Ever thought about celebrating Christmas like in a Hallmark movie? Well, then visiting Banff in December might be just the perfect time for you!
December in Banff is a magical time of a year. It’s cold and crispy, everything is covered by white blanket of snow and the holiday cheer is in the air. And those who love skiing and snowboarding will love the conditions in this month! That being said, things get pretty busy around holidays, but it is understandable. Who wouldn’t want to spend a Christmas inside of a snow globe, right?
The first half of the month, on the other hand, is a lot quieter and you can score some shoulder season rates. Either way, if you decide to visit Banff in December, one thing is for sure – you should be ready to embrace the cold. Now let’s get into all details!
WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE IN BANFF IN DECEMBER
December in Banff is all about snow-capped mountains, crispy temperatures and holiday atmosphere. It is a winter lovers paradise once again and you can be (almost) sure that Christmas in Banff will be white!
The average temperatures range from -5°C (23°F) to -15°C (5°F) between the day and night and it snows a lot, so skiing/snowboarding conditions are generally fantastic. It is also the month with shortest daylight which is less than 8 hours around the winter solstice, but luckily, there is lots of fun events and holiday festivities to keep you entertained during the long evenings.
December could easily be the best time to visit Banff for those who don’t mind to embrace the cold and love winter activities! Whether you’re heading to ski resorts or just plan to explore around, you’ll want to pack your warmest clothes as this is one of the coldest months in a year and there is a good chance that extremely cold days will occur in Banff in December.
THINGS TO DO IN BANFF IN DECEMBER
Skiing & snowboarding
With a season that can last up to 7 months, it is no surprise that Banff is one of the North America’s best skiing destinations. And December is when things really take off in ski resorts as conditions tent to be ideal with plenty of fresh snowfall days. Banff is home to three ski resorts:
» Banff Sunshine Village
Known as the snowiest resort, Banff Sunshine Village offers lengthy season that lasts from mid-November until late May.
» Lake Louise Ski Resort
One of the North America’s largest ski resorts with a huge variety of terrain.
» Mt. Norquay Ski Resort
Smaller, family friendly resort located just outside of town of Banff. Also the only option for night skiing in Banff NP!
Cross-country skiing
Downhill skiing is what typically comes to mind with winter in Banff, but there are some beautiful cross-country skiing trails too and many of them are trackset. Pick one of the recommended cross-country ski trails from Parks Canada website for an amazing active winter day. We personally love the Spray River West Trail as you can easily jump on the Roam bus that will take you to the beginning of this double track-set trail. Same for the Cascade Valley Trail that starts at Lake Minnewanka. Lastly, you can consider taking a beginner lesson if you want to try cross-country skiing for the first time:
Winter hiking, snowshoeing and icewalks
Winter hiking around Banff is definitely a bit more limited comparing to summer, but not impossible! There is plenty of beautiful trails that you can visit in the winter and everything looks sooo pretty with a layer of snow. That being said, it’s important to keep in mind that avalanche danger exists in the mountains around Banff from November to June. If you have no experience in avalanche terrain, we’d highly recommend sticking to recommended winter hiking trails or snowshoeing trails from Parks Canada website. These trails stay pretty well-trafficked throughout the whole year, making it easy to visit them even without snowshoes. You should however consider packing them after a fresh snowfall. Here are some of the best hiking/snowshoeing trails to visit in Banff in December:
» Johnston Canyon
» Tunnel Mountain
» Sulphur Mountain
» Sundance Canyon
» Peyto Lake Viewpoint
» Taylor Lake
» Fairview Lookout
Winter hiking/snowshoeing safety checklist:
» Always check avalanche danger conditions before hitting any trail. Avalanche Canada is a great resource for doing that!
» Check chosen trail conditions on Parks Canada website.
» Bring ice cleats/microspikes! Trails can get slippery and having ice cleats or microspikes on your shoes makes all the difference. You can rent them in Banff, but there is plenty affordable options on Amazon for pretty much the same price as 1-day rental.
