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

Average nightly hotel rates in Banff hit $453 in 2025 - up from $257 in 2021. That's not a typo, and it's not an anomaly. Total hotel revenue for the year cleared $676 million, which tells you something about demand levels in the park that no number of "it's getting busy out there" observations quite capture.

Bears are moving again, and if you're not confident about what that means on a trail, Parks Canada and the Town of Banff are running a free Bear Aware webinar on April 22 at 7 pm. Two wildlife specialists walk through identification, behaviour, and how to avoid a close encounter. Registration closes April 16 - details are inside.

Jasper National Park has published its annual report, one year on from the 2024 wildfire. Ninety-three per cent of destroyed properties have been cleared for rebuilding, 107 construction permits are now active, and visitation returned to 2.13 million. The fire remains the second most expensive in Canadian history, with $1.23 billion in insured damage. The numbers are worth sitting with.

If you'd rather not think about any of that, a guided horseback ride along the Bow River takes an hour and requires no prior experience. It's inside this issue, too

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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If you like the idea of being surrounded by mountain scenery but don’t want the effort that comes with camping, Skyridge Glamping sits nicely in between. The private cabins are set in a quiet natural setting, giving you a real sense of being away from it all.

At the same time, they offer the comforts that make a stay easy, like a comfortable bed, a warm bathroom, and space to relax indoors. This works well if you want evenings spent looking out at the landscape, mornings that feel unhurried, and a stay that’s about slowing down rather than filling every hour with activities.

Book now to enjoy a peaceful mountain escape

🌤️ After a snowy Thursday, Banff gets a spring stretch. Friday mixes sun and cloud with a 30% chance of flurries or showers at +8°C. Saturday is the highlight with a mix of sun and cloud and +9°C. Sunday stays mild but with a chance of flurries. Full forecast here.

🏨 Banff Hotel Rates Hit a Record High. Average nightly room rates reached $453 in 2025, with hotel revenue topping $676 million for the year. That's up from $257 a night in 2021.

🐻 What to Know Before You Meet a Bear. If you're new to bear country, the Town of Banff and Parks Canada are running a free 75-minute Bear Aware webinar on April 22 at 7 pm. Two wildlife specialists cover identification, behaviour, and how to avoid an encounter. Register before April 16.

🐣 Easter at the Canmore Museum. The Canmore Museum is hosting an Easter afternoon for kids this Saturday, April 4, from 1-3 pm - egg hunt, face painting, fizzing science experiments, and bunny ears. Tickets are $12.58.

🔥 Jasper's Wildfire Recovery, One Year On. Jasper National Park's 2025 annual report shows 93% of destroyed properties cleared for rebuilding and 107 properties issued construction permits. Visitation recovered to 2.13 million. The 2024 fire remains the second most expensive wildfire in Canadian history, with $1.23 billion in insured damage.

🎸 Six Weeks of Beatles at Carter-Ryan. Canmore's Carter-Ryan Theatre runs Here Comes The Sun from April 16 to May 31 - a deconstruction of the Beatles’ catalogue rather than a straight tribute, with new arrangements and some unexpected song pairings.

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.

🚢 Lake Minnewanka Cruise - An hour on the largest lake in Banff National Park, cruising towards Devil's Gap above a submerged ghost town flooded in 1941. Bighorn sheep on the shoreline are common. Take a windproof jacket - it's colder on the water than you'd expect.

🦌 Banff Wildlife Tour - An evening drive through the Bow Valley timed for peak wildlife activity - elk, bighorn sheep, bears, if you're lucky. Stops include Lake Minnewanka, Bow Falls, and Surprise Corner. Temperatures drop fast, so bring layers.

🐻 Boo the Grizzly Bear Refuge - A full day out from Banff, taking in Yoho National Park, Takakkaw Falls, Emerald Lake, and the Golden Skybridge - plus grizzly bear viewing at the Kicking Horse refuge. Lunch is included. Hard to beat for ten hours.

Banff is not a cheap destination, and there's no point pretending otherwise - but that doesn't mean your only options are a tent or a second mortgage. These three properties keep costs manageable without sacrificing the things that actually matter.

🏘️ Banff Rocky Mountain Resort - Condo-style units with kitchens mean you control the food spend, which is where most Banff budgets quietly collapse. It sits on Tunnel Mountain Road, which sounds remote until you realise it's a 15-minute walk to town - or a free shuttle ride if your legs aren't cooperating. Read The Reviews And Book

🌲 Douglas Fir Resort - The indoor waterslide and pool complex makes this one genuinely earn its keep, especially if you've got kids who need entertaining on a rest day. Rates are reasonable for the facilities on offer, and the Tunnel Mountain location means you're in the park without paying Banff Avenue prices. Read The Reviews And Book

🛏️ Dorothy Motel - No frills, no fuss, and right in the town of Banff - which means no shuttle, no car shuffling, and no excuses for being late to the trailhead. Motel-style rooms that do exactly what they're supposed to, at a price that leaves room in the budget for the things that actually brought you here. Read The Reviews And Book

🗺️ How long should you set aside for a Johnston Canyon visit? It depends on how far you go - a quick return to the Lower Falls takes under an hour, while the full hike to the Ink Pots is a solid half-day out.

🗺️ 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.

🌲 Do the same wildlife safety rules apply to wolves as to bears? There is overlap, but wolves need their own specific set of precautions that visitors often overlook.

Yesterday’s Question: Which lake is shown in this photo, known for its bright turquoise colour and wolf-shaped outline?

✅ Answer: 2) Peyto Lake - 59% Correct

Peyto Lake is one of the most iconic stops on the Icefields Parkway. Check out our Peyto Lake Guide.

For a classic Banff experience, this guided horseback ride is hard to beat. You’ll ride beside the Bow River, through a beautiful part of the valley, and because it only takes an hour, it’s easy to fit into a Banff visit. Perfect for first-timers!

Reserve now to enjoy a scenic horseback ride in Banff

📅 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)
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