Canada

In Pictures | Winters in the Canadian Rockies, Alberta


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The Canadian Rocky Mountains in Alberta is one of the most beautiful destinations in the world. I have visited in the winter and was blown away by beautiful snowy landscapes, frozen lakes, tree-lined roads and incredible mountains. As well as this, there is the opportunity to head up to ski resorts, hit the slopes and get breathtaking views. If you’re wondering just how beautiful this part of Canada is in the winter then keep scrolling to see lots of pictures I took during my visit. I have also included Edmonton and Calgary, which are just outside of the Canadian Rockies but are great places to visit alongside the mountains.

In collaboration with Travel Alberta and Explore Canada.


Edmonton

Edmonton is one of the largest cities in Alberta and has one of the coolest attractions to see in the winter, the Ice Castles. The Ice Castles are man-made and super photogenic. If you are heading to Edmonton with your family then this would be a great place to visit as the attraction comes complete with various slides and caves for the kids to enjoy.

Ice Castles Edmonton
Ice Castles Edmonton
Exploring the Ice Castles in Edmonton Alberta
Exploring the Ice Castles in Edmonton

Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park is West of Edmonton and during the winter you’ll get to enjoy ice canyons, the awesome Marmot Basin Ski resort and if you’re lucky you may get to see the Northern Lights, which are common in this area due to Jasper being a “Dark Sky Preserve“. I didn’t get to see the lights on this visit due to clouds, but I would definitely head back and hopefully see them next time.

Wildlife

During my winter visit, I was lucky to see quite a lot of wildlife (mainly Elk). Below is one of the first I saw which is a male with huge antlers. It’s so impressive seeing them in the wild, going about their lives at the peak of winter.

Male Elk Wildlife in Alberta
A male Elk

Maligne Canyon

A great winter activity is an ice walk along Maligne Canyon, such as available with Sun Dog Tours. You’ll get fitted with boots and spikes, then get to see frozen waterfalls and walk along the frozen river that normally flows through the Canyon.

Ice Walks at Maligne Canyon in the winter
Ice Walks at Maligne Canyon in the winter
Frozen Waterfalls at Maligne Canyon, Canada
Frozen waterfalls at Maligne Canyon, Canada

Marmot Basin Ski Resort

Marmot Basin is a ski resort in Jasper National Park which has fantastic snow and beautiful runs. A highlight of this resort are the trees that you’ll find everywhere lining the pistes which enhance the already stunning landscape.

Marmot Basin Ski Resort in the winter
Skiing at Marmot Basin Ski Resort in the winter
Scenic views at Marmot Basin Ski Resort
Scenic views at Marmot Basin Ski Resort
Tree runs in Marmot Basin Ski Resort, Jasper
Tree runs in Marmot Basin Ski Resort, Jasper

Icefields Parkway

Leading between Jasper and Lake Louise is the Icefields Parkway. This is one of the world’s most beautiful drives, where you’ll be travelling along tree-lined roads with mountains, glaciers, frozen lakes, and stunning scenery in all directions.

Snowy landscapes along the Icefields Parkway, Alberta
Snowy landscapes along the Icefields Parkway

A huge highlight for me on this drive was to see this huge male Elk, who was just casually waiting on the road. Thankfully he was in no rush as we approached, allowing me to get some bucket list pictures.

Elk Wildlife on roads in Alberta
Elk wildlife on roads

Below is Athabasca Falls which is one of many waterfalls you’ll find just off the Icefields Parkway. As you can see, the landscape is pretty frozen during the winter.

Athabasca Falls in the winter
Athabasca Falls in the winter

The Classic Viewpoint

Just south from Athabasca Falls and along the Icefields Parkway, you will find a section of the road which has some of the most photogenic peaks. This is one of the best places to get classic Instagram shots of the Icefields Parkway. If you are heading south from Jasper to Lake Louise you probably won’t miss it, however, if you are heading north then ask a passenger to let you know when you are close to the Athabasca Falls so you can stop.

Icefields Parkway classic view in the winter
Icefields Parkway classic view in the winter

Rockies helicopter tours

Just off the Icefields Parkways on Highway 11 and quite close to Lake Louise is Rockies Heli which provides scenic tours over parts of the Rockies. As well as this, you can extend the helicopter tour and include a snowshoe hike and bubble tour at Lake Abraham.

