What to Wear in Banff

What to Wear
Banff doesn’t do mild seasons — what you pack depends entirely on when you’re going. Summer (June to August) usually sits at a comfortable 20 to 25 degrees during the day, but mountain weather turns on a dime, and evenings cool down hard even in peak summer. Bring a real layer for the evenings regardless of how warm the afternoon felt.

Winter (December to March) is genuinely cold — often well below freezing — and proper gear isn’t optional if you’re spending any real time outdoors rather than just shuttling between heated buildings. Insulated waterproof boots, a heavy insulated jacket, thermal base layers, waterproof gloves: all necessary, not nice-to-haves.

If you’re hiking in the warmer months, proper boots with ankle support matter on the rockier trails, and don’t skip sun protection just because the air feels cool — altitude bumps up your UV exposure more than people expect, and plenty of visitors get burned without realising it.

One more thing worth knowing: if you’re heading into the backcountry away from the main townsite, bear spray is genuinely recommended by park authorities, not just a nice-to-have. You can rent or buy it locally.