Category: Winter Activities

Maligne Canyon Ice Walk, Jasper

3-3.5 hours Tour

Drive 10 minutes north of Jasper for an ice-walk adventure you won’t soon forget.

Named for its atmosphere, Maligne Canyon is the deepest canyon in the park. The hardiest souls climb its sheets of ice, but anyone can strap on anti-slip cleats to venture through the frozen canyon.

This is one of Jasper’s most popular and impressive winter adventures. Your tour guide will take you to the bottom of the Maligne Canyon – the deepest accessible canyon in Jasper National Park – where you will explore frozen waterfalls, ice caves, and incredible ice formations. You will learn about Jasper’s Maligne Valley, Karst topography, and the mystery of the “disappearing” Medicine Lake.

The Maligne Canyon Icewalk Tour is a great option for anyone who does not ski or snowboard. Or if you are in for the week, get a full morning in on the slopes and then head into the Canyon for the afternoon.  The Icewalk Tour covers approximately 3.5 kms (2.1 miles) and is mostly downhill.

Participants are required to dress appropriately for the weather. Pick-ups and drop-offs available from all Jasper accommodations.  Please indicate your shoe size when booking as warm boots ice cleats will be provided.

Whistler Snowmobile Tours

  • Take a guided snowmobile tour through the snow to experience a treasured Canadian pastime.
  • Choose from tours that suit all level riders with options for private groups, families and dual riders.
  • Try a trip with something extra – a meal in a rustic mountain lodge or a night-time run in the moonlight.
  • Kids are catered for too! Children can try their very own Mini-Z snowmobiles on a specially designed track.

Snowshoeing in Whistler

  • The easiest way to experience a winter wonderland– if you can walk, you can snowshoe!
  • Follow trails deep into the forest to see snow-covered old growth trees and spot birds and animals
  • Fun for all ages and abilities – simply bring warm clothing and a sense of adventure
  • Rent modern snowshoes and explore by yourself, take a guided tour or combine with another activity

Whistler Blackcomb Coca-Cola Tube Park

  • All the exhilaration of sliding on snow with no special equipment or training required!
  • Over 1000 feet of sliding bliss with multiple lanes and a special conveyor lift to return you to the top.
  • Easily accessible from the Village by the Excalibur Gondola (no ticket required).
  • Take the family for a night adventure – try tubing under lights in the evening.

Whistler Dog Sledding

  • Race across the snow covered landscape forests pulled by a team of exuberant sled dogs.
  • This is a truly unique Canadian way to explore the forests and trails surrounding Whistler.
  • Sit back and enjoy the ride in the hands of an expert guide or mush your own team for an added thrill.
  • Learn about the unique physiology and incredible skills of the specially bred Arctic sled dogs.

Bobsleigh and Skeleton Experience at the Whistler Sliding Centre

  • Experience the Olympics in Whistler.
  • Slide down the world’s fastest ice track in a bobsleigh or on a skeleton sled.
  • Public participants can experience the thrill of sliding as a in passenger bobsleigh (winter and summer) and solo skeleton rides (winter).
  • Visitors can also explore the state-of-the-art facility during a free self-guided interpretive tour

Skiing and Snowboarding at Whistler Blackcomb

  • Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains are skiers and snowboarders dream destination, the ultimate in big mountain experiences.
  • With over 8,100 acres of snow-covered slopes, 16 alpine bowls, 3 glaciers, world-class terrain parks and 200+ marked trails.
  • Enjoy easy access to the base Village with accommodation, shops and an unbeatable après-ski scene located slope side.

Banff Upper Hot Springs

World famous Banff Upper Hot Springs

It’s magical to sit in the pools in the wintertime, watching snow fall on the surrounding peaks. Sunrise and sunset at any time of the year is also a wonderful time to visit, as the mountain air cools down during these times of day. The springs are open until late in the evening year-round.

The Natural History Of The Banff Upper Hot Springs

The water in the Banff Upper Hot Springs is heated geothermally, bubbling up to the surface from three kilometres into the earth’s crust. The water that reaches the surface has not seen daylight for hundreds of years. It began as precipitation (rain and snow) which very slowly seeped through the sedimentary rock layers, getting hotter and absorbing dissolved minerals as it descended. The water then flows up to the surface along the Sulphur Mountain Thrust Fault, a large fracture in the mountain where rock layers have slid on top of each other. The natural temperature of the water that emerges at the Upper Hot Springs outlet varies depending on the season. During the winter, the temperature is as hot as 47°C (116°F). In the spring, the flow increases and the temperature cools off, to a minimum of 27°C (81°F). Heated municipal water is used to top up the pool during winter when the spring’s natural volume is lower.

