Guide to Four Seasons in Banff National Park

This guide to four seasons in Banff National Park will help narrow down activities to do with your partner. There are so many possibilities to experience in this area that it can make it hard to decide what to do. Do you like to hike, camp, and backpack in the spring, summer and fall? Or do you like to focus on winter activities and go skating, downhill, or cross-country skiing? If you’re like me, you might like to do a different activity every season. Regardless of what you pick, you’ll be required to obtain a Park Canada Discovery Pass either online or by stopping at a Parks Canada gate as you drive by before accessing and having fun in the park.

1. Spring

Spring is an awesome time to witness the change in scenery from frozen waterfalls to water rushing down a river. Greenery starts to appear on the trees and bushes, birds start singing. Everything becomes alive. I love this time of year when we see way more colour around us as opposed to the white snow that has been surrounding us for months now. It’s a fantastic time to get outdoors in nature and start to explore Banff National Park.

Hiking Johnston Canyon

Johnston Canyon is a beautiful five-kilometre in-and-out moderate hiking trail. You’ll walk along the canyon’s edge looking at the river flowing downwards. It takes approximately two hours to complete. It starts fairly flat and then gets steeper as time goes on. There is gorgeous scenery that surrounds you on this hike. There will be enclosed sidewalks to ensure you don’t fall into the canyon as you walk. If you head here in the early part of spring make sure to bring Kahtoola Microspikes to avoid slipping and falling on the slippery ice.

Tip: It’s a popular trail that tends to be extremely busy. Go early in the morning to avoid the crowds or shoulder season (June or September). July and August are the busiest months. When it’s busy, there tend to be lines of slow-walking tourists around making it hard to get ahead of them or move quickly.

Backpacking Lake Minnewanka

This is camp M8 where we stayed in the past while backpacking Lake Minnewanka but due to seasonal grizzly closures from July to September now, you’ll need to backpack to LM9 or LM11. LM 8 is 8.8 km away from the parking lot. At this campground, you’ll also find Aylmer Pass Junction which leads you to Aylmer Lookout which overlooks the gorgeous lake. It’s a nice day trip if you’re looking for something to do while backpacking for a few days.

LM9, Aylmer Canyon is another kilometre away while LM11, Mount Inglismaldie is three kilometres further along the trail. They both offer five campsites and a fire pit. It’s a relatively easy backpacking trip, perfect for beginners. There is some elevation at the beginning of the trip but then it’s mostly flat moving onwards. It’s nice to be able to look at the lake while making supper and relaxing at the end of your hike.

Lake Louise & Moraine Lake Discovery Tour, Banff National Park

Lake Louise is a gorgeous spot to take pictures. With this tour, you’ll get plenty of time to capture the backdrop and enjoy walking around the property.

Moraine Lake is just as pretty if not more spectacular with the turquoise water. You can take this picture on top of the rock pile.

Consolation Lakes is a beautiful six-kilometre hike that ranges from easy to difficult in a few spots due to walking through the rock pile at the beginning and once you reach the lake. It offers spectacular views of the area. If you arrive in late spring, you might also start to see flowers blooming throughout the forest. White Mountain Adventures provides awesome lunches for you and the best guides to ensure you have a fantastic outing. You can’t beat seeing Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and a hike all in one tour. Book your experience today!

2. Summer

It can be tricky to know when it’s the best time to go hiking or camping when you want to spend four seasons in Banff National Park. The summer is a wonderful time to experience this region because it’s typically nice weather and much warmer than the winter months. Hiking Plain of Six Glaciers during the summer will lessen your chances of encountering avalanches. It should be warm enough to raft or kayak while camping at Waterfowl Lakes. Hiking at Sunshine Meadows in the summer allows you to see the colourful wildflowers that take over the landscape.

Hiking Plain of Six Glaciers

The Plain of Six Glaciers hike is a 14.6 km in-and-out trail that starts near the Lake Louise hotel. It’s a popular trail with tourists, hikers and horses. It’s a steady incline with an elevation gain of 1,686 feet (514 m) as you head further up into the mountains away from the lake. It offers beautiful scenery all around, with the mountains surrounding you

Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse

There is a tea house that is open in the early summer. They serve light lunches, treats and beverages made fresh daily on propane stoves.

Tip: They don’t have electricity and prefer Canadian cash as payment. They accept credit cards but you’ll need to pay an additional $4.00 fee for processing payments.

Items are flown in by helicopter at the beginning of the season or by staff that hike up the trail with backpacks. Use limited toilet paper in the outhouses to prevent staff from having to carry large amounts up with them.

Guided Tour

If you’d prefer a guided tour, Alpine Air Adventures will take you on this five to seven hour hike for $209 per person. You won’t have to worry about following the signs as that will be up to the guide to figure out. Focus on enjoying the day in our beautiful mountains. Make sure to take a camera with you so you can take lots of pictures!

If you’re looking for a place to stay before and after hiking, Baker Creek, nestled along Highway 1A, is a wonderful place to stay.

