Snowshoe adventure to the Paint Pots

Hike along an easy, snow-covered trail through Banff’s alpine forest to the culturally significant Paint Pots.

Spend the day in a winter wonderland, snowshoeing an easy trail winding through a forest of pine trees to the Paint Pots, once used by First Nations people for rock painting, and a cultural treasure within Banff National Park.

Running from December to April when the forests of Banff are covered in snow, this four hour tour departs in the early afternoon with a pick up from your hotel. You and your small group will be taken to the trail’s start point. You can be sure to enjoy the views and fresh air on the tour, as there’s minimal elevation gain on this 3 km (1.8 mile) path that makes its way across the frozen Vermilion River and into the forest.

On the journey, your guide will teach you the history of Canada’s indigenous people, explorers and the fur traders who lived in the Rocky Mountains. Once you arrive at the Paint Pots, you’ll see how these mineral deposits were once used as natura pigment by local First Nations people. At the end of the walk, your guide will provide hot chocolate and traditional maple sweet where hot maple is poured into the snow to create a sweet frozen treat.