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

Three resort proposals within 25 km of Dead Man's Flats, and none of them will be decided by the people who live there. Alberta's All-Season Resorts Act gives the province final say over major resort developments, bypassing local councils entirely. Fortress Mountain is already approved and projecting 10,000 visitors per day at full buildout. The gondola to Mount Lady Macdonald is still in the proposal stage - but the decision, when it comes, won't be Canmore's to make.

It will, however, be arriving into a valley that is already getting busier. The federal government has confirmed free national park entry for summer 2026. Banff recorded 4.2 million visitors in 2024/25, up 31 per cent over the last decade. Adding free entry to that trajectory is the kind of policy decision that makes park staff quietly anxious.

For some relief from the infrastructure conversation, the Canmore Golf and Curling Club is marking its centenary this year - 100 years old, still open, and considerably more durable than the coal mine its founders worked in. Events are planned across 2026.

And if you'd like to experience the valley at a slower pace than 10,000 visitors per day, the Banff wagon ride follows the Bow River to a backcountry cookout, with a steak lunch and enough distance from the gondola debate to feel manageable.

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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Staying here puts you right at the start of the Johnston Canyon trail, so you can head into the canyon before the crowds arrive, or enjoy it later once the tour buses have gone. It also avoids the challenge of finding parking, which often fills early during busy periods.

Johnston Canyon Lodge & Bungalows sits along the Bow Valley Parkway about 20 minutes from Banff, making it a convenient base between Banff and Lake Louise. After a day exploring the canyon and nearby sights, you can return to a peaceful forest setting with a café, market, and bistro on site.

Reserve now to stay right beside the Johnston Canyon trailhead.

🌤️ From flurries to flip-flop - only in the Rockies. After an unsettled period, Thursday eases in with mainly sunny skies and a high of 9°C. Friday goes full spring mode with sunshine and 15°C. Saturday keeps the good times rolling with a mix of sun and cloud and another 15°C. Full Forecast Here

🚡 Canmore's Gondola Decision Isn't Canmore's. Alberta's new All-Season Resorts Act means the province - not local councils - will decide whether a Silvertip gondola to Mount Lady Macdonald proceeds. Three resort areas are now proposed within 25 km of Dead Man's Flats. Fortress Mountain, already approved, projects 10,000 visitors per day at full buildout.

🚗 Banff's Busiest Summer Incoming. The federal government has confirmed free national park entry for summer 2026. Banff already welcomed 4.2 million visitors in 2024/25 - the highest of any national park in Canada - and visitation has climbed 31 per cent over the last decade.

⛳ Canmore's Oldest Club, Still Going. Founded in 1926, the Canmore Golf and Curling Club turns 100 this year with centenary events planned across 2026. The mine that employed its founders closed in 1979. The club is still open.

🎭 Wilde at the Miners' Hall. Pine Tree Players bring The Importance of Being Earnest to the Canmore Miners' Union Hall, April 15-25. Opening night is Pay What You Can; all other performances are $30. The production carries a content warning for misogyny, classism, incest, and the death of a parent - it is, per Wilde, a trivial comedy.

🛷 Sunshine's Best Snow in a Decade, Plus a Pond. Banff Sunshine Village has recorded 812 cm this season - its highest in over ten years - and will mark it with the Canadian debut of Red Bull Jump & Freeze on April 25. Teams in costumes launch homemade vehicles downslope and attempt to skim an ice-cold pond. Winners get next season's passes.

💼 Canmore Job Fair on April 17. The Job Resource Centre's summer job fair comes to Canmore on April 17, open to employers, job seekers, and service providers. The Banff edition ran March 26 - this is the last one of the season.

🛶 One trip, two of Jasper's best highlights. Follow the Maligne Valley for wildlife sightings, stop at Medicine Lake, then cruise 90 minutes to iconic Spirit Island on Maligne Lake - transport and timing all handled for you. Book now.

🌌 Banff Night Sky & Northern Lights Tour - Departing from the Cave and Basin, this three-hour evening out involves a 3.5km walk to a dark-sky clearing in the Bow Valley. Aurora isn't guaranteed - but the guide pivots to serious stargazing if the lights don't play ball.

🌸 Sunshine Meadows Guided Hike - At 2,220m, Sunshine Meadows sits on the Continental Divide - gondola up, chairlift higher, then 12km past three backcountry lakes. Lunch included, guided, and far less of a slog than most hikes at this elevation.

🪨 Canmore Caving Adventure - Rat's Nest Cave on Grotto Mountain is the real thing - no handrails, no lighting, an 18-metre rappel to get in. Six hours underground, including a hike up to the entrance. Not for the faint-hearted, but genuinely unlike anything else near Banff.

📅 What is the best time of year to visit the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel? Every season works - summer brings golf and patio evenings, while winter offers spa days and snow-dusted castle views that are hard to beat.

🏔 What outdoor activities are available in Banff in September? Hiking, paddling, cycling, horseback riding, and scenic drives are all still on the table - September's full activity guide covers the best options and timing for each.

🏔️ How does Canmore compare to Banff for family-friendly hiking? Canmore's easy trails are right in town, free to access, and less crowded than Banff's popular routes - making it a genuinely practical choice for families with young children

Banff is not a budget destination - the mountains make no apologies for that - but your accommodation doesn't have to make it worse. These three hostels cover the main bases: town access, trail access, and the lake that everyone's come to see.

🏙️ Banff International Hostel - Right in Banff town centre, which means you can walk to everything, a small but meaningful victory. Read The Reviews And Book

⛰️ HI Banff Alpine Centre - The larger of the two Banff options, with better facilities and a solid social atmosphere - useful if you're travelling solo and want to actually meet people. Read The Reviews And Book

🏔️ HI Lake Louise Alpine Centre - Staying here puts you within walking distance of Lake Louise itself, which matters more than it sounds when you're trying to beat the crowds at 7 am, and the car parks are already full. Read The Reviews And Book

Yesterday’s Question: Why do many visitors now need to plan transport before visiting Lake Louise?

✅Answer: 1) Limited parking and heavy traffic in peak season - 74% Correct

Visiting Lake Louise often requires some planning, especially during busy periods. See our How to Get to Lake Louise Guide.

If you’d like to experience a little of Banff’s ranching history while enjoying a BBQ steak lunch in the mountains, this wagon ride is a fun way to do it. You’ll travel by horse-drawn wagon along the Bow River before stopping at a backcountry cookout spot, with time to relax by the fire before the ride back.

Reserve now to enjoy a wagon ride and cowboy cookout

📅 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 |

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