7 Best Things to do in Banff with Kids in Winter

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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.

Banff has so many bucket list worthy activities, it’s honestly hard to choose what to do. Especially when traveling with kids whose energy levels vary. We spent a week exploring with our crew during late winter and early spring, and these 7 activities were the absolute standouts.

Whether you’re traveling with toddlers or teens, this guide has options for every age, energy level, and budget (plus a few deals we used ourselves to save money and where we splurged on experiences).

family riding on the Banff gondola in April — *Riding the Banff gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain*

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

Table of Contents

1. Banff Gondola – Ride to the Top of the Rockies

If you do only one paid activity, make it this one.

Our kids loved the ride and the mountaintop experience so much that we actually debated going back a second day.

Sweeping views of the Rockies and Banff town
Interpretive center and trails at the top = hours of fun
Best photo spot: the Sulphur Mountain overlook hike (a short walk from the gondola station)
Bonus: free kids’ admission with a paying adult if you book directly and go during the first two hours of the day

Prep your kids for the gift shop on the way out – it’s how you exit. We caved and got some beautiful handmade souvenirs that we actually love (I still wear my Banff earrings all the time).

You can often find discounted gondola tickets on Viator that stack with Rakuten cash back deals.

Book Directly

Book on Viator

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*

Two kids dressed in winter gear smile and pose on a snowy path surrounded by towering, snow-covered mountains in Banff. The older child wears a patterned ski jacket, snow pants, and boots, while the younger child is bundled in pink snow overalls, a puffy jacket, and earmuffs — a cozy example of what to pack for Banff in winter. — *Warm in our winter gear at Lake Louise!*

2. Lake Louise – Skating, Hiking & Snow Play

Even if the lake isn’t frozen enough to skate (like during our trip), Lake Louise is still magical.

Snowshoe, sled, or hike around the lake
We hiked the Fairview Lookout and Lakeshore trails and even built an igloo
Clean bathrooms + water refill stations at the parking lot (a huge win when adventuring with littles!)
Ice skating on the lake (when frozen)
Ice sculptures and fire pits to enjoy for free (when frozen)

Ice skate rentals are available at the Fairmont, but the lake must be deemed safe by Parks Canada before they allow skating.

Our top pick: Fairview Lookout on AllTrails

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*

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*

3. Grotto Canyon Icewalk – A Hidden Gem Near Canmore

This was one of our kids’ favorite hikes. You walk along a frozen riverbed, past towering canyon walls, and end at a stunning frozen waterfall.

Free to do on your own (just bring ice spikes)
Kid-friendly out-and-back trail—turn around whenever legs get tired
Quiet, less crowded than Johnston Canyon
You can also book a guided version where spikes are included

❄️ Ice spikes are a must for this one! We brought our own and used them on multiple hikes!

Shop our favorite ice spikes!

Book a guided hike!

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. — *Dog sledding with Snowy Owl Tours*

4. Dog Sledding with Snowy Owl Tours – The Ultimate Adventure

This was our big splurge, and it was worth every penny.

You get to drive your OWN SLED with real commands
Kind, kid-friendly guides (ours were so great with our kids!)
Trail winds through forest and beside a lake (or on the lake if it’s frozen)
After the ride: hot cider, baked treats, and a fire to warm up

Logistics: Meet in downtown Canmore, then take a group shuttle up to the trailhead.

Booking tip: You’ll need to book directly with Snowy Owl. Spots are limited each day, so reserve early! If you’re going in late winter or early spring, I recommend booking this tour for the first day of your trip. We were so thankful we did this because by the last day of our week in Banff (April 8), the snow had melted and tours were done for the season.

5. Sledding at Eagle Terrace Park (Canmore)

Free. No lines. Sunset views. Pure joy. It doesn’t get better than that.

This little sledding hill in Canmore became our family’s favorite spontaneous tradition. We spent 3 evenings here after dinner watching the sky change color behind the Three Sisters mountains while the kids wore themselves out.

