Canadian Rockies: Why You Should Go In Shoulder Season
The Canadian Rockies, and Banff in particular, have become wildly popular in recent years. You’ve probably seen the gargantuan glaciers and surreal waterfalls all over Instagram. But when is the best time to visit? The truth is that traffic in the summers can make it feel less like a peaceful vacation and more like Disneyland. Winters can really limit everything that you might want to enjoy depending on the weather. That’s why I’m going to let you in on a little secret; the benefits of visiting the Canadian Rockies in a shoulder season.
Less Crowds
Banff National Park sees millions of visitors per year, mostly in the summer and around ski season holidays. However, the park calms down from late March to mid-June and late September to mid-December. During these times, popular attractions are less crowded, you’ll spend less time waiting and parking will be much easier to find.
Peak Adventure
There are not many times of year when you can go canoeing, hiking, golfing and skiing in the same day but the spring shoulder season is prime time for getting the most activities for your buck. In the fall shoulder season, you can witness the larch trees embracing their golden fall colors and access most of the hiking trails in cooler temperatures without the annoyance of mosquitos. Early fall (late September - early October) weather is usually quite temperate in the area.
Lake Louise, Banff, October
Score Sweet Deals
The summer and winter seasons in the Banff area can be quite pricey. However, in both the spring and fall shoulder seasons, you’ll find good deals on everything from airfare to hotel accommodation, especially if you’re flying into Calgary. This is great news if you’re a savvy traveller and even if you aren’t - the good news is that you can splurge on some fancy meals now!
Icefields Parkway, Banff, October
Check Out Special Events
In the spring time you can attend Cochon555, a buzz-worthy culinary experience in North America. In late October you can mingle with world-class writers and filmmakers at Banff Centre’s Mountain Film and Book Festival. During November you can sample beers at the Banff Craft Beer Festival or go shopping at the Banff Christmas Market.
No matter when you choose to visit the area, please check closures and weather ahead of time and be prepared to adjust your itinerary accordingly. The weather can be unpredictable depending on the season.
Safe travels,
V.