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When to go · Canada

Canada, month by month

The best months for Canada: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.

Month by month

  1. JanuaryMixedDeep cold east of the Rockies; ski season in Whistler and Banff; northern lights in Yellowknife.Pacific coast: rainy · Rockies: cool · Prairies: coolCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
  2. FebruaryMixedQuébec Winter Carnival and Ottawa's Winterlude; Family Day long weekend in most provinces.Pacific coast: rainy · Rockies: cool · Prairies: coolCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
  3. MarchMixedLate ski season; sugar shacks in Québec open for maple season.Pacific coast: rainy · Rockies: cool · Prairies: coolCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
  4. AprilMixedThaw and mud; Rockies trails still snowy; Vancouver cherry blossoms.Pacific coast: fine · Rockies: cool · Prairies: fineCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
  5. MayGoodVictoria Day weekend opens the season; Rockies lakes still frozen at altitude.Pacific coast: best weather · Rockies: fine · Prairies: fineCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
  6. JuneGreatLong days, lakes thawing, fewer crowds than July; blackflies in Ontario and Québec woods.Pacific coast: best weather · Rockies: best weather · Prairies: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 3 festivals or holidays
  7. JulyGreatPeak season: Rockies lodging sold out, Canada Day on 1 July, Calgary Stampede. Wildfire smoke possible — check.Pacific coast: best weather · Rockies: best weather · Prairies: best weatherCrowds: High · 2 festivals or holidays
  8. AugustGreatWarm and busy; wildfire risk highest in BC and Alberta.Pacific coast: best weather · Rockies: best weather · Prairies: best weatherCrowds: High · 3 festivals or holidays
  9. SeptemberGreatAfter Labour Day crowds drop; larches turn gold in the Rockies late in the month.Pacific coast: best weather · Rockies: best weather · Prairies: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 3 festivals or holidays
  10. OctoberGoodFoliage in Ontario, Québec and the Maritimes early in the month; mountain roads get snow.Pacific coast: rainy · Rockies: fine · Prairies: fineCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
  11. NovemberMixedGrey shoulder season; many seasonal businesses in parks close.Pacific coast: rainy · Rockies: cool · Prairies: coolCrowds: Low · 2 festivals or holidays
  12. DecemberMixedChristmas markets and ski openings; winter tyres required on many BC highways.Pacific coast: rainy · Rockies: cool · Prairies: coolCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Canada, side by side.

  • Verdict

    Jun: Great

    Jul: Great

  • Crowds

    Jun: Medium

    Jul: High

  • Prices

    Jun: Medium

    Jul: High

  • Festivals listed

    Jun: 3

    Jul: 2

June: Long days, lakes thawing, fewer crowds than July; blackflies in Ontario and Québec woods.

July: Peak season: Rockies lodging sold out, Canada Day on 1 July, Calgary Stampede. Wildfire smoke possible — check.

Canada: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

Weather by region

How each climate zone rates each month.

Weather rating by region and month
RegionJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Pacific coastVancouver, Victoria, Tofino, Whistler (ski)WetWetWetOKBestBestBestBestBestWetWetWet
RockiesBanff, Lake Louise, Jasper, YohoCoolCoolCoolCoolOKBestBestBestBestOKCoolCool
PrairiesCalgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, SaskatoonCoolCoolCoolOKOKBestBestBestBestOKCoolCool
Ontario and Great LakesToronto, Ottawa, Niagara Falls, AlgonquinCoolCoolCoolOKBestBestHotHotBestBestOKCool
QuébecMontréal, Québec City, Laurentians, CharlevoixCoolCoolCoolOKOKBestBestBestBestBestCoolCool
Atlantic CanadaHalifax, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton, NewfoundlandCoolCoolCoolCoolOKOKBestBestBestOKCoolCool
The NorthWhitehorse, Yellowknife, Dawson City, IqaluitCoolCoolCoolCoolOKBestBestBestOKCoolCoolCool