23 Unique Winter Activities in Banff for Non-Skiers (2025 Guide)

Banff National Park is a playground for winter enthusiasts. Most keen skiers and snowboarders head to this ski resort town to experience the incredible runs on Mt. Norquay, Sunshine Village, and Lake Louise. However, this little mountain town has so much more to offer and is an adventure hub for non-skiers. This article is going to show you 23 of the best winter activities in Banff. 

Winter in Banff Canada is a long one, with the season lasting from November to April. The average snowfall per year is 174 inches (442cm). On my birthday in March 2024, we received 30cm of snow for my 30th, and it was epic! 

As a non-skier, visiting places like these can be a daunting task, but Banff National Park has winter activities for everyone, from thrilling snowtubing adventures to walks in serene winter landscapes. There is something for everyone to enjoy. 

Unique things to do in Banff in winter

As Banff is a popular winter travel destination, it’s best to book some of your winter experiences in advance to avoid disappointment. 

Banff National Park also puts on a range of unique events throughout the winter to make your trip extra magical.

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Snowshoeing in Banff 

If you are coming to Banff in winter, chances are you want to do snow activities in Banff!

Snowshoeing has been around for centuries, as it is an easier way to trek over snow. It is less tiring and faster to get over the winter landscape. 

This fun winter activity gets you wandering off the beaten track in a safe and controlled environment. There are many different routes to choose from, but I suggest going on a guided snowshoeing tour if you are unfamiliar with avalanche safety.

I highly recommend the Sunshine Meadows Top of the World tour. This beautiful route has you hiking above the clouds in Sunshine Village with fresh powder on the ground and mountains all around you. 

You will be blown away by its beauty.

Dog Sledding 

Dog sledding is a unique way to see Banff National Park. Not only do you get to meet a dozen gorgeous fluffy doggos, but you also get to experience the winter in a fun, fast, and exhilarating way. 

You and your energetic, fluffy guides will go through breathtaking scenery of snow-covered forests, frozen lakes, and towering mountains. 

You will be accompanied by an experienced musher who will be controlling the sled and who will have years of local area knowledge.

Snowtubing 

The BEST and only place to snow tube, in my opinion, is Mount Norquay! 

Mount Norquay houses the longest tubing lanes in the whole of Alberta. 

Although Mount Norquay is the smallest of the 3 ski resorts, it is steep, which makes it excellent for snow tubing. 

Snowtubing can be done as a single or with friends. You will either have one rubber ring or four strapped together. You can pick your experience based on how fast you want to go. 

The Mount Norquay staff can help choose your run based on your preferences.

Fat biking in Banff 

Biking around Banff and Lake Louise doesn’t have to stop because snow is on the ground. 

Fat biking tyres give you traction on the slippery snow, making it easy to adventure around town or further afield. 

Some easy fat biking trails that take between 1-3 hours to look into are: 

• The Great Divide
• Sundance Canyon
• Spray River East Trail

You can rent a fat bike in Banff from: 

• Snowtips Backtraxx 
• Black Diamond rentals 
• Banff Cycle and Sport 

These bikes start from $35 CAD. 

If you prefer a guided tour with a trusted local, check this tour out.

Helicopter ride over the National Park

A once-in-a-lifetime Banff winter activity you can do is helicoptering over the national park. 

Depending on your itinerary, you can either go to Alpine Helicopters in Canmore, which do tours over the Three Sisters, Mount Assiniboine, the Continental Divide, or Marvel Pass. These trips range from 25 minutes to 55 minutes and cost between $320 and $900. 

These views are jaw-dropping with snow-capped mountains and miles and miles of winter wonderland to see; it is an activity everyone needs to experience at least once. 

If you want to make a full day out of this activity, you can go with Rockies Heli Canada, which is a 10-minute drive from the Abraham Lakes bubble viewpoint. Along the Icefield Parkway, you can stop off at Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, and the Saskatchewan River crossing before stepping onto the helipad. 

The Rockies Heli experience gets partnered with snowshoeing, where you can land with 6 glaciers surrounding you and walk around whilst enjoying a hot chocolate. 

