When to go · Banff
Banff in December
Great month. Inside Banff's best window: Jun–Sep for lakes and hiking; Dec–Mar for skiing.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Temperature
- −5°C (24°F)24°F (−5°C) / −13°C (8°F)8°F (−13°C)
- average high / low
- Rain days
- 12
- Crowds
- Medium
- Canada overall
- Prices
- High
- Canada overall
Verdict
Inside Banff's best window: Jun–Sep for lakes and hiking; Dec–Mar for skiing.
Is another month better than December?
No other month rates higher than December for Banff in this guide.
Weather in December
- BanffHighs around -4.6 °C (24 °F), lows around -13.4 °C (8 °F), rain on about 12 daysHighs around 24 °F (-4.6 °C), lows around 8 °F (-13.4 °C), rain on about 12 days
- Rockies, Canada · Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, Yohocool
Lakes thaw in June; Moraine Lake road and many trails open about June–October; wildfire smoke in some summers; ski season December–April.
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Christmas and Boxing Day big impact
25–26 Dec · Canada
Most businesses closed on the 25th; Boxing Day sales.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Canada overall
- Medium
- Prices · Canada overall
- High
Canada overall: Christmas markets and ski openings; winter tyres required on many BC highways.
High-price month: see what to book ahead.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Banff, side by side.
Verdict
Dec: Great
Jan: Great
Daytime high
Dec: -4.6 °C (24 °F)24 °F (-4.6 °C)
Jan: -3.5 °C (26 °F)26 °F (-3.5 °C)
Night low
Dec: -13.4 °C (8 °F)8 °F (-13.4 °C)
Jan: -13.5 °C (8 °F)8 °F (-13.5 °C)
Rain days
Dec: 12
Jan: 12
Crowds
Dec: Medium
Jan: Low
Prices
Dec: High
Jan: Low
Festivals listed
Dec: 1
Jan: 0
December: Inside Banff's best window: Jun–Sep for lakes and hiking; Dec–Mar for skiing.
January: Inside Banff's best window: Jun–Sep for lakes and hiking; Dec–Mar for skiing.
Banff: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat and gloves for mornings and evenings
- A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast
- Layers: a fleece or light jacket