Month guide · Banff · Canada
Banff in January
What January is really like in Banff: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diannaa, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
January is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of -5°C (23°F), lows of -15°C (5°F), about 11 rainy days and roughly 8.4 hours of daylight. Cold and snowy, with good ski conditions; Lake Louise freezes into an outdoor skating rink.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- -5°C (23°F) / -15°C (5°F)
- Rainy days
- About 11
- Daylight
- About 8.4 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in January
January is the 11th-warmest month in Banff: days average -5°C (23°F) against a yearly average high of 9°C (48°F), and nights fall to about -15°C (5°F). Rain falls on roughly 11 of its 31 days. Compared with December (-5°C (23°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs climb to around -2°C (28°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 08:39
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:03
- Daylight
- About 8.4 hours
Winter (December–February). Three ski resorts, skating on Lake Louise, ice walks in Johnston Canyon and the hot springs in the snow; very cold.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 3 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in July). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in January
- Ice Magic Festival — ice-carving competition at Lake Louise (usually mid-to-late January)
- SnowDays — winter festival with ice sculptures in Banff (usually January)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Experience · Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs
Banff Upper Hot Springs
Visit in the evening or on a winter day; swimsuits and towels can be rented if you arrive without.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Kids
- Views
- Rainy day
Architecture · Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs
Fairmont Banff Springs
The Canadian Pacific Railway's baronial-style 'Castle in the Rockies' opened in 1888 and was rebuilt in stone in the early 20th century.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Couples
- Rainy day
Historic site · Spray Avenue and the Banff Springs
Cave and Basin National Historic Site
Walk or cycle the flat Sundance trail beyond the site for an easy river outing.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Nature
Museum · Downtown Banff
Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
A gallery and archive of mountain art and history, with paintings of the Rockies, exhibits on mountaineering guides and early tourism, and heritage cabins on its grounds by the Bow River.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near -5°C, lows near -15°C and 11 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Banff?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, June–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Banff in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Banff?
It is a shoulder-season month. Cold and snowy, with good ski conditions; Lake Louise freezes into an outdoor skating rink.
+How warm is Banff in January?
Average highs are around -5°C (23°F) and lows around -15°C (5°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Banff in January?
Expect rain on about 11 days of the month.