If I had to create a dreamscape of the perfect winter wonderland, Alberta is all of that and more. I fell in love with Canada on my road trip at the end of summer last year, and I couldn’t wait to return to the Rockies, so I re-created that trip – but this time in snow. If anything, Alberta was possibly even more magical in winter! In this post, I will share my Alberta winter travel guide so you can explore Alberta yourself; complete with the best photography spots, what to eat, where to stay, and more. Let’s go build a snowman!

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Fly into Calgary International Airport, and pick up your rental car. I highly recommend that you get in contact with the rental place in advance and ask for a 4-wheel drive and snow tires. Rental agencies usually say they can’t guarantee a certain car will be available, so your best bet is to rent a SUV-style vehicle or a Jeep. Usually in wintertime they tend to stock cars with winter tires anyway as they know people will be hitting the slopes. Once you have your car, drive up to Banff and get settled into your hotel.

Have extra time? Spend a day or two in Calgary before you continue your adventure. Join a sightseeing tour to see all the sights in one go, or do an audio tour to explore at your own pace and save money on a full tour.

What to eat in Calgary: try traditional Canadian poutine from Eddie Burger + Bar, the Montreal Smoked Meats Omelette at Belmont Diner, classic & fresh Canadian faire at River Cafe, or check out this list of 38 essential eats in Calgary

Begin your trip in the crisp mountain air with an ice hike at Johnston Canyon, a 3.1-mile round-trip hike to both the Lower and Upper Falls. I definitely recommend you hike in good warm winter boots and strap on some crampons – if you are looking for a budget set, check out the ones here (just know that they may break easily, you get what you pay for!), but I recommend you invest in a set like these. If you are nervous to hike here alone or you want to meet fellow adventurers, join this fantastic tour.

After your hike, relax those sore and cold muscles with a trip to the Banff Upper Hot Springs, which will set you back $7.30 for a day pass.

If it’s not too snowy, catch your first sunset at Vermillion Lake, or spend the afternoon/evening exploring, shopping, and eating yummy food in the town of Banff.

Other fun things to do in Banff in winter:

• Ride the Banff Gondola for amazing views
• Take a horse-drawn sleigh ride – this sleigh ride is family friendly and this sleigh ride is a romantic tour for two!
• Go snowshoeing – there are a ton of trails to choose from!

What to eat in Banff: get the Alberta beef at The Maple Leaf, enjoy views and eats at Sky Bistro, or grab some pizza at Farm and Fire

Grab breakfast at Jump Start or Bill Peyto’s Café, and then drive back out to the Bow Valley Parkway to see Castle Mountain in the morning light. Take your time driving the parkway; you might see some elk or deer!

Continue your drive up north to Lake Louise, or if you want a unique adventure, head south instead to do a dog sled ride in Canmore – I didn’t get the chance to do this on my trip but I’m dying to come back and try, it looks like such a fun experience!

At Lake Louise, definitely don’t miss an opportunity to ice skate on the lake, or snowshoe some of the trails if you want to avoid the crowds. I was lucky enough to time my visit with the Ice Magic Festival, which meant it was very busy but it was worth it to see some incredible ice sculptures made my artists from around the world!

Other fun things to do in Lake Louise in winter:

• Go cross country skiing – if you’ve never tried it before, try this skiing lesson with a tour
• Drink at the Lake Louise Ice bar
• Go tubing at Lake Louise Ski Resort

What to eat in Lake Louise: feast on the full Chateau Experience at the Walliser Stube for some incredible Swiss fondue (luxury but OH SO WORTH IT), or get your dinner or breakfast at Bill Peyto’s Cafe, which has vegan/vegetarian, gluten-free, and Canadian options

Spend a day skiing or snowboarding at one of the big three slopes in Alberta: Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise or Mt. Norquay! Lake Louise will be the closest, so grab yourself a pass and hit the slopes for some powder fun.

If you’re not the skiing-type or the expense is too high for pass + rentals, spend the day instead exploring more of Lake Louise or venture over to Yoho National Park. It’s less busy than Banff National Park or Jasper National Park, and there are some seriously incredible views. Snowshoe or cross-country ski the trails around Emerald Lake and catch the sunset there before you leave.

What to eat in Yoho: nom on some pork at Truffle Pigs Bistro, grab a light lunch at the Siding Cafe, or go full-luxury with the duck at Mount Burgess Dining Room

If you want an incredibly unique and adventurous experience, you HAVE to check out the frozen ice bubbles at Abraham Lake. Although stepping out onto the frozen water can be nerve-wracking; hearing the ice crunching under your feet, facing the anxiety of slipping or the ice cracking – and I hadn’t realized just how much wind whips through this area. ⁠⁠

These bubbles in question are little pockets of methane rising from the bottom of the lake. Bacteria in the water feed on decaying organic matter and then expel the methane gas, and when the water freezes, the bubbles become trapped in the ice.⁠

Want an even MORE epic adventure?! Take a helicopter tour – this is TOP of my to-do list for next time I visit.

Tips: the lake needs to be frozen, but not have snow on top. Make sure the ice is solid and thick before you walk on it (at least one foot frozen in depth with no moving water underneath), and definitely wear crampons for traction.

Catch a well-deserved sleep in after the previous day adventures, and then start your drive on the Icefields Parkway, an incredible mountain road with jaw-dropping mountain views. Keep an eye on the conditions; this road can be open for all cars, open for vehicles with chains only, or closed entirely, as it’s higher in elevation and gets a lot more snow and ice than the surrounding areas.

Fill up on gas, take it slow to keep it safe, and give yourself plenty of time to make scenic stops – Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, Sunwapta Falls, and Athabasca Falls are my favorites. Closer to Jasper, keep an eye out for wildlife! If you have time in the afternoon, explore and shop in Jasper before you settle in for the night.

Not up for driving in winter? Check out the Athabasca Glacier on the Columbia Icefields parkway instead with this tour that will take your breath away.

For a bucket list experience, I highly recommend exploring Maligne Canyon. Maligne Canyon is frozen in wintertime, allowing you to hike around where there would normally be water in summertime. For my first visit, I went with Sun Dog Tours, who will provide you with crampons, a helmet, and an experienced guide to explore the canyon with safely.

Another adventure option is to do a winter wildlife discovery tour – Jasper is an incredible wildlife hotspot. You might see elk, deer, sheep, goats, coyotes, wolves, and/or moose.

In the afternoon, head over to Pyramid Lake for an easy day hike and beautiful bridge views of Pyramid Island. Catch your last sunset at the lake or start your drive out to Edmonton for your flight out.

What to eat: burgers & beer at the Jasper Brewing Company, grab some treats from Bear Paw Bakery, or get incredible food & views at The Pines at Pyramid Lake Resort

Have a little more time? Check out the Ice Castles in Edmonton which is a truly unique experience! Or you can take a private tour with a local who will share tips and tricks that will help you make the most of your time in Edmonton.

Where to stay in Edmonton: Days Inn by Wyndham Edmonton Downtown (budget) or JW Marriott Edmonton ICE District (luxury)

What to eat in Edmonton: pizza at Famoso Neopolitan Pizzeria in Jasper or treat yourself on your final night to the tasting menu at Madison’s Grill in Edmonton

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