Hi Everyone! Here's Whatโs Happening This Week!
A stretch of Highway 93 between Parker Ridge and Saskatchewan Crossing may close from Sunday through Tuesday while Parks Canada carries out avalanche control work - check 511.alberta.ca before you head north. At the same time, the Bow River Bridge at Castle Junction closes April 19-30 for deck replacement, cutting the direct link between the Trans-Canada and Bow Valley Parkway.
The Sulphur Mountain Weather Observatory has been fully restored to its original 1902 design. It sits at 8,041 feet on Sanson Peak, and the man it's named after made the climb over 1,000 times - his last ascent at age 84. Worth knowing before you take the gondola up.
On April 26, a new documentary tracing nearly five decades of the Canmore Folk Music Festival premieres at Canmore Brewing Company with live performances and a $10 ticket. If you've been going to the festival for years, or have never been, it's a reasonable way to spend a Saturday evening.
If the road situation is making you rethink your plans, the Johnston Canyon E-Bike and Walking Tour keeps things simple - a relaxed ride through Vermilion Lakes and the Bow Valley Parkway, followed by a walk to the Lower Falls. No parking, no highway checks required.
There is plenty happening this week. Dive into the event listings below, or check out the detailed events page on our website.
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This tour brings together a bike ride, a canyon walk, and a scenic drive into one easy half-day. The e-bikes make it possible to enjoy the views without it feeling like a workout. Youโll ride at a relaxed pace through places such as Vermilion Lakes and along the Bow Valley Parkway.
At Johnston Canyon, the focus shifts from riding to walking. The bikes are left behind, and you follow the trail on foot to the Lower Falls with time to enjoy the canyon scenery. You then return to Banff via shuttle.
๐๏ธ Fresh from the Rockies
East End of Rundle, from Canmore
โ๏ธ Banff is about to serve up a fine spring stretch - sunny skies and climbing temps all weekend long. Saturday brings sunny conditions and a high of 10ยฐC. Sunday turns it up a notch with more sunshine and 14ยฐC. Monday goes all in with yet another sunny day and a very pleasant 17ยฐC. Full Forecast Here
๐๏ธ Icefields Parkway Closures Possible This Weekend. Wet spring conditions may trigger avalanche control work on Highway 93 between Parker Ridge and Saskatchewan Crossing from Sunday to Tuesday. Check 511.alberta.ca before you go.
๐ชจ Century-Old Observatory Restored on Sanson Peak. The Sulphur Mountain Weather Observatory, built in 1902 and sitting at 8,041 feet, has been fully restored to its original design. The man it's named after climbed to it over 1,000 times - his last ascent was at age 84.
๐ Castle Junction Bridge Closes April 19โ30. The Bow River Bridge at Castle Junction closes for deck replacement, cutting the direct link between the Trans-Canada and Bow Valley Parkway. The parkway stays accessible via Banff and Lake Louise - but only between 8 am and 8 pm on the eastern section.
๐ฌ Canmore Folk Fest Gets Its Film. A new documentary tracing nearly five decades of the Canmore Folk Music Festival premieres at Canmore Brewing Company on April 26, with live performances and a $10 ticket. Over 2,000 hours of volunteer work went into Rocky Mountain Live, the platform behind it.
๐ฟ Marmot Basin Detour: 45 Minutes Each Way. A wildfire-damaged stretch of Wabasso Road has sent Jasper-bound skiers on a reroute past Athabasca Falls until repairs allow reopening. Marmot closes May 3.
๐๏ธ Canmore's 10th Annual Plogging Event. Strides Canmore is hosting its tenth rubbish-collecting run on April 26, with supplies, door prizes, and a weigh-in for anyone who plogs the full Earth Week window. Ten years of picking up after everyone else.
โญ Most Popular Last Issue
If the shuttle lottery isn't appealing, a one-day tour covering Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, Emerald Lake, and Johnston Canyon handles the logistics for you - and leaves the planning to someone else.
๐ Hotels With a Pool - Because Sometimes You Need One

Otter Hotel
Banff in summer means sunscreen and line-ups, and Banff in winter means frozen everything. Either way, having a pool back at your hotel isn't a luxury - it's sound holiday planning.
