Canada, North America

Banff in November

Between seasons: lakes freezing, hiking over, skiing just starting. The Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is the one bright spot early in the month.

Think twiceWintry, highs near 34F (1C), dark early

Moraine Lake, Banff National Park — BanffPhoto: Tobias Alt, Tobi 87, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

November is a month to think twice about visiting Banff. Between seasons: lakes freezing, hiking over, skiing just starting. The Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is the one bright spot early in the month.

Weather: Wintry, highs near 34F (1C), dark early
Crowds: 1 of 5
Prices: 1 of 5

What November is like in Banff

November is Banff between seasons. Highs sit near 34F (1C), it gets dark early, and the weather is wintry. The lakes are freezing over, hiking is mostly done, and skiing is only just starting, often with limited terrain. Crowds are at their lowest and prices are cheap. The one bright spot is the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival early in the month.

This month is best avoided by most travelers. It suits film festival fans and bargain hunters happy with town, the gondola, and the hot springs. For skiing with good snow, come January to March, and for the lakes, choose the second half of June through September.

Make the most of November

What is especially good about Banff this month.

Mountain Film and Book Festival

The festival wraps up in early November, with adventure films, authors, and talks at the Banff Centre.

The start of ski season

Lake Louise Ski Resort often opens in November, and early-season skiers get quiet slopes.

A cheap, quiet town

Hotels are among the cheapest of the year, and the hot springs and gondola have no lines.

What to pack for November

A warm winter jacket
Insulated, waterproof boots
Gloves, a hat, and a scarf
A swimsuit for the hot springs

Our timing tip

If you come, time it for the film festival in the first days of the month, and check snow conditions before planning to ski.

Book Banff for November.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Banff
Opens a hotel search for Banff in November, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for November
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Banff
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Banff
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Banff for November. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in November

Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival

Late October into early November

Nine days of adventure films, authors, and speakers. The best reason to visit in the off-season.

Things to do in Banff

Full guide

Moraine Lake

No personal vehicles, ever. Book a Parks Canada shuttle seat when reservations open in spring, or take a licensed operator's sunrise tour.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Lake Louise and the Lake Agnes Tea House hike

The lakeshore is mobbed by 10am in summer. The climb to the Lake Agnes Tea House, open in the warm season, earns a quieter view and a cup of tea.

Tickets and tours →

Icefields Parkway

Budget a full day with stops at Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, and the Columbia Icefield. Winter driving demands snow tires and there are almost no services.

Tickets and tours →

Banff Gondola

Eight minutes to the top of Sulphur Mountain and a boardwalk across the ridge. Open year-round; go at opening or near sunset.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass

The classic larch hike from Moraine Lake in the second half of September. Group-hiking restrictions can apply when bears are active; check trail status.

Tickets and tours →

Johnston Canyon

Catwalks bolted to the canyon wall lead to the Lower and Upper Falls. In winter, guided ice walks visit the frozen falls.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Reserve Parks Canada shuttle seats the day reservations open in spring; a share of seats is also released two days before departure, which rescues flexible travelers.
Be at Lake Louise before 8am or after 6pm in summer. The midday lakeshore is a crowd; the evening light is better anyway.
Stay in Canmore, 20 minutes east and outside the park, for more lodging choice, lower prices, and easier parking than Banff town.
Swap the headline lakes for equally good ones: Bow Lake, Lake Minnewanka, and Emerald Lake over in Yoho take far less planning.

Know before you go

Moraine Lake Road is closed to personal vehicles year-round. It is open to shuttles and permitted operators roughly June to mid October, then closes for winter entirely. Check Parks Canada's current season dates before planning.
Parks Canada shuttles to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake run roughly mid May to mid October and require reservations. Lake Louise lakeshore parking is paid May to October and usually full by early morning in summer.
The lakes are typically frozen from November to late May or early June. A May trip will not deliver the turquoise photos, whatever the calendar says.
Many high trails hold snow into July, and some trails carry seasonal restrictions for bear activity. Check trail reports before committing to a hike.