Lake Louise offers a practically endless list of things to do on your Canadian Rockies vacation. Throw in surrounding Banff National Park and Jasper, and you’re going to go crazy trying to plan your trip. Here at Discover Lake Louise, we try to parse up the info in as many ways as possible to help you plan your vacation. Here are some winter Lake Louise and vicinity vacation planning ideas to help you.

November

Lake Louise is beautiful for visiting any time of year.

Geology played a major role in making the Canadian Rockies the beautiful vacation spot they are today, and you can see a lot of the evidence of this from Lake Louise. Check out the Rocks and Gems shop in Chateau Lake Louise. Pick up a geology book to identify the fossils, although many of them are imported from other areas.

Attend an informative chat at the Lake Louise Visitor Centre on Wednesday nights. Admission is free, the lectures start at 8 p.m. and cover all sorts of Banff National Park topics.

If it has been a dry start to winter, skating on the many local lakes is a great way to spend time outdoors in November. Skating season is eagerly awaited every year but the time frame is super short because of the impending snow. Rent a pair of skates and head to Herbert Lake to glide across the mirror-like surfaces. Skating on Lake Louise only happens once every ten years or so because it takes so long for the water to freeze, the snow often comes first.

December

Go ice skating on Lake Louise. Rent skates from Monod’s in the Chateau Lake Louise and enjoy the rink cleared in front of the castle. A big bonfire is built every night between 6 and 7 and complimentary hot chocolate is served.

Bundle up for a dogsledding adventure. You will feel like a real musher after a 35 minute ride with Doug Hannah. You can make reservations at the Chateau Lake Louise.

Get out and enjoy the nightlife offered in the Lake Louise area. You don’t have to drive all the way to Banff. Dancing and socializing can be found at the Explorer’s Lounge, the Western BBQ and Dance, Torchlight Skiing, Glacier Saloon and the Outpost.

January

If you have plans to drive the Icefields, make sure you’ve got a full tank of gas, snacks and warm clothing, because there aren’t any services on the highway. You can view numerous glaciers from the highway; pick up an information packet at the Lake Louise Visitor Centre.

January temperatures plunge to some of the coldest of the season, so you probably won’t want to spend a whole lot of time out doors. Which is why this is a great time to take a drive up the Icefield Parkway and observe the Columbia Icefields.

Catch up on your reading and learn important Canadian Rockies history at the Lake Louise Visitor Centre. Cuddle up by the fireplace to escape the winter cold and learn about avalanches, park history and the native wildlife. Catch a spectacular pink sunset between 4:30 and 5 pm.

Enjoy an afternoon of ice skating and a fancy European style tea at the Post Hotel. The hotel hosts a tea every afternoon and has a beautiful skating rink tucked in next to the hotel. Enjoy fresh mountain air and experience the lap of luxury during a pleasant afternoon in Lake Louise.

February

The Lake Louise Visitor Centre hosts discussions on Wednesday nights during the month of February. They start at 8 p.m. and are free. Listen to local wildlife experts, historians and researchers give you an insiders view to Lake Louise.

Snowshoeing around Emerald Lake is only a short 40 minute drive and well worth the trip. Practice following animal tracks and don’t be afraid to venture off the trails, just stay on the flats and away from the slopes for safety. After a fun day of snowshoeing, stop by the historic Emerald Lake Lodge for lunch or a hot chocolate to warm up.

Bundle up for a horse-drawn sleigh ride along the shores of Lake Louise. You can purchase your tickets for about $15 for adults at the Brewster desk in the Chateau Lake Louise. At the lake you may see ice climbers practicing on the frozen waterfall or the ice sculptures from the international ice carving festival held in January.

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