Banff Family Itinerary: Winter + Early Spring

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All photos in this post were taken by me during our trip. I love capturing real experiences to give you an authentic look at what to expect.

With all of the incredible activities Banff has to offer, it can be difficult to choose which ones to include in your itinerary! It can be overwhelming to try and figure out how to fit in the iconic sights and the adventurous activities your kids will love.

We’ve been traveling to national parks with our kids for years, and this Banff trip tops the list. Our kids are still talking about the adventures, and both agree this is their favorite family trip to date.

We spent a week in Banff National Park this year with our kids for their spring break (end of March, beginning of April), and it was truly magical. We filled our time with sledding, snowboarding, hiking, and seeing some of the iconic sights!

We’ve taken the guess work out for you, and put together a 6 day Banff family itinerary that includes everything we did while in Banff with our kids, as well as a few things we wish we could have done! We’ve also included options for if you only have 3 days.

Two kids dressed in colorful winter gear sit on a snowbank at the summit of Sulphur Mountain, smiling with a panoramic view of snow-covered peaks stretching into the distance. Surrounded by frosted evergreens and bright blue skies, this scenic lookout captures a joyful moment in Banff National Park. — *Sitting on a snowbank at the Sulphur Mountain Summit*

6 Days in Banff

This itinerary is 6 full days of activity and doesn’t include our travel days. It has multiple adventures per day. This was intentional for our family because we’ve traveled a lot and know our kids can handle that much activity. If this is your family’s first trip, or your children are really young, adjust this itinerary to fit your crew!

March and April are considered shoulder season in Banff, and we found it the perfect time to visit. We often had trails and viewpoints to ourselves, costs were much lower, we had snow at higher elevations, and yet we weren’t absolutely freezing the entire time.

We also usually only eat out once a day to have more of a budget-conscious trip. We’ve only included one restaurant recommendation per day in this itinerary.

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Two people bundled in winter gear stand smiling beside two sled dogs on a snowy forest trail in Banff. A traditional dog sled with a team of huskies is visible in the background, set against tall pine trees dusted with snow. This image captures a moment from a family-friendly sled dog tour, part of a Banff family itinerary. — *Posing with our sled dogs on the tour*

View from a sled gliding through a snowy forest trail in Banff, pulled by a team of huskies in harnesses. The tall evergreen trees are dusted with snow, creating a peaceful winter landscape during this family sled dog tour experience. Part of a memorable Banff family itinerary.

Day 1 – Sledding Day

Dog Sledding with Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours

We had an absolutely incredible experience with Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours. It is easily one of our favorite family experiences to date. The kids loved getting to meet and pet the dogs and riding in the sleds!

When you book, you have the option to ride with an instructor or drive the sled yourself. We chose to drive the sled, and it was the most amazing experience. They give you a quick tutorial and clear instructions on how to communicate with the dogs and control the sled.

This was a splurge for us, but it was absolutely worth every penny. It’s great for all ages!

Lunch at Marra’s Way Sushi

The sushi was delicious and affordable. They have a family-friendly atmosphere, and we enjoyed it so much we ended up eating here twice!

Canmore Sledding

Eagle Terrace Park is a public park with incredible views of the Three Sisters Mountains, a playground, and a few sledding hills. The hills were just steep enough for the ride to be thrilling, but not so steep they felt dangerous.

We picked up inexpensive plastic sleds from Canadian Tire, and kept them in the back of our rental van. We came back here several evenings because it was so fun!

Day 2 – Banff Gondola & Lake Louise

Banff Gondola

We were fortunate enough to have completely clear skies when we did the Banff gondola. You could see miles and miles of the Canadian Rockies and the views were breathtaking.

They often have deals where child tickets are free with adult ticket purchase if you go during the first few hours of the day. We picked the first hour they were open and it was fantastic. Crowds were low and we had many places all to ourselves.

Make sure to walk around to the summit viewpoint of Sulphur Mountain. We walked down the snowy trail a bit and found some of our favorite views. The kids loved walking on the snow and just taking in the snowy wonderland!

