Monday, January 15, 2018

The BEST of Winter in the Canadian Rockies - updated 2022

Discover the best ski trails, winter getaways, sledding hills, festivals, and all things magical in the Canadian Rockies this winter. Go snowshoeing, skate on a wild mountain lake, or explore frozen waterfalls! This is the guide you'll need.

The BEST of Winter in the Canadian Rockies

Read this guide AND make sure you don't miss anything:

Make sure you're following my facebook page and follow my instagram account to see what we're up to each week, and make sure you're subscribed to receive an email each time I publish a new post (so you don't miss anything) - right sidebar, "get new posts by email."

Winter is AWESOME when you know where to go

I also recommend saving this post (Pinterest is your friend here) so you can find it again next winter, because I plan to add to it anytime I discover something new and awesome.

This guide has been updated for winter 2021-22 



The Best of Winter in the Canadian Rockies 


Festivals 


1. Attend the Ice Magic Festival in Lake Louise at the end of January

2. Attend Fun Family-Friendly Events at Snow Days in Banff in January




Ice Magic Festival at Lake Louise

Ice Adventures


1. Go Skating on a Frozen Lake (The Banff Lake Tourism site has several suggestions.)

2. Experience Wild Mountain Lake Skating (The real deal, not groomed or cleared)

Skating on Johnson Lake in Banff (usually in condition by mid-November)


3. Plan a Trip to Invermere, BC, to Skate The World's Longest Skating Trail on Lake Windermere
    with over 30 kilometres of ice cleared for skating
Read: Winter Guide to the Columbia Valley (Golden, Radium Hot Springs, Invermere, and beyond)  

4. Hike a Frozen Canyon or Visit a Frozen Waterfall in Kananaskis or Banff

Frozen waterfalls are a magical discovery!


5. Head North to Jasper National Park to Hike Frozen Maligne Canyon 

6. Go Find the Fish Creek Provincial Park Ice Falls in Calgary


Family ice climbing (the real deal!)


Winter Hiking, Snowshoeing, and Snowy Fun



1. Make a Snow Fort, Tunnel, or Quinzee (think igloo or snow house)

2. Discover how much Fun Winter Hiking is! Check out my winter hiking guide here.)

          And Read: 10 Winter Walks and Hikes to Enjoy with your Family in Kananaskis

Winter hiking is a BLAST with kids!

3. Go Snowshoeing in Kananaskis (Check out my Family Snowshoeing Super Guide)

4. Explore the Trails in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Kananaskis 
Read: Winter Adventures in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park 

5. Go Sledding at the Canmore Nordic Centre (The sledding hill is free!)

6. Visit one of the local Ski Resort Tube Parks in or near Calgary
Read: Family Tube Park Review (Calgary, Kananaskis, Banff, and Lake Louise)


The Canmore Nordic Centre has the BEST Sledding Hill (and it's free)

Cross-country Skiing 


1. Learn to Cross Country Ski at the Canmore Nordic Centre 

2. Discover the Best Cross-Country Ski Tails near Calgary in Kananaskis or Banff 
Read: Family Cross Country Ski Trips  - our favourite destinations near Calgary 

Read: The Best Beginner Cross-country Ski Trails near Calgary  

          Read:  Cross-country Skiing along the Highway 1A in Banff: Baker Creek to Castle Junction

Read: Ten Reasons to Try Cross-country Skiing with your Family  

          Read: The Best Early Season Trails for Cross-country Skiing near Calgary  

          Read: Exploring Ribbon Creek in Kananaskis (On Skis!) 

