Natasha

Natasha

Natasha calls Canmore, Alberta home. After traveling across seven continents and 90 countries with Cameron, she settled down in the stunning Canadian Rockies. She is a winter enthusiast and loves to snowboard, ice skate, and nordic ski and enjoy all the fantastic summer opportunities in Banff like hiking, scrambling, and biking. Learn more on the about us page!

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29 Comments

  1. Super helpful!! I had been planning on going the last week of May (which is the only week I can go) but it sounds like I won’t see the Lake Louise of pictures. Also we’d been hoping to camp and hike but we’re not experienced so it sounds from your post like it wouldn’t be a great idea. Thank you!

    1. There is a good chance it could be ice and snow-free. I’d say 50/50, but it all depends on the season and the weather. At the very least the ice should be breaking up. You can certainly still find plenty of low elevation hikes like Johnston Canyon or the Ink Pots. Also, if you go into the front range/Kananaskis area the mountains receive less snowfall and dry out earlier.

  2. Thanks for the helpful information! Are the Covid restrictions hindering many of the hiking trails? I read that some of the Icefields parkway is closed to traffic, making it hard to get to the trails…

    Thank you for your advice!

  3. This article, and your entire blog in general, has been super helpful! I am planning to go mid/late May and was hoping to do some elevation hikes, is there any way to know which ones I can attempt and which ones will be closed when I go? Thanks!

  4. This blog was very helpful. We will be driving from Arizona to Soldotna, Alaska and will be passing through Banff May 7th. We will be towing a 27ft camping trailer. Would you think we need chains or snow tires at that time? We had planned to camp at the Lake Louise campground for 1-2 nights on our way to Dawson Creek Mile 0 of the Alcan Highway. Any advice appreciated. Thanks!

    1. Hey Laurie, happy it could be of help. I’d say you don’t need tire chains, as it would be a very unusual storm to affect the roads in May. However, keep an eye on the weather if, for some reason, you need them to buy them stop in Canmore or Calgary before you drive through the mountains.

  5. I am planning on visiting the rockies in the 1st and 2nd week of the may as these are the only weeks I can manage to go. Can you suggest good activities for the whole family during these times?

  6. Once upon a time, back in the late 1980’s, I was in Banff in either late May or early June and the caribou migration was taking place around that time. There were whole groups of them, just hanging around in town. Is that still happening? I know the caribou herds have been declining.

  7. Hi! Great blog! We are planning our trip the third week in May. I know, not the best month🥲. I was wondering about the town‘s attractions -other than the breweries 🤣- I’d like to visit the urban environments as well. Any recommendations? Thanks!

  8. Hi! Thank you for the blog, its super helpful! We’re planning our trip for the last week of May this year. Other than Two Jack & Vermillion Lake, are there any other lakes that would have been thawed by then? Thank you in advance!

  9. We’ll be in Jasper, Banff, and Canmore the last week of May. Your blog posts have been INCREDIBLY helpful! Thank you! Thank you! Disappointed we won’t make it out to Moraine Lake but still feeling like there will be more than enough to fill our 7 days!

    1. Hey Adrienne!
      My wife and I will be in Jasper, Banff and Canmore the last week of May (2024), too! We were hoping to enjoy Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, but now it looks like they’ll both be frozen! Bummer! FYI: Though it appears it will be frozen, Moraine Lake is accessible via e-bikes. There are a few places that rent e-bikes.
      Hope you have a great time!

  10. Awesome site! Ive found all of your information incredibly helpful in planning for my trip. I’ll be visiting in early May and wondering what parking will be like at Lake Louise. I understand it’s next to impossible to get a parking spot in the summer, but what’s this time of year like?

  11. Hello;
    We have enjoyed reading your posts; lots of great information. Our family is visiting Banff, in one week. We would like to know if any lakes or waterfalls are melting/melted? Any other recommendations for us?

  12. Natasha!
    Thank you for your wonderful description and discussion of visiting the Canadian Rockies in May. Though, I must admit, as someone who’s visiting at the end of May (2024), I’m a bit bummed out Moraine Lake and Lake Louis will be frozen (sad face). I wish I would have found your article earlier!