Set dining table at Northern Lights Alpine Kitchen with large windows framing a panoramic view of the snow-covered Canadian Rockies. The sunlit mountain peaks, deep valleys, and forested slopes create a stunning backdrop for this elevated Banff dining experience. — *View from our table at Northern Lights Alpine Kitchen*

Two kids sitting on a bench overlooking mountain peaks at the Banff Gondola summit — *A quiet moment taking in the views from the observation deck*

Lunch at Northern Lights Alpine Kitchen

The food was delicious, and there was enough variety for everyone in our crew. This was one of the more expensive lunches on our trip, but the views and all you can eat buffet definitely made it worth it.

You do need reservations for this restaurant, so be sure to book them once you have your gondola tickets!

Family of four posing at Sulphur Mountain summit with snow-covered Canadian Rockies behind them — *Clear day on the Sulphur Mountain Summit*

Ice Skating at Lake Louise

Lake Louise is an iconic and must visit stop on any Banff family itinerary. The mountains are completely snowcovered and the lake is frozen, which are breathtaking sights. If you only come for the view, it’s worth it!

We were a bit too late in the season to see the ice sculptures or go ice skating, but definitely add these activities to your list if you visit early in the season!

Instead, we walked the Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail, and spent time just on the lakeshore painting, playing in the snow, and building an igloo.

In the summer the parking lot is often full by 8am, but it was nearly empty each time we visited. There was a lot of snow and ice in the parking lot, so drive carefully! There are nice bathrooms at the parking lot, and water bottle filling stations inside the bathhouse!

Family ice hiking in Grotto Canyon, Canmore, Canada — *Icewalk in Grotto Canyon*

Day 3 – Grotto Canyon Ice Hike

On our original itinerary we were going to do both Grotto Canyon and Johnston Canyon on the same day. We ended up staying out late the night before chasing the northern lights so we slept in and just did one! We enjoy our trips much more when we’re flexible and go at our family’s pace.

If your crew is up for 6 miles in a day, doing both hikes in a day would be a great option! There are guided hikes for both of these trails, but we opted to purchase our own ice spikes and do them on our own.

Young girl in a pink snowsuit and winter hat smiles in front of a towering frozen waterfall along the Grotto Canyon hike. The thick layers of ice cascade down a rugged rock face, creating a dramatic and icy backdrop on this winter adventure in Banff. — *Frozen waterfall on the Grotto Canyon Trail*

Smiling boy wearing a “Banff” beanie and black shirt holds a rock while standing on the rocky riverbed of Grotto Canyon. Towering mountains with snow-dusted peaks rise in the background under a bright blue sky, showcasing a sunny day on this scenic Banff family hike. — *Looking for fossils at Grotto Canyon*

Grotto Canyon Ice Hike

This is a moderate out and back trail that is about 4 miles. It is easy to follow the path through the canyon, and walking on a frozen creek bed was so fun! There are frozen waterfalls, beautiful mountain views, and petroglyphs along the canyon walls.

We stayed at the start of the canyon for over an hour looking through all the rocks for fossils and gems! Our kids loved this slow pace.

The hike does start walking under powerlines and near a factory, but it wasn’t as loud as we expected. Ice spikes are recommended for this trail.

Johnston Canyon to Lower Falls

This is an easy 1.5 mile out and back trail with limited elevation gain. The views along the canyon are stunning and the waterfall at the end is worth the short hike! We’ve only done this hike in the summer, and it was incredibly crowded.

Young girl smiling at Peyto Lake viewpoint with snowy mountain scenery in Banff — *Our daughter’s favorite stop. She loved seeing that the lake is actually shaped like a wolf!*

Family walking across snow-covered Bow Lake in early spring with dramatic mountains in the distance — *Exploring frozen Bow Lake in April*

Day 4 – Icefields Parkway & Lake Louise

Icefields Parkway

We like to drive out to the farthest stop and then work our way back. This helps us to have the most relaxed pace and gives us room for flexibility. This drive is beautiful and there are so many incredible stops. Don’t forget to bring a picnic lunch to have at one of the overlooks!

