5 Reasons To Visit During Fall and Spring in Banff National park

When you think of visiting Banff and Lake Louise, two options come to mind: a summer hiking and sightseeing trip or a winter ski/snowboard trip. Both of those are great choices, but before you book your airfare and accommodation, have you considered a spring or fall adventure?

Spring and autumn in the Rocky Mountains have more character than you’d usually associate with the seasons, but one thing is certain: there are fewer visitors to Banff and Lake Louise.

1. Have the place to yourself

While Banff National Park welcomes millions of visitors each year, most of them visit in the summer for the hiking season or around the winter holidays and school breaks for the ski season. But from late March to mid-June (excluding the May long weekend), and late September through mid-December, the park quiets down. It’s easier to get parking as there are fewer people at popular attractions and at the ski resorts. Ultimately, it takes much of the time spent waiting out of your visit altogether.

2. Find great deals

With less demand, bargain hunters can often snag a better deal. You can find particularly good savings on hotels, which is a perk for the savvy traveller. Look for inspiration on our accommodation page or read our blog, Guide To Your Cozy Cabin Holiday in Banff National Park.

If you’re flying into the Calgary airport to start your trip, you may find deals on airfares. With your shoulder season savings, think about splurging on an experience to remember, like a special dinner at one of Banff or Lake Louise’s high-end restaurants.

3. Enjoy amazing events

The shoulder season months boast their own unique events that don’t happen in the summer or winter months. In late October to early November, plan your trip around the Banff Centre’s Mountain Film and Book Festival, where you can see world-class adventure films and attend talks with athletes, filmmakers, and writers. During November get your holiday shopping done at the Banff Christmas Market or sample Alberta beers at the Banff Craft Beer Festival. .

Spring skiing is one of the best times to visit one of the three mountains in Banff National Park. Not only is the snow still great, but there are events to make the day even better. Mt Norquay will host their annual Bozo & Kinder Cup, Banff Sunshine will finish the season with Slush Cup on May 23, and Lake Louise Ski Resort will finish with their Cardboard Box Downhill Derby.

Every night until April 10, the Banff Gondola, in partnership with the Stoney Nakoda Nation, will transform Sulphur Mountain into an immersive, interactive experience after dark through dynamic lights, projections, original soundscapes, and more. Learn more about Nightrise here.

4. Soak in the colours

While there are no set rules in the Canadian Rockies, summer usually peaks in July and August. By September, the nights are cooling off, sometimes leaving frost: the magic ingredient that kicks off larch season. If you haven’t heard of larch season, it’s a magical but brief window in September through October when the needles of the larch trees turn a golden-yellow before falling off. To catch the best of the colours, try one of our favourite larch hikes: Taylor Lake, Sentinel Pass, or Arnica Lake.

5. It’s the best of both worlds

The most spectacular part of the quirky, shoulder season weather is that you get to enjoy the best of both worlds. In late spring, you can still ski at Sunshine, as well as taking advantage of early season discounts at the golf courses. Even when there’s snow at the ski resorts in April and well into May, the Bow River is often thawed out enough to enjoy a paddle in your canoe or kayak! Prefer to stay on land? Plan a day of hiking after your day of skiing. Check out our blog - 10 Early Season Hikes in Banff National Park - for more inspiration.

Local tip: bring layers for all weather events and you’ll be able to enjoy an array of activities.