» Pack extra layers. Temperatures are dropping quickly once the sun goes behind the mountains, especially in December. Having extra layers is extremely important!
» Beware of wildlife – While bears are denning during the winter, they can awaken any time and other wildlife like cougars or wolfs stay active. Make noise, carry bear spray and do not approach the animals.
» Consider carrying satellite communicator such as Garmin inReach (Amazon Canada or Amazon US) if venturing to poor or no cell service areas.
Exploring frozen waterfalls
Canadian Rockies are known to be a home of beautiful waterfalls that you can visit during summer, but they are just as magical in the winter when they freeze. Imagine hiking through a beautiful winter landscape with a real treat in the end! Before heading out, make sure to check our winter hiking/snowshoeing checklist that we’ve mentioned earlier in this article. Can’t miss frozen waterfalls around Banff in December:
» Johnston Canyon
» Frozen waterfalls at the end of Lake Louise
» Wapta Falls
» Grotto Canyon
» Troll Falls
Ice climbing
As the temperatures drop and waterfalls freeze into icy sculptures, it’s time for another unique and exhilarating activity – ice climbing. Whether you’re a seasoned climber or a novice eager to experience the thrill from this adrenaline activity, Banff is a perfect playground inviting everyone and December is one of the best months to experience this activity! Johnston Canyon, Cascade Falls, and the spectacular Icefields Parkway are just a few of the iconic locations where ice climbers test their skills. Never tried ice climbing before? Try one of these beginner-friendly guided tours:
» Banff: Introduction to Ice Climbing for Beginners
» Experience Ice Climbing in Banff, Canada
Skating on frozen lakes
Skating on wild ice is something that always gets our hearts pumping! There is something incredibly freeing about being in the middle of the lake knowing you can’t access these spots in other seasons and knowing there is a whole other world underneath you. While lots of lakes can be covered by snow in December, every year is different and sometimes you can catch amazing skating conditions even in December. It is easily our favourite thing to do in Banff during the colder months and Lake Louise is pretty much always a safe bet as Fairmot Chateau clears the snow from the front side of the lake throughout the whole season. These are some epic lakes around Banff that are worth checking out for skating:
» Vermilion Lakes
» Lake Louise
» Johnson Lake
» Spray Lakes Reservoir
» Gap Lake
Wild ice skating safety checklist:
» It‘s extremely important to realize that skating on wild life involves some risks. Take safety precautions before venturing onto any frozen lake.
» Check the ice thickness. Recommended minimum ice thickness is at least 4″ (10 cm) for a single person and 8″ (20 cm) for a group of skaters. Ice screws that are typically used for ice climbing can be also used to quickly test ice thickness. You can consider these ice screws from MEC.ca.
» Consider recent weather conditions.
» Remember that every lake needs different amount of time to be safe to skate on. If you saw people skating on a lake, it doesn’t mean that it’s safe to skate on and it certainly doesn’t mean that another lake is safe to skate on. Every year can be completely different.
» Don’t go skating alone.
» Avoid areas that are close to a river or creek entering the lake.
» Consider carrying satellite communicator such as Garmin inReach (Amazon Canada or Amazon US) if venturing to poor or no cell service areas.
Hot springs
There’s nothing like soaking your body in a hot water after a day spent outside. Can’t get much better than that! December is one of the best times to check some hot springs around Banff:
» Banff Upper Hot Springs
Highest operating hot spring in Canada and one of the must-visit spots while in Banff!
» Radium Hot Springs
If you don’t mind 1.5 hour of driving from Banff or heading that direction anyways, Radium Hot Springs is one of British Columbia’s top natural hot springs located in Kootenay National Park.
» Kananaskis Nordic Spa
Ultimate mountain retreat in beautiful Kananaskis Country, just under 1 hour from Banff.
» Fairmont Spa Banff Springs
Award winning day spa inside of the famous Fairmont Banff Springs hotel.
» Hidden Ridge Resort
Guests of this intimate resort tucked away on Tunnel Mountain can enjoy outdoor hot pools with amazing views.
