Hi

We will be traveling to the Canadian Rockies for approx 10 days in early October.
What is the weather like at this time of year?

We are planning to hire a car at this time, is this a good idea or will many of the roads be snowed in ?

Any advice is appreciated ……


Thanks

Well it's shoulder season then so the accomodation should be cheaper. I was there at the beginning of October (from the 1st to the 5th) and it was a great time to be there but it did start to snow after a few days but not enough to cause a problem. When the snow gets bad they will shut the gates aross the road at Icefields parkway but generally it's open all year. You should be fine.

The first two weeks of October is a nice time to visit the mountains, the crowds are gone, the air crisp and the hiking wonderful (you don't need to worry about getting overheated). There will quite likely be snow at the higher elevations and maybe on the montagne. If you go hiking, chose south facing slopes. I wouldn't worry about driving. Even if it snows, it doesn't last long this time of year. Plus it will be a lot less crowded on the highway.
It will be chilly in the morning and evenings so bring warm clothes.