Set out early from behind the Mount Royal Hotel on Banff Avenue to the Grotto Canyon for your 2.6-mile (4.2-kilometer) hike. Your guide provides you with poles and ice cleats to help you make your way along the frozen creek.
Trek past rock paintings and interesting rock formations, as you learn the history and geology of the area. Stop near the frozen falls that form a wall of ice; there may be ice climbers out to watch as you rest. You also enjoy a light snack and a cup of hot chocolate along the way.
Head back to the trailhead and your warm waiting vehicle to take you back to the Banff townsite.