Top Banff Outdoor Activities

Experience the winter wonderland of Banff’s Johnston Canyon on this 4-hour ice walk tour. Join a professional guide on a hike along the canyon’s steel walkways, where you’ll visit the beautiful lower and upper waterfalls, and learn how this majestic canyon was formed. Your excursion includes round-trip transportation, ice cleats, and a hiking pole, plus a light snack and hot chocolate to help warm you up.

Visit Kootenay National Park, Marble Canyon, and Lake Louise all in one day on this tour from Baniff that includes round-trip transport and snowshoes for trekking around the snow and ice. After you get a look at one of the deepest canyons in the Rockies, head over to the lake. You can choose to ice skate or go on a sleigh ride (own expense), or you can relax at the Chateau Lake Louise or follow your guide around on snowshoes through the area.

Pursue the elusive Canadian Grizzly Bear on this 10-hour excursion through Banff and Yoho National Parks, perfect for animal- and nature-lovers alike. Head out for a gondola ride up to 7,700 feet for a mountain-top lunch at Canada’s highest restaurant, and then take a chairlift ride up to the world’s largest enclosed and protected grizzly bear habitat to see Boo the resident bear rescued as a cub. This full-day trip also includes round-trip transportation, professional guide, lunch and light refreshments.

Enjoy this full-day tour from Banff, visiting the Athabasca Glacier and the stunning scenery lining the breathtaking Icefields Parkway. This tour travels halfway along the world-famous Icefields Parkway, recognized as one of the top drives in the world passing numerous Rocky Mountain peaks, glaciers, waterfalls and emerald lakes. Your tour also includes round-trip transport from Banff, a mountain picnic lunch, Glacier Skywalk, and an all-terrain Ice Explorer tour.

Take a charming horse-driven sleigh ride through the snow-covered meadows of Banff during this rustic 45-minute tour. Cozy up under a wool blanket with family, friends, or a loved one as your friendly driver whisks you away on a sightseeing tour of the area’s stunning mountain peaks.

See the top of Mount Whitehorn at the Lake Louise Ski Resort on snowshoes. Get away from the ski runs and enjoy a peaceful exploration of the mountain with your small group. Even if you have never been on snowshoes before, you will get the hang of it quickly with a guide showing you the how. Spend about two hours trekking, with a stop for hot cocoa and a snack.

Discover Lake Louise and Moraine Lake on this 4-hour guided tour from Banff. Located inside the Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the lakes are well-known for their distinct turquoise hues. Gain insight into the area’s mountaineering history, admire views of the Valley of Ten Peaks and leave with plenty of frame-worthy photos. Round-trip transportation is included on this small-group tour. Don’t miss this seasonal tour that operates from April to November.

See the mountains of Kananaskis Country the way they have been seen for hundreds of years…on horseback. You’ll spend about an hour riding the Lodgepole Loop around Boundary Ranch. Take in the stunning Rocky Mountain scenery on a sturdy horse who knows the trail well. You will love this authentic Western experience.

Mineral spring pools known for their ochre colors, the Paint Pots are considered among the Kootenay National Park’s top attractions—but reaching them in the winter months isn’t easy. On this snowshoeing tour, hike with ease through the deep snow drifts and soak up the Canadian wilderness scenery. Savor hot chocolate and hot maple taffy, and enjoy personal attention from your guide on this small-group tour—limited to 12 people.

Go snowshoeing through the snowy backcountry of Canada during this tour from Baniff, including round-trip transport and your gondola ticket. As you trek across the snow, keep your eyes peeled for sights of the famous Rocky Mountains. Please also note that although this tour includes access to snowshoes, you must come prepared in your own winter clothing and boots.

Hike on a frozen creek, and explore surreal rock formations and indigenous wall art on this 4-hour, small-group tour through Grotto Canyon. Your specialist guide will explain the unique history and geology of the canyon as you glide past wondrous icefalls in this sublime winter environment. The tour also includes use of ice cleats and a hiking pole, plus a light snack and hot chocolate.

Trek safely through Johnston Canyon in the winter, surrounded by frozen waterfalls and ice pillars, in the company of a guide. This half-day tour allows you to embark on an icy trek without worrying about safety issues or directions; your guide will be with you the whole way. Listen to guided commentary on the canyon's formation and see fossils buried in the rocks, giving a window into the past. This moderately difficult hike includes cookies and hot chocolate to warm up with at the conclusion.

