Town of Banff

Snowshoeing

Guided snowshoeing with snow shoes included is available at Lake Louise and other locations in Banff National Park Photo courtesy of Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

If you can walk, you can snowshoe.

Snowshoeing is one of Banff's most traditional, authentic wilderness experiences.

Like hiking, snowshoeing allows for a relaxed pace for exploring the quiet beauty of winter in the mountains, and often enables winter wildlife viewing opportunities.

Snow-shoe season generally starts in December and lasts through late March. Snowshoeing offers winter access to most of the hiking trails in the Banff area: see our Hiking section for some recommendations.

There are also a number of tour operators who offer guided snowshoe trips in the winter, including:

• Banff Adventures Unlimited
• Banff Ski Hub
  
• Discover Banff Tours Ltd.
• Great Divide Nature Interpretation
• White Mountain Adventures
• Willow Root Nature Tours

These tour companies provide snowshoes for their tours. But if you want to venture out on your own, you will find snowshoes available for rent or purchase at Mountain Magic Equipment, located on Bear Street in Banff, and at Wilson Mountain Sports in Lake Louise.

As with all mountain activities, it is important to be prepared before you set out to snowshoe. Details about what you need to know are available on the Parks Canada Web site, including information about gear, trail etiquette, wildlife, and avalanche safety.