A Complete Banff Packing List for September!
A Banff packing list for September! The Canadian Rockies are pretty well-known for their quick-changing and unpredictable weather; this even more true during September and shoulder season! Therefore, your packing needs to include a wide variety of items and layersss.
We visited Banff National Park (as well as Vancouver) in late September. This packing guide is for travelers visiting during shoulder season, and especially those planning to do some hiking!
Here is everything you will need including outerlayers, base layers, shoes, accessories and more!
- Weather in Banff in September
- September Banff Packing List Overview
- Outer Layers to Pack for Banff
- Base-Layers & Mid Layers
- Banff Packing List: Shoes and Socks
- Warm Accessories: Beanie, scarf, gloves
- One More Recommendation
- Banff Packing List in September Recap: Layers!
Work on Monday Travels is supported by readers and, at no cost to you, may earn commission when you book or purchase using our links. Full disclosure found here.
Weather in Banff in September
Again, Banff and the Candian Rockies have quick-changing and sometimes unpredictable weather, especially in September and the shoulder season months!
Average Temps: The average high for Banff in September is 62 degrees F and the average low is 36 degrees F.
So overall, it is likely to be a chilly autumn day. However, the biggest challenge to packing for Banff in September is the change in weather conditions throughout the day and day-to-day.
Morning may be foggy, windy and cold and the afternoon may be sunny and really pleasant for hiking.
Precipitation: The beginning of September sees more rain than the end (because it starts to transition to snow.) However, Banff isn’t known for its signifiacnt amounts of precipitation in September. If it rains, it probably won’t be a significant amount and if it snows it likely won’t stick around for the next day (besides at higher altitudes!)
For Reference: We visited in late September and had a snow-globe experience one day and beautiful, sunny weather the next! Be prepared for anything when you are visiting Banff during shoulder season!
This is the weather conditions 24 hours apart! Lake Louise vs the Icefields Parkway ⬇️
September Banff Packing List Overview
Honestly, shoulder season can be the HARDEST months to pack for. Especially in a place that can already have weather mood swings due to the mountains.
This is even more true if you want to do any hiking in Banff in September. The temperature changes from the the town of Banff or Lake Louise to the top of hikes like the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse Trail can be significant.
I started a hike comfortably in a long sleeve shirt with a flannel over it. Had to strip the flannel while hiking, then needed my long sleeve shirt, flannel AND down jacket at the top of the mountain!
The summation of a Banff packing list is: Layers are key!
Outer Layers to Pack for Banff
.Your outer layer is going to be important! You are going to want WARM outer layers with at least one of them being waterproof.
Waterproof Jacket
At the very beginning of September, you may be able to get away with a lightweight rain jacket with layers underneath.
However, if you plan to visit toward the end of September and there is a chance of snow, a thin rain jacket isn’t going to suffice.
I learned this the hard way actually. I already had an older LIGHT North Face rain jacket and I decided I would bring that and try to put it over my thicker down jacket. It didn’t work well
As soon as I got free time at the airport I ordered a 3-in-1 Marmot rain jacket that I found on sale. I have proceeded to take to Iceland, Ireland and skiing in Colorado (good investment) and it worked MUCH better.
The inside insulation layer can be unzipped into its own jacket. So you can have a light jacket, a rain coat without insulation or have them together for a warm, insulated rain jacket.
If you are visiting during shoulder season (especially toward the end of shoulder season), I highly recommend investing in a warmer weatherproof jacket!
Be Better Prepared!
This 3-in-1 Marmot jacket I bought in the airport after Canada worked WAY BETTER on my trip to Iceland!
A Second Jacket: Down coats are Great Options
In conjunction with a warm waterproof coat, I would take a second coat that you can wear on the nicer days.
Whatever your choice of brand, a down jacket really does wonders in keeping the warmth. My go-to is a North Face down jacket that I have now had for about 7 years.
However, I know down jackets usually have a higher price tag. Here is a puffer coat that has good reviews with a better price tag. I bought a similar one at Zara and it worked great.
Shop
Base-Layers & Mid Layers
A Banff packing list is not complete without breathable base layers for hiking plus additional base-layers for your non-hiking activities.
Bottoms
Fleece-lined leggings can be a great option for exploring downtown Banff or when sightseeing inside Banff National Park that doesn’t require hiking.
Breathable Base-layer: However, as awesome and warm as fleece-lined leggings are, make sure you have something a little more breathable and moisture-wicking if you plan to hike up in the mountains! There are great heat-gear base layers that are made for skiing, etc.
Tops
Thermal shirt or similar top base-layer: Thermal shirts are globally underrated in my humble opinion. They are relatively thin and can fit under a lot of tops. Or, another great option are heat-gear style baselayers that are similar to the bottoms used for skiing.
Pullover or Sweatshirt: Bring a pullover or other second layer to wear between a base-layer and a super warm jacket
My Patagonia pullover worked like a charm, but any fleece-lined or mid-thickness pullover will work.
Shop
Banff Packing List: Shoes and Socks
There is nothing worse than cold and/or wet feet. Be smart when packing your shoes!
Waterproof Hiking Boots
Lightweight, waterproof hiking boots are a must if you plan to do any hiking. If you don’t plan to hike, you can ignore this.
But trail conditions in Banff in September are going to be less than optimal.
On our hike it was sunny with no snow on the ground at the trailhead. However, at the top, the trail was covered in snow and slush.
Trail conditions about midway up the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse Trail compared to the conditions at the top! ⬇️
Additional Shoe of Your Choice
Most people don’t like wearing hiking boots for a week straight. So bring some other shoes (that are still warm) to explore downtown Banff in and to wear on the days when you aren’t hiking the Canadian Rockies.
The Blundstone Chelsea boots are popular for the cute, granola look. Plus they have a water-resistant leather, which makes them good for national park exploring or any kind of shoulder season travel. But, they are pricey,
If weather is looking good (as far as precipitation goes), even a sneaker will work as long as you have warm socks to go with them.
Moisture-wicking socks
Moisture-wicking socks are a good idea if you plan to hike, whether the weather (lol) is going to be cold or not.
Plus, if the temperatures drop to the 40’s at night and in the morning, you will be happy to have warm feet.
Shop
Warm Accessories: Beanie, scarf, gloves
Bring things to keep your digits and your head warm!
As I mentioned, the lows can drop into the 40’sF, and if you plan to do any morning activities the temps will still be frigid. Add any wind to this and its downright cold.
I recommend a pair of waterproof gloves, and, if you like to take photos, my favorite gloves are the kind convertible mittens so I can have extra dexterity when using my camera!
In the third week of September, I also regularly wore a beanie and a scarf due to the snow, winds and lower temps that we experienced.
Shop
One More Recommendation
Again, IF, you plan to do hiking, don’t forget a comfortable hiking backpack. With all of the layers you are going to have, you are going to want something to carry them with.
I took (have taken on several trips) the Osprey Daylite Pack. It is small and lightweight but still has a chest and hip strap to offload the weight you stuff into it.
Also, last bit of information, the outlets in Canada are the same as the United States. If you are from the US or Mexico, you won’t need a convertor. If you are coming from another continent, don’t forget a convertor!
A Lightweight Hiking Backpack!
Mine is a different color, but I have loved this backpack for carrying my stuff while hiking. The straps help a TON.
Banff Packing List in September Recap: Layers!
Banff is amazing! However, the weather can be less than amazing during shoulder season. Make sure your Banff packing list is full of every layer you can think of!
Click here for a packing guide for all international travel to add to your list of items for Banff!
Save Pin for Later!