Take an unexpected winter excursion through the landscape of Banff as you search for the park’s famous wildlife on this 3-hour tour. Head out on a nature-spotting tour to observe animals and learn about their ability to survive the cold winter months. Your morning tour includes round-trip transportation, a professional guide, a light snack and hot chocolate.

Discover the amazing, underground world of caves on this half-day, small-group guided cave explorer tour with all equipment included. Follow your guide through the twists and turns of this subterranean world, crawling past prehistoric bones and observing centuries-old rock formations. Choose to explore lesser-travelled places in the cave and wriggle through manhole-cover sized passages (optional) to test yourself in this rugged environment.

Join an animal-spotting bus tour in Banff National Park, observing the park’s amazing wildlife at dusk on this 2-hour, small-group tour that’s perfect for nature enthusiasts. Enjoy Banff’s beautiful landscapes in the evening searching for elk, deer, bears and more because each tour has a 95% success rate of viewing animals in their natural environment. You'll also hear about the park's efforts to protect animals and their habitat from your expert guide.

Take your Banff trip to new heights with this 2.5- or 4-hour 'Via Ferrata' adventure, an alpine climbing activity with fixed iron ropes that’s perfect for those of all experience levels. Choose from one of two protected climbing routes you’ll ascend using a fixed steel cable (Via Ferrata means ‘iron road’ in Italian), offering a safe and scenic way to explore the gorgeous scenery of the Canadian Rockies. Your Via Ferrata excursion includes an experienced guide and all necessary equipment.

Saddle up for a 1-hour trip through the celebrated landscape of Banff National Park on this guided horseback-riding adventure. Get out of the car and onto the trails of the Bow River or the Spray River, where you’ll enjoy the area’s beautiful outdoor environment, largely unchanged from the days of the pioneers. This equine-themed odyssey includes a guide, use of a horse, and all necessary equipment.

Choose from among four of Banff National Park’s most iconic trails on this 7-hour guided hiking tour with packed lunch. Pick the perfect walk for your level of ability and experience, varying from 4.5 miles (7km) to 6.6 miles (10.6km) in length, with spectacular mountain scenery no matter which option you select. The trip’s four options include explorations of the Larch Valley, Stanley Glacier, Kootenay National Park Trails or the Plain of Six Glaciers. Your excursion also includes round-trip transportation, and hiking poles.

Saddle up for a ride along the Bow River in Banff and a Western style cookout. Choose from riding on horseback or in a covered wagon through the beautiful Rocky Mountain terrain. At the dining site, spend some time perfecting your roping skills or relaxing with a game of horseshoes before “tucking in”--that’s cowboy speak for “eating”—a yummy BBQ meal.

Situated within Banff National Park, the pretty town of Banff is the stepping stone to some of Canada’s most beautiful mountain landscapes. On this tour, swing into the saddle and trek through the Rocky Mountains scenery on horseback with your guide. Follow rugged trails past dense forests and shimmering lakes, and enjoy a relaxing introduction to the spectacular Banff National Park. Along the way, spot native beavers and elk in their natural habitat.

Saddle up and head out on the Rocky Mountain trails in Banff National Park. Explore the area by horseback with your cowboy guide to see the area in a way you can only experience from on the back of a horse. With a guide in the lead and a guide bringing up the rear, your ride will be a safe, fun adventure in the wilderness.  

Explore the historic landmarks and natural wonders near the town of Banff on this half-day, small-group tour. Admire the unparalleled beauty of natural sights including Bow Falls, the surreal Hoodoos rock formation and beautiful Lake Minnewanka, among others. This 3-hour tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Banff, a professional guide, and light refreshments.

Explore the backcountry of the popular Banff National Park like few other travelers do, on a three-day, small-group horseback trip. Spot elk, deer, and moose while following the glacier-fed Bow River, with the towering Rocky Mountains all around. Relax in comfort at the Sundance Lodge at night, after huddling around a cozy campfire and swapping stories with your fellow riders. Enjoy both nature and comfort on this tour.

Feast your eyes on spectacular views of Sunshine Village, a premier ski destination located in Banff National Park, with a chairlift and gondola combo ticket. This ticket grants you access to an 8-passenger gondola and the Mt. Standish chairlift, destined for Standish Viewing Platform. At the park’s highest viewing point, you’ll see sweeping panoramas of the Canadian Rocky Mountains and Banff National Park.