Banff National Park delivers the beauty of an unspoiled destination and offer some of the most photographed spots in North America. From glacier filled lakes to mountain ranges galore, Banff National Park is a must see any time of year.
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We traveled to Banff National Park in March. This is a great time to go because it’s not as cold and the spring thaw is around the corner. Because it was about 30-35 degrees Fahrenheit during our visit, it was nice enough for great skiing conditions, yet warm enough for day hiking adventures.
For hiking, you need some comfortable, casual wear.
For skiing, you need to layer. You never know what it will be like on the top of the mountain.
Always pack items that are easy to match. No need to get too fancy here.
The list below will help you pack everything you need to enjoy Banff National Park. First, you will need to pack a variety of clothes for different weather conditions. The weather in the Rockies can change quite quickly, so you will definitely want to pack layers. In addition, you will also want a variety of clothing depending on your agenda, but we packed for skiing, casual sightseeing, and dinner attire.
You always need a good pair of kicks.
I wore a lot of leggings and my boots were comfortable to wear most of the time! I wore them in the airport so I didn’t need to pack them. Too bulky!
If you forget anything, don’t worry! There are a ton a great shops on Banff Avenue! Everything from local shops to your more popular ones like North Face.
Packing List For Banff National Park:
Clothing and Boots:
- Jackets/Sweaters/Vests: Patagonia and North Face. They keep you warm. Our entire family wears both brands often and since we live in North Dakota, we need warm clothes. The half zip sweatshirt from Patagonia is a classic, must have. Visit both stores downtown Banff.
- Socks and Base layer: Smartwool. The base layers are warm and comfortable. We love the socks for winter sports, hiking, and even running. They make a ton of cute designs. Visit the store in Banff.
- Leggings or sweatpants: You can wear them under snow pants and they are easy to slip on for sightseeing. I wore my Spanx leggings almost the entire trip. You can dress them up or down.
- Sorels snow boots: My snow boots are rated for 40 below zero and my feet were never cold. The other pair of Sorel’s boots I brought along were for going out to dinner. Both are very comfortable and stylish. I wore my snow boots on the airplane since I am a light packer (usually carry on only) and they looked great!
- Hats and mittens: We have a combination of North Face, Patagonia, Rossignol, and CC brands.
- Swim suit: You need this for the hot springs or outdoor hot tub.
Accessories:
- Skis, poles, boots, snowboard: My family chooses Rossignol.
- Helmets, goggles, neck warmer, face mask: We usually purchase Oakley for our helmets and goggles.
- Bags for skis/snowboards (West Jet counts skis and boots as one bag-remember to check with your airline carrier usually found under sports equipment). Our Rossignol ski bag worked great for checking our ski equipment.
- Backpack: Swiss Army or North Face. You will need a backpack almost everywhere you go.
- Sunglasses: Protect your eyes and always choose polarized.
- Passport: Definitely need this! Don’t leave home without it. I love the Kate Spade Passport cover.
- Camera: Don’t miss bringing home the memories with a Nikon. I purchased this camera last year, and it’s been fun. I can see it turning into a full time hobby. You can keep it basic or advanced. Always bring an extra battery along.
- Smart watch: I like Garmin. It’s waterproof and it easily calculated my resting heart rate and activities.
- Sunscreen and Chapstick: Even though it’s cold, the UV rays are strong. Sun Bum is our year round favorite for clean sunscreen.
We packed all of the items listed for our daily adventures considering the temperatures we encountered. Don’t forget your swim suit! Lastly, if you would like to read my full post on planning a winter vacation in Banff National Park, click here http://stay-and-play-in-banff-and-lake-louise
Happy Packing!