๐ฒ Douglas Fir Resort - Tucked into the trees on Tunnel Mountain, this all-suite property comes with an impressive waterslide complex that earns its keep on both rainy afternoons and post-hike recovery days. It's a short drive from town rather than a walk, but the trade-off is space, quiet, and a pool your kids will actually remember. Read The Reviews And Book
๐ฆฆ Otter Hotel - Sits right on Banff Avenue, so you can walk everywhere and still come back to a heated pool without reorganising your entire afternoon around a shuttle. Straightforward, well-located, and does the job without pretending to be something it isn't. Read The Reviews And Book
๐ถ Hotel Canoe and Suites - The pool here comes alongside a central location and suite-style rooms, which matters when you're travelling with people who need their own space. Good value for what it offers in a town where "good value" is not a phrase you encounter often. Read The Reviews And Book
โYour Questions Answered
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐ง Is Johnston Canyon suitable for families with young children? Absolutely - the lower trail is mainly paved and manageable for most families, and the canyon scenery makes it one of the most memorable walks in Banff National Park. Watch the video before you visit.
๐ฑ Are lynx found in Banff National Park? Yes - Canada lynx live throughout the park's forested areas, though most visitors never see one due to their solitary, low-key habits.
๐บ๏ธ What else can you see while visiting Takakkaw Falls? Emerald Lake, the Natural Bridge, and the Spiral Tunnels are all within a short drive, making Yoho a full day out.
๐ฃActivities You Might Enjoy
๐ด Banff Bow River Horseback Ride - New to riding or just out of practice? This one-hour guided trail ride along the Bow River suits beginners well - you'll skirt the historic Cave and Basin site through meadows and marshland, with elk and deer often spotted en route. Helmets and instruction provided.
๐ Kicking Horse River Rafting - Half a day, 12 kilometres, and some genuinely demanding Class 4 rapids through the Middle Canyon. This guided whitewater rafting trip near Golden is a solid pick if you want something more than a gentle float - wetsuits and all gear included. Ages 12 and up.
๐ฆ Banff Wildlife and Scenic Tour - A three-hour evening circuit timed to catch crepuscular wildlife activity - elk, bighorn sheep, and the occasional bear or coyote. This small-group premium tour from Banff also takes in Lake Minnewanka, Bow Falls, and Surprise Corner. Ages 12 and up.
๐๏ธ Quiz
Which major event takes place in Canmore in late August/early Sept each year?
Yesterdayโs Question: If a grizzly bear attacks and makes contact, what should you do?
โ Answer: 4) Play dead and protect your neck - 84% Correct
If a grizzly bear makes contact, protecting your neck and playing dead can reduce further injury. Learn more in our Bear Safety Guide.
Lake Louise is one of the must-see destinations in Banff National Park, but access isnโt easy. Staying at the Chateau Lake Louise is one of the most straightforward ways to experience Lake Louise without the usual challenges. The hotel is also the starting point for many of the areaโs best-known hikes, and a practical base for visiting Moraine Lake.
๐ธEvents, Activities & Live Music
๐ Todayโs Events are listed below. To view future events, visit our website.
Saturday, April 18
9:00 |
Pursuit Garage Sale |
Elk + Avenue Hotel Parkade | Banff
9:00 |
WildSmart - Bear Day 2026 |
Canmore Nordic Centre | Canmore
13:15 |
Wild Life Distillery Tour |
Wild Life Distillery | Canmore
15:00 |
Here Comes the Sun: The Beatles |
Carter-Ryan Theatre | Canmore
16:00 |
Jon Frolic: Live |
Banff Legion | Banff
19:30 |
The Importance of Being Ernest |
Miner's Hall | Canmore
19:30 |
Here Comes the Sun: The Beatles |
Carter-Ryan Theatre | Canmore
20:00 |
Live Music Night |
St. James Gate | Banff
21:00 |
Andy Curtis: Live |
Tavern 1883 | Canmore
22:00 |
Club Night: DJ Raven |
High Rollers | Banff
22:00 |
Dean Lonsdale & the Ramifications |
Rose & Crown | Banff
22:00 |
Coda Club: Live |
The Drake Screaming Retriever | Canmore
๐ Got An Event To Share?
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Submit Here (8 days before event date)
Complete starred sections. For a FREE LISTING, check the box on the promotions page.
Women-led adventures that make a difference
Peru, Bhutan and Cambodia. Thatโs where Intrepid, the worldโs largest adventure travel company, has launched three new Womenโs Expeditions.
These small-group trips are designed exclusively for women, creating space to connect, explore and support local women-led businesses along the way.
Trek the lesser-known Chinchero to Urquillos route in the Peruvian Andes with an all-female crew. Discover Cambodiaโs street food scene on a women-run tuk tuk tour. Unwind with a traditional herbal hot stone bath at a women-owned farmhouse in Bhutan.
Every trip is led by an expert female guide and built around meaningful, immersive experiences.
๐ Thatโs All For Now ๐ฌ
Another week of mountain magic awaits!
We're so glad you're here for the ride.
Keep exploring and sharing, and we'll see you in the next issue with another full lineup of Banff happenings.
Jill & Kevin | Editor | Whatโs On Banff

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