We only spent half a day on the parkway and had two big stops:

Peyto Lake
Bow Lake

Early Dinner at Bill Petyo’s Cafe in Lake Louise

This was a unique restaurant experience at a hostel style hotel. The food was delicious and my husband was excited to try a bison burger and poutine!

Young girl in a pink snowsuit and earmuffs sits laughing on the snow-covered Fairview Lookout Trail near Lake Louise. Surrounded by snow-dusted evergreens, the winter forest creates a magical and playful atmosphere on this family-friendly Banff hike. — *Sliding back down the Fairview Lookout Trail*

family posing near Lake Louise in April — *Posing near the Fairview Lookout Trailhead at sunset*

Fairview Lookout Lake Louise

The Fairview Lookout Trail in winter is beautiful because the forest and trail are covered in ice and snow. There is elevation gain on this hike but if you hike regularly it’s not bad. Ice spikes are recommended for this trail as well.

Sunset at Lake Louise

After the hike, we sat on the lakeshore and watched the sunset over the mountains. It was a really peaceful end to our day!

Young girl in a pink snowsuit and helmet smiles while holding a colorful snowboard at Sunshine Village ski resort. She stands in front of the Strawberry Express lift with snow-covered slopes, ski instructors, and evergreen trees in the background during a family snowboarding day in Banff. — *Enjoying the bunny slope at Sunshine Village*

A snowboarder glides down a snowy slope in Sunshine Village with fresh snow falling. — *Fresh snow on the slopes of Sunshine Village*

Day 5 – Snowboarding

Snowboard at Sunshine Village

Banff is home to many world class ski resorts. We chose Sunshine Village because of the many places for parents who are unable to ski (like me!) to watch their kids on the slopes. They have a sightseeing gondola ticket for those who aren’t skiing.

You can purchase ski rentals and lift tickets. There are different prices for children, youth, and adults. They also have snow bib rentals, but we decided to bring our own because of the other activities we planned.

There are many delicious restaurant options in the village. It’s a huge perk to have onsite restaurants so you don’t use much of your slope time on finding food. Our group enjoyed Mad Trappers and Nikko Ramen.

There are so many slopes at this resort but we stayed on the few solid runs for beginners. This was only our second time ever snowboarding, and it was a very different experience than snowboarding in the southeastern part of the US.

Lift tickets end at 4pm, so be sure to get there early to make the most of your day.

Family posing by the downtown Banff sign - great place to go if you're wondering is Banff worth visiting with kids — *Posing at the Banff town sign*

Banff Town

Grab a picture at the iconic Banff town sign, and then walk through the town! There are many cute shops and restaurants. We even spent a spontaneous evening here at the movie theater to see the Minecraft movie.

Dinner at Magpie and Stump

We really enjoyed our dinner here. It is a laid-back Mexican spot with reasonable prices, kids menus, and surprisingly good cauliflower tacos.

boy in sweatshirt, beanie, and arm sling standing on a sunny day in front of Canadian Rockies — *Still smiling after a broken shoulder*

Sidewalk view of downtown Canmore featuring Hijinx Toy Shop, with its playful fox and hedgehog sign hanging above the entrance. The shop’s large windows display colorful toys and souvenirs, set against a backdrop of snowy mountain peaks under a clear blue sky. — *Our favorite stop for souvenirs in Canmore!*

Day 6

Free Day/Souvenir Shopping

We had planned an open day at the end of our trip to either go snowboarding again or to repeat the kids favorite activity. It ended up working perfectly with our son’s broken shoulder so he didn’t have to miss out on anything.

We spent the day walking through downtown Canmore, souvenir shopping and playing Pokemon Go. Hijinx is a local toy store in Canmore and one of our favorite places to find unique souvenirs for the kids! It was a really restful day we all needed at the end of a full and amazing week.

Sunset at Bow River Canmore

We love to spend our last night watching the sunset together. Bow River in Canmore is one of the easiest places to get to and a lovely spot for a sunset!

