When to Visit the Rocky Mountains

Pros:

• Hottest weather

• Beautiful glacier lakes

• Safer roads for travelling

• The most hikes accessible

• Kids are out of school (for families)

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Cons:

• Most expensive time to visit

• Busiest time to visit

• Potential for wildfires/smoke

Pros:

• Winter sports (alpine and cross-countryskiing, snowboarding)

• Cheapest time to travel (except December/Christmas)

• Less people

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Cons:

• Lakes are frozen (November – June)

• Less hikes accessible due to avalanche risk

• Highway travel can be challenging/dangerous

• Road to Moraine Lake, Lake O’hara, and Takkakkaw Falls closed

• Shortest days in the year (gets dark early)

 

Pros:

• Similar to Summer, but a bit less expensive

• Lakes are still unfrozen/beautiful

• Students are back in school, so less people

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Cons:

• Potential for snow

• Potential for snow to affect travel on highways

• Still quite busy in September - visitors are always surprised at crowds

Pros

• Cheaper than summer

• Students are still in school, so less people

• Longest days of the year in June, plenty of time for activities

• Road to Moraine Lake, Lake O’Hara, and Takkakkaw Falls opens; boat cruises and Icefields open (June)

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Cons:

• Lakes are likely still frozen (until early June)

• Hiking trails can still be off limits due to avalanche risk (depends on weather)

• Rain most likely in this season