How to Photograph the Canadian Rockies in Winter

A couple of winters ago I had the opportunity to spend a week creating landscape photographs in Banff and Jasper National Parks with my good friend and talented photographer, Jordan Ek. These parks are amazing anytime of year, but in winter they transform into a winter wonderland that is perfectly suited for landscape and nature photography. During our trip, we had no set itinerary and simply spent our days chasing the light and searching for subjects and scenes that inspired us. It was an incredible place explore through photography and I can't wait to go back again in the winter. In this article, I will teach you how to photograph in the Canadian Rockies during the winter and will share several useful tips which you can use to plan your own adventure. This is not a photo location guide and please don't ask for exact directions to these locations or GPS coordinates! The photos featured here represent my very best work from winter in the Canadian Rockies and each is available for purchase as a limited-edition fine art print.

Bring the beauty of winter in the Canadian Rockies to your home or office with a print from Scott Smorra Photography’s Canadian Rockies Winter Collection. Order your print today!

Sparkle and Fade

"Sparkle and Fade" Shimmering sunrise light illuminates a snow covered Mount Chephren in Banff National Park, Canada. This was one of the most beautiful sunrises I have ever seen! Limited Edition Prints Available Here!

Canadian Rockies Winter Travel and Photography Tips:

Traveling to Canada During the COVID-19 Pandemic - as of December 2023, there are no COVID related restrictions for traveling to Canada. No proof of vaccination or negative tests are required to enter the country.

X Marks the Spot

"X Marks the Spot" An abstract image of ice bubbles and ice cracks on the surface of the frozen Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada. Luxury Fine Art Prints Available Here!

Going Through Canadian Customs with Camera Gear - In the last few years, Canadian Customs has become very interested in photographers who are entering the country. When passing through customs, the agents will ask about your plans during your visit and if you say photography, you will be asked many more questions about what kind of work you will be doing. I don't know of anyone being denied access into the country, but I would certainly expect to answer a lot of questions! It took me about 20-30 minutes to get through customs, since I had to open all my bags and show the agents my camera gear.

Peyto Light

"Peyto Light" Sunset light at the Peyto Lake Overlook in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. Purchase your print today!

Weather - It's cold! Really, really cold! During the winter months, the temperatures generally range from a high of ~32F/0C to a low of -40F/-40C. Some areas can be quite windy, which makes the wind chill temperatures dangerously low. It's definitely cold out there, but you can remain quite comfortable with proper clothing and gear.

Athabasca Dawn

"Athabasca Dawn" Warm sunrise light fills the Athabasca River Valley in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. Fine Art Prints Available for Purchase Here!

Clothing and Gear - The cold weather in the mountains is no joke, especially if the wind is blowing. For your own safety, good winter gear is a must! Even though the temperature never got above freezing during my trip, the gear listed below kept me comfortable.

My layering system included:

  • Baselayers - Smartwool liner socks, Smartwool socks, wool blend baselayers top/bottom, fleece jacket and fleece pants
  • Outerwear - Down jacket, Goretex shell pants, Goretex shell jacket
  • Headwear - Neck warmer, balaclava, beanie, sunglasses
  • Gloves - Liner gloves, lightly insulated windproof Goretex gloves, Goretex insulated mittens, hand warmers
  • Footwear - Goretex trail running shoes, insulated winter boots.

Other gear used included:

  • MSR snowshoes, hiking/trekking poles, Kahtoola Microspikes, NRS Boundary socks.
      Crystalline Light

      "Crystalline Light" Colorful clouds passing above a frozen Abraham Lake at sunset on a cold winter day in the Canadian Rockies. Gallery Quality Prints Available Here!

