If you’ve been considering a trip to Alberta, you might be wondering which season is best to plan your visit. A natural wonderland throughout the year, Alberta encompasses a wide variety of landscapes, including mountains, prairies, desert badlands, and lush coniferous forests. Below, we’ll show you everything to discover in one of Canada’s most beautiful provinces – whether you visit during summer or winter.
| Winter | Summer | |
| Average Temperature | -5 to -15°C | 20 to 25°C |
| Main Activities | ice climbing, heli-skiing, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, sleigh rides, snowmobiling, ice fishing, | hiking, swimming, horseback riding, white-water rafting, camping |
| Wildlife Viewing | deer, elk, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep | black bears and grizzly bears, moose, elk |
| Scenic Views | snow-capped mountains | turquoise blue lakes |
Why you need to visit Alberta in Winter
Though temperatures dip below freezing, the breathtaking snow-capped sights to be taken in as you explore Alberta in the winter months are worth the cooler temperatures. As Alberta is home to Canada’s Rocky Mountains, rest assured there are numerous ways to explore their staggering beauty during the colder months.
What to see in Alberta in Winter
Lake Louise
40 minutes west of Banff, Lake Louise is best known for its highly-Instagrammable views of majestic mountains and Chateau Lake Louise. Many people are shocked to discover Lake Louise doesn’t thaw until June because of its high elevation. In winter, make sure not to miss the famous Ice Carving Festival, or skate across the lake before warming up in the Chateau with a mug of hot cocoa.
Jasper National Park
Jasper is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies and part of UNESCO’s Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site. It spans more than 11,000 acres, including towering mountains, glaciers, and exuberant coniferous forests. Take advantage of Jasper in the winter by skiing or snowboarding down its peaks, cross-country skiing or snow-shoeing along its trails, or simply taking a gondola ride to marvel at Jasper’s snow-dusted scenery.
Banff
While the 6,500 square kilometres of parkland that make up Banff are an excellent place for skiing and snowboarding, this resort town is also world-renowned for its restaurants, shops, and boutiques. Not to be missed are the Banff Upper Hot Springs – a minerally-rich spring of water that is warmed geothermally and known for its rejuvenating properties. The perfect apres ski activity!
Pros and Cons of Alberta in Winter
Pros
- Alberta offers some of the best alpine terrain in the world – excellent for taking advantage of winter activities like skiing or snowboarding.
- Alberta is considered one of the sunniest provinces in Canada, even in the winter!
Cons
- Temperatures dip well below freezing
- Some highways are closed to due avalanche warnings
- Activities like hiking and camping will be limited due to areas being inaccessible
What to do in Alberta in Winter
- Traverse the Maligne Canyon Ice Walk in Jasper to discover shimmering frozen waterfalls
- Ski or Snowboard at world class resorts in Jasper or Banff
- Enjoy a wilderness snowshoe tour at the world famous Sunshine Village Ski Resort
- Float in the mineral-rich Banff Hot Springs
Why you need to visit Alberta in Summer
For those looking for crisp mountain air without any of the frosty temperatures, summertime in Alberta is the paradise you’re seeking. Teeming with wildlife and trails to wander through, there are numerous activities to take advantage of, whether you’re an adrenaline-pumping adventure seeker, or a family looking for less pulse-racing plans.
What to see in Alberta in Summer
Icefields Parkway
Linking Jasper to Lake Louise, the Icefields Parkway is a 232-kilometre stretch of highway that winds through glaciers and the rocky mountains. Only in Alberta is the road there almost more beautiful than the destination! Summer is truly the best time to experience the parkway – during winter large portions close due to avalanches or bad weather, and most of the service stops along the way shut down for the season.
Athabasca Glacier
One of the main attractions along the Icefields Parkway, this six-kilometre-long glacier is within walking distance of the Icefields Parkway. Visitors can crunch across it’s majestic surface or climb aboard an motor powered Ice Explorer to discover the glacier’s beauty. Don’t forget a water bottle – there are few things more refreshing on earth than glacial melt water straight from the source!
Moraine Lake
Slightly smaller than Lake Louise but just as serene, the road to Moraine Lake opens every May through to October. The iconic views here are so beautiful they once graced the Canadian twenty dollar bill! Those looking for a quieter hike will be quite pleased here – tourists usually skip this spot for the bigger mountains nearby.
Pros and Cons of Alberta in Summer
Pros
- Temperatures are quite comfortable, averaging 20 to 25°C
- Much of Alberta’s amazing coniferous forest land and rivers free themselves of snow and ice – becoming available for summer activities like camping, hiking, and white water rafting
- Lakes thaw, revealing the beautiful turquoise coloured water Alberta is famous for
Cons
- While you can still visit resorts in Banff and Jasper, if you love to ski or snowboard, you won’t be able to do those activities here in summer
What to do in Alberta in Summer
- Take a guided walk to Maligne Canyon, one of the most beautiful gorges in the Rockies
- Climb aboard an Ice Explorer and ride along the Athabasca Glacier while learning more about glaciers and the environment
- Mountain bike through Jasper National Park
- Go white water rafting down rapids in Banff National Park
Local Food and Drink in Alberta
- Bison – Enjoy a flame-broiled bison burger or slow roasted in a stew
- Caesars – A cocktail enjoyed all over Canada, the caesar was actually invented in Calgary! You can find them across restaurants loaded with fun toppings like onion rings or grilled cheese.
- Alberta Beef – Canada’s leading provider of beef, this province has almost 2 million more cows than humans! Quell your hunger with a perfectly cooked steak or in a sandwich.
- Vietnamese Subs – With the fourth largest Vietnamese population in Canada, competition for best banh mi (the traditional name for these sandwiches) is fierce. Traditionally served on a baguette, this sandwich’s toppings can include any variation of cilantro, carrots, cucumber, or onions, with sauces like pate, mayo, soy sauce, or butter.
Whether you decide to visit Alberta in the depths of winter to take advantage of the snow, or prefer to visit in the summer to take in more of the stunning landscape, you will surely never find yourself without adventure.
