Safety for a Canadian Rockies Backcountry Ski Trip: Take an Avalanche Course

The mountains of Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies are beautiful, particularly in winter when everything is draped in white. However certain backcountry areas of the mountains are avalanche prone, and backcountry snowshoers, skiers, boarders and ice climbers need to be knowledgeable about avalanche safety.

Yamnuska Mountain Adventures offer avalanche courses that follow curriculums established by the Canadian Avalanche Centre and will significantly improve your safety margins. Yamnuska courses are taught by a core staff of senior full-time certified guides and professional members of the Canadian Avalanche Association. Private training courses are also available.

click here for

Yamnuska Mountain Adventures

200 – 50 Lincoln Park
Canmore, Alberta, Canada

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2. Wilderness First Aid Courses
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In the Canadian Rockies Summer there is Rock Climbing. In Winter it’s Ice Climbing

You’ve heard of rock climbing and mountaineering, and there is plenty of both here in Banff National Park and the heart of the Canadian Rockies. But in winter time, the climbing doesn’t stop for some people, and if you’re interested, you can go ice climbing too.

Ice climbing is just what it sounds like – using ropes and protection to climb ice, as opposed to rock.

There are two different types of ice, so to speak, when it comes to ice climbing, and you can find both in the Canadian Rockies: alpine ice and water ice. Alpine is ice is just what it sounds like: frozen water on the side of a mountain formed by precipitation. Water ice – yes, we know all ice is water ice, but we’re talking about ice climbing here, not grade school science class – is water frozen in a flowing formation, usually a waterfall.

With all of the mountains, the long alpine winters, and all of the rivers, lakes and consequently water falls to be found in the Canadian Rockies, ice climbers are spoiled for choice here. There are many guiding companies that will be happy to take you out for a day of ice climbing around Banff, Lake Louise, Canmore or Jasper.

We can recommend Banff Travel; the adventure specialists there can arrange half or full day lessons and ice climbs for everyone from beginner to advanced. They work with guides who will take you to climbing locations including Grassi Lakes , King Creek, Haffner Creek and Johnston Canyon; where you go depends on how challenging of a climb you are looking for. Don’t worry; Banff Travel will provide boots, crampons, ice tools, harness and helmet; you just have to bring your sense of adventure and fun.

We can also recommend Yamnuska Mountain Adventures for an ice climbing adventure in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains. The experts at Yamnuska offer both instruction programs as well as private guided climbs for beginners, intermediate and advanced climbers. Sign up for day, weekend, and five-day courses, as an individual or a group/family. Yamnuska also offers ice climbing as part of its three-month Yamnuska Mountain Skills Semester program.

click here for Yamnuska Mountain Adventures 200 – 50 Lincoln Park Canmore, Alberta
click here for Banff Travel call toll free: 888-659-3394 211 Bear Street Bison Courtyard Banff, Alberta

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1. Rock Climbing Banff National Park
2. Ski Mountaineering in Banff
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Looking for Virgin Powder? Ski Runs Through Old-Growth Forests? Try Heli-Ski Trips in the Canadian Rockies

No, we’re not talking Southern California slang; this is heli-skiing, not hella-skiing (although we’ve got that here in Banff National Park too). No, heli-skiing is off-trail skiing – skiing that isn’t accessible by a chairlift, but a helicopter – and the same for heli-boarding, too.

Why heli-ski, especially when we’ve got such great skiing right here in Banff National Park? Much of it just down the road from the towns of Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper? Well, you kind of answered your own question.

Heli-skiers and boarders like to get away from ski resorts where conditions are tightly controlled – you can’t get fresh powder that’s any fresher than powder that’s never been skied upon!

Add to this long descents, steep slopes, natural terrain, old-growth forests, and its becomes harder to find a more natural and adventurous ski environment. Needless to say, heli-ski and heli-board runs are for intermediate and advanced skiers and boarders.

Typically here in Canada a heli-ski tour package will include a number of runs during the day; the helicopter takes you back up to the top of the mountain once you ski down.

We can recommend Banff Travel; these adventure specialists can arrange trips in the pristine Purcell Mountains where you’ll find untracked powder, shaded tree runs and surrounding scenic glaciers. Now that’s skiing!