» Fox Hotel & Suites
Have you ever soaked in a cave-like indoor hot pool? You can do so at Fox Hotel & Suites!
Related Blog Post: Banff in Winter: 20+ Best Things to Do
EVENTS HAPPENING IN BANFF IN DECEMBER
Nightrise at the Banff Gondola
The Nightrise comes to life as the sun sets over the Banff National Park and it’s a whole different way to experience the Banff Gondola and Sulphur Mountain summit! This after-dark multimedia experience runs every year from mid November to the end of March and always starts after a sunset, which means you’ll have to book your tickets accordingly.
Hot Chocolate Trail
December in Banff is a perfect time for doing a flavourful adventure through the town! More than 20 restaurants and cafes each offer a limited-time festive-themed hot chocolate as part of Hot Chocolate Trail event that starts in mid November and runs to the end of the year.
In Search of Christmas Spirit
In Search of Christmas Spirit is a free (but ticketed) outdoor experience at Cascade of Time where a live Christmas story is told by the wildlife of Banff National Park. Event runs from mid November to the end of the year and it’s a perfect way to spend a holiday evening with your loved ones! Note that spots are limited and you’ll definitely want to book your tickets in advance if visiting during the holiday week.
Mountaintop Christmas
Experience Christmas on top of Sulphur Mountain with the whole family. Think ride up with the Banff Gondola to meet the Santa, watching the holiday movie and other festive activites. Kids will absolutely love the Mountaintop Christmas event.
Banff Christmas Market
December in Banff is a time when the holiday cheer is fully on. Banff Christmas Market happens on the weekends in second half of November and beginning of December and takes place at Warner Stables. There are over 100 artisinal vendors, live music and much more. This is a ticketed event!
OTHER THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING BANFF IN DECEMBER
» She’s a cold one!
Winter temperatures in Banff can go below -30° on extreme days and December is definitely one of the months they can occur. Make sure to have the warmest clothes you own! If you’re wondering what other months in Banff look like, see our Best time to visit Banff post where we break down each month in a year.
» Winterize your vehicle
Even though winter tires are not required by law in Alberta (with some exceptions such as on Icefields Parkway), we’d absolutely not recommend driving without them in Banff in winter.
» Check road conditions
It is almost certain that you’ll be driving on snow in Banff in December and conditions can be changeable. It’s always good to check 511 Alberta before your drive to see current conditions.
» Purchase park pass
You’ll need a national park pass for visiting Banff NP or Kananaskis Conservation Pass if venturing to Kananaskis Country.
» Booking ahead of time is necessary!
If you plan to visit around Christmas holidays, make sure to do your bookings in advance. Second half of December is busy time in Banff!
» Be wildlife aware
Bears typically go into hibernation from October to November, but they can awaken during their winter sleep and other animals stay active throughout the year. Make noise, do not approach animals and carry a bear spray if venturing to trails (even in the winter).
» Moraine Lake Road is closed
Lots of visitors come to Banff to see the famous Moraine Lake, however the road is closed for personal vehicles year round and the public shuttles are running from beginning of June to mid October.
WHERE TO STAY IN BANFF IN DECEMBER
There is plenty of hotels, lodges or chalets that you can choose from when visiting Banff in December. While the first half of the month can score you some great shoulder season prices, the second half is quite the opposite as you can imagine. We’d definitely recommend booking your accommodation in advance if you plan to visit for the holidays.
Moose Hotel & Suites or Fox Hotel & Suites are popular options for travellers. You can also try searching on Vrbo if you’re looking for more home-like experience. Lastly, we have a blog post about Unique Places to Stay in Canadian Rockies where we feature some of our favourite stays in the area!
FINAL THOUGHTS
December in Banff is truly a magical time of a year and a perfect opportunity to experience Christmas inside of a snow globe. We hope this blog post helped you to determine if this is the right time to visit for you! And if you’re still wondering what other months might look like, make sure to read our article Best time to visit Banff: What to Do Each Month!
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