Visiting Banff in March? Here’s All You Need to Know

Planning to visit Banff in March and curious to know what to expect? We have you covered! March in the Canadian Rockies still feels very much like winter. While some of Canada is starting to warm up and head into spring, it doesn’t exactly happen in the Canadian Rockies.

Days are getting warmer and longer, but it’s still a good time to enjoy winter activities such as skiing and winter hiking. While the mountain vistas in March remain special, as everything is blanketed in sparkling white snow.

There’s so much to do, but it will be a little different than spring elsewhere. In this post, we break down what to expect in terms of weather in Banff and some of the things you can enjoy in March.

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Banff in March

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What’s the Weather Like?

The average temperature in Banff National Park in March creeps above freezing (finally), reaching around 2-4°C. The sun shines over the mountains this time of year (12 hours a day), the snow glistens, and signs of spring can be seen in less snowy places come late March.

There’s still plenty of snow left on the slopes, so ski season is still in full swing. By the end of March, you might get a few days of spring riding, but you may also get a few frigid days. Every day is an adventure in Banff!

Depending on the year, you may have a dry March, but we’ve seen plenty of powder days in the mountains during the month. Come expecting a few blizzards – or maybe not – hard to tell in the mountains!

All that being said, March in Banff means it’s going to be cold – pretty much all day. Most days and nights in the Rockies still drop well below 0°C. The weather can be pretty varied, so make sure you bring plenty of layers.

Feel like going ice climbing? March is a good time of year to do it! The lakes are still well frozen, so great winter activities like ice skating and dog sledding are in full swing.

If you’re renting a car in Banff, you’ll want to know how to drive in the snow, as there’s still plenty of it on the road in March. Prepare for all types of weather in March; some days are beautiful with the sun shining, and others are overcast and blizzardy.

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How Much Does It Snow in March?

You’ll still get plenty of snow in March. According to the past yearly forecast, March actually gets more snow than January or February. The Town of Banff typically sees 10-14 cm of snow per week, with 4-5 snowy days. Further up the valley near Lake Louise, you can expect up to 20 cm of snow and 5.2 days of snow per week. Bring snow pants and good boots!

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What Clothes Should You Wear?

March is still very much winter in the Canadian Rockies, so you’ll need to pack accordingly. That means layers and layers. You’ll want a winter jacket, thermals, and warm waterproof boots. Don’t bother with any summer clothing; you won’t need it here.

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Can You Visit Lake Louise in March?

Lake Louise is still very frozen in March. Like January and February, you can still skate on Lake Louise, snowshoe around the lake, or enjoy a dog sled ride. If you like the snow and the feeling of being inside a beautiful snowglobe, March is an excellent time to visit Lake Louise.

It’s definitely not a bad time to travel to Lake Louise Ski Resort. If you’re a powder hound and love to ski and snowboard, you won’t regret being here. The Canadian Rockies have great spring skiing in late March, and you’ll likely still get a few powder days during the month. Keep an eye on that snow forecast – there’s nothing better than a pow day at Lake Louise.

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Can You Visit Moraine Lake in March?

Moraine Lake Road is closed in March, so Moraine Lake is inaccessible. If you want to visit Moraine Lake and see it in all its glory, it’s best to wait to visit Banff in the summer. Moraine Lake Road typically opens on June 1st.

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Things to Do in Banff in March

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Ski/Snowboard Big Mountain Terrain

Banff’s fantastic ski resorts were what first drew us to the Rockies many years ago, before we decided to make it home. Banff National Park has three ski resorts with a long history, at least by Canadian standards, and they are marketed as the SkiBig3. This includes the resorts of Lake Louise, Banff Sunshine, and Mt. Norquay, all of which offer incredible views and varying levels of ski quality.

If you can only choose one, we recommend spending the day at Lake Louise Ski Resort. The views here are some of the best you’ll find, and if you get lucky with a powder day, the terrain is unbeatable. Banff Sunshine is also an attractive resort beloved for its layout and groomed runs, but most visitors should skip Mt. Norquay.

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Johnston Canyon Ice Walk

Johnston Canyon is an easy hike and one of the best things you can do in Banff in the winter for free. It’s a huge summer attraction that sees far too many hikers to be enjoyable, but in the winter, it’s much quieter and a better experience.

Due to the park’s climate, it offers the chance to stand on a frozen waterfall even in March. Before going on the hike, we suggest picking up some microspikes in town. You can rent them at Wilson Sports at Lake Louise, or Snowtips Bactrax in Banff. Although the trail is well managed, it can get icy, and paying for microspikes is better than slipping and sliding everywhere.

If you’d rather be guided, it’s also popular to book an ice walk tour of Johnston Canyon, where tour guides provide microspikes! Once you reach the end of the trail and the most impressive frozen fall, you’ll probably find some ice climbers. If you’re feeling adventurous, book an ice-climbing tour with Alpine Air.

