Pros And Cons Of Banff And Jasper National Parks In The Shouder Season of April And May

Visiting Banff and Jasper National Parks in the shoulder season of April or May has its advantages and disadvantages. Spring comes much later in the mountains. While areas of the west coast of Canada and other places may be enjoying blossoming flowers and warmer temperatures the Rockies are still trying to transition from winter.

Whether you should visit during these months depends on what you expect to see and do. For general sightseeing, casual walks and lower elevation hikes it can be a great time. You just have to accept that there won’t be an abundance of activities. Spring can be excellent for skiing, but most winter time activities are coming to an end and the warmer weather ones have not yet started. The month of May offers more hiking options compared to April as trails start to clear of snow in the valley bottoms. Towards the end May there’s a lot more activities and seasonal attractions start to open. For suggestions of thing to do at this time of year see our post on spring time activities and hiking trails in Banff and Lake Louise and to get an idea of what part of the year might be for suitable for your trip see our post on When is the best time to visit Banff National Park and The Rocky Mountains.

Don’t Book A Trip Before Doing Your Research, You Might Be Disappointed

Sometimes visitors jump into booking a trip to the Canadian Rockies without doing enough research. They discover that areas they wanted to see are not going to be accessible and that they won’t be able to partake in the activities they are interested in. It’s not uncommon for visitors to think they are going to show up in the spring to canoe on the glacier lakes and go on epic hikes through the mountain trails. Or the complete opposite occurs when someone is under the impression they can go dog sledding or ice skating year round. The unique climate and weather of the Rocky Mountains is often misunderstood.

Seasonal Road Closures

The majority of the main roads around the mountains remain open year round. However, there are seasonal closures on some of the secondary roads during the winter and early spring due to avalanche risks. There are restrictions and closures in areas considered to be important wildlife corridors. This give the animals a chance to feed without being disturbed.  The most notable closure is the road to Moraine Lake in Banff National Park. Many people have their heart set on seeing this beautiful lake and the Valley Of The Ten Peaks.

• Moraine Lake Road – Moraine Lake closes around the 3rd week of October and does not open again until the 3rd or 4th week of May. Take note that when the road opens you are not going to see the postcard images of the turquoise blue water. It remains covered in snow and frozen until around mid-June. When it thaws the water levels are remain low until late June or early July.
• Yoho Valley Road – in nearby Yoho National Park the Yoho Valley Road that accesses Takkakaw Falls does not open until mid-June.
• Miette Road – The road to the Miette Hot Springs in Jasper and the springs themselves do not open until early May.
• Edith Cavell Road – the road to Edith Cavell to the popular Cavell Ponds and Angel Glacier does not open until around mid-June. The popular hike accessed from the same area to Cavell Meadows remains closed until late June or sometimes early July.

Seasonal Closures And Activities That Are Limited In The Canadian Rockies In April Or May

• Boat Cruises on Lake Minnewanka start up in early May (weather dependent)
• Boat Cruises On Maligne Lake start in early June (weather dependent)
• Hiking is limited to lower elevation trails in the valley bottoms
• Lake Agnes Tea House in Lake Louise opens in late May or early June (depending on conditions)
• Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House opens around late June (depending on conditions)
• The glacier lakes remain frozen until late May, early June or later
• Many of the attractions along the Icefields Parkway are not accessible
• Camping is extremely limited until mid to late May
• The Jasper Tramway is closed until early April (depending on conditions)

Unpredictable Shoulder Season Weather

The mountain weather can be unpredictable year round, but even more so in the transitional months of April and May. It can be cloudy, snowing, raining or there can be clear bright blue skies. At this time of year you could show up to unseasonably warm temperatures or freezing temperatures with active snow storms or large amounts of previous snowfall still existing on the ground.

The average daytime temperatures in April can range from below freezing to 10C. In May it can be be between 8C. to 15C.  These are just the average highs, the temperatures can vary much more. Even if it’s warmer during the day it can drop to freezing overnight and remain cold throughout the morning. It’s best to have different layers of clothing to adjust to the variance in temperatures from day to night. See our post on How to pack for a visit to the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

For more detailed information on climate in the mountains see our post on What to expect for weather and temperatures in the Canadian Rockies.

Hiking Is Limited

For avid hikers this is not the time to visit. The higher sup-alpine and alpine trails are snowbound until late June or longer. Unless you have specialized winter hiking equipment and training the options are limited. When temperatures are warming up in late winter and early spring it’s also a high risk time for avalanches. You need to use caution and find out the current conditions before doing any hiking in the area.

As the spring season progresses the lowest valley trails around the town sites of Banff and Jasper will be the first to clear of snow. As the snow melts the trails can be icy or muddy and slushy. It’s not usually until May that they start to have a chance to dry up. There’s no way to predict what any trail conditions will be like ahead of time. Check just before or at the time you plan to hike. You can visit one of the Parks Canada offices in Banff, Lake Louise or Jasper upon arrival or look online at Banff and Lake Louise Trail Reports  and Jasper Trail Reports.

