When is the best time to travel on the Rocky Mountaineer train? | Canada Rail Vacations (2024)

April

For those who like the winter scenery and want to experience the Canadian Rockies with snow, you’ll see plenty of it in April, all while not having to deal with the freezing cold winter temperatures. You may even wish to plan your rail vacation with some ski days at either of the two ski resorts in Banff National Park which are still open until early May.

One of the other highlights of travelling aboard the Rocky Mountaineer in April is that the price of your rail tickets will be considerably less expensive:

You’ll also save considerably on hotels in April as prices will almost double in some locations from the April rates to the peak travel month rates from June through September. For those who have dreams of staying at the historic Fairmont Banff Springs hotel, or Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise but don’t want to pay over $1000 per night, April is a great time to stay at these locations!

Some of the negatives of travel in April are that the hiking trails aren’t open, the lakes are still frozen and most of the day tours operate with limited capacity, if at all.

If you are planning to have a more relaxing holiday or you would like to make your own plans during your time in the Rockies, April may be a great choice for you.

Overall, April is an excellent way to see a snowy backdrop on the mountains and save a considerable amount of money.

May

As the snow starts to melt, wildlife move down into the valleys making May a great month for wildlife viewing. May is an excellent month to see bears in the wild from the safety of the Rocky Mountaineer train, or on your sightseeing bus tours throughout the Rockies. By mid-May, most land excursions are operating such as the Columbia Icefield excursion and the other bus tours throughout the Rockies, however, the lake tours won’t be open yet as they are still frozen until mid to late May. The weather in May can be hit or miss, but when you get a warm weather day in mid to late May, there is no better time to get the full Canadian Rockies Experience. You’ll get a snowy backdrop to your mountain photos with lush forests coming back to life, waterfalls streaming down the mountains from the melting snow, and a high likelihood of seeing wildlife such as bear, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and more.

Overall, May is a great time to travel on the Rocky Mountaineer train if you want to go home with a camera roll full of postcard-like photos while still saving some money in comparison to the peaks season prices which generally come into affect in the last week of May/early June.

June

Travelling in June brings warmer temperatures, and peak daylight hours, but it can also be a little more wet with sporadic rain showers quickly coming and going through the mountains. Like May, it is a great month to see wildlife and the last chance to beat the crowds before summer official hits. By June, almost every lake in the Rockies will be melted and most of the lakes will have a blue, turquoise colour (Bow Lake is one of the last roadside lakes to melt). Luckily, the increased chances of precipitation in June lead to less chances of wildfires which may sometimes be the cause for a hazy backdrop to your photos in the later summer months. In June, the mountains are starting to shed most of their snow and make for beautiful photos of the Canadian Rockies.

Overall, June is a great time to travel on the Rocky Mountaineer train in you want to get some of the warm summer weather, good scenery and wildlife viewing opportunities, without the full summer rush of travelers flocking to the popular mountain towns of Jasper, Lake Louise, and Banff.

July

The reason most of our guests want to travel on the Rocky Mountaineer in the first two weeks of July is to line their trip up with the Calgary Stampede. Otherwise known as the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, the Calgary Stampede has something for everyone. For these days in July, everyone in the city of Calgary dons western wear and celebrates the city’s western heritage. To learn more about our Calgary Stampede add-on package, please click here: https://canadarail.ca/tours/calgary-stampede-add-on/

In addition to this, July has warm weather, excellent scenery and is truly a favourite time for guests who want to go hiking and explore the outdoors. The warm summer weather does, however, come with the added risk of wildfire smoke in Western Canada. These fires are rarely a safety risk and are unlikely to impact your trip, however, if you have health concerns due to smoke, it is recommended that you avoid July and August travel in favour of an early or late season vacation as Alberta and British Columbia are commonly affected by mild air quality advisories for a few days each July.

August

August is just like July, but without the giant party that is Calgary Stampede. It is a drier month full of sunny days and is equally as warm as July. If you like to hike, August can be beautiful. If you are lining up your Canadian Rockies trip with a tour to Vancouver Island, August can be a great time for spotting whales. To learn more about our Victoria & Vancouver Island add-on package, please click here: https://canadarail.ca/tours/victoria-add-on/

Like July, the warm summer weather does, however, come with the added risk of wildfire smoke in Western Canada. These fires are rarely a safety risk and are unlikely to impact your trip, however, if you have health concerns due to smoke, it is recommended that you avoid July and August travel in favour of an early or late season vacation as Alberta and British Columbia are commonly affected by mild air quality advisories for a few days each August.

September

September is a magical month to travel on the Rocky Mountaineer and is definitely the crowd favourite. The leaves start to change colours and the golden colours of the larch and poplars offer a beautiful backdrop to the low light of the sun shimmering off the turquoise-coloured lakes. The September evenings can be rather chilly, so please bring a hat and a jacket so you can enjoy an evening stroll before dinner.

For anyone looking to travel on the Rocky Mountaineer in September, it is recommended that you book well in advance as this month sells out of seats on the trains and hotel rooms months in advance.

October

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