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Ice Skate on Lake Louise

The ice skating rink at Lake Louise is likely the most beautiful in the world; we certainly haven’t seen a better one. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise clears and maintains the “rink” daily so visitors can enjoy ice skating here all winter.

They also have lights so you can skate under the stars! Rent ice skates directly at the Fairmont or at Wilson Sports in Lake Louise Village. It’s a highlight for any winter trip to Banff, and we’d suggest it even for those only coming to ski at the resorts.

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Catch the Northern Lights

If you’re lucky, and I mean really lucky, you may catch the Aurora while visiting Banff in March. It’s rare, and I wouldn’t plan on seeing the northern lights while visiting, as the good shows only happen a few times per year. However, late March is around the equinox, when auroral activity is often at its strongest.

If the sky is clear and the aurora forecast looks promising, it’s best to make your way to a really dark area of the park and keep your eyes open. The darkest may be in December, but it’s possible to see the Northern Lights well into April and May.

**Many people ask about northern lights tours, and while there are no specific tours centered around seeing the northern lights in Banff, this is a fantastic stargazing tour offered throughout the year!

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Hike Up Tunnel Mountain

The hike up Tunnel Mountain is a short and cruisy one that you can do right from the town of Banff. The hike up to the summit takes less than an hour and provides excellent views over the Bow Valley, the town of Banff, and Mount Rundle.

Tunnel Mountain is a fun trail in the winter because it’s not too steep, and we’ve never found it too icy either. Meaning you likely do not need microspikes, snowshoes, or poles to tackle this hike, though having those items never hurts when hiking in the winter!

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Go Fatbiking

Who said biking ends when the snow falls? Hit the trails with speed on a fat bike. There are some fantastic trails around Banff to enjoy, including the Sundance Canyon Trail. Fat bike rentals are available from Banff Cycle + Sport.

If you’re new to winter, you may feel uncomfortable navigating Banff on a bike on your own. Radventures offers small fat biking group tours that will handle everything for you – including bike rentals!

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Spot Wildlife

The wildlife doesn’t leave Banff when summer ends. Apart from bears, you’ll find moose, elk, deer, owls, sheep, foxes, wolves, and coyotes here all year round. I actually love spotting these animals in the winter more than in the summer – they look so much more majestic against the white snow.

Please remember that if you want to pull over to take photos of wildlife, do so safely and make sure you are out of the way of traffic. You can spot wildlife on your own, but if you want local knowledge and information about what you are seeing, it’s best to book a tour.

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Relax at Lake Minnewanka

Lake Minnewanka is a glacial lake just a ten-minute drive from Banff. It is 21 km long and 142 meters deep – the largest lake in Banff! In the summer, it’s a busy place to hike and go canoeing, but in the winter, it’s a sight to behold.

Even though all facilities are closed in March, the views are amazing. Mount Inglismaldie, towering over Lake Minnewanka, is seriously impressive, all covered in snow.

If you aren’t too cold, there’s a short trail that skirts the lake for a bit in the winter. Make sure to stop at Two Jack Lake and Cascade Ponds after and enjoy the views of Mount Rundle.

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Enjoy the Town of Banff

If you want a day of shopping, cappuccinos, and breweries, stay in the town of Banff and enjoy a day of walking around. For a small mountain town, it’s blessed with an abundance of restaurants, cozy cafes, art galleries, and souvenir shops.

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Mt. Norquay Tubing

A fun thing to do in Banff with family or friends is to go tubing at Mt. Norquay. There’s a tubing park here, and there are two time slots to enjoy every day. On weekends, there is often night tubing, but make sure to check the schedule first.

You can expect super-long tube parks (the longest in Alberta), and they are extremely fast. Tickets start at $45 and include the tube. Be careful here – although it seems like a seemingly safe activity, many people get hurt tubing every year by going too fast.

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Go on a Helicopter Tour

When wondering what to do in Banff in winter, consider heading to the town next door. Alpine Helicopters is based in Canmore and offers helicopter tours that provide a spectacular bird’s eye view of the surrounding mountains. While it’s certainly not a cheap thing to do in Canmore in the winter, it is undoubtedly an unforgettable one.

Tours start at $300 per person and can reach up to $600 for a 45-minute tour. However, rates tend to be lower in the winter and during off-season months like March, so make sure to check their site to find the best rate.

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Go Dog Sledding With Howling Dog Tours

Dog sledding is one of those quintessential Banff winter tours and will easily be a highlight of any winter vacation in the Canadian Rockies. There are a few dog sledding operations in Lake Louise and Canmore, but Howling Dog Tours in Canmore is our favourite as they offer the chance to enjoy this experience deep in Kananaskis Country.

HDT is a small family-run operation that has been in business since 1995 and is a great ethical company in the Bow Valley. Head over to their website for their contact details.

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Drive the Bow Valley Parkway

The Bow Valley Parkway, or 1A, is a beautiful winter drive that connects Banff to Lake Louise. It’s always stunning, but I especially love driving it just after a fresh snowfall when the trees are absolutely covered in white.

