A winter wonderland in Banff National Park is an extraordinary experience. The mountains surround you everywhere you look with snow-covered peaks. The trees are typically covered with a gorgeous layer of fluffy snow when cross-country skiing. When heading up to Fairmont Lake Louise, it’s even prettier than you could have possibly imagined with the frozen lake and the glacier. If you’re lucky enough to see it with the sun beaming on it, it’s mesmerizing. Skating on mountain ice is something else. It’s so much more exciting than skating on a rink inside a city. Get a hot chocolate and walk around Lake Louise enjoying the breath of fresh air and the pretty scenery. Go enjoy exploring the 9 extraordinary winter wonderland Banff National Park activities.
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Lake Louise
Lake Louise area offers a spectacular winter ambiance. There are so many activities that you can do while you’re there. These outdoor activities include downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, skating, playing hockey, inspecting ice sculptures and embarking on a sleigh ride. Once you’re done for the day and need a nice place to cozy up, a great option is to head to the Outpost Pub. If you want a more upscale choice, the Railway Station Restaurant offers scrumptious food.
Downhill Ski
The best downhill ski day in Lake Louise involves spending time with your loved one on the ski hill in the mountains full of snow. On the front side, there are a lot of different runs depending on your skill set. That slope is typically quite busy with many people staying there and not venturing to the back side. Because of this, the chair lifts are quite packed and it can take a long time to get everyone loaded onto the chair lift and gondola to go skiing.
I suggest heading to the back side of Larch. There tends to be fewer people, allowing you to ski the runs faster and get back up the mountain quickly. Different green, blue, and black options are available for you. If you’re experienced, heading to the West and Back Bowl might be of interest as they offer many black runs for advanced skiers.
Cross-Country ski
There is so much opportunity to cross-country ski in Lake Louise. It’s a winter wonderland for those of us who love to cross-country ski!
Lake Moraine
Moraine Lake Road is closed to vehicle traffic in the winter. At the start of Moraine Lake Road, a parking lot is created sometime in mid-November depending on the snow levels to invite cross-country skiers to ski this road. It’s one of the first places that is track set for cross-country skiers in late fall. The road starts gradually upwards and becomes steeper closer to the halfway point. The climb continues for two more kilometres before the road descends to the lake for the last four kilometres for a total distance of twelve kilometres. An avalanche danger sign is posted before the descent, near kilometre eight indicating you should only continue past this section if you have avalanche training, a transceiver, probe and shovel. Otherwise, turn around and go back. Note that most skiers turn around near kilometre eight at the end of the track setting.
Moraine Lake Road is a gorgeous area for skiing. It’s considered easy to moderate (due to its length) with a nice track to start getting fit for the season. It’s family-friendly due to its gentle incline, double track set on one side, single track set for your return, and wide space for skate skiing in the middle.
Tip: Stay in the track if you’re slower than other people on the flat sections. Fast skiers will pass in the middle and go around you. This is important since it’s a popular trail. Note that you might want to step out of the track on the descent, if conditions are too fast for your skill level or if you want to maintain total control.
Cross-Country ski Great Divide (old 1A)
Cross-country skiing on the Great Divide or old 1A is a nice and easy ski to practice gliding and potentially go fast. Loops and side trails link to the 1A on both sides of the road if you’re looking for more excitement. Dog sleds share the edge of this wide road so be aware of other people around you.
Behind Chateau Lake Louise
To feel like you’re in a winter wonderland in Banff National Park, head behind Chateau Lake Louise to find cross-country skiing tracks nestled in snow-covered trees. There are different levels of skiing tracks available to you. This is such a fun area to ski. So much scenery to view and downhills are great for screaming ‘weeee’ as you’re having fun descending! It’s a nice area that offers a variety of trails to explore. Beware that some of the downhill curves are a bit tricky. Take the easy green option if you are intimidated by the black one. Find a cozy place to have your lunch.
Tip #1: Don’t forget your MEC seat cushion for butt protection and warmth when sitting down in the snow.
Tip #2: MEC Kokanee Gore-Tex Gaiters are extremely useful around your ankles to avoid snow going into your boots when cross-country skiing in deep snow.
Skate
Skating in the winter wonderland of Banff National Park is a must! Look at this picturesque landscape with the gorgeous sun shining under the blue sky making it a vibrant colour and lighting up the mountains. Doesn’t it make you want to visit here? The snow on the glacier is lit up and people are enjoying themselves as they skate on the rink around the ice castle. They have a place to lace up your skates and sit by the fire. A perfect place to go with your partner for a date.
Play Hockey
Sometimes, the weather isn’t so nice and instead, you get clouds but hey, what better place to play hockey than on Lake Louise? You can play with other people interested in the game or shoot the puck around and play 1 on 1 with your partner. Go and have fun. It doesn’t matter how good you are at hockey. Just embrace the fact that you’re out in the outdoors, away from work with your loved one. Enjoy the moment.
