Hi Everyone! Here's What’s Happening This Week!

April arrived in the Bow Valley with the promise of 20 centimetres of snow and a straight face. Canmore and Kananaskis will bear the brunt of it, with poor driving conditions on Highways 1 and 2 through Thursday - before the forecast flips entirely and delivers back-to-back days of sunshine and +9°C by the weekend. Make of that what you will.

Up at Lake Louise, Parks Canada is burning logging debris as part of the community fireguard project, with flames and smoke visible from the Trans-Canada highway day and night for three to five days. It is planned and controlled, but if you are driving through and see fire alongside the highway, that is what it is. Drivers are asked to keep moving.

The bigger picture behind all of this: the Bow River Basin snowpack is sitting well above average heading into April, with reservoirs in better shape than either of the past two drought years. Whatever complaints you have about the timing of this week's snow, the water table is not one of them.

If you are in the early stages of planning a trip and want something to anchor it around, a 25-minute helicopter flight out of Canmore is worth securing early - the Spray Valley and the Three Sisters from the air is consistently one of the higher-rated experiences in the area, and availability goes quickly once the season picks up.

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 could easily be the standout experience from your Banff trip. The 25-minute helicopter flight from Canmore offers a completely different view of the landscape, lifting you above rivers, valleys, and mountain ranges, giving you a perspective you can’t get from the ground.

You’ll fly past the iconic Three Sisters before continuing into the Spray Valley, where lakes and wide open terrain really show the scale of the area. It’s a short flight, but it gives you a clear sense of just how vast and dramatic this part of the Rockies is.

Book now & see the Rockies from a new perspective!

❄️ Banff shakes off one more snowy chapter before the weekend delivers a welcome double dose of sunshine. Thursday stays grey and flurry-prone at +2°C. Friday breaks out with a mix of sun and cloud and a bright +9°C. Saturday keeps the good times going with another high of +9°C. Full forecast here.

❄️ Bow River Basin Snowpack Well Above Average. Alberta's April 1 snow surveys show above-average accumulations across the mountain parks, with the Bow River Basin running notably higher than normal. Reservoirs are within normal ranges - better than the last two drought years.

🌨️ Canmore Gets a White April 1st. Up to 20 centimetres is forecast for Canmore, Kananaskis, and the MD of Bighorn, with poor conditions on Highways 1 and 2 through Thursday. The range is 5 to 20 centimetres, which is a wide enough spread to be almost meaningless.

🎶 Canmore Folk Fest Drops Its Lineup. The Canmore Folk Music Festival has revealed its 2026 evening MainStage acts at Centennial Park: Wild Rivers and Steve Poltz on Saturday, William Prince and The Felice Brothers on Sunday, and Sarah Harmer and Cecile Doo-Kingue on Monday. Full schedule still to come.

🔥 Expect Smoke at Lake Louise This Week. Parks Canada is burning logging debris around the clock as part of the Lake Louise community fireguard project, with flames and smoke visible from the Trans-Canada highway day and night for three to five days. Drivers are asked not to slow down to look.

🍽️ Banff Dinner Party, Strangers Welcome. Oesa Arts is hosting a monthly pop-up dinner party at rotating Banff and Canmore restaurants, where attendees bring a personal item and chat over a meal. The first one is at The Fat Ox on April 21st.

🏠 Stay right at the water's edge. Moraine Lake Lodge guests enjoy exclusive vehicle access, bypassing shuttle hassles for a seamless arrival. Once the daytime crowds depart, you'll experience the rare, quiet beauty of the lake in total serenity. Book your lakeside escape here.

📍 Where in the Banff area are lynx most likely to be seen? Anywhere with dense subalpine forest - Lake Louise sits within prime lynx habitat, and sightings are most likely early morning or at dusk.

🌅 Do I need to book transport to Moraine Lake in advance? Yes - shuttle seats and tour spots fill quickly, especially in peak summer - planning ahead is essential if you want to secure your preferred time.

🥾 How hard is the Tunnel Mountain hike? It is an easy-to-moderate trail suitable for most fitness levels, making it one of the most accessible hikes in Banff for first-timers and families.

🚌 Banff Hop-On Hop-Off Bus - Moraine Lake is closed to private vehicles, which means this yellow bus day pass is one of the few reliable ways to get there. Johnston Canyon and Lake Louise are on the same route. Catch the 07:45 departure to make the most of it.

🚣 Kicking Horse River Rafting - If you fancy a proper soaking on Class 4 rapids, the Kicking Horse River near Golden delivers it. Twelve kilometres of glacial whitewater, all gear provided - just bring a swimsuit and a reasonable tolerance for cold water.

🏙️ Canmore History Tour - Most people know Canmore for coffee shops and mountain views. This 1.5-hour walking tour goes further back - to the coal miners and cowboys who built the Bow Valley long before the boutiques arrived. Good context for any visit.

Travelling to Banff with kids means you're already managing more logistics than a military operation - limited budget, picky eaters, and a five-year-old who needs the bathroom every 45 minutes. These three properties take at least some of that off your plate.

🏘️ Hidden Ridge Resort - Condo-style suites with full kitchens mean you're not eating out three times a day at Banff prices, which adds up faster than you'd expect. The location on Tunnel Mountain keeps you inside the park boundary without putting you in the thick of Banff Avenue chaos. Read The Reviews And Book

🏰 Fairmont Banff Springs - Yes, it's expensive - but the on-site pools, multiple dining options, and sheer size mean you can keep the whole operation contained to one building when the weather turns. Kids find the castle setting genuinely exciting, and that buys goodwill. Read The Reviews And Book

🏔️ Lake Louise Inn - If your family wants to actually spend time at Lake Louise without the 4 am parking scramble, staying here solves the problem completely. It's close enough to walk to the lakeshore, it's more affordable than the Fairmont up the hill, and the facilities are solid for a multi-night stay. Read The Reviews And Book

Yesterday’s Question: Which public transit service runs buses from Banff to Lake Louise?

✅Answer: 1) Roam Transit - 79% Correct

Roam Transit provides regular bus service between Banff and Lake Louise. Learn more in our How to Get to Lake Louise Guide.

If you’re travelling with family or a group, having space to spread out can make a big difference. Blackstone Mountain Lodge in Canmore offers one, two, and three-bedroom suites with full kitchens. It works well if you want easy access to the park while staying somewhere that feels more like a home than a hotel.

Book now and enjoy the space of a mountain suite.

📅 Today’s Events are listed below. To view future events, visit our website.

BANFF EVENTS | CANMORE EVENTS | JASPER EVENTS | BANFF HAPPY HOURS | CANMORE HAPPY HOURS |

📅 Submit Here (8 days before event date)
Complete starred sections. For a FREE LISTING, check the box on the promotions page.

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