Banff Packing Guide

Everything I Packed for a Winter Visit to Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies

Usually by early December, winter weather has arrived in Banff National Park. As you travel north from Calgary and further up into the mountains, the snow fall and temperatures will become increasingly treacherous (but beautiful!). The right clothes and gear are paramount to enjoying the outdoor landscape and activities.

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Its kinda common sense, but I always add my travel destinations to the weather app on my phone as my trip approaches so I can make last-minute adjustments to my packing. Keep in mind though, the weather in Banff will be very different from Lake Louise and Jasper. If you plan on visiting multiple places in Alberta, you may want to check the conditions in each place.

Mountain towns, Banff Springs included, are pretty casual. Warmth and practicality take precedence over fashion. Needless to say, your outerwear will be the most important thing you pack — and you’ll probably be wearing it in nearly every photo. All my cute layers were usually hidden under my coat:(

In addition to your outerwear and thermal layers for snowy activities, there are also some upscale dining establishments for which you may want to pack some nicer outfits. It really just depends on what you have planned.

Read my complete posts on top things to do in Banff and Lake Louise.

Above photos: Lake Louise (left); Fairmont Banff Springs (right)

If you are traveling to Banff during the festive season or winter, this article will provide some guidance on the essential pieces to pack. I only needed a handful of outfits and a couple dinner ensembles since I was just there over a 5-day stretch.

A medium-sized, check-in luggage was necessary to accommodate my bulky clothes and ski gear. A couple years ago I invested in a 25″ Travelpro Check-in Hardside Spinner and it is holding up well. I also packed a carry-on tote bag for my in-flight necessities and camera gear.

As you can see, I had a black/white/red color scheme going on for this trip, which made it very easy to re-wear a few pieces. This post will cover inspo for:

5 Mix-and-match daytime outfits
2 Mix-and-match evening outfits
The final packing list
Shopping links to individual pieces

Packing & Gear for Daytime Snow Activities

Packing List for Daytime Sightseeing & Snow Activities:

Thermal base layer tops & bottoms
Insulated snow pants
Insulated parka
Hat, neck warmer, & gloves
Wool socks
Snow boots
Crampons or microspikes (for ice and snow hiking)
Sunglasses
Ski jacket (if skiing)
Goggles, balaclava, & helmet (if skiing)
Bathing suit (if visiting hot springs or pool)

Outfit 1 for Sightseeing & Shopping

Canada Packing for Johnston Canyon Ice Walk

Outfit 2 for Johnston Canyon Ice Walk (left); Outfit 3 for Dog Sledding Adventure (right)

Canada Packing for Lake Louise Ski Resort

Outfit 4 for Skiing at Lake Louise Mountain Resort (left); Outfit 5 for Lake Louise Hiking (right)

Packing for Evening Activities & Dinner

Banff has a wide range of dining options that include everything from casual bistros to fine dining. I definitely recommend experiencing both ends of the dining scene spectrum. Restaurants primarily feature Canadian and alpine cuisine, but there are plenty of other options. The area is known for hearty menus coupled with creative craft cocktails.

A couple of our evenings were casual enough that I didn’t change out of my daytime outfit for dinner. But, for the evenings where we had reservations at nicer places, I threw on something worthy of the whiskey I was drinking.

Outfit 6 for Casual Day & Evening (left); Outfit 7 for Elegant Evening (right)

The final packing list

Above: Packing for 5-days in Banff

Shopping links to individual pieces

If you routinely visit cold-weather destinations, it is very worth while to invest in some good pieces of outerwear and gear. I have found that most of my snow and ski clothing has lasted for years — and usually only replaced when I am in the mood for something new.

Outerwear

An insulated winter parka and snow pants are essential for enjoying the activities in Banff National Park. I didn’t need my snow pants for shopping downtown, but I wore them hiking, dog sledding, and skiing. And, of course, I wore my down parka everywhere.

Base Layers

Thermal base layers are not the same as a t-shirt and leggings. Look for merino wool and other high tech weaves that are specially designed to keep you warm and dry. I really like Kari Traa and Smartwool and have also found some really cute sets from Free People.

Accessories

If it weren’t for my winter accessories, I probably would have looked the same in every photo throughout our trip. Hats, gloves, and scarves are mandatory — might as well have some fun and match them to your outfits:)

Footwear

Believe it or not, I wore my Baffin snow boots everywhere except a couple nice restaurants that were inside the hotel (i.e., no walking outside in the snow). I love these boots! My feet never once felt cold. Although they look a bit bulky, they were easy to walk/hike in. In addition to boots, do not leave home without a set of ice cleats. They fit right over your boots and will provide traction when walking in the snow and ice. Also – don’t forget to pack several pairs of thermal or wool socks!

Après-ski & Evening

Of course, evening wear is subject to your dinner plans. We mostly dined at casual restaurants, but dressed up for a couple nicer restaurants at the Fairmont. And by dressed up, I mean we still dressed warmly.

Ski Gear

If you plan on skiing, you may want to pack some extra gear. I brought my ski jacket, goggles, helmet, and neck warmer for the occasion, and was able to rent my skis and poles.

Bags

I brought along a daypack on this trip to carry my camera and wallet while we were sightseeing and shopping. I didn’t feel the need to carry a bag during our hikes — the pockets in my parka were sufficient for lip balm and tissues. The only other bags I needed for this trip were my travel pieces!