Ice Sculpture Competition
The ice sculpture competition viewing will run from January 26 to 28 and February 2 to 4, 2024 from 6 to 9 P.M. This will be a ticketed event. The ticket prices vary depending on your age. Check the prices here. World-class ice carvers come to shape the ice into magnificent pieces of art. It’s spectacular to walk around and see the different pieces being showcased. I suggest checking it out if you’re in Lake Louise during this time. There are so many activities that can be done before or after your walk around the ice sculptures.
Horse Sleigh
If you arrive in Lake Louise in December, surrounded by a winter wonderland in Banff National Park, you might also get to spot Santa on a sleigh! That’s my grand-maman waving to Santa as he passes by us. If you’re envious, book your spot for your sleigh ride here. Ride along the frozen lake with beautiful snowy mountains and a glacier landscape that surrounds you while enjoying a nice ride around the lake. The rides typically last from forty-five to sixty minutes.
The following rides are offered:
- a sleigh ride for a couple is $550/hour
- shared sleigh ride with other tourists $52/adult and $45/child (4 to 10 years old) and free for children 3 and under
- a private sleigh ride – up to 10 people is $675/hour
They provide warm blankets for you to sit on and to wrap around yourself.
Tip: Grab many layers including toque and mitts as it can get cold sitting on the sleigh for that long without moving.
Eat at the Outpost Pub
Photo credit: Carole Ross
The Outpost pub is located beside the Post Hotel on the ground level. Although they are currently closed for the fall season, they will reopen on November 22, 2023, to provide a chill place to hang out in a relaxing atmosphere and eat after a day of skiing. The menu offers items such as burgers, beef stroganoff, and schnitzel with lighter soup and salad options. Some items are a bit pricey but that’s to be expected for being located in gorgeous Lake Louise and offering great food. You’ll have the choice between lounging on couches or sitting at a table potentially watching hockey on TV.
Eat at the Railway Station Restaurant
Photo credit: Carole Ross
The Railway Station restaurant has delicious food every time we go! It’s located at 200 Sentinel Rd in Lake Louise, Alberta. They are closed for the fall season as of October 9th but will reopen Wednesday through Sunday in the month of December. They offer a delicious assortment of Canadian food including Alberta beef tenderloin, Alberta bison ribs, linguine, burgers and salad or soup if you want to pair your meal with a starter. Save this restaurant for a special night out with your partner. It’s costly but you won’t regret it. It will provide time to reconnect with your significant other. Reservations are recommended if you don’t want to miss out on a fantastic meal.
Tip: Make sure to ask to be seated by the fireplace to create a romantic ambiance for a date with your partner.
They have ample parking for your needs. They can also accommodate food for takeout if you’d like to eat at a different location. Both the parking lot and restaurant are wheelchair accessible.
The area is surrounded by a winter wonderland in Banff; you’ll feel like you’ve been swept away in a magical snowy land. Enjoy your evening together!
Build a Gingerbread House at Fairmont Banff
To get in the Christmas spirit, the Fairmont in Banff offers the opportunity to decorate your own gingerbread house from 11 A.M. to 12 P.M. on a variety of dates for $45 CAD + GST. Book your reservation here. They provide the gingerbread house and icing to attach the different candy options. This is a fantastic couple’s activity to spend quality time together.
You can decorate the little gingerbread people or make characters with marshmallows. There are so many things you can create apart from the house. Create a sidewalk, a fence, and some candy flowers. Decide with your partner how you want to decorate the home. Put some shreddies for square shingles or dangling icing to provide it with some character. Though, we didn’t use any, green and red sprinkles were provided. If you’re creative enough, you could make a tree with icing and then partially cover it with green sparkles so it looks like it’s partially covered in snow. There are so many options, go have fun feeling like a kid while creating something magical!
Final Thoughts
These winter wonderland Banff National Park activities are sure to inspire you to have a great time outdoors! Go have a good time downhill or cross-country skiing, or sit while enjoying a sleigh ride with your partner. Enjoy the beautiful surroundings covered in snow and appreciate the magic of the mountains. Sip on a hot chocolate as you walk around the ice sculptures and get ready to have a face-off with your partner playing hockey. After spending time in a winter wonderland, enjoy warming up for supper at the Outpost Pub or at the Railway Station by the fireplace. If you’re in the area over the holidays, make a gingerbread house in Fairmont Banff with your partner feeling like a kid again at Christmas.
Additional Links
- Nice Weekend Getaway Near Me
- What are the Benefits of Skiing?
- Downhill Ski Sunshine or Lake Louise?
- 28 Ways to Spend Time Outdoors This Winter
- 5 Awesome Outdoor Skating Rinks
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