There are plenty of great ways to experience the Canadian backcountry. However, heading out on a four or five-day hut-to-hut expedition along the Wapta Traverse may be one of the best. Heading from Peyto Lake to the Great Divide, the classic backcountry route offers skiers the chance to summit mountain peaks, enjoy incredible descents, all with incredible views of the park in every direction.
Country Code:
+1
Language:
English
Best time to visit:
November to April
Currency:
Canadian dollar (CAD)
What’s the weather like?
During the winter, average daily temperatures range from -5 ºC to -15 ºC in Banff National Park. Snow also falls quite frequently, with between 30 and 40 centimeters falling each month
How to get there?
Any backcountry skiing trip to Banff National Park, begins with a flight into the international airports in Calgary (YCC). From here it is easiest to rent a car and make the two hour drive to the park
Sitting just 110 to 180 kilometers west of Calgary, in the iconic Canadian Rocky Mountains, Banff National Park is a veritable backcountry skiing paradise. Aside from the Wapta Traverse, which attracts plenty of skiers (but not too many) each season, there are plenty of other parts of this incredible landscape to explore on your skis. Other fan favourites include heading to Lake Louise for a day or more of incredible freeriding in the surrounding mountains. Ski mountaineering is another popular pastime, with many guides offering ascents of Mount Andromeda, Mount Fairview and Mount Hector, among many others. Several variations of the Wapta Traverse are also quite popular, including doing the classic route in reverse as well as making various detours on the classic route to climb some nearby mountains
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