Playground next to the sled hill
Free parking
We bought $10 sleds at Canadian Tire and kept them in the car

When we talk to our kids about what we’d do again if we went back to Banff in winter, sledding in Canmore is top of their list. It was simple yet fun, and a core memory from this trip.

Bright purple and green northern lights stretch vertically across a starry night sky above a forest of evergreen and bare trees in Banff. — *Purple northern lights in Banff (unedited photo taken on iPhone)*

A smiling family bundled in winter coats and earmuffs poses under a starry sky with faint green and purple northern lights above snow-dusted hills and pine trees in Banff. — *Family photo with the northern lights in Banff (unedited photo taken on iPhone)*

6. Chase the Northern Lights

If you’re lucky enough to visit when solar activity is high, this is an absolute bucket list experience.

Absolutely unforgettable! Our kids still talk about it
Free and a unique winter activity
We used a free Aurora Alert app and drove to Vermillion Lakes as soon as we got a ping. Read our step-by-step guide here!

Add this to your “if the stars align” list and prep your kids for a late night adventure!

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*

A family walks through deep snow along a scenic trail at the Sulphur Mountain summit in Banff, surrounded by snow-covered pine trees and towering Rocky Mountain peaks under a clear blue sky. A child in a pink snowsuit and winter hat smiles while walking with two adults, enjoying a sunny winter day. — *Hiking at the Sulphur Mountain Summit*

7. Hike the Snowy Trails

Some of Banff’s best moments come from slow, simple hikes. These trails are free, beautiful, and family-friendly:

Fairview Lookout
Lake Louise Lakeshore
Grotto Canyon
Tunnel Mountain
Sulphur Mountain (if your kids are up for a challenge!)

We loved hiking through snowy forests and on icy trails! We rarely get snow, so being immersed in the winter wonderland was an absolute joy for my kids (and us grown-ups, too!). You can see our top hike picks here!

Reminder: Ice spikes are key for safety on any frozen or icy trails.

What We’d Skip or Save for Next Time

We packed a lot into our Banff trip, but there were a few things we either skipped, and didn’t miss, or would do differently next time.

Johnston Canyon Icewalk

This is one of the most popular family-friendly hikes in Banff, and for good reason. In winter, it’s like a frozen fairy tale. Even still, we chose not to do it. We were staying in Canmore, and Grotto Canyon was closer, quieter, and just as stunning. It felt like a hidden gem with fewer crowds and just as much icy magic.

If you’re short on time or trying to avoid tourist hotspots, skip Johnston Canyon and do Grotto instead. If Johnston Canyon is top of your Banff bucket list, then skip the paid tour and buy your own ice spikes instead!

two girls painting the scenery at peyto lake — *Painting the view at Peyto Lake on the Icefields Parkway*

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

Driving the Full Icefields Parkway

We originally planned to drive the full Icefields Parkway, but once we saw how long it would take (especially in winter conditions), we decided to focus on a couple of top stops near Lake Louise.

Instead of spending a full day in the car, we chose to explore:

Bow Lake – serene, stunning, and perfect for snow play
Peyto Lake – the short walk to the viewpoint was absolutely worth it

If you’re short on time or traveling with younger kids, you can skip the full drive and still experience the best of the Icefields Parkway without the stress.

Before You Book

Before you book anything, do a quick search for:
“[Tour Name] + family discount”

Promotions change seasonally, but they can save you a lot when you’re buying 3–5 tickets at a time! Many of the big tours offer discounted or free tickets for kids!

Also, double-check your confirmation emails and the tour website for gear requirements. Packing the right gear can make or break an outing (trust us on that one).

Want to skip the packing stress?

🧳 Grab our free printable Banff packing list here — and join our email list to get more kid-friendly travel tips and sample itineraries.

Need help with gear?

We bought most of our winter gear from Amazon, and shared everything we actually used in this post:
➡️ Family Travel Gear for Banff (Amazon Finds We Actually Used)