These tours range from 20 minutes to 55 minutes and cost between $329 and $870. 

I went on the Rockies Heli adventure at a heavily discounted price with the Banff brand ambassador pass and had an amazing time. The team went above and beyond as we had to cut our flight time short due to weather. 

Check out the Banff Happy Hours.

Ok, so this is more of an all-year activity rather than a winter activity, but one of the many amazing things about Banff is their wide range of happy hours. 

From tacos to sushi to cheese fondue, Banff’s list of restaurants will have you spoilt for choice!

My top happy hour recommendations are: 

Anejos

• Restaurant type: Mexican
• Happy hour is from 3pm to 5pm and 9pm until close every day.
• What is on offer: $3 tacos and $6 margaritas 
• Where is the restaurant? 111 Banff Avenue
• Google Rating: 4.5*

Hello Sunshine 

• Restaurant type: Japanese sushi 
• Happy hour is from 4pm to 5pm every day.
• What is on offer: half-priced sushi, $15 ramen, $6.50 pints, discounted sake, and cocktails. 
• Where is the restaurant? 208 Wolfe Street 
• Google Rating: 4.4*

Bluebird 

• Restaurant type: wood-fired steakhouse
• Happy hour is from 4pm to 5pm every day.
• What is on offer: 50% off cheese fondue and cocktails
• Where is the restaurant? 214 Lynx Street 
• Google Rating: 4.5*

For the full article broken into days of the weekly deals, click here.

Banff Hot Springs 

After one of the many hikes you can do in Banff, why not relax your muscles with a calming soak in Banff hot springs?

The water is geothermally heated with the temperatures changing during the seasons. In the winter the natural temperature of the water can get as hot as 47 degrees with the spring temperatures being a cooler 27 degrees. 

There are three hot springs to choose from: 

• Banff upper hot springs
• Radium hot springs 
• Miette hot springs 

The water for the hot springs comes from Sulphur Mountain; the heat emanates when the water flows down the mountain; along the way, it picks up sulphates, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, sodium, and other minerals.

Soaking in geothermal mineral-rich water can improve skin irritations, reduce muscle tension, and relieve stress. 

Free things to do in Banff in winter for non-skiers. 

There are so many fun winter activities in Banff, and not all of them have to cost money. 

Hike up Tunnel Mountain. 

Trail information about the hike up Tunnel Mountain:

• Distance: 2.7 miles (4.3 km) round trip
• Duration: 2 hours (with short legs and plenty of photo stops)
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate (depending on fitness level) 
• Elevation: 859 ft.
• Tunnel Mountain hike rating: 4.6/5

Even though it is the smallest mountain in Banff National Park, the views overlooking the town and the Bow River would make you think differently.

This hike is one of my favourites, due to its accessibility and its easy to moderate level of difficulty. 

This hike is close to town and doesn’t require walking boots. I do suggest a sturdy trainer, the Vessi Stormburst low tops, which are waterproof, making them the perfect shoe for the snow season. 

If you have crampons, I do recommend taking them with you, as the top can get slippy, but it does depend on the condition of the trail. 

For a full hiking guide of Tunnel Mountain, click here. 

See the Northern Lights. 

One of the many wonders of the world is the dancing lights of the night, the Aurora Borealis. And contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to go to Europe to see them. With fresh mountain air and little light pollution, you can see the Northern Lights in Banff National Park.

The Northern Lights can be seen the strongest during the winter months, which gives you a higher chance of seeing them at Christmas time. 

The Aurora Borealis can be seen all year round from Banff, but to see the colours at their most vibrant, you want to visit in the winter months between October and April. This is when the sky is at its darkest.

For all the tips and tricks for seeing the northern lights in Banff and catching them on camera, visit the Northern Lights blog post here. 

Ice Skating 

Ok, so this winter activity in Banff might not be completely free, but it’s very low cost. 

A lot of the ice skating rinks are free, as they are just local lakes frozen over.

Lake Louise, Canmore town pond, and the Banff Recreation Grounds outside rink are the most maintained ice rinks you can visit. 