      Driving - I recommend getting an SUV with all wheel drive (AWD) and snow tires. Tires with the M+S or snowflake symbol are required to drive on the Icefields Parkway from November 1 to April 1. There are guard stations outside of Lake Louise and Jasper and only appropriately equipped vehicles are allowed to pass. The roads in the parks are almost always covered in snow and packed ice, but with snow tires and good winter driving skills, you should be able to keep yourself out of the ditch. Be careful when driving, because if you get into trouble it can be a LONG time before anyone passes by and there is limited cell service. If you have never driven on snow/ice, I don't think this is the best place to learn! It's also important to be aware that Alberta Transportation can suddenly close the Icefields Parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper (sometimes for days) due to avalanche danger. Click here for more information about driving the Icefields Parkway in winter.

      Several rental companies offer cars/SUVs with snow tires at the Calgary Airport, but it is very difficult to add this option when you are booking online. The winter tires add $20-25 CAD per day to the cost of the rental, but it's worth it in my opinion. I ended up booking through Dollar/Thrifty website and then calling the Calgary Airport location to arrange the winter tires. The company would not guarantee a vehicle would be available with winter tires, but I had no problem getting one when we arrived.

      Calm

      “Calm” Morning light illuminates a snow covered mountain in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. Purchase Your Print Today!

      Gas/Fuel - The only places to get fuel in the winter are in Banff/Canmore, Lake Louise and Jasper. Saskatchewan Crossing is closed for the winter, so don't rely on it for gas. If you are from the United States, you usually have to go inside the gas station to pay with a credit card. Most of the gas stations are not open 24/7 during the winter and if the station is closed, Americans are not able to pump any gas! Well played Canada, well played! One morning when we were heading out to shoot the sunrise, we stopped at a gas station to get fuel, but it was closed. We had to decide if we wanted to wait for the gas station to open in a couple of hours or hit the road with the gas we had in the tank. After doing some quick estimates and calculations, we decided we had just enough gas to go out shooting for the day. Our estimation was a bit off and we drove the last 35 kilometers back to Lake Louise with the gas light illuminated! We made it, but we were dangerously close to needing to walk or hitchhike back to town!

      Tangled

      "Tangled" Tangle Peak rises above a small stream and intricate ice formations during a winter sunrise in Jasper National Park, Canada. Fine Art Prints Available Here!

      Hotels and Lodging - The main places to stay are the towns of Banff/Canmore, Lake Louise and Jasper. As long as you are not traveling around Christmas or New Year's, advance reservations are generally not needed in any of these towns during the winter months. The nightly room rates are very reasonable in the winter compared to the peak summer season. There are also a few hostels along the Icefields Parkway that are open during the winter if you are looking for a lower cost option.

      Fluted

      "Fluted" Early morning sunlight illuminates the fluted ridges on Mount Fryatt in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. Limited Edition Prints Available for Purchase Here!

      Cameras - A mirrorless or digital SLR body with good weather sealing is highly recommended. If possible, try to make sure you have a back up camera. We had a Nikon D810 that simply stopped working on one of the -30C degree mornings. The camera got too cold and froze up. After warming it back up in the hotel, everything functioned appropriately, but in the cold it was useless. If you have a back up camera body, you are less likely to miss out on a special moment due to cold weather camera failure. For what it's worth, the Nikon D850 and Nikon Z7 did not have any issues in the cold.

      Warm Embrace

      "Warm Embrace" A small rock surrounded by a beautiful ice formation in the wilderness of Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. Limited Edition Prints Available Here!

      Camera Lenses - There are many different subjects to photograph in the Canadian Rockies during the winter, so carrying a proper assortment of lenses is very important. These subjects range from ultra wide angle grand landscapes to close up ice abstracts to super telephoto mountain details. I recommend bringing lenses that cover ~14mm to 500mm on a full frame camera. I brought my 14-24mm, 24-70mm, 70-200mm and 200-500mm lenses and I used every one during the trip.

      Ice Eruption

      "Ice Eruption" Warm sunset light illuminates clouds and mountains surrounding Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada. Buy Fine Art Prints Here!

