Unveiling Best-Kept Secrets: How Locals Do Spring in Banff and Lake Louise

Hike, rock climb, downhill ski, river canoe, patio happy hour in the sunshine. Nope, this isn’t an AI response for assorted activities in Banff National Park. Believe it or not, everything on this list fits into a day around Banff during one pretty unique time of year – “secret season.”

Secret season is a short-but-sweet occurrence where winter meets spring in the mountains. It’s a favourite time of year for locals because of the easy access to the best of both seasons. In secret season you don’t have to choose between hitting the ski slopes or the hiking trails – it’s all fair game!

Secret Season in the Rockies

Springtime in Banff is the secret season when you can get the best of all worlds. Here are our top five reasons why:

1. Adventure is accessible. Multi-activity excursions are one of our favourite things about spring. That can mean a full day or a late-afternoon outing that packs a punch. What makes this all do-able is the proximity of outdoor pursuits, like the local climbing spot Sunshine Slabs or the Healy Creek hiking trail on the road down from Banff Sunshine Village Ski & Snowboard Resort.
2. It’s the locals’ favourite time of year. The days are getting longer and the seasonal sense of adventure grows with them.
3. Wildlife are wandering. Hibernating animals (bears included) emerge around April and young wildlife start to accompany their mothers beyond the den or the nest.
4. There are fewer people on the slopes and on the trails. In general, it’s quieter around town this time of year.
5. Secret season will show you what the Canadian Rockies are really made of, from sunny river shores to snowy summits.

Winter Activities in Secret Season

What do you picture when you think of winter in Banff National Park? We’re willing to bet there’s swirling snow, frosty days and cold-weather activities. Come springtime, those activities are still up for grabs, but with a sunny twist.

Secret season is the time for spring skiing in Banff. It’s a surprising sight – ski resorts all abuzz into the month of May, their slopes blanketed in solid winter snowpack, while the sun beams down on stoked skiers and boarders.

Join laidback locals for cruisy turns in the sun-softened snow and soak in the upbeat ambience on sunny outdoor decks at the base of the ski hill.

The same goes for alpine springtime activities in Banff like cross-country skiing and fat biking, which are still accessible on higher-elevation trails. If a slower pace is more your thing, rent a pair of snowshoes and head for the trails around Lake Louise or up Highway 93 where the snow sticks around longer than in town.

Summer Activities in Secret Season

Summertime, and all the beloved outdoor activities that come with it, begins in the town of Banff and gradually spreads upwards into the mountains. Road bikes appear in April as the cycling routes around Banff open up and they’re soon followed by mountain bikes on more forested trails.

Visit Tunnel Mountain, just on the edge of downtown, and you’ll find road cyclists and mountain bikers alike stretching out their summer legs.

There’s no shortage of low-elevation hiking trails for spring around Banff and Lake Louise, like Sundance Canyon and Fairview Lookout. Rock climbing is also a favorite springtime activity – visit any crag close to town and you’ll be welcomed by smiling climbers eager to stretch away the last of winter.

While some of our famed turquoise lakes stay ice-covered into June, many melt out sooner and the rivers open up even more quickly for paddlers and (brave!) cold water dippers.

Multi-Activity Day: Sunrise Stroll, Ski, Climb, & Swim

Early morning: Sunrise Hike

• Start your action-packed day with an early morning coffee from Wild Flour on Bear Street and a sunrise hike up Tunnel Mountain, Banff’s smallest official summit.
• Walk to the trailhead from downtown and within about an hour (and 260 meters elevation gain) you’ll be up top, where you can take in the secret season playground below you and see most of your upcoming activities for the day ahead!

Midday: Ski or Snowboard

• Jump on board the complimentary bus to Banff Sunshine Village Ski & Snowboard Resort and enjoy the sunny chairlift rides up and smooth groomed runs down the mountain.
• Join the locals for lunch on the patio at Mad Trappers or the Chimney Corner at the base of the lifts. The sun warms up this little valley and makes outdoor apres-ski a springtime rite of passage, accompanied by good music and good vibes.

Afternoon: Rock Climbing & Swimming

• Make your way back to Tunnel Mountain to rendezvous with your rock climbing guide, a seasoned pro in scaling cliffs and sharing tips. They’ll talk you through the ins and outs of alpine mountain climbing and then safely belay you to see firsthand what it’s all about.
• Cap off your day by dipping your toes (or more!?) in the glacial waters of the Bow River that winds right through town, and relax on the riverside in the evening sunshine.

Late Spring Multi-Activity Day: Ice Hike, Bike, Paddle & Soak

Morning: Johnston Canyon Hike/Icewalk

• The iconic Johnston Canyon hike is extra exciting in secret season when it’s a winter and a spring activity all in one.
• Start out on the smooth trails in hiking boots, but don’t forget to rent a pair of ice cleats in town. You’ll likely need them higher up in the canyon where the snow – and if you’re lucky, the ice on frozen falls – sticks around.

Afternoon: Mountain Biking

• When you get back to town, trade in your ice cleats for a bike rental and head to an iconic Banff locale – Lake Minnewanka. This is the largest lake in Banff National Park and a super important archaeological site holding Indigenous stories and secrets from the past 10,000 years.
• The bike trail winds along the shore, with some exposed sections that can always be walked. This trail can only be accessed in our secret season as it's off-limits from mid-July for seasonal wildlife closure.

Evening: Sunset Canoe

• Visit the Banff Canoe Club at the canoe docks at the edge of downtown for a brightly-coloured canoe, and directions on how to paddle the calm waterways out to Vermillion Lakes, where you can watch twilight make its way over the mountains.
• Afterwards, don’t forget to dip into your hotel’s outdoor hot tub or stop by the Banff Upper Hot Springs. There’s nothing like a warm soak in the cool alpine night air.

Secret Season Relaxing Multi-Activity Day: Culture, Wellness, & Patios

Early afternoon: Shops, Museums & Galleries

• Secret season isn’t all about outdoor pursuits. You can pack just as much into a day in town, starting with a stroll through the shops and galleries downtown. Meet the makers of local goods ranging from cozy flannel pyjamas to wildlife-inspired sculptures and paintings.
• Choose one of our expertly curated museums, like the Whyte Museum or Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum, to learn about the legends of what we know as Banff National Park.

Late afternoon: Spa Time

• Indulge in a rejuvenating full-body massage, then linger a little longer to soak up the serene ambiance of our mountain-inspired spa facilities. These aren’t your average urban spas – think outdoor whirlpools surrounded by alpine views, cedar saunas, and sipping local herbal teas while gazing through floor-to-ceiling windows at the majestic Rocky Mountains. It’s relaxation elevated to a whole new level.

Evening: Outdoor Eats

• Walk along the Bow River riverside walking paths as a gentle way to come back down to earth and let yourself be drawn to one of the sunny patios offering locally inspired meals and cocktails.
• You’ll know you’re in the right place when you come across smiling locals settled around outdoor tables, taking in the views and the afternoon rays as they swap stories of secret season adventures.

Tips on Packing for Secret Season

You’ve heard this before, but in secret season it’s truer than ever; preparing for a multi-activity day in the mountains is all about layering up correctly. Opt for comfy activewear with some stretch that will work as well on the slopes as on the river.

You’ll probably find yourself in a t-shirt one minute, and the next, you’ll need your warmer layers or rain jacket for a passing shower.

There are some great outfitters in town, like SkiBig3 Adventure Hub and Ultimate Sports, that rent essentials like ski helmets, bear spray and hiking poles.