of getting caught in a shower. With some stunning scenery to behold all year round, you can’t go wrong with a trip to the Canadian Rockies. If skiing is your activity of choice, December-April is the snow season, though travelling earlier or later during this season will save you a pretty penny. The wildlife is waking up from its winter slumber, and a few mountain hikes are doable now. Overall, the best time to visit Banff National Park is during the summer. If good weather for you means sunshine and long days then the best time to visit Banff is July and August. Honestly, any time of year is best to visit Banff! When would be the best times to visit Banff for white water rafting (for beginners)? But the frequent, heavy snows that fall across the month make places like Mount Rundle and Cascade Mountain perfect for hitting the slopes at Lake Louise, Mt. But if you’re lucky, some years the lakes freeze over before the snow flies and that’s when you can skate on crystal clear ice. Numbers balloon between June and August and while I would love to say that because of this it’s not a good time to visit I would be lying. If you’re planning a trip of a lifetime to this gorgeous mountain region, you’re probably wondering when exactly is the best time to visit Banff? When is the Best Time to Visit Banff for Hiking? Most of the time, however, it’s going to be sunny, with about ten hours of daylight. Temperatures at this time of year range from 19°C - 23°C (66°F - 72°F) during the day—although it can feel much hotter—cooling right down at night to 5°C - 7°C (41°F - 45°F). Not only is the snow still great, but there are events to make the day even better. In fact, some of the coldest weather of the year is in December. It’s dated, but it’s clean. The best time to visit is between late February and April. Want to discover more Alberta? The best skiing is from December to March and the hiking season starts differently every year (in 2019 it started very early in April). However, even though day temperatures are pretty high (we’re talking highs of 21°C), once the sun goes down, it’s still very cold, hovering just above 2°C. Beloved Banff National Park – a place that’s been engulfing travelers with its magnitude and beauty for over a hundred years. 1. You will need mosquito repellent when you’re hiking/walking at all times in the summer, and especially as you get closer to dusk. The mercury hits the mid-teens during May, on average, and the sun doesn’t set till after 8 pm. This will be one time in life kind of trip. It can definitely snow in October in Banff. Alternatively, if you want nice summer weather before the crowds arrive, the end of May is also my choice for the best time to go to Banff. If you’re a winter person this is still a time to visit Banff. Visit Moraine Lake, the best thing to do in Banff with kids. 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