          Read: Climbing Mountains with Kids - On Skis! (Skogan Pass, Kananaskis)


Blueberry Hill Lookout, Peter Lougheed Provincial Park 


3. Try Backcountry Ski Touring as a Family (Featured: Chester Lake, Kananaskis)

4. Find a Snowshoe Trail - And go SKIING (Featured: Boom Lake Trail, Banff)

5. Go Ski Touring in Banff National Park (Featured: Paradise Valley and Ross Lake)

Cross-country ski touring in Paradise Valley at Lake Louise 

6. Visit Lake Louise for an affordable cross-country ski weekend

Read: Family Cross Country Skiing at Lake Louise  (our favourite trails)

Read: Affordable Ski Weekends at Lake Louise 


Cross-country skiing on Lake Louise


And connect with other skiers here: Cross Country Skiing YYC on Facebook.  


Kananaskis Fire Lookout in November, Peter Lougheed Provincial Park 


Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding 


1. Spend a Day on the Ski Slopes at Calgary's Closest Mountain, Nakiska Ski Area in Kananaskis

2. Spend the day skiing, tubing, or trying luge at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary

Skiing close to home at WinSport's Canada Olympic Park 

3. Ski Sunshine Village AND stay overnight! 

4. Discover why families love skiing at Lake Louise


Spring Skiing at Sunshine Village in Banff 


5. Plan a Family Downhill Ski Weekend at Fernie Alpine Resort

Read: 5 Reasons for Families to Love Fernie Alpine Resort

Read: The Key to Successful Family Ski Weekends at Fernie Alpine Resort

Read: Top 5 Things to do with your Family in Fernie this Winter 


Epic ski weekends start at Fernie Alpine Resort


6. Go Ski Tripping across the Columbia Valley in BC

Read: Treat your Family to a Ski Getaway at Panorama Mountain Resort this Winter 
Read: Panorama Mountain Resort  (much more than downhill skiing)

 

 

 

 Read: 5 Reasons to Visit Golden, BC this Winter (Kicking Horse Resort) 

 

Ski Days at Panorama Mountain Resort are magical!


7 Travel North to Ski Marmot Basin Resort in Jasper National Park

8. Travel South to ski Castle Mountain - and read about our Epic Family Ski Weekend at Castle Mountain Resort here.

            Also read: Big Mountain Skiing, Small Hill Charm at Castle Mountain Resort 

9. Travel West to Ski Revelstoke Mountain Resort - and read about our trip here: Family Ski Guide to Revelstoke Mountain Resort 

Extreme skiing starts at Castle Mountain Resort in Southern Alberta 

Backcountry and Wilderness Adventures 



1. Try Winter Camping (without sleeping in a tent) and ski or hike into a backcountry cabin

2. Spend a Night Winter Yurt Camping at Mount Engadine Lodge

3. Try glamping at Mount Engadine Lodge in a canvas tent 

Winter Backcountry Cabin Camping is a very cool experience!


4. Spend a weekend on the Remote Icefields Parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper 

5. Spend a Weekend at Hilda Creek on the Icefields Parkway

6. Discover solitude at the HI Mosquito Creek Wilderness Hostel in Banff 

7. Ski or Hike into a Backcountry Lodge in Banff National Park





The HI Hilda Creek Wilderness Hostel in Banff National Park

Fat Biking 



1. Try Fat Biking at Nipika Mountain Resort near Radium Hot Springs, BC

2. Try Fat Biking at Kananaskis Village

Fat Biking at Nipika Mountain Resort



Explore Alberta's Provincial Parks 


1. Discover Why Calgarians LOVE Day Trips to Kananaskis Village.

2. Enjoy the BEST Family Winter Fun in Cypress Hills Provincial Park

Spend a Day in one of Alberta's Provincial Parks this Winter


Cypress Hills Luge Track in Southern Alberta

Winter Road Trips 



1. Explore the Northern Canadian Rockies on a Winter Road Trip! North to Jasper National Park

2. Discover Yoho National Park and Magical Emerald Lake in Winter

3. Travel South to experience Winter in Waterton Lakes National Park in winter

4. Go Ski Tripping through the BC Kootenay Rockies and discover the best of the Columbia Valley in winter

5. Hot springs, wildlife, and hiking - Discover the best of winter in Radium Hot Springs, BC 

Exploring the Natural Bridge near Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park 




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