If you’re visiting Banff during the winter season you can expect some drop-dead gorgeous sceneries. Snowy panoramas are all around. Even though you might be very tempted to stay inside, and snuggle up in front of the fire with marshmallows and hot chocolate, you just GOT to give yourself a kick in the ass and hit those trails. It would be a sincere shame if you miss out on those forests while they’re covered in thick, white blankets. Moreover, animals are easier to spot in the snow, so bring that camera!
I visited Banff myself in October and since the area was already immaculately covered in white, I was only able to hike some smaller trails, hence this article. These are the ones I’d recommend you to cover as well. Check in advance though with a ranger regarding the conditions of the trails. And bring some cleats! For this first hike below I already wished I had them with me…
1. Johnston Canyon
How long: 1.2 km / 0.75 miles one-way to the Lower Falls | 2.5 km / 1.5 miles one-way to the Upper Falls
Johnston Canyon is one of the most popular hikes in Banff and for a reason. It’s short, fairly easy, easily accessible for the young ánd old and the scenery throughout the canyon really is neat. In wintertime the frozen waterfalls are simply mesmerizing.
From the bridge, you can also enter a cave right next to the waterfall. Pretty awesome. Most people only hike up to the first waterfall, so you’ll see it’ll be much quieter on your way to the top; well worth the extra steps.
That said, when I hiked the trail in the beginning of October it was super slippery. Therefore, if snow if around, definitely bring those cleats with you! Also, I did the trail at the end of the day and the crowds were already thinning out by then. As this trail is loved to death, start in here either early in the morning or late in the day. It’s worth the early rise and shine, plus you might spot some extra animals on the Bow River Parkway, the scenic driveway that leads to the canyon.
2. Lake Louise to Lake Agnes
How long: 7 km / 4.5 miles return from Lake Louise | And mind the elevation gain of 400 m / 1300 ft
Lake Louise was one of the few places in the Canadian rockies that I had heard of before I travelled to Canada. The gorgeous alpine setting and those very blue waters of the lake make for iconic photos. But the lake unfortunately wasn’t as I expected it to be. It was just so, so crowded!!
At first I was afraid (I was petrified) that I’d wasted my time going to Lake Louise. Especially as I already had seen other pretty lakes such as Peyton and Bow Lake, which were also impressive and way less crowded at the time of my visit.
Nevertheless I quickly discovered that there’s actually life beyond this extremely touristy zone. As most tourists only want to take a quick selfie, way fewer people are in for activities. As heaps of snow had fallen from the sky, most of the trails were closed during my visit. But the trail to Lake Agnes was still open!
This hike took something like 1,5 hour (all of it going up), but as all paths were frozen, the trails were just sheer ice. Without any cleats I felt like Bambi on ice :).
The descent however may have been the best part of the hike. Not so much because the trail was going down (it even seemed more slippery by now), but because I could soak in the views even better.
I mean, just look at it.↓ Those bruises were worth it.
3. Stewart Canyon at Minnewanka lake
How long: 1.5 km / 0.6 miles one way
I really had the feeling I was in Norway or Sweden or something when I was hiking this path along Lake Minnewanka. You can walk for a looooong way along the lake if you want to, but at least try to make it to the Stewart Canyon bridge – which is only a small hike from the parking lot.
The bridge is spanning the smooth walls of the canyon, through which the Cascade River flows. From there, the view on Lake Minnewanka is relaxing for sure. ↓
4. Johnson Lake
How long: 2.8 km / 1.7 mile loop
The little loop around this cute lake requires less than an hour to finish. Elevation gain is minimal and therefore it’s – like the previous hike – a favourite among families too.
Despite Johnson Lake being an easy trail, it’s also quite a diverse one. The trail winds through a montane forest, passes along the John Lake Reservoir, open slopes and a shallow bay were you might spot some birds.
5. Vermillion Lake
How long: 4.3 km / 2.7 miles one way
Although this is more of a drive, if you don’t have a car you could also hike the Vermillion Lakes Drive all the way till the end. The drive is close to town and especially popular around sunset . The reflecting vistas on the meadows, lakes and Mt. Rundle in the background are absolutely stunning. ↓
I especially liked the lake at the very end of the road, as the waters were calmer over there and therefore much more tranquil to picture.
6. Sundance Canyon
How long: 3.7 km / 2.3 miles one-way from trailhead | 246 mind the elevation gain of 75 m / 250 ft
What a beautiful name this canyon has right? I loved this hike because I barely encountered people along the way. And that canyon I even had to myself!
The trail to the canyon start right after the Cave and Basin National Historic Site. As it’s paved for quite a bit, you could even do the first part with a stroller or wheelchair. Just note that you might have to share the road with horseback riders. The views are a bit similar to those of the Vermillion Lakes Drive (which is right on the other side of the river), but still different enough to make the hike worthwhile.
What follows is a climb into the forest all the way through a water-filled canyon. The climb wasn’t the easiest to be honest (again, I wish I had cleats..), but the icy peaks along the way made it beautiful for sure. Once at the top a trail with a lot of switchbacks let all the way back to the beginning of the canyon.
If you don’t have a car; you can as well basically walk to this trailhead. It’s only a 30 minute or 2 km / 1.2 miles walk from downtown Banff.
7. Surprise Corner
How long: as long as you like along the river!
You may barely call it a hike, but it would suck if you’d miss out on Surprise Corner. I was just casually driving by and had no idea what a view on the Fairmont Banff Springs I’d get in here. Heck, I didn’t even knew this hotel existed!
What a fairytale.
Apart from the viewpoint it’s also possible to hike towards the river. You have another nice view on the Bow Falls and it’s a very tranquil hike along the Bow River if you’re up for more.
Here’s where to find those hikes in and around Banff:
