5 Ice Adventures in Banff and Lake Louise
It's no secret that Canada can be a cold country, and there's no better place to enjoy the icy adventures than in Banff and Lake Louise.
Taking advantage of the best activities to do with ice, here's a list of the top 5 must-try ice adventures!
Ice Skating
Constantly ranked among the world's most beautiful skating rinks, Lake Louise is the quintessential Canadian spot for the best skating. Complete with an ice castle, ice bar for the adults, and ice rinks that are groomed and made smooth daily, Lake Louise is also a prime location for a game of hockey. Check out our guide to Ice Skating in Banff and Lake Louise for more ideas!
Ice Walks
Hiking in winter is made possible with snowshoes and ice cleats which are available for rent throughout Banff and Lake Louise. The Johnston Canyon ice walk is a popular winter hike that takes visitors to two sets of frozen waterfalls through a sparkling, Narnia-like canyon. Enjoy this adventure with cleat rentals or through an interpretive experience with White Mountain Adventures or Discover Banff Tours. For a unique take on the Johnston Canyon experience, try the evening Icewalk.
Ice Climbing
Also located at Johnston Canyon is ice climbing – Yamnuska Mountain Adventures offers introductory ice climbing courses for beginners that allows visitors to explore frozen waterfalls and climb to the top.
Ice Fishing
Perhaps one of the most Canadian things to do in winter is to go ice fishing – Banff Fishing Unlimited and Hawgwild Fishing will give you an unforgettable day of on the lake complete with classic stories and fried fish that you caught that day.
Glacier Adventure by Pursuit
From May until October, climb aboard a Pursuit snowcoach as your driver takes you onto the Athabasca Glacier at the Columbia Icefield. This is one of only two triple continental divides in the world, meaning water flows to all three oceans in Canada from this icefield. The Glacier Adventure allows you to walk on a real glacier safely and even sip some glacier-fresh water.
Bonus: Ice Magic Festival
Lake Louise is home to one of three ice carving competitions in Canada that see carvers come from all over the world for a chance at cash prizes and their names on a trophy. This event is held annually in Lake Louise and shaped around a new theme every year. For 2017, visitors enjoyed a ‘truly Canadian' theme as carvers sculpted their ice blocks into creations that represent Canada. The 2018 Ice Magic Festival will be held January 18-28 with ticketed times during peak periods.
Rentals for all of your icy adventures in Banff National Park can be found at:
Banff:
Lake Louise:
