8 Easy Winter Activities to Try in Alberta

Each winter, Alberta transforms into an outdoor playground where accessible adventures meet genuine wonder. Alberta winters are packed with sunshine, fluffy snow and cool temperatures that locals happily describe as “a dry cold”—the kind that doesn’t sink deep into your bones.

Why winter in Alberta is good for your health

You don't need to be a seasoned downhill skier or an intrepid ice climber to partake in winter fun. All you need is some curiosity and a few warm winter layers.

Here are eight ideas to get you started if you’re looking for ways to spend more time outside under Alberta's bluebird skies this winter. They're all absolutely beginner friendly winter outdoor activities.

1. Try a guided ice-walk through a frozen canyon

Ice walking allows you to explore Alberta's snowy outdoors even when the trails are at their iciest. That's because you're geared up with ice cleats that slide right over the soles of your winter boots.

Grotto Canyon near Canmore offers an easy ice walk along a frozen creek bed between towering limestone walls. Hikers come face to face with ancient Indigenous pictographs on the rock face and waterfalls turned into curtains of blue ice.

Explore more guided tours

Ice walks at Johnston Canyon in Banff allow you to crunch your way along the ice and snow to see the canyon's frozen Lower Falls.

In Jasper, Pleckaitis Canyon tours bring you into one of the deepest accessible canyons in the region, plus explain how the surrounding forest is regenerating post-wildfire.

The relatively flat terrain makes it perfect for first-time winter hikers, and several local outfitters offer guided tours complete with ice cleats and hot drinks. Try a guided night ice walk and your guide will supply headlamps and stargazing tips, too.

2. Chase bubbles trapped under ice at Abraham Lake

Abraham Lake's frozen methane bubbles have become one of Alberta's most photographed winter phenomena. These ethereal white discs, suspended beneath layers of crystal-clear ice, create an otherworldly landscape.

Guided experiences with Canadian Rockies Escapes not only take adventurers to the best viewing spots safely, but also explain the fascinating science behind these naturally occurring formations while keeping everyone safe on the ice.

3. Go dog sledding through Alberta’s snowy wilderness

Dog sledding delivers pure exhilaration. Whether you're riding as a passenger or learning to mush your own team, the experience of gliding through silent forests behind eager huskies connects you to centuries of northern tradition. Dog sledding operators in Canmore, Banff and around Alberta offer everything from short introductory rides to multi-hour adventures.

4. Ski beginner-friendly, Olympic cross-country trails

Built for the 1988 Winter Olympics, Canmore Nordic Centre maintains over 65 km (37 miles) of groomed cross-country ski trails that wind through snow-quilted forest and open meadows. Rentals and lessons are available on-site, making it effortless for beginners to try Nordic skiing against the picture-perfect Rockies.

5. Segway through Edmonton’s wintry river valley

Frosty exploration that doesn't require skis or snowshoes is found in Edmonton with River Valley Adventure Co. Their 60-minute, beginner-friendly winter segway trek rolls through North America's largest urban parkland, offering a playful way to cover ground while staying warm through movement.

6. Skate on legendary ice in cities or the Rockies

Ice skating in Alberta ranges from iconic to intimate. Glide across the frozen surface of Lake Louise beside a handmade ice castle that appears each winter. Grab rental skates from the adjacent Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Edmonton's purpose-built ice trails, such as Victoria Park IceWay, wind through the river valley and are kitted out with warming pavilions. Also in Edmonton, Hawrelak Park is popular for ice skating and features a popular bistro, Lift Me Up on the Lake, right at the edge of the ice.

Calgary's Bowness Park offers old-fashioned skating (with rentals) on a lagoon surrounded by fairy lights. Near downtown, the Prince’s Island Lagoon is also seasonally lit and feels like the perfect mix of city lights and nature.

More about skating in Calgary & Edmonton

7. Embrace quirky Alberta winter traditions at festivals

Alberta's winter festivals offer delightfully offbeat, eclectic experiences. See snow and ice sculptures and check out live music at Banff and Lake Louise's annual SnowDays Festival, taking place mid-January to early February.

