Canada in October - snow?

[arfur]

Have been investigating going to Canada for Oct half term and wonder if Banff will have snow at that time of year? We are not ski-ers (yet) but would like to try it along with other snowy type stuff (along with a polar bear safari). All advice welcome by the way dd will be 9 and ds 6. TIA

Polar bear trips are usually done in Churchill which is in a different part of Canada. Bears native to the Banff area are brown bears and black bears.

Yes we are planning to do a couple of days in Niagra, the polar bear thing in Churchill and then Banff - Im just not sure whether theres much snow in Banff at that time of year - should have paid more attention in geography!

Sunshine has an opening date of 7th November, and I think that is the first of the Banff resorts to open, so you wont be able to ski in October, but guess there will be snow. Contact the Banff tourist board.

There should be some snow in October in Banff, in a 'calm before the storm' kind of way.

Are you flying between Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta?

ski season not started at that point. would definitely recommend going, but not in oct half term. (we're booked for feb but practically live there lol)
lovely lovely area - but not a lot doing in oct - they will just be organising after the summer rush, and before the winter season starts.
doubtless brewsters will offer you a few tours (check out icefield's pathway en route to jasper) you can still do the hot springs, johnson's canyon walk, lake louise, take the gondola up sulphur mountain etc, but i'd pick a different time of year if i was you, particularly if you want to ski! go in 'real' winter and you can dog sled, ice climb, snowshoe etc etc, as well as ski/ board.

There will be loads to do and see if you have a car. Even the drive from Jasper to Banff is spectacular. Agree that if you're without a vehicle it may not be tremendously exciting. The scenery will be spectacular, and if you're lucky you may catch the northern lights - depends when you go in October.