      Batteries - It's important to make sure you have lots of extra camera batteries and charge them up every night. I stored all of my batteries in the chest pocket of my fleece jacket to keep them warm. In my experience, OEM batteries tend to keep their charge longer than off brand batteries, especially in extremely cold weather.

      Ice Lightning

      "Ice Lightning" An abstract image of the ice crack formations and blowing snow on the surface of the frozen Abraham Lake, Alberta, Canada. Wall Art Prints Available Here!

      Tripods - When using a tripod, if there is water/snow on the legs, don't return the legs to the closed position. If the legs are closed with water on them, they will freeze shut and it will be impossible to extend the legs again until they are thawed out in the car/hotel. It can be frustrating to be unable to adjust the height of your tripod and this always seems to happen when the light is going off! If this happens to you, ditch the tripod and shoot handheld using a camera with in body image stabilization (IBIS). Yes, the IBIS on mirrorless cameras works very well for handheld photography!

      Triumph

      "Triumph" Early morning light shines upon a mountain and small stream in the backcountry of Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. Purchase your print today!

      Best time of day for photography - Due to the low angle of the sun during the winter, it's possible to shoot during any time of day. Sunrises and sunsets can be stunning, but don't miss the midday light, especially if there are clouds and atmosphere. For the truly adventurous, night photography (stars and aurora) can be quite good if the skies are clear, but staying warm can be a challenge!

      Rising from the Mist

      "Rising from the Mist" Late afternoon light and misty clouds create incredibly atmospheric conditions near Saskatchewan Crossing in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. High Definition Prints Available for Purchase Here!

      Final Thoughts

      The Canadian Rockies are a very special place, especially during the winter season. The dramatic mountains and extreme winter weather conditions create a unique environment with endless landscape photography opportunities. It's easy to spend a week or two exploring the frozen landscapes in this beautiful area. Hopefully some of you are able to travel to the Canadian Rockies during the winter of 2021-22. If you make it there, please let me know how it went!

      I hope you find these tips helpful for planning a photography trip to the Canadian Rockies in the winter. If you have any questions or thoughts about the article, you can leave a comment below or contact me directly through this website. I will respond to all questions. Thanks for reading!

      Click here to see the full Canadian Rockies Winter Gallery.

      Can't make it to the Canadian Rockies during the winter? Consider purchasing a Fine Art Print from Scott Smorra Photography's Canadian Rockies Winter Gallery. These TruLife Acrylic and Fine Art Paper prints look amazing on the wall and will bring a touch of the Canadian Rockies into your home or office! The colorful and detailed prints will make you feel like you are out snowshoeing in this frozen mountain paradise.

      Updated: December 8, 2023

      First Blush

      "First Blush" The first touch of sunrise alpenglow illuminates the summit of a large mountain in Banff National Park below a starry twilight sky. Fine Art Prints Available Here!

      Shimmering sunrise light illuminates a snow covered Mount Chephren in Banff National Park, Canada.

      Shimmering sunrise light illuminates a snow covered Mount Chephren in Banff National Park, Canada. This was one of the most beautiful sunrises I have ever seen! Everything was glowing with pink and yellow light. During the previous week, it had been snowing steadily and when the weather finally cleared, everything was covering in a soft blanket of white. On this extremely cold winter morning (-26C), intricate ice patterns lined the edge of the stream and a thin layer of mist rose above the water. It was a chilly morning to be out in the wilderness, but it was definitely worth it to see this place! Fine Art Limited Edition of 100 - ©2020 by Scott Smorra

      Learn about "How to Photograph the Canadian Rockies in Winter" on my blog.

      Weather - It's cold! Really, really cold! During the winter months, the temperatures generally range from a high of ~32F/0C to a low of -40F/-40C. Some areas can be quite windy and the wind chill temps go even lower. It's definitely cold out there, but you can remain quite comfortable for the entire day if you have proper clothing and gear.