Click here for more information on Banff activities, boutique hotels, resorts and other accommodations.

click here for
Banff Travel

call toll free: 888-659-3394

211 Bear Street Bison Courtyard Banff, Alberta

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1. Canadian Rockies Heli-Tours
2. Heli-Hiking Banff National Park
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You Haven’t Seen the Canadian Rockies Until You’ve Seen Them from a Helicopter

The natural, scenic beauty of the Canadian Rockies in unparalleled, and one of the best and most accessible ways of seeing that alpine scenery – not to mention the most dramatic and exhilarating – is via helicopter. Helicopter tours in and around Banff and Jasper National Parks offer an alternative view of the mountains, one you simply can’t get from the ground.

Furthermore, if you don’t have time for an entire day’s hike, or are otherwise unable to hike far, then a helicopter tour is an option for you. Ground that would take eight hours to cover on foot can be covered in a matter of minutes in a helicopter.

Whether you simply want a quick peek at the peaks of the Canadian Rockies from above or something longer, you can also tailor your trip with most heli-tour operators; there are a number based in and around Banff, Jasper, and Canmore.

Helicopter tours also offer a unique experience if you are planning a wedding or honeymoon in Banff National Park or elsewhere in the Canadian Rockies. Of course you couldn’t pick a more beautiful place to get married than Banff!

You can arrange a number of helicopter tours through Banff Travel Unlimted; tours are available year around.

Click here for more information on Banff activities, boutique hotels, resorts and other accommodations.

click here for
Banff Travel

call toll free: 888-659-3394

211 Bear Street
Bison Courtyard
Banff, Alberta

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2. Canadian Rockies ATV Tours
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Bunny Slopes, Black Diamond Thrills and Everything in Between at Lake Louise Ski Area in the Canadian Rockies

Of course if you’re in Lake Louise and want to ski, you can just stay here: the Lake Louise Ski Area is perhaps the most expansive of the Big 3 ski resorts in Banff National Park. The resort comprises 4,200 acres of alpine skiing above the village of Lake Louise (which lies just to the southwest), spread across the southern slopes of the Merlin Ridge of the Slate Range in the Canadian Rockies, surrounded by Mount Richardson, Ptarmigan Peak, Pika Peak and Redoubt Mountain.

Those 4,200 acres contain 139 ski runs and back bowls across four mountain faces; snowboarders have access to all trails including the Showtime Terrain Park. The vertical drop of the runs from the highest point is 991 meters; the longest run is 8 kilometers – there is more terrain here than one could ski in a week, according to the resort’s operators.

Of course the easiest way arrange ski outing in Lake Louise, whether you need equipment rental, transportation or lift tickets, is to head to Banff Travel. The adventure specialists there will fix you up for any skiing destination in Banff National Park.

Some 25 percent of the ski runs are beginner slopes; 45 percent are considered intermediate, and the remaining 30 percent are advanced, comprising chutes, glades, gullies and remote bowls in some of the most technical terrain in North America – all the black diamond adrenaline you could want. The Terrain Park is designed for skiers and boarders of all levels. There are seven ski lifts, a magic carpet and a gondola servicing the slopes; there is at least one green run accessible from each of these.

The Showtime Terrain Park has seen some changes this year as well, according to the Lake Louise Ski Area operators. Covering more terrain than before with a smoother transition between features, in includes jibs, jumps, and rails for every level skier and border. The resort is also constructing a skier/boarder cross coarse.

The resort also features four full service day lodges are operational during winter. There are no overnight accommodations at the Ski Area itself, however there are plenty of lodging options including resorts and boutique hotels in the village of Lake Louise, just a few kilometers away. A complimentary bus service operates between Lake Louise Ski Area and the Lake Louise Inn, Post Hotel and the Chateau Lake Louise during the ski season, as well.

Of course the easiest way arrange a ski outing in Lake Louise, whether you need equipment rental, transportation or lift tickets, is to head to Banff Travel. The adventure specialists there will fix you up for any skiing destination in Banff National Park.

