Banff National Park and the surrounding Bow Valley is a playground for thrill seeking adventurers, especially over winter. While skiing at SkiBig3’s world class resorts is the obvious draw, there’s plenty of action to be found on and off the resorts. From extreme freeride terrain and backcountry missions to heli-skiing, snowmobiling, ice climbing, canyoning, caving, tubing, and fat biking, Banff delivers non-stop adventure all winter long. If you’re chasing speed, exposure, and the kind of experiences that leave your legs shaking and your grin frozen in place, you won’t have to look far.
Skiing in the Wild West at Banff Sunshine on Jan 19, 2026 | Photo credit: Jill Scarpato
If steep, technical terrain is your thing, SkiBig3’s freeride zones, steeps and chutes deliver in spades across Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt. Norquay. Think exposed steeps, tight chutes, rocky pillows, cliff bands, and deep powder stashes; terrain designed for confident, expert riders who like their skiing raw and unfiltered.
One of Canada’s most iconic freeride zones, Delirium Dive is mandatory for anyone chasing serious terrain. Accessed from the top of Lookout Mountain via the Great Divide Express Quad, entry is gated and only opens if you’re carrying an avalanche transceiver. Inside, expect sustained steep chutes, cliff bands, and technical lines that demand full commitment.
If you’re willing to conquer the Wild West, you’re sure to be rewarded. Accessed via the Goat’s Eye Express Quad, this zone is all about steep powder bowls, rock-walled couloirs, narrow chokes, cliff-lined chutes, and lines with mandatory air that feel wild in every sense of the word. Like Delirium Dive, your key to skiing here is an avalanche receiver.
These zones are serious big-mountain terrain. Riding with a partner and carrying avalanche safety gear, including a transceiver, shovel, and probe, is mandatory. Avalanche Skills Training (AST) is strongly recommended.
Taking the Paradise Chair to Eagle Ridge, you’ll be spoilt for choice on steep alpine bowls. E.R.3 has to be a standout though with everything expert riders could wish for. You’ll be greeted by steep shots, cliff drops and big air that rewards precision and confidence.
Tucked into the resort’s legendary back bowls off the Summit Chair, Whitehorn 2 serves up steep gullies, dramatic spines, and some of the deepest snow on the mountain, especially after a storm.
A local favourite, Boundary Bowl is accessed via the North American Chair, locally known as ‘Big Chair’. This is Norquay’s steepest, most challenging terrain, offering fast fall-line skiing and untouched powder stashes when conditions line up.
Mt. Norquay Terrain Park at night skiing | Photo credit: Rueben Krabbe
If flips, jibs, and airtime are what get your heart rate up, SkiBig3’s 11 terrain parks deliver a full-throttle freestyle fix. Built and constantly dialed by expert park crews, these parks are designed for progression and best enjoyed by riders chasing speed, amplitude, and the rush of going airborne.
Banff Sunshine brings serious freestyle firepower with five terrain parks spread across the mountain. For riders hunting big air, the Grizzly XL Terrain Park off the Great Divide Express Quad is the place to send it, featuring XL jumps built for confidence and commitment. Come March, Sunshine’s Dusk of the Village creates a freestyle playground of creative jibs and smooth transitions and BDog’s Off The Leash promises a custom rail setup orchestrated by professional freestyle skier Phil Casabon. Then in May, Holy Bowly takes things to another level. An iconic, snow-built freestyle park stacked with jumps, bowls, tabletops, and spine features that demand both flow and fearlessness.
At Lake Louise Ski Resort, five terrain parks keep the energy high all season long. Their legendary XL big air jumps at Easy Street, near the base area, is back and firing and built for riders looking to boost high and go big. For those ready to push progression further, Boulevard Park ups the ante with medium to large features designed to challenge advanced and expert freestyle riders.
Mt. Norquay adds an extra edge with terrain park riding under the lights during Friday and Saturday night skiing. There’s something about dropping in after dark that raises the stakes. Whether you’re taking your first steps into freestyle or fine-tuning kickers, rails, and jibs, Norquay’s terrain park delivers nonstop laps and late-night adrenaline.
Banff Sunshine | Photo credit: Dan Evans
When the lifts aren’t enough, Banff National Park’s backcountry opens up a near-limitless playground. Whether you’re stepping beyond the ropes for the first time or stacking multi-day missions, there’s terrain here to test your skills and your endurance.
From quick laps to full backcountry objectives, Banff offers endless options. Popular backcountry ski and split board routes in Banff National Park include;
Newer to the backcountry? Guided trips are recommended and available through operators like Alpine Air Adventures and Yamnuska Mountain Adventures.
