Winter Sightseeing in the Rocky Mountains

Points of interest in Banff National Park in the winter season:

• Try outdoor ice skating at Lake Louise. The view is incredible! Another good spot to ice skate off the beaten path is Lake Minnewanka in the winter. It’s not as busy as Lake Louise, but the snow is usually shovelled off a portion of the lake. The road signs all say the loop to the lake is closed, but one-half is still open granting lake access.
• Go snow tubing if you aren’t a skier. Mt. Norquay near the townsite of Banff offers tubing day passes!
• Ride the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain for incredible views of the townsite and surrounding peaks.

Must-sees during winter in the Jasper National Park:

• The Columbia Icefields: 25 kilometres across the Continental Divide between Alberta and British Columbia.
• Athabasca Glacier
• Crowfoot Glacier: A stop along the Icefields Parkway with a scenic view of a melting glacier.
• Bow Lake: The source of the Bow River that flows 587 kilometres, through and past Calgary. All visible from this pullover: Mount Thompson and Crowfoot Mountain, as well as Wapta Icefield and Bow Glacier. A challenging 6-kilometre hike leads to Bow Glacier Falls. Explore at your own risk in avalanche season!
• Peyto Lake is accessible via a short uphill stint from the highway and is uniquely recognizable from photos of the area.
• Saskatchewan Crossing Viewpoint is a scenic stroll from the highway overlooking the Howse and Saskatchewan River Valleys.
• Tangle Falls is a must-see pitstop along the Icefields Parkway.
• Sunwapta Falls and the canyon view are accessible via the Icefields Parkway.
• Athabasca Falls is a classic destination near Jasper that’s beautiful all year round!