Camping Is Limited

Camping is more of a summer time activity in the mountains, it’s pretty cold to camp any other time of the year. Be prepared for full winter camping from November through April, even May and October are questionable. There’s few campgrounds in the mountains that remain open year round, most open for the season in mid to late May and close again in early September to early October depending on the location. The May Holiday long weekend is the start the tourist season. Expect anything from warm and sunny weather to snow.

Winter Lasts Much Longer In Lake Louise

Winter hangs on in the higher elevation of Lake Louise much longer than other lower areas of the Bow Valley. Many people have no idea that Lake Louise does not thaw until early June. At lower elevations near the town site of Banff the grasses are starting to green up and leaves are starting to come out on the trees. Meanwhile Lake Louise remains icy and snow may still be falling.

Glacier Lakes Are Still Frozen 

It’s not only Lake Louise that remains frozen for a good portion of the year, most of the glacier lakes don’t start to thaw until May, early June or later. If your dream trip is to see the beautiful turquoise glacier waters of the Canadian Rockies, this is not the time to visit. All the popular Lakes like Peyto Lake, Moraine Lake and Lake Louise will be frozen. Only the lowest elevation lakes will have begun to thaw, but they are not the ones with the intense colour that the area is known for. To plan your trip for the best time to see the lakes check out our post on When Do The Rocky Mountain Lakes Thaw And Get Their Beautiful Turquoise Colour?

Driving Conditions

The driving conditions around the town sites are generally okay. There’s more chance of winter conditions in April versus May. The Trans Canada Highway that leads from Calgary to Banff and runs through the park is well maintained. Occasionally the road conditions become poor. If a large storm causes a significant amount of snow to fall quickly it can take a while for the plowing crews to catch up. It’s always best to check the reports before you travel at AMA Road Reports.

The Icefields Parkway

A highlight of the Canadian Rockies is the drive and attractions along the Icefields Parkway. It’s a higher elevation road that can have unpredictable weather. Driving it in winter is not something to take lightly. During April and May there can be anything from bare dry pavement to compacted snow and ice. Snowstorms can cause poor visibility. Check the road report for the Icefields Parkway before you drive it. March through about mid-April is when the route can have the most frequent closures due to avalanches. In April the road side pullouts and viewpoints will not be plowed, there are few options for stopping or doing any exploring. It’s the warmer months that allow you to take full advantage of everything the route has to offer. For more information see our post on Tips For Driving The Icefields Parkway.

The Icefields Center opens in mid-April to start the Ice Explorer Adventures onto the Athabasca Glacier, but everything else remains closed usually until late April or early May. Until then there’s no gas station or other amenities open. Popular spots like the Peyto Lake viewpoint can require dredging through knee deep or higher snow. Using snowshoes is a much easier option. Until the parking lot is plowed it can be difficult to find a spot to leave your vehicle. Check out our adventure to the Bow Summit And Peyto Lake Lookout In Winter.

Benefits To Visiting In The Shoulder Season Of April And May

Skiing 

Spring time skiing in the Canadian Rockies can be fantastic with sunny days and fresh powder. When many resorts in other parts of North America have shut down the hills here are still open. There are 3 ski resorts in Banff National Park. The Lake Louise Ski Resort and near the town of Banff there’s Sunshine Village and Mount Norquay. In Jasper there is the Marmot Basin ski hill. Depending on the conditions some of hills remain open until mid to late May. It’s always best to check current conditions as they can vary from year to year.

 

Snow-Capped Mountains

During the spring months the mountains are stunning with their snow-capped peaks. It’s a time when there is the possibility to see the white mountains tops contrasted against green grasses and fresh new foliage.

Wildlife Viewing

Spring can be an excellent time to view wildlife. As the snow starts to clear from lower valley areas the grasses are exposed and the animals are drawn in to graze. Around the town sites of Banff and Jasper you can start to see elk, bighorn sheep and deer. The majority of the bears start to come out of hibernation in April and early May. Spring is also one of the best times for bird watching. For more detailed information see our post on Wildlife Viewing In The Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Lower Accommodation, Tour And Airfare Prices

A benefit to booking a trip to the Rockies during a shoulder season is the lower prices. Accommodation prices remain lower until the Victoria Day holiday weekend (the Monday prior to May 25th). They are much cheaper compared to the high peak demand prices of the summer months. See our post on How to visit Banff on a budget to get more insight into the various accommodation prices throughout the year.

Tour companies offer deeply discounted packages during this time. Visitors from overseas often find that international flights are cheaper, but before you decide to take advantage of these lower prices make sure it’s worth it. They are discounted for a reason, it’s not the peak time of warmer weather when there is full access to all areas and activities. Don’t have regrets by booking your dream vacation if it’s not during a time that is going to suit you.

Less Crowds And A Quieter Atmosphere

The Easter long weekend sees large numbers of locals come from the surrounding areas to ski. Otherwise April and May are much quieter in comparison to the overwhelming crowds of the summer months. You will be able to visit attractions like the Banff Gondola without the long line ups. Not all attractions are going to be accessible at this time of year, but the ones that are can be visited in relative solitude.