For die hard back-country skiers, multi-day hut treks combine fresh powder, remote terrain, and long days in the mountains. Popular trips and huts include;
Avalanche education is essential. AST courses, regular refresher training, and practice are critical. Always carry a transceiver, probe, and shovel, check avalanche and weather forecasts, and consider a satellite communicator like a Garmin Inreach.
If your idea of winter adventure is deep, untouched powder, massive alpine faces, and the unmistakable thump of rotor blades overhead, heli skiing delivers the ultimate rush. A day trip with CMH Heli Skiing takes you beyond the boundaries of lift-accessed terrain and straight into Canada’s legendary powder highway.
Just a 2 hour drive from Banff to nearby Golden puts you at CMH’s Purcell operation; a vast playground of big-mountain lines, open bowls, steep pitches, and endless fresh tracks. With small group sizes and two certified guides per group, every run is about safety, flow, and finding the best snow of the day. It’s a full-throttle backcountry experience packed into a single, unforgettable day, perfect for thrill seekers who want to go deep without leaving Banff behind.
CMH takes care of the details so you can focus on the riding. High-quality powder skis, snowboards, and poles are provided, just bring your boots. Lunch is served out in the field between laps, with time to fuel up before dropping back in. After the last run, cap off the day with après-ski snacks and drinks at the CMH Purcell Day Lodge.
While snowmobiling isn’t permitted inside Banff National Park, a short two-hour drive opens the door to high-speed winter adventure. Areas around Golden, Kicking Horse, and Panorama offer half-day and full-day snowmobiling tours, with some operators, like Paradise Basin and Kicking Horse, even providing transport from Banff.
Led by professional guides, these tours take you deep into snowy backcountry terrain, weaving through alpine forests and across open bowls with sweeping Rocky Mountain views. Once you’ve mastered the machines, the real fun begins: free-play riding, carving through fresh powder, opening the throttle on long alpine trails, and feeling the raw power of the sled beneath you.
Where to go snowmobiling from Banff;
For riders chasing speed, spray, and pure winter adrenaline, snowmobiling delivers. Banff Adventures offers both half-day and full-day tours, perfect for adding a high-octane day to your Banff winter itinerary.
Ice climbing | Photo credit: Sam Burrows
Ice climbing in the area is up there with some of the best in the world. There’s nothing subtle about swinging tools into frozen waterfalls and kicking crampons into blue ice; it’s cold, physical, and wildly addictive.
Popular ice climbing locations in the Park include;
If you’re visiting, or a first timer, there’s several tour providers that offer certified guides and equipment. These include;
Johnston Canyon | Photo credit: Sam Burrows
Ice canyoning flips the script, descending frozen waterfalls and narrow ice-choked canyons instead of climbing up. Expect rappels, downclimbing, tight corridors, and plenty of adrenaline. Popular ice canyoning locations in Banff National Park include;
Book with a provider to secure a qualified guide. Providers include;
For a different kind of adventure, head underground. The Rat’s Nest Cave beneath Grotto Mountain is one of Canada’s longest cave systems. Temperatures hover around a steady 5°C year-round, and the experience involves crawling, squeezing, scrambling, and exploring vast chambers far below the surface.
Qualified guides are available with the following tour providers;
Winter hiking on Sulphur Mountain | Photo credit: Lukasz Warzecha
Winter hiking strips Banff back to its rawest form; icy trails, short days, steep climbs, and dramatic scenery. Popular winter hikes include;
Keep in mind that the days are much shorter in winter, so plan accordingly. Poles, microspikes or snowshoes and careful planning are important. Avalanche training and safety are still critical. Always check weather, avalanche forecasts, and trail conditions.
Tubing at Mt. Norquay | Photo credit: Rueben Krabbe
For pure, unfiltered speed, Mount Norquay’s Tube Park delivers Alberta’s longest tubing lanes, hitting speeds of up to 70 km/h. Ride solo or link up in groups for even more chaos. Daytime sessions run throughout the week, with additional night tubing sessions running on Fridays and Saturdays. Tubing at Mt. Norquay is included with a SkiBig3 lift ticket on days you ski at Mt. Norquay.
Fat biking in Banff National Park | Photo credit: Robery Massey
Fat biking proves that winter doesn’t end bike season, it just makes it more interesting. Oversized tires grip snow-packed trails, opening up a huge network of winter routes across Banff, Lake Louise, and Canmore. Popular trails around Banff National Park include;
Where to Rent a Fat Bike:
A number of guided tours are also available with Bikescape and Kananaskis Outfitters.
Beyond skiing and snowboarding at SkiBig3’s world-class resorts, Banff National Park and surrounding areas deliver a winter stacked with high-adrenaline experiences. If your idea of a perfect day involves speed, exposure, effort, and a healthy dose of fear, Banff National Park in winter won’t disappoint.