The road is much quieter in the winter, and it makes me fall in love with the drive even more. Some of the best stops are Morant’s Curve, Johnston Canyon, and Storm Mountain Lookout.

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Kananaskis Nordic Spa

The Kananaskis Nordic Spa is in the Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Kananaskis Country. This beautiful hotel is right near the base of Nakiska Ski Resort. Its new Nordic Spa is the ultimate space for relaxation in the mountains.

Here, they have an Eucalyptus Steam Room, an Alchemist Steam Room, a Finnish Sauna, an Exfoliation Cabin, and so much more. You could easily spend a whole winter day enjoying the pools and other amenities.

If you really want to have a fabulous wellness weekend in the Rockies, book a stay at the Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, so you never have to hop in the car.

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Snowshoe

In March 2020, when the pandemic shut everything down, one of the first things we did was skin/snowshoe up to Taylor Lake for some fresh air and freedom (before they closed all Canadian National Parks, that is). March is just a glorious time of year to snowshoe in different areas around the park.

Please make sure not to venture into avalanche territory unless you have taken an avalanche safety course, are knowledgeable on the subject, and have a beacon, probe, and shovel. You can see some safe snowshoes we recommend here.

If you’d rather not venture out on your own, booking a snowshoe tour is one of the most popular things to do in March. This tour is great for people who want assistance in the Banff backcountry and offers beautiful views of Sunshine Meadows!

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Warm Up at a Brewery

The Canadian Rockies have some pretty awesome breweries. There’s Banff Ave Brewing on Banff Ave, Three Bears on Bear Street, and Sheepdog and Grizzly Paw in Canmore. All these breweries have warm and inviting environments, perfect for grabbing a beer with friends after a cold day out in the mountains.

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Head Up the Banff Gondola

The Banff Gondola allows visitors to ride up Sulphur Mountain in gondola cabins with large windows enabling 360-degree views from the base. It’s one of the best things to do in March if you want some epic views from above, and on every first-time visitor’s Banff itinerary. It’s a great activity all year round, but I particularly love going up the Banff Gondola in the winter to see Cascade Mountain covered in a blanket of snow above the Town of Banff.

A ride up Sulphur Mountain takes eight minutes and climbs to 2281 meters (7486 ft) above sea level. You climb 698 meters very quickly, and when you reach the top, you are on Sulphur Mountain. Here, you’ll enjoy the Sky Bistro, one of the most scenic restaurants in Banff (reservations recommoded).

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Banff Nightrise

The Banff Nightrise is an interactive experience created in partnership with the Stoney Nakoda Nation. It is included in theprice of a Banff Gondola ticket. What is Nightrise? Nightrise is an immersive and interactive journey that transforms Sulphur Mountain after dark with lights, projections, and riveting soundscapes – and it only runs until the end of March.

It allows visitors to “listen to the view,” and each level of the complex is transformed, with the viewing deck offering a new way to see Banff. Nightrise is a beautiful and unique experience, especially since it is partnered with the Indigenous peoples who contribute music, words, and stories.

This is only a nighttime experience, so if you want a little bit of daytime action on the gondola and a little bit of Nightrise action, we recommend heading up the gondola around sunset!

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Drive the Icefields Parkway to Abraham Lake

The Icefields Parkway has been dubbed the most “beautiful drive in the world,” and if the weather’s good, we highly recommend enjoying the scenic journey yourself. Along the way, you can stop at Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, and hike to Mistaya Canyon.

Want a full day out? Make a detour into David Thompson Country with some ice skates and enjoy a day of skating at Preachers Point on Abraham Lake! If you don’t have a car, we recommend booking a tour to enjoy this excursion.

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Is March a Good Time to Visit Banff?

I’m certainly not going to say that March is the best time to visit Banff, but it’s also far from the worst. If you are into winter sports, March is a fantastic time to visit. If you don’t like being cold or dealing with much snow, you should wait a few more months before visiting, as it’s still very much winter in March.

Because it’s still so cold in the Rockies, March is a prime time to ski. While many US ski resorts are winding down by the end of March, SkiBig3 Resorts still have more than a month left of awesome skiing. Remember that more snow typically falls in March than in February, and Banff ski resorts are open until the first two weeks of May.

March is low season, so you’ll be able to score some great winter rates on accommodation. Many rooms cost less than $150 a night (a steal in the Rockies). It’s also quiet in town, and although 0 to 2°C doesn’t exactly sound warm, most of the*freezing* cold winter days are behind us.

If you are renting a car to visit Banff in March, you will still need to have winter tires. Experience driving in winter conditions is helpful for any mountain driving. If you don’t feel comfortable driving in the winter, that’s okay. There are plenty of ways to travel car-free in Banff in the winter.

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Pros and Cons of Visiting Banff in March

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Where to Stay

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Hopefully, this helped you decide whether to visit Banff in March. If you have any other questions, leave a comment or see our Canadian Rockies travel guide for more articles about photography spots, lakes, hikes, and everything else.