The facilities at the Banff Hot Springs are universally accessible and includes a large pool and café. Swimsuits, towels, and lockers are available to rent.

Ice Magic Festival, Banff National Park

Date: January 16-27, 2019

Set in the spectacular surroundings of Lake Louise, the Ice Magic Festival is a world-class ice carving event. Watch as talented ice artists from around the world skillfully combine gruelling physicality with precision artistry in an ice carving competition.

*Event dates and details are subject to change.

Winter in Canada is something to celebrate! Watch the alpine town of Lake Louise come alive during the 12-day Ice Magic Festival. Walk through a winter wonderland and explore ice castles, ice bars, and ice carvings at the iconic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. From the International Ice Carving Competition, to the One Hour, One Carver, One Block speed event, there’s lots to see and do in Lake Louise this January.

01 2019 THEME: CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF ICE MAGIC

The world’s best ice carvers have been visiting Lake Louise for 25 years to create inspiring ice sculptures that get bigger and better each year. Discover this year’s theme and explore past ice carvings.  

02 FESTIVAL TIPS

Ice Magic only comes around once a year, and with such an exclusive event you’ll want to make sure you know all the insider tips to make your visit as memorable as possible.

  • Book an overnight accommodation in Lake Louise and visit the Competition Carving Site as often as you like.
  • Visit the finished sculptures mid-week and create fond memories of Lake Louise with no crowds, ample parking, and better photo opportunities. Plus, if you come Thursday or Friday during the competition, when admission is free, the ice carvers have more time to answer all your burning questions.
  • Catch a glimpse of the sculptures under the light of the night sky. The best photos are taken at night when the sculptures are lit up and the mountain peaks create faint silhouettes in the background.
  • Lake Louise is a winter wonderland so be prepared to navigate it comfortably in winter attire. Winter boots, hats, gloves, and layers are all essentials.
  • If you’re visiting Lake Louise for Ice Magic Festival, make sure you explore the rest of Banff National Park which comes alive with the SnowDays Winter festival.
  • The Tribute To Craft Spirits Festival held as part of SnowDays in Banff National Park will extend to Lake Louise with a special cocktail menu available at the ice bar during the Ice Magic Festival. The special cocktails can also be sampled at Alpine Social inside the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

03 FREE SHUTTLES

  • With limited parking available near the Competition Carving Site, visitors are encouraged to take the free shuttle buses.
  • If you’re staying in Banff, the easiest way to get to Lake Louise is to take transit. A new local route will operate between Banff and Lake Louise this winter.

04 TICKET AND HOTEL INFORMATION

Tickets are required to visit the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise lakeside Competition Carving Site during peak periods. Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. are considered peak visitation periods. At all other times, the carving site is free for all visitors to enter and enjoy.

05 THE PERFECT DAY AT ICE MAGIC

Ice Magic is an amazing time to embrace the wonders of winter. See what a perfect day exploring the spectacular setting of Lake Louise looks like.

  • Visit Ice Magic early in the morning before the crowds show up, then use the rest of the day to play in the outdoors.
  • Pick up a lift ticket from the Lake Louise Ski Resort and hit the slopes or simply view the breath-taking landscape from the top of the Gondola.
  • Explore the Lake Louise area on a guided snowshoe tour with Great Divide Nature Interpretation, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, or the Lake Louise Ski Resort.
  • Enjoy the groomed cross-country ski trails near Baker Creek Mountain Resort.
  • Or race your friends down the tubing runs at the Lake Louise Ski Resort Sunny Tube Park.

Sleigh Rides -Banff / Lake Louise

A classic romantic way to enjoy the winter wonderland of Banff & Lake Louise. Join a public tour or indulge in a private ride – it’s sure to be a memorable experience. The seemingly tireless horses maintain a steady rhythm and the sleigh glides on, swiftly and silently while you sit cozy under a warm blanket. The sound of jingling sleigh bells and the sights of the magical snowy landscape make you feel like you are a character in your very own fairy-tale.

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