The Best Time To Ski Banff + The Worst
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Banff National Park in Canada is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. Last winter, I was fortunate to visit and immediately fell in love with the snowy landscape, dramatic mountains, three ski resorts, and adorable downtown.
If skiing in Banff is on your bucket list and you are looking for the best time to ski Banff, or maybe the times you should avoid, keep reading below as I give you all the details.
The Best Time To Ski Banff
Canada is notorious for its long winter season, with snow lasting upwards of 7+ months! This can make it hard to choose which month to visit. Luckily, I’ve done countless hours of research, skied in Banff myself, and know all about when the best conditions are.
The best time to ski Banff is between late December and early April. During this time, you’ll experience plenty of snow and a solid base layer, and most of the trails will be open. If you want to dive deeper into what each month offers, continue diving in below.
December
Banff is home to the Big 3 Ski Resorts: Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt. Norquay. I love this because each one offers different terrain, views, and amenities! Additionally, because Banff has three different ski resorts for visitors to explore, the crowds tend to spread out, leaving you with less crowded slopes, which is a huge perk.
If you plan on visiting these resorts during the month of December, I recommend waiting until the end of the month. This gives the mountains time to build up their snow accumulation and open even more trails.
While the Christmas and New Year holidays can bring high prices, Banff truly is a beautiful place to visit during the holiday season if you’re looking for a snowy, ski-filled holiday!
January
My family decided to visit Banff for the first time in January, and we loved it. Just be prepared for the extremely cold temperatures. When we visited, it was -30 degrees Fahrenheit, so it goes without saying that you’ll need countless layers.
Aside from the chilly temperatures, we loved that January brought lower prices than the holiday season. The snow had accumulated nicely in the mountains, leaving us with plenty of powder stashes and incredible runs. You really can’t go wrong with a visit to Banff during January!
February
Another awesome time to visit Banff for skiing is February. During this time, the slopes have had plenty of time to fill up with snow, the base layer has increased, and countless runs are open.
I also love visiting Canadian resorts during American holidays like Presidents Day Weekend because you won’t experience quite as many crowds during the weekend in Canada as you would at American resorts!
March
March is when spring skiing starts to commence a little bit at Banff. You get all the perks of snow accumulation, a solid base layer, and countless runs to explore, but with a bit warmer temperature. It’s a win-win!
April
To be honest, I know of so many ski resorts that thrive during spring skiing. One that instantly comes to my mind is Mount Bachelor in Oregon. But I had never even considered Banff until speaking with some locals!
Banff is pretty epic during April. The resort still sees plenty of snowstorms, but the temperatures have started warming up as it inches towards the end of the season. Those who are in the know know that spring skiing is iconic because you don’t necessarily want to be the first person on the lift. Instead, you get the best conditions in the afternoon as the snow begins to melt some from the warm temperatures and the sun rising. So you don’t have to wake up super early to head to the slopes, but you still get unreal conditions.
If you are looking for a new place to spring ski, I definitely recommend Banff this year! I generally recommend coming at the beginning of April rather than the middle or end because you never know when the weather will get too warm and the snow will get too slushy!
The Worst Time To Ski Banff
There isn’t really a “worst time” to ski at Banff; it’s always a stunning experience with beautiful snow, scenery, and amenities. That said, November and May are two months I’d likely avoid.
The season is just starting in November, so only a few runs are open, and the snow base isn’t fully established yet. By May, the season is winding down, snow is starting to melt, and some trails may already be closed.
If I had to pick two months to skip, it would be November and May unless you’re a local who can pop in for a quick day trip. Otherwise, I wouldn’t recommend planning a major trip during these months where you’d have to fly in or do a long road trip to get here!
Where To Stay For Skiing In Banff
If I had to choose one hotel to stay at for skiing in Banff, it would be the Mount Royal Hotel. This hotel is located downtown, within walking distance of countless bars, restaurants, and shops.
While this doesn’t give you ski-in/ski-out access to any of the resorts, you won’t regret staying here for the prime location to downtown, the views, the friendly staff, and the great price. This is where we stayed on our family ski trip and had a blast!
FAQs About The Best Time To Ski Banff
Keep reading as I answer a handful of frequently asked questions about skiing at Banff.
When is the best month to ski in Banff?
February is the best month to ski in Banff because most runs are open, there are plenty of snowstorms, and the base layer is solid.
What month does Banff get snow?
Banff gets snow from October to May!
When can you start skiing in Banff?
You can start skiing in Banff in November. Just remember that not all the trails will be open yet and that the base layer won’t be incredible, so you may have to deal with obstacles like rocks, roots, and trees during this time.
Final Thoughts On The Best Time To Ski Banff
Skiing at Banff was one of my all-time favorite trips. Although the temperatures can be intensely cold, the scenery is absolutely surreal. Each of the three ski resorts are fantastic, and the views are unparalleled.
If you’re planning an epic ski trip to Banff, I’d generally suggest going between late December and early April. But if I had to choose one ideal month, it would be February. By then, the snow has accumulated nicely, the base layer is excellent, and nearly all trails are open.