If you don’t have your own ice skates, you will need to hire them from one of these shops:

• Banff Adventures 
• Snowtips Backtraxx
• Ultimate sports 

Skates cost around $18 and can be used all day.

The best and most scenic places to go ice skating are: 

• Lake Louise (the most popular)
• Vermillion Lakes 
• Lake Minnewanka 
• Johnson Lake 
• Two Jacks Lake 
• Peyto Lake 

If you choose to go on one of the non-maintained lakes like Vermillion, you need to make sure it is safe to do so. 

You can check the ice depth yourself with an ice screw if you are a regular skater and know how to keep yourself safe on the ice. 

Word of mouth and social media channels are also a great way to see where locals are going and where the ice is the thickest.

If you are unsure, I suggest going to Lake Louise Ice Rink, as it has a large skating area, is beautiful, and is maintained.

Hike Sulphur Mountain.

If you want to see the incredible views that you get at the top of the Banff Gondola but you don’t want to spend the money, then this Banff winter activity is for you. 

Did you know you can still enjoy the stunning views from the top of Sulphur Mountain without spending a penny? This hike is a little tougher than the ones mentioned previously, but the reward of the views makes up for it. 

Full disclosure, this isn’t my favourite hike as there are lots of switchbacks and not a lot of change along the route; however, when you get to the top, all that fades away. 

• Distance: 10.1km 
• Duration: 3-5 hours (with short legs and plenty of photo stops)
• Difficulty: Moderate (depending on fitness level) 
• Elevation: 755m 

When you arrive at the top, you are still allowed to go inside and visit the interactive centre and use the facilities. 

But remember, you do not get a discount for the gondola one way, so if you decide you want to take the Banff Gondola down, you will have to pay full price. 

Drive the Icefields Parkway.

The Icefields Parkway is a stunning drive between Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. The route will take you through snow-capped mountains, icefields, and snowy valleys. 

The route is open all year round and stretches 232 km. 

Along the way, be sure to stop at Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, Saskatchewan River Crossing, Weeping Falls viewpoint, or Abraham Lake for the bubbles. 

Make sure when hiring a car the vehicle has snow tyres to avoid accidents. Or you can purchase snow chains, as the roads can get icy. 

The Icefields Parkway has been deemed one of the most beautiful drives in the world, and for good reason. 

Visit Peyto Lake.

Peyto Lake is a stunning blue lake an hour outside of Banff town on the Icefield Parkway road. 

The walk from the car park to the viewpoint is an easy 10-minute walk with a slight incline. 

In the winter it is encouraged to just visit the viewpoint rather than trailing further up to the Bow summit as there are avalanche risks and snowshoes would be needed. 

You can also hike down to Peyto Lake, which is a 20 minute walk, to get another perspective of the lake. However, the viewpoint gives a much better view.

Visit the bubbles at Abraham Lake.

If you are planning a winter visit in the months of December to February, then you may be interested in the bubbles of Abraham Lake.

These bubbles are seen under the frozen Abraham Lake and are created by methane gas. 

This gas is produced when plants and tree roots start to decay at the bottom of the lake. The bubbles get trapped in the ice, causing hundreds of them to be seen on the surface. 

My friends and I visited in the middle of February, and as it had snowed the day before, we had to work to see them. We borrowed a broom from the Samesun hostel where they lived (which we might have accidentally broken) and started sweeping the snow off the ice to see the bubbles. 

We didn’t see many as it was a lot of effort trying to make them visible, but from the images I have seen, when there is no snow, it looks incredible. 

Wildlife Spotting in Banff National Park

You will be amazed by how easy spotting wildlife in Banff National Park is. 

Although the bears are asleep, there is still plenty of wildlife you can spot. 

Although very rare, there is a possibility you will get to see a moose. 

You are almost guaranteed to see elk, deer, and bighorned sheep. 

I also had the pleasure of seeing a friendly pine marten who was watching me through my window. 

Remember, this is their home, so please respect their space and admire them from a distance. 