Click here for more information on Banff activities, boutique hotels, resorts and other accommodations.

click here for
Banff Travel

call toll free: 888-659-3394

211 Bear Street
Bison Courtyard
Banff, Alberta

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1. Skiing in Banff National Park
2. Banff Heli-Ski and Heli-Board
3. Ski Lake Louise, Banff

Snowshoeing: Hike the Canadian Rockies’ Banff National Park the Old-School Way

Back in the old days, before there were horses in North America, there was only one way to get around during winter, and that was to walk. Even after European explorers brought horses, often the only way to get around during the months of heavy snow was to walk with the aid of snowshoes.

Today, of course, you don’t need to strap on snowshoes and hit the trail to enjoy the alpine wonderland that Banff National Park becomes in winter – but it is a nevertheless excellent way to enjoy the winter scenery up close. If you want to see the beauty of the Canadian Rockies wilderness in an authentic, traditional way, you can’t get much better than snowshoeing. It’s also an excellent opportunity for viewing wildlife of the area.

And remember, you don’t need instructions or experience – if you can walk, you can snowshoe – and you don’t even need any special gear (other than the snowshoes, of course). Like hiking, you can pick a trail that’s as easy and relaxing or as challenging and strenuous as you like. And there’s something spiritual about the mountain wilderness in wintertime, between quiet, the solitude, and the clean, fresh air. …

Snow-shoe season generally starts in December and lasts through late March. With the multitude of trails in and around Banff town, here in Lake Louise and elsewhere in Banff National Park, there’s no end of possibilities for snowshoeing once the snow falls. Please see the hiking sections for detailed suggestions.

But please be advised: a number of trails in the park are groomed specifically for cross-country skiing. If trails are marked or groomed for cross country skiing, please observe expected courtesy and avoid walking or snowshoeing on those trails.

If you don’t want to go it alone, however, there are a number of tour operators who offer guided snowshoe trips (they also provide snowshoe rental). We can recommend the experienced winter sports guides at Banff Travel; they can provide you with whatever you need for your snowshoeing adventure: gear, guides and advice.

As with all mountain activities, it is important to be prepared before you set out to snowshoe. If you have questions about gear, trail etiquette, wildlife, and avalanche safety, please consult Parks Canada.

If you are looking for a guide or equipment rental for your snowshoeing adventure in the Canadian Rockies, consult the specialists at Banff Travel.

Click here for more information on Banff activities, boutique hotels, resorts and other accommodations.

click here for
Banff Travel

call toll free: 888-659-3394

211 Bear Street
Bison Courtyard
Banff, Alberta

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Enjoy the Beauty of the Wintery Canadian Rockies the Old-Fashioned Way: With a Horse-drawn Sleigh

Just hear those sleigh bells jinglin’, ring ting tinglin’ to
Come on it’s lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you
The snow is fallin’ and friends are callin’ “you-who”
Come on it’s lovely weather for a sleigh ride together with you

Around Banff, Canada and Banff National Park, it’s not just the winter holidays that bring the lovely weather for horse-drawn sleigh rides; the season here lasts from mid December – in time for a romantic holiday of course – until early April. That’s weather- and snow-permitting of course, but then usually they are.

During the heart of these winter months the warm and cheerful sound of sleigh bells can be heard echoing through the valleys of both Banff and Lake Louise; it’s a popular pastime with both residents and visitors alike. It’s an excellent way to see the scenic winter wonderland that the Canadian Rockies become in wintertime.

Banff sleigh rides travel along the frozen Bow River and feature views of the surrounding mountains and snow filled forests. Sleigh rides start at Warner Stables on Sundance Road in the Town of Banff daily, every hour on the hour from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Rides are approximately 45 minutes in length, and advanced reservations are necessary.

Want to impress your sweetheart? You can’t beat a cozy horse-drawn sleigh through the snow, and Banff Travel will help set the mood when you book a romantic sleigh ride for two, including Bernard Callebaut chocolates, liqueurs, and an authentic buffalo robe blanket for warmth.

In Lake Louise, the Brewster Lake Louise Stables sleigh ride travels along the lakeside trail to the end of the lake, with views of the Chateau Lake Louise and spectacular mountain scenery along the way.