Camping at Waterfowl Lakes

I love camping at Waterfowl Lakes. Four seasons in Banff National Park allows you the opportunity to appreciate this gorgeous campground with one hundred and ten sites for tents, motorhomes and trailers up to nine metres long (31 feet). This unserviced first-come first-served campground costs $23/night and is open from June 22 to September 4. The lake is beautiful for kayaking, canoeing, rafting or even swimming if you’re brave enough to swim in a glacial-fed lake. It offers two amazing hikes that you can start from across the river. Small shelters provide two sinks to wash your dishes with soap (bring your own) and hot water. 

There is no cell phone coverage at this campground allowing you to unwind from your busy schedule and unplug from social media. For more details on this gorgeous camping spot, read Unique Camping in Alberta.

Hiking Sunshine Meadows

The winter months are dedicated to downhill skiing in Sunshine but once June rolls around, it’s time to hike in Sunshine Meadows! In 2023, Sunshine Meadows was open from June 23 to September 10th. The summer gondola ran from 8 A.M. to 6 P.M. and the Standish Sightseeing Chairlift from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. Stay tuned for 2024 dates and hours.

You used to be able to take a shuttle bus from the parking lot to Sunshine Meadows but it’s no longer offered. Now, you have two options: take the Sunshine Gondola and Standish Sightseeing Chairlift to the top of the mountain for $65/adult (2023 prices; 2024 prices aren’t posted yet) or walk up the hill. The gondola and chairlift will take approximately twenty-five minutes to get to Sunshine Meadows, whereas hiking will take much longer but is cheaper. A combined Sunshine Golden and Standish Sightseeing Chairlift ticket can be purchased online or at guest services on the second floor of the Creekside Lodge, near the gondola base. If you purchase your ticket online, you’ll avoid the potentially long in-person lines as this hike is very popular. Plus, purchasing online will allow you to skip the line and hop onto the gondola immediately.

This area is gorgeous for hiking, and you can see all the wildflowers that overtake the scenery. The view is breathtaking and you’ll be able to see a long distance in many directions. You might be able to spot Mount Assiniboine with good visibility. A variety of small loops are available that connect for a longer journey depending on what you and your partner would like to accomplish.

Guided Tour

If you don’t feel comfortable going by yourself, you can also go on a guided tour of Sunshine Meadows. They offer pick-up from Banff at 8 A.M. and go to Sunshine for five to six hours to hike twelve kilometres. Picnic lunch, beverages and the gondola ticket are included with your guide for $123/person.

3. Fall

Four seasons in Banff National Park allows you to hike all year round. Fall is a gorgeous time of the year to hike and catch the larches that turn from a green to a golden yellow colour. Banff National Park has many hikes to see the larches but I recommend these two stunning hikes: Larch Valley departing from Moraine Lake and Lake Agnes & Little Beehive departing from Lake Louise.

Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake is a gorgeous area for taking pictures. Make sure to bring your camera with you! This is the starting point to Larch Valley.

Hiking Larch Valley

Larch Valley starts from Moraine Lake. Personal vehicles are no longer permitted to drive on Moraine Lake Road. These are your options: Book a sunrise shuttle with Moraine Lake Bus Company or Fairview Limousine, book a Parks Canada shuttle online to arrive between 6:30 A.M. to 11 A.M. at Moraine Lake, take public transportation if you’re staying in Banff, or hike/bike to the lake.

It’s a 9 km in-and-out hike with an elevation gain of 560 metres to Larch Valley and 11 km with a 749-metre elevation gain if you hike up to Sentinel Pass. It takes three to four hours to complete depending on how many pictures you take! It’s rated as a difficult hike as it steadily goes uphill but with breaks, you can easily hike up the valley.

Golden Larches

It’s a gorgeous hike to Larch Valley if you can see the entire landscape with golden larches. You might be gifted with sparkle on the trees with a light dusting of snow. To get to Sentinel Pass you’ll need to hike on scree switchbacks to reach the pass. It can be spectacular to see both valleys but ensure there isn’t cloud cover once you’re hiking up otherwise, you’ll be sad to find yourself with your head in the clouds.

A guided tour of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake is also a fantastic option if you’d like to explore both lakes while enjoying an easier six-kilometre hike to Consolation Lakes compared to Larch Valley. This tour includes lunch, pick-up and drop-off from both Banff and Lake Louise. It costs $139.32 to be picked up in Lake Louise and $150 from Banff, as it’s further away. The trip is six hours long allowing you to get a taste of this gorgeous area in Banff National Park.

Lake Louise

Lake Louise is a gorgeous place to take lots of pictures! It has a such a beautiful backdrop! The hike to Lake Agnes Tea House and Little Beehive start to the right of Lake Louise.

Lake Agnes Tea House

Lake Agnes tea house is the shortest trail out of the two tea houses. It starts to the right of the lake past Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and heads upwards. You’ll reach Lake Agnes tea house seven kilometres later where they serve a light lunch, tea and treats. They accept Canadian and American cash or traveller’s cheques. The service returns on June 4 until October 10 from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

Food deliveries get done by helicopter at the beginning of the season otherwise the staff bring up the items. They ask you to use limited quantities of toilet paper when using the outhouses as staff will need to bring additional rolls in their backpacks. Horses share part of this trail; beware of horse poop on the trail.