I once had a run-in with a deer at 6am in the darkness. I wasn’t paying attention, and I was looking down, so when I looked up, it was right there, and I told it off. It crossed the road, and I felt so bad I yelled sorry at it. I still feel bad a year later.

The best places to see wildlife are: 

• Bow Valley Parkway
• Bow River Trail
• Vermillion Lakes 

There are also several Wildlife tours around Banff National Park to help you spot them.

Catch a winter sunset.

To be 100% truthful, I don’t think the sunsets are that great in Banff. They can be good, but as the mountains are surrounding this little ski town, they can be difficult to see. 

Tunnel Mountain is probably the best place in Banff town to see the sunset, but you will have to walk down the mountain in the dark. 

Vermillion Lakes is also a nice place to sit and watch the sun go down. On my last night in Banff, my friend Lindsey planned a sunset date where we would go up the Banff Gondola, but sadly it shuts before sunset in the winter, so we went to Vermillion and sat with ice cream and sleeping bags until it got dark. 

If you are renting a car, a great place for sunset and the Northern Lights is Lake Minnewanka. 

Located 20 minutes outside of Banff is this stunning big lake. 

Winter events to visit during your time in Banff 

Every year the town of Banff puts on a Snow Days festival that runs through January with multiple events throughout. Most of these snow activities in Banff are free. 

Skijoring

I have to say, Skijoring is by far the weirdest but coolest sporting event I have ever been to. 

Skijoring is when a skier or a snowboarder is pulled by a person on a horse and sent over snow-made jumps and ramps and rated based on their trick or performance of the jump. 

I have seen competitors do backflips, front flips, and scissor poses. The crazier, the better!

The Banff Skijoring event is part of their annual Snow Days festival. 

If you are visiting in the later part of January, you may be able to see this epic event. 

Banff Gondola Nightrise 

Another great event put on by the Banff Gondola is Nightrise.

Experience the mountain in a different way with interactive light displays, vibrant lighting, music, storytelling, multimedia effects, video projections, and more.

This nighttime experience runs from 16th November through to the end of March. 

Your general admission ticket includes this event, so you don’t need to book separate tickets.

Head up to the top of Sulphur Mountain for sunset to enjoy beautiful views, and as the sun goes down, see the magic of Nightrise come alive.

Ice Sculptures 

During the Banff winter festival, they invite ice sculptors from all over to take part in creating a masterpiece from a single block of ice. 

Each year the theme changes. In 2023 it was Banff’s creatures. As you wander along Banff Ave and Bear Street, you will see creations come alive. The things these people can create from ice is mind-boggling.

The event is free, and the sculptures stay for around 3 days. The 2025 dates were 21st to 23rd January, which, I assume, will be similar for 2026. Unfortunately, some do perish quicker than others due to the changes in the weather.

Can’t visit during the day? No problem! These incredible art installations are lit up during the night. 

You can vote for your favourite as each ice sculpture has a QR code taking you to the people’s choice awards for that year. 

There is also a paid event called Ice Magic that is held at Lake Louise outside the Fairmont Chateau. This ticket is around $20. This is very similar to the one in Banff but on a slightly bigger scale. 

Weekend of Wonder 

The same weekend the ice sculptures come to town, Bear Street puts on their Weekend of Wonders event. It is free to join, and it isn’t just for the kids. 

There will be hands-on crafts, wild science workshops, and enchanting performers. You can also watch the ice sculptors create their wonderland masterpieces in real time, and if you have kids, they can try it with an ice carving workshop with Little Chippers. 

You can also meet sled dogs, take pictures in the photo booth and explore all the other activities and games on offer. 

There will also be free shows for the adults after dark, including cabaret, 90s bingo, and line dancing. 

Tickets are required for the shows but are free to reserve.

Snow Days Playzone 

Now located in Banff Central Park, Snow Days Playzone is a winter activities playground with fat biking, hockey shot, curling, and more classic Canadian games. 

There will also be ice sculptures and live entertainment. 

This Playzone isn’t just for kids; adults are welcome too. This event will be running throughout January.