To arrange a horse-drawn sleigh ride in Banff National Park, including a romantic private ride, contact Banff Travel. The trip specialists there can hook you up for all your travel needs in the Canadian Rockies.

Click here for more information on Banff activities, boutique hotels, resorts and other accommodations.

click here for
Banff Travel

call toll free: 888-659-3394

211 Bear Street
Bison Courtyard
Banff, Alberta

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Indoors or Out, There is Ice Skating in and around Banff and Banff National Park

Banff, Canada and Banff National Park: you know we get plenty of snow; and not just on the mountain peaks. But there’s plenty of ice, too, to go along with the snow – and that means ice skating. Of course there is plenty of ice skating right here in Lake Louise, but if your Canadian Rockies vacation takes you to Banff, well, don’t forget your skates!

Indoor Ice Skating – Banff Ice

The Banff Recreation Centre features an indoor ice skating rink. It’s busy with the locals and professionals alike; sometimes NHL teams even come here for off-days between games in Western Canada – doesn’t get any better than a day off in Banff, eh?

The Recreation Centre’s ice rink is open for ice skating from September to April, and there are a wide range of activities and programs

• recreational public skating
• casual shinny hockey
• organized hockey for all ages and levels
• curling leagues
• figure skating

To check ice schedules, including public skate hours, call 403.762.1235

Outdoor Ice Skating

Of course, given the fact that the average temperature is well below freezing in the winter months, you can ice skate the old fashioned way, in the great outdoors. There are a multitude of ponds, rivers and lakes in and around Banff and Banff National Park, as well as artificial outdoor rinks. Skating in the outdoors is a unique experience – there is the panoramic views of the Canadian Rockies’ alpine vistas in winter, the silence of winter broken only the gentle booming sounds of the ice shifting.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be careful. On rivers, flowing water can mean the thickness of ice varies greatly from day to day. Some of the lakes in this area are fed by springs warmed by geothermal energy – making for thin spots in otherwise solid ice.

Throughout the winter, as conditions permit, there is a track cleared for skating on the Bow River, accessible from Central Park in downtown Banff. Please be aware this not a maintained rink, and that river flow may impact the ice’s thickness and relative safety of the ice on a day-to-day basis.

Other outdoor ice skating spots include:

• Forty-Mile Creek to Vermilion Lakes
• Johnson Lake
• Two Jack Lake
• Lake Minnewanka

You can get more information from the Parks Canada website about ice skating outdoors in Banff National Park, including places to avoid.

In Banff town there is also a spot behind the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, just past the Bow Falls Parking lot on Spray Avenue. There is a covered changing area for putting on skates, a contained bonfire, benches and picnic tables; it’s open from December to March, weather permitting.

You can call Banff Community Services at 403.762.1251 to check on other outdoor rinks.

Here in Lake Louise, there is a cleared rink with a bonfire area in front of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise from November through April.

Click here to check availability or make reservations for either Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise or Fairmont Banff Springs.

Click here for more information on Banff activities, boutique hotels, resorts and other accommodations.

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Taste Olympic Cross Country Skiing at Canmore, or Take it Easy Just Outside Banff in Canada’s Rocky Mountains

The area in and around Banff, Canada and elsewhere in Banff National Park features some of the best walks and hikes of anywhere in the Canadian Rockies, when it comes to scenic beauty. Whether you are looking for a short, easy day hike or a multi-day trek through unspoiled wilderness, there is a trail for you here – in the summer.

In the wintertime, when snow blankets the ground, these hiking trails are transformed into some of the greatest cross-country skiing – or Nordic skiing, if you prefer – in the world. Whatever you’re looking for, it’s not far from Banff, be it classic track-set cross-country and groomed skate-skiing trails, or untracked backcountry trails, hut-to-hut traverses,  telemark slopes and rugged ski mountaineering routes.

For most recreational skiers, the cross-country ski season runs from December through March here in Banff National Park. But the snow begins to fall in earnest in November by the middle of the month our local Nordic skiers and competitive athletes are usually hitting the trails, particularly those north of Banff.