A smiling family of four poses on a snowy riverbank with the Three Sisters mountain peaks towering in the background near Canmore. Evergreen trees and a calm, partially frozen river reflect the crisp winter setting, making this a scenic stop on a Banff family itinerary. — *Sunset on Bow River in Canmore*

If You Only Have 3 Days

If you are only in Banff for 3 days, skip snowboarding and the Icefields Parkway.

Instead:

Day 1 – Dog Sledding
Day 2 – Banff Gondola & Lake Louise
Day 3 – Ice Hikes or Snow Shoeing

Additional Things to Do in Banff with Kids

There are so many incredible activities in Banff that you just can’t fit them all in just a week! Here are a few we considered but weren’t quite right for our crew.

Lake Louise Snowtubing
Snow Shoeing
Crosscountry Skiing
Hike Tunnel Mountain
Drive Bow River Parkway
Spend longer on the Icefields Parkway
Visit nearby Yoho or Jasper National Parks

Northern lights glowing in shades of green and purple over a silhouette of pine trees at Vermilion Lakes in Banff, with a snow-covered lake and distant mountain peaks under a starry night sky. — *Northern lights at Vermillion Lakes in Banff (unedited photo taken on iPhone)*

Tips for Planning Your Banff Family Vacation

Plan at least 3 or 4 full days minimum for a trip to Banff. You’ll need more days if you’re snowboarding or skiing or planning to drive the Icefields Parkway.

Hold your itinerary loosely. Conditions are variable and activities may be canceled. We had planned to ice skate on lake louise but it closed early the week before our trip because the ice started to melt.

Book anything that requires cold weather on the first day or so of your trip. We had plans to go dog sledding and ended up changing our date to the first day of our trip because the snow was supposed to melt by the end of the week.

Plan your skiing and snowboarding adventure towards the end of your trip just in case of injury. Our son broke his shoulder on the last run of the day and was so grateful he wasn’t going to have to miss out on any of the fun. This is also a reason we always book travel insurance! The emergency fees and treatment were completely covered with our plan.

Leave your evenings open, and set up aurora alerts for northern lights! Whenever the conditions are good, head out to Vermillion Lakes to see the aurora borealis. Even if the chances are low, head out anyway! We were able to see them with only a 14% chance during a mild storm!

Bring waterproof gear because it’s often very cold and wet in early spring. Even if it’s not snowing, the winter’s snow is melting which creates slushy conditions.

Choose activities your kids are interested in. We like to let each person in the family choose an activity. This helps them to get involved, learn planning skills, and have something exciting to look forward to.

Plan for a rest or low key day mid-trip. We like to fill this day with a more relaxed excursion or repeat a favorite activity. For us, we spent a second day sledding at the local Canmore sledding hill because it was our kids favorite free activity.

Young girl in a pink snowsuit and winter hat smiles while holding a bright red sled on a snowy path lined with pine trees. The frozen lake and distant mountain peaks glow in the soft sunset light, capturing a playful winter moment in Banff. — *Sledding at Lake Louise*

Boy in winter gear sitting in deep snow at the Sulphur Mountain summit in Banff — *Taking a snow break at the summit of Sulphur Mountain*

Ready to plan your trip?

There are so many incredible adventures that await your family in Banff! Now that you’ve seen what’s possible, it’s time to plan your itinerary, pack your bags, and find a place to stay!

Printable Itinerary

We’ve put together a one page printable version of this itinerary, and it’s free to our email community! Just enter your email below, and you’ll have instant access to this PDF!

Packing List

Whenever packing for a big trip, I look over our planned activities and make sure that I pack all the gear needed. I think about what the weather will be like, and if I’ll have access to laundry or not.

For this itinerary you definitely need warm layers, waterproof outer layers, winter gear like scarves and gloves, and ice spikes. You can check out our full packing list for this trip here!

Where to Stay

We loved staying in Canmore. It was less crowded, more affordable, and only 20 minutes from Banff town. We picked a VRBO that had a kitchen and laundry machines so we could save costs on food and dry all of the wet snow clothes.

On both of our trips to Banff, we’ve opted for a condo stay, but there are a lot of family-friendly hotel options in Banff and Canmore as well!

Banff Family Itinerary: Winter + Early Spring (Free Printable)