Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies runs two distinct seasons that both draw a wellness-minded crowd: summer hiking around glacier-fed lakes like Louise and Moraine, and winter that turns the same valleys into a base for ice skating on frozen lakes and snowy trail walking, with several long-established hot spring and lodge properties open year-round.
Frozen lakes, snowy trails, and natural hot springs
Lake Louise partially freezes solid enough in winter to support an outdoor skating rink right on the ice, framed by the same mountains that draw hikers in summer – a genuinely different way to experience the same view. Banff Upper Hot Springs, a natural mineral spring developed over a century ago, stays open through winter and is a common stop after a day on snowy trails or in nearby Sunshine Village and Lake Louise ski areas.
The frozen canyon walk is one of the easiest ways onto winter terrain in Banff, but the path is ice. The guided Johnston Canyon Icewalk puts you on the ice with a guide; check the listing for cleats and transport from Banff before you book.
Keeping a strength routine going through a mountain-lodge trip
Longer stays in Banff often mean lodge accommodation without a hotel gym, and cold weather cuts into how much outdoor activity fits into a short winter day. A simple pair of adjustable dumbbells keeps a basic strength routine going in a lodge room without needing a full home-gym setup, which matters most on the days weather keeps everyone off the trails.
Compact, coated dumbbells that keep a basic strength routine going in a lodge room without needing a full gym.
See Full Review →Practical notes
- Lake Louise ice skating is typically set up mid-December through February, depending on ice conditions each year.
- Winter driving into and around Banff often requires snow tires or chains – worth checking rental car requirements in advance.
- Banff Upper Hot Springs has posted capacity limits at peak times in winter, since it is a single, fairly small pool rather than a large complex.
Where to stay
Banff town is the practical base for the canyon icewalk and the Upper Hot Springs; Lake Louise is quieter and closer to the skating. We have not stayed at a specific hotel there; compare options for your dates: places to stay in Banff on Booking.com or at Lake Louise (affiliate links).
Know before you go
Checked against official sources in October 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the source before you travel.
- Park pass: Everyone needs a park pass when stopping to use amenities, services and facilities in a national park. A day pass costs CA$12.25 per adult or CA$24.50 per family or group of up to seven in one vehicle; youth 17 and under get in free. (Parks Canada)
- Moraine Lake by shuttle only: Moraine Lake Road is closed to personal vehicles all year. In 2026 the Parks Canada shuttle runs from 1 June to 12 October, and every seat must be reserved. (Parks Canada)
- Upper Hot Springs: Entry is first come, first served; you cannot pre-book. The water is kept between 37 °C and 40 °C, and waits are longer on weekends, holidays and school breaks. (Parks Canada)
- Wildlife distance: Keep at least 30 metres from deer, elk, sheep and moose, and at least 100 metres from bears, wolves, cougars and coyotes. Feeding or disturbing wildlife can bring fines of up to CA$25,000. (Parks Canada)
- Natural ice: Parks Canada does not monitor natural ice. Its minimum is 15 cm of ice to walk or skate alone and 20 cm for groups; grey ice is unsafe. (Parks Canada)
- Avalanche terrain: Beyond the described winter trails, assume you are in avalanche terrain and bring the knowledge and gear for it. Call 911 in an emergency. (Parks Canada)
- eTA for flying in: Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through a Canadian airport need an eTA, which costs CA$7. U.S. citizens are exempt. (Government of Canada)
Pack for it
The gear that earns its space on this particular trip. Each review states what the item does well and one honest downside, with current pricing on Amazon.
- Rainleaf microfiber travel towel – Natural hot springs in winter, then a cold walk back to the car – a fast-drying towel matters here.
- Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier – Rockies altitude plus dry winter air is a quiet, steady fluid loss.
- Manduka eKO Superlite travel yoga mat – It folds into a carry-on and gives the lodge-room strength routine a floor worth using.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is a researched recommendation, not a claim of personal testing, and none of this is medical advice.
Some links on this page are affiliate links: product links go to our own review pages, and tour links go to Viator or GetYourGuide, and hotel links go to Booking.com (via CJ). If you book or buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. We have not taken these tours ourselves; we picked them because they match the activity described.