Easy-to-moderate cross-country trails in or near Banff:

• Cascade Fire Road, from the Lake Minnewanka parking lot
• Spray River Loop, from the Banff Springs Hotel trailhead
• Sundance Canyon, starting from Cave and Basin Historic Site
• Banff Springs Golf Course, from the Bow Falls parking lot
• Bow River, from the Canoe Docks

Of course if you want to stay in Lake Louise, there are plenty of trails for great Nordic skiing, which will not only give you a great workout, but let you enjoy the beautiful alpine scenery of the Canadian Rockies in winter.

Popular trails in Lake Louise:

• Moraine Lake Road
• The Great Divide (Highway 1A)
• Bow River Loop, starting near the Station Restaurant
• There is also a series of scenic cross-country trails accessible from the top of the Sunshine
• Village Gondola (note that there is a fee for the gondola ride).

If you need assistance arranging a cross country ski outing in Banff National Park, whether you need equipment rental, transportation or a guide for a long hut-to-hut ski tour, contact either Banff Travel or Yamnuska Mountain Adventures. These adventure specialists will fix you up with whatever you need for your Nordic adventure in the Canadian Rockies.

click here for Yamnuska Mountain Adventures 200 – 50 Lincoln Park Canmore, Alberta
click here for Banff Travel call toll free: 888-659-3394 211 Bear Street Bison Courtyard Banff, Alberta

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1. Ski Mountaineering in Banff
2. Skiing in Banff National Park
3. Snowshoeing in Banff

Ski or Snowboard the Big 3: Downhill in the Canadian Rockies’ Banff National Park

So, you like to ski, or snowboard, or both. Well then, we’ve got nearly 8,000 acres of skiable terrain; dry, light powder; and one of the longest ski seasons in the North American continent: from mid November to late May. Yes, you can spend half the year here on the slopes!

The Canadian Rockies, and in particular Banff town and the village of Lake Louise, are meccas for skiers and boarders from all over the world who come here to enjoy and ski Banff National Park’s Big Three — three world-class ski resorts, that is: Mount Norquay, The Lake Louise Ski Area and Sunshine Village. There is something for everyone here, from gentle bunny slopes for you greenhorns, to some of the most extreme in-bounds alpine skiing to be found anywhere in the world.

You don’t even have to bring your own gear; you can rent downhill ski and snowboard equipment from several gear rental outlets in Banff and Lake Louise, as well as at the resorts. But if you do bring your own skis, boots or board, these same places offer technician services for tuning and repairs.

Now we know after you check out the following links on these three excellent ski venues, you are going to have a tough time deciding which place to go. People around here have the same problem. But not to worry: Tri-Area Lift Tickets are available, offering unlimited access to Mount Norquay, Lake Louise Ski Area and Sunshine Village; night skiing at Mount Norquay (January to March); and return shuttle transportation between many hotels and the resorts.

Pretty sweet, huh? Banff National Park is the perfect place for your winter skiing or snowboarding vacation or holiday getaway.

Getting Around the Slopes

Shuttle transportation is available between the ski resorts and many hotels in Banff and Lake Louise, and as mentioned above shuttle bus service is included in the cost of Tri-Area tickets. If you don’t spring for a Tri-Area Lift Ticket, bus fares are additional. Check with your hotel or resort, however; some Lake Louise hotels offer complimentary shuttle services to Lake Louise Ski Area. If you are staying at Sunshine Village, well, its got on-hill accommodations.

Of course the easiest option to arrange all of your skiing needs, be it equipment rental, transportation or lift tickets, is head to Banff Travel. The adventure specialists there will fix you up for any skiing destination in Banff National Park.

For More Info on Skiing the Big 3
in Banff National Park:

• Ski Mount Norquay
• Ski Sunshine Village
• Lake Louise Ski Area

If you need a guide or an outfiitter for your skiing vacation in Banff National Park or a Canadian Rockies getaway, we can recommend Banff Travel.

Click here for more things to do in Banff.

Click here for more information on Banff activities, boutique hotels, resorts and other accommodations.

click here for
Banff Travel

call toll free: 888-659-3394

211 Bear Street
Bison Courtyard
Banff, Alberta

Related posts:

1. Ski Mount Norquay
2. Nordic Skiing in Banff
3. Lake Louise Ski Area