Hiking to Lake Agnes & Little Beehive

Head towards Little Beehive, another kilometre away, to reach the colourful golden larches. You’ll see Lake Louise down below and if the sun hits the water at the right time it will turn into a turquoise colour making spectacular pictures between the yellow trees. This location will be perfect to capture amazing pictures!

4. Winter

When it comes to the winter season, you’ll get to enjoy skating, downhill and cross-country skiing at different locations.

Skating on Lake Louise

Skating at Lake Louise is so much fun. You can skate around an ice castle that is built yearly on a lake or participate in pick-up hockey at a different location on the same lake. Hockey skate rentals are available for $23 and sticks for $6 if you want to play hockey and don’t have your own equipment. Check out the pricing here. Four seasons in Banff National Park allow you to enjoy the gorgeous weather Lake Louise has to offer year-round, as shown on this day with the blue sky and snow-covered mountain tops. It feels magical to skate on Lake Louise. They have benches to lace up your skates and fire pits to warm up if you get cold.

Cross-Country Skiing in Lake Louise

Cross-country skiing is fantastic in Lake Louise as there are a variety of trails that vary in terrain and difficulty. The difficulty ratings are indicated by green, blue, and black trails (as shown on the map above). Generally, green indicates easy flat terrain with gentle hills. Blue trails involve some steep hills, while blacks include steeper, more challenging sections with sharp corners throughout the trails. The Lake Louise area provides many “blue”, rolling trails creating excitement for experts. Some of the trails are narrow, preventing you from creating a large pizza with your skis while going downhill, making it difficult to stop or slow down.

Tip: Be cautious when heading downhill, especially if you are new to these trails.

Otherwise, go enjoy yourself! Here are 10 reasons to love cross-country skiing!

Cross-Country Skiing to Lake Moraine

Cross-country skiing towards Moraine Lake in Banff National Park is always a pleasant ski for couples (my parents went skiing)!⁠
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Moraine Lake Road is closed to vehicle traffic in the winter. At the start of Moraine Lake Road, a parking lot is created in mid-November. It’s one of the first places that is track set for cross-country skiers in late fall. ⁠
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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 three kilometres for a total distance of twelve kilometres. ⁠
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An avalanche danger sign is posted before the descent, near kilometre nine 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 nine at the end of the track setting.⁠
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Moraine Lake Road is a gorgeous option for skiing. It’s considered easy to moderate (due to its length) with a nice track to start getting fit for the season. ⁠

Downhill Skiing at Sunshine

Downhill skiing at Sunshine offers a variety of runs with varying difficulty. The views are spectacular so don’t forget to look around and appreciate the scenery! They tend to get lots of snow being higher up in elevation making it busier as it attracts more people but on the plus side, it’s easier to find powder for an awesome day of skiing! They have runs that go straight down as well as bowls so make sure to keep your momentum up so you don’t end up stuck on a run. The bowls can get busy as well so keep a look out for people around you.

This ski hill is more exposed to the elements than Lake Louise will less tree coverage in some areas and skiers can get cold quickly at the top of runs or on chairlifts due to cold bursts of wind.

Tip: Make sure to bring appropriate clothing to stay warm. Hand and feet warmers are an excellent way to remain cozy throughout the day.

Basecamp Resorts Canmore offers an awesome place to stay close to Sunshine, accommodating up to eight people.

Downhill Skiing at Lake Louise

Four seasons in Banff National Park allow the best downhill ski day in Lake Louise with your partner wherever you choose on the mountain. There are a variety of different runs on the front side. That slope is typically busier than the back side with more people wanting to stay there and not venturing further. Due to this, the chair lifts are packed and it can take a long time to get everyone loaded onto the chair lift and gondola to go skiing. However, if you choose to head to the backside, head to Larch Mountain. Typically, there are 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.

The Hi Lake Louise Hostel is a wonderful place to stay. It’s the cheapest accommodation in town and offers private rooms with ensuites for those interested.

Here’s the link to download the ski & travel essentials.

Check out the printables Workshop or the Seasonal Products Secrets E-book to make printables.

Final Thoughts

Now that you’ve seen possible adventures for four seasons in Banff National Park, are you ready to plan a trip? Where do you want to go and what do you want to do? Will you choose spring when everything is coming back to life or summer when the weather tends to be warmer? The fall season is a spectacular time to see the larches change to a golden colour. It offers the opportunity to capture some gorgeous pictures! Winter offers different activities such as skating on Lake Louise with a gorgeous backdrop, cross-country skiing on fun rolling hills or downhill skiing on fresh powder in the Canadian Rockies. There is so much fun to be had, what are you waiting for? Time to go plan your trip!

Other Useful Links

• 5 Best Websites to Book Your Trip
• 5 Awesome Outdoor Skating Rinks
• 9 Extraordinary Winter Wonderland Banff National Park Activities
• Review: Olang Parigi 2.0 Spike Boot
• 4 Best Larch Hikes