When you are out exploring in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, you never experience the same location all year round! Once a season changes, the location you once visited can look completely different! I have lived in Alberta my whole life and I had no idea some of these insane Winter locations existed!
In this blog, I’m going to show you a few of my top places to visit in Canada! I will also go over different Winter activities you can do at each one to make your experience seamless - Even in the cold!
If you are planning a trip to Canada, be sure to check out the below blog for a seamless experience when you visit
Complete 1-week travel guide to the Canadian Rocky Mountains
There are a few things to consider and know before you start any adventure, especially in the Winter
1. Check the weather - A calm morning could turn into a blizzard within minutes! You always want to make sure you don’t just check the overall temperature for the day, but really dive into the details.
Wind Report
Snowfall Report
Road Report
Warnings
High, Low Temperatures
Visibility
Sunrise/Sunset time
3. The power of layers - With frequent temperature changes it is important to make sure you are prepared for any situation! Things can take a turn at any second so be sure you have multiple layers to keep you warm! It is always easy to take some off, opposed to putting some on you don’t have!
Always remember to make a checklist before you leave your house, that way you don’t forget anything!
Touque
Face Mask/Face Covering
Ear Muffs + Ear Muffs
Jacket + Sweater
Under-Layer
Thermal Pants + Snow Pants
Socks + Extra Socks
Hand Warmers + Feet Warmers
2. Activities - Try to consider a few activities you would like to do before heading out on your trip! This will allow you to check the open times of certain rental stores so you don’t have to wait for things to open last minute! OR even worse, forget some equipment at your house.
Skates
Snow Shoes
Cross Country Ski/Split Board
Rental Option
Gear up: Affordable and quick, they are located in Canmore which is very central to a lot of the locations below
4. Leave no trace principles - There are 7 specific rules that each person must follow while outdoors. These rules are put in place to ensure we can preserve these locations for generations to come.
There are so many times that I travel to locations and find garbage on hikes, or in common visitor areas! I always like to bring an extra bag with me to clean up any items I find along the route!
My motto: “Leave an area better than how you found it”
Prepare and Plan ahead
Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
Dispose of Waste Properly
Leave What You Find
Minimize Campfire Impacts
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
LAKE MINNEWANKA
The first location I always like to go to when I start a road trip is Lake Minnewanka! This lake is about 15 minutes from Banff with spectacular views along the entire drive. During the winter this places changes from a giant open lake to a frozen skating rink! You can either enjoy tons of nature walks around the area or skate for miles with mountains surrounding you the entire time!
If you catch Lake Minnewanka on a day between December - February you might get lucky enough to see the lake fully frozen, with no snow! This means clear reflective ice; such a magical experience!
Best time to visit: Mid-day - Sunset
Activities: Skating, Nature walks, Cross Country Skiing/Split board, Snowshoeing
Bathrooms: Yes
Service: Spotty - but yes
NUMA FALLS
Numa Falls is a beautiful place to start your day! Not only is it away from the city, but you are secluded in the forest with these rushing falls seen for miles! This place is wonderful for snowshoeing as the snow builds up heavily in this part of the Rocky Mountains! Some may say it’s just a short walk, but it just depends on what you want to do! You can travel down the highway with snowshoes and gaze upon the mountain views, or drive up and walk two minutes to the Falls - or BOTH! Either way, it’s defiantly not a day that will disappoint!
This location is only found 40 minutes away from Banff and typically in Winter, it’s not very busy! The portion of the lake that is flowing in these photos never freezes! The color is a vibrant blue, especially against the white snow!
Best time to visit: Sunrise, Mid-day
Activities: Snowshoeing, Cross Country Skiing/Split Boarding
Bathrooms: Yes
Service: No
ICEFIELD PARKWAY
The Icefield Parkway is a span of road leading from just after Lake Louise, all the way to Jasper! Even if it’s too cold to get outside, you will always enjoy a drive down here. There are mountains close to the road in either direction, ever-changing views each glance you take and multiple spots to get out and walk around along the way!
The Icefield Parkway is 232Km in total so make sure you have a full tank of gas before heading out, there are no gas stations on this road and no service!
Check out my Icefield Parkway Guide to learn more about what you can see here!
Best time to visit: Mid-day
Activities: Cross Country skiing/Split Boarding, Snowshoeing, Lookout spots
Bathrooms: Varied throughout the drive
Service: No
abraham lake
This place is one of my favourite places to visit in Winter because it’s a place I didn't know could possibly exist! With methane bubbles spotted throughout the entire surface of this lake it is truly one of the most unique places to visit in canada. Bring your skates, snowshoes, or cross country skies because this place will occupy your time for hours. You can skate from one end of the lake to the other when it is completely frozen!The further you go the more sights you will see
Before you go to this location make sure you check the weather! This spot is known for having insane wind conditions and would be a lot more enjoyable if you plan ahead and go on a calm day!
Best time to visit: Sunrise, Mid-day
Activities: Skating, Cross Country skiing/Split Boarding, Snowshoeing
Bathrooms: No
Service: No
PEYTO LAKE
Have you ever seen a Lake in the shape of a wolf and wonder where it was located? It is Peyto Lake located in Alberta Canada! You can go check out several lookout points at this location during the Winter! Each trail will take you in a new direction to a spot with with infinite views! If you pause you can hear the rushing water from the bottom and the soft crunching of footprints in the distance from other visitors! It is only a short 15 minute hike to the first point and I promise it is well worth the walk!
Try to visit this location between November and December to get conditions where everything is covered in snow and the lake isn’t frozen yet!
Best time to visit: Sunrise, Mid-day
Activities: Cross Country skiing/Split Boarding, Snowshoeing
Bathrooms: Yes
Service: No
Emerald lake
I feel like I’m saying each place is my favourite but that’s because these literally are! Emerald lake is such a beautiful location. There is a lake that spans for miles, long tall trees frosted with snow and a wooden cabin that lights up as soon as the sun goes down! When you go to visit this location you will turn off the highway and take a side road for about 15 minutes until you arrive here. The road has amazing views of mountains and in the morning or at sunset you’ll notice each peak is dipped in orange and pink!
Emerald lake is widely known for canoeing, hikes and going for picnics in Summertime but what a lot of people don’t know is that Winter has just as many activities and they are completely different. You can take your cross country ski’s and trek through the forest for hours, take a nice walk to see each view or walk into the Lodge and enjoy a nice meal while you watch sunset
Best time to visit: Sunrise, Mid-day, Sunset
Activities: Cross Country skiing/Split Boarding, Snowshoeing
Bathrooms: Yes
Service: No
Lake Louise
Have you heard of Lake Louise? Lake Louise is a very popular tourist destination in Canada! It is home to tall mountains, forests, and the Lake Louise Lodge! In winter you can venture out to the other side of the Lake, without having to pay for a canoe rental, it is completely free! The views from either end will take your breath away. Make sure you dress warm, pack your skates and get ready for a fun day in the mountains.
In the Winter you might come across an amazing ice sculpture located right in front of the Lodge, on the frozen Lake!! They create a new design each year which always attracts new visitors
Best time to visit: Sunrise, Mid-day, Sunset
Activities: Skating, Cross Country skiing/Split Boarding, Snowshoeing
Bathrooms: Yes
Service: Yes
That is it! If you are looking to have your dream getaway to Canada in Winter then these are the places you have to checkout!
I hope you guys liked the blog or if you have any questions, please feel free to add them into the comment bar below!
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