Helicopters in the Rockies
Helicopters in the Rockies
Helicopter views of the Rocky Mountains in Canada
Helicopter views of the Rocky Mountains in Canada
Snowshoe hikes with Rockies Heli, Canada
Snowshoe hikes with Rockies Heli
Winter landscapes at Abraham Lake, Canada
Winter landscapes at Abraham Lake, Canada
Methane bubbles at Abraham Lake in the winter
Methane bubbles at Abraham Lake in the winter

Lake Louise

Lake Louise is part of Banff National Park and is a stunning place to ski and snowboard, and also enjoy the actual Lake Louise. If you visit mid-winter you’ll find the lake frozen and can even skate on it.

Landscape at Lake Louise, Alberta in the winter
Landscape at Lake Louise, Alberta in the winter
Lake Louise in the winter, snow and the Chateau Fairmont
Fairmont Chateau at Lake Louise in the winter
Horse Sleigh Rides, Lake Louise Canada
Horse Sleigh Rides, Lake Louise
Winter Skating at Lake Louise
Winter Skating at Lake Louise

Lake Louise Ski Resort

For fantastic skiing and snowboarding head to Lake Louise Ski Resort, where as well as great runs you’ll get to enjoy some of the best views of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Tree runs at Lake Louise Ski Resort, Canada
Tree runs at Lake Louise Ski Resort
Lake Louise Ski Resort, Canada
Lake Louise Ski Resort, Canada

Banff

Banff is a small town in Banff National Park close to Lake Louise. In and around the town, you’ll find several museums as well as the very cool Banff Gondola which provides fantastic views and the opportunity to learn about the National Park. I would say the Banff Gondola is a great attraction for families and kids.

Banff Town with mountains~
Banff Town with mountains
Streets of Banff Town
Streets of Banff Town
Views from the Banff Gondola
Winter views from the Banff Gondola

Calgary

Finishing this post are pictures from Calgary where I ended my trip. To enjoy views of the city head over to Scotsman’s Hill, the Peace Bridge, or up the Calgary Tower. The Calgary Tower also makes for a great spot to learn about the city through the audio tour and information boards that you’ll find on the observation deck. You may like my post 5 Top Things to Do in Calgary in the Winter.

Views of Calgary in the winter from Scotman's Hill
Views of Calgary in the winter from Scotsman’s Hill
Views from the Calgary Tower during the day in the winter
Views from the Calgary Tower during the day in the winter

Photography tips for Alberta winters

Here are a few photography tips if you are visiting Alberta in the winter.

  • When taking pictures with snow you may need to add exposure compensation if your pictures are coming out dark.
  • If you encounter wildlife then give them lots of space and follow safety recommendations from Parks Canada. To take pictures then use a long lens if necessary, such as over 100mm.
  • If skiing or snowboarding make sure you have a well-padded camera bag such as Lowepro Pro Tactic 250 AW.
  • For general walking use a smaller camera bag such as the Lowepro Messenger Camera Bag which is good to store your camera in case you slip.
  • Keep lens wipes or soft tissues in your camera bag in case you get snow or water on your lens.
  • Add people wearing brightly coloured jackets to your pictures for a nice contrast with the snow.
  • Use a decent tripod when possible to take high-quality night shots.

More photography tips: Ultimate Tips for Travel Photography


Tours and activities


Places to stay

Use the map below to find places to stay during your visit:


Summary

Alberta in the winter is an incredible and very photogenic destination to visit. As well as being a dream for photography, there are heaps of fun outdoor activities possible. This is my first post about Alberta to share some of my photographs and you will find lots more Alberta content coming soon.

More info on Alberta and Canada

If you want to start planning your trip to Alberta or read more about the awesome things you can do in this part of Canada then head to Travel Alberta and Explore Canada.

Author

Written by

Mike Clegg

Mike is a traveller, photographer, WordPress developer and the creator of TravelAndDestinations.com. He started this website so as to share his experiences and tips with travellers. He is from the UK and has travelled to many places around the world. He loves to shares his pictures and stories through Instagram and this website.

Read full bio | More articles by Mike

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