Shared itinerary · Banff National Park, Alberta

Banff and Lake Louise in winter in 4 days

Four winter days in Banff National Park: the gondola, Cave and Basin and the Upper Hot Springs after dark in town, skating on Lake Louise under the Victoria Glacier and an afternoon on the slopes, the frozen falls of Johnston Canyon and Mt Norquay, then Emerald Lake on snowshoes and Canmore on the way back to Calgary. 22 stops with times and notes. Carry ice cleats, read the avalanche forecast before any trail, and give the Trans Canada extra time after snow.

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Updated October 2026

Distance

452 km

Wild Flour Bakery → Grizzly Paw Brewing Company

Days

Stops

Each day of Banff and Lake Louise in winter in 4 days: route, stops and distance
Day	Route	Stops	Distance
Day 1	Wild Flour Bakery to The Grizzly House	7	20.6 km
Day 2	Morant’s Curve to The Bison	6	142 km
Day 3	Johnston Canyon to Three Bears Brewery	5	73.7 km
Day 4	Emerald Lake to Grizzly Paw Brewing Company	4	216 km

Day 1: Wild Flour Bakery to The Grizzly House

20.6 km

Banff town: up the mountain, the springs where the park began, and the Upper Hot Springs after dark.

08:45
Wild Flour Bakery

Food & drink

Coffee and a breakfast sandwich on Bear Street before the gondola line builds.

4.1 km · 5m drive to next
09:45
Banff Gondola

Activity

Open all winter. The summit boardwalk to Sanson Peak is packed snow: boots with grip, and a hat for the wind.

4.1 km · 5m drive to next
12:45
Park Distillery

Food & drink

Campfire cooking and a warm room after the summit.

2.1 km · 5m drive to next
14:30
Cave and Basin National Historic Site

Sight

The warm springs where Canada’s national parks began in 1885, steaming in the cold. Winter hours are shorter; check the day.

1.5 km · 5m drive to next
16:00
Vermilion Lakes

Park & nature

Mount Rundle over the frozen lakes at sunset, before 17:00 in December and January. Warm springs keep a patch of water open and steaming.

5.1 km · 15m drive to next
17:30
Banff Upper Hot Springs

Activity

The 39 degree pool after dark, snow on the deck and Mount Rundle across the valley. Swimsuits and towels rent at the desk.

3.7 km · 10m drive to next
19:30
The Grizzly House

Food & drink

Fondue in a log room on Banff Avenue: cheese to start, hot rocks after. Book.

Day 2: Morant’s Curve to The Bison

142 km

Lake Louise: the railway curve, a rink on the lake under the Victoria Glacier, and an afternoon on the slopes.

08:30
Morant’s Curve

Sight

Take the Bow Valley Parkway up. A train on the curve over the frozen Bow is the photo; trains keep no timetable, so give it half an hour.

7.8 km · 15m drive to next
09:30
Lake Louise Lakeshore

Activity

Skate the cleared rink on the lake, usually late December to March, with rentals in the Chateau. In January the Ice Magic Festival lines the shore with ice sculptures.

237 m · 5m walk to next
11:45
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

Food & drink

Lunch in the Lakeview Lounge with the rink below the windows.

5.8 km · 10m drive to next
13:30
Lake Louise Ski Resort

Activity

An afternoon lift ticket. The front side looks back across the valley to the lake and the Victoria Glacier.

2.8 km · 5m drive to next
17:00
Laggan’s Mountain Bakery

Food & drink

The Samson Mall bakery. A coffee and a cinnamon bun for the drive back.

65.4 km · 45m drive to next
19:00
The Bison

Food & drink

Back in Banff. Bison and Alberta beef upstairs on Bear Street. Book.

Day 3: Johnston Canyon to Three Bears Brewery

73.7 km

Frozen falls in the morning, the town hill in the afternoon, the big lake at dusk.

08:30
Johnston Canyon

Activity

Catwalks bolted to the canyon wall, the Lower and Upper Falls frozen solid by January. The trail is packed ice: wear ice cleats, or join a guided icewalk that lends them. Parks Canada closed the trail for safety work on May 2, 2026 and listed it in good condition on September 29; no reopening notice was found, so check the Banff bulletins the night before.

22.5 km · 25m drive to next
11:45
Mt Norquay

Activity

Ten minutes from town. Lunch at the Cascade Lodge, then half a day of skiing or the tube park.

11.1 km · 25m drive to next
16:15
Lake Minnewanka

Park & nature

The biggest lake in the park, frozen and wind polished. Parks Canada does not test lake ice; stay on the shore unless you know it is safe.

12.2 km · 20m drive to next
17:20
Surprise Corner

Sight

The Banff Springs hotel above the frozen Bow at dusk.

1.8 km · 5m drive to next
19:00
Three Bears Brewery

Food & drink

A brewery and wood fired kitchen on Bear Street, big enough for walk ins.

Another way to do day 3

If Johnston Canyon is closed

If the Banff bulletins still list the closure of May 2, 2026, climb Tunnel Mountain from town instead and rejoin the plan at Mt Norquay.

08:30
Tunnel Mountain Summit

Activity

The trailhead is about 15 minutes on foot from downtown: 2.4 km one way and 260 m up, with the town and the frozen Bow Valley below. The trail is often icy in winter: wear ice cleats.

Day 4: Emerald Lake to Grizzly Paw Brewing Company

216 km

Over the divide to Yoho, then east to Canmore and Calgary. Yoho is in BC: winter tires are required on Highway 1 there from October 1 to April 30.

09:15
Emerald Lake

Activity

The road is plowed to the lodge. Snowshoe the near shore; the far side of the loop crosses avalanche paths, so read avalanche.ca first.

275 m · 5m walk to next
11:30
Emerald Lake Lodge

Food & drink

Lunch by the fire, across the footbridge from the lot.

3.0 km · 10m drive to next
13:00
Natural Bridge

Park & nature

The Kicking Horse under ice and snow, on the road back to the highway.

118 km · 1h 25m drive to next
16:00
Grizzly Paw Brewing Company

Food & drink

An early dinner on Canmore’s Main Street, the last stop before Calgary airport, an hour and a quarter east.