In Calgary, chocolate lovers can sample creative concoctions at cafes across the city during February’s YYC Hot Chocolate Fest. Take the hot chocolate to the streets and enjoy the benefits of a winter walk while you sip. Around the same time of year, Chinook Blast takes over parts of downtown Calgary. You’ll encounter art installations lighting up the night, live music, outdoor activities and lots of live performances, typically running from late January through mid-February.

At Edmonton's Silver Skate Festival each February, join the mesmerizing evening procession of glowing lanterns toward illuminated fire sculptures. Or experience Flying Canoë Volant, which celebrates everything magical about long winter nights through Indigenous and French Canadian traditions at the end of January.

8. Relax at Alberta’s hot springs and thermal spas

Once you've embraced Alberta’s winter charms and boosted your mood by getting outside, it’s time to reward yourself with therapeutic warmth at our hot springs and spas.

Hydrotherapy circuits, alternating between hot and cold water, offer profound benefits, from improved circulation to reduced inflammation. In winter, that hot-cold contrast feels especially transcendent. Your skin tingles, your senses sharpen, and you feel remarkably, electrically alive.

What hot springs are in Alberta?

There are two natural-source hot springs here in Alberta. Banff Upper Hot Springs is a popular spot to unwind, especially after a day of playing outside in Banff National Park.

However, Miette Hot Springs in Jasper National Park is closed in winter because the twisty mountain road is difficult for snowplows to maintain.

Basin Glacial Waters redefines mountain wellness

BASIN Glacial Waters at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise reimagines the historic 1920s bathhouse that once stood on this exact spot. Reverence for nature is at the core of this contemporary wellness sanctuary that offers direct views of famed Lake Louise and Victoria Glacier from its outdoor infinity pool.

While there's no prescribed path through the spa, five curated “trails" offer journeys based on each person’s desired outcomes. Throughout the day, sauna masters lead Aufguss rituals in a cavernous spruce sauna, using steam, aromatherapy and essential oil-infused snowballs on hot rocks to create sensory ceremonies. It’s good to know: BASIN is only bookable for guests of the Chateau.

Wellness gets wild at Everwild Spa in Canmore

Just outside the gates of Banff National Park, Everwild Canmore seamlessly blends indoor-outdoor thermal bathing with the rugged mountain landscape just steps away. Wellness guides craft personalized journeys through steam, sauna, and cold plunge experiences, while intention-setting rituals help guests connect deeply to themselves and the stunning surroundings.

Snag a twilight pass and you might get to spy a blanket of stars overhead as you soak.

Wilderness immersion meets Indigenous-influenced spa

Indigenous-led wellness journeys are found at The Woods Experience, in Alberta's boreal forest about 90 minutes' drive west of Edmonton. Overnight in a tipi or cabin before experiencing spa offerings that include wood-fired hot tubs, cold plunges and barrel saunas in the boreal forest.

What to wear for outdoor winter fun in Alberta

It's important to wear the right winter gear when you're planning to play outside in Alberta. Here are some tips:

• Dress in layers: Pack warm base and mid-layers, like lightweight merino tops and leggings, along with waterproof pants or snowpants and insulated shell jackets.
• Outer layers: The longer you're spending outside, the warmer you'll want your boots and gloves or mittens to be. Choose waterproof boots, thick mittens (they'll keep your hands warmer than gloves) and a warm knit hat.
• Understand wind chill: Our winter forecasts include the wind chill index. This indicates what outside will feel like when the air temperature is below 0°C (32°F) and there’s wind. Some days, the wind chill makes it feel much colder than the temperature alone indicates, so always be prepared for that "feels like" temperature.
• Take advantage of Chinooks: A Chinook is a warm wind that blows into the province from the Rockies to the west. It can raise winter temperatures by up to 20°C (68°F) in hours. Chinooks affect Calgary and Banff and other spots in the southern part of the province. Locals flock to dine on patios and stroll pathways to enjoy the bonus warmth—even when there’s snow on the ground.

Read more: What to pack for a winter getaway in Alberta