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

A man went into Rat's Nest Cave on Grotto Mountain this week and got wedged in a vertical squeeze. It took thirteen cave rescuers and ten firefighters chipping away at rock until ten at night to get him out. He walked away unharmed.

Above ground, the news is quieter. Alberta's wildfire dashboard showed zero active fires across all ten forest areas on August 18 - the first August in forty years with nothing burning. Fire danger stays low, a little higher in the south.

Clear air also means the evenings are actually usable. The dusk wildlife tour builds its route around that day's sightings, with stops at Lake Minnewanka, Bow Falls and the Mt. Norquay lookout, which is about as good a use of golden hour as you will find.

A century of stone above the river, and the doors are open to anyone who books. Check dates at the Fairmont Banff Springs if you want to see the valley from inside the castle rather than across from it.

See Banff’s Lakes Before You Visit | Moraine Lake | Moraine Lake Rockpile | Lake Louise | Peyto Lake | Bow Lake

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Book a spot on this evening wildlife tour, and your guide builds the route around that day's recent sightings - with stops at Lake Minnewanka, Bow Falls, and the Mt. Norquay lookout.

Check availability for your dates

🕳️ Caver Trapped Underground Near Canmore. A man wedged in a vertical squeeze inside Grotto Mountain's Rat's Nest Cave took until 10 p.m. to free, with 13 cave rescuers and 10 firefighters chipping rock away. He walked out unharmed.

🔥 Alberta's Wildfire Map Went Blank. Alberta's dashboard showed zero active wildfires in all ten forest areas on Aug. 18 - the first August in 40 years with none burning. Danger stays low, slightly higher in the south.

🐻 Black Bears Feeding at Many Springs. Multiple black bears are working through the berry crop along the Many Springs Interpretive Trail in Bow Valley Provincial Park. The warning runs until further notice, so bring bear spray and make noise.

🔭 Jasper Dark Sky Festival Returns. The October 16-25 lineup includes a free Bahamas concert and a drone show retelling the Moon's story. The park is the world's largest accessible Dark Sky Preserve.

🏃 Banff Terry Fox Run Set for September. The run starts at 10 a.m. on September 20 from Sundance Park's pavilion building, with 1, 2, 5 and 10 km routes open to bikes, wheelchairs, rollerblades and leashed dogs.

☀️ A warm, dry run keeps holding through the weekend - Saturday holds onto that heat with a mix of sun and cloud at 29°C, Sunday turns fully sunny and settles cooler at 22°C, and Monday climbs back up to 23°C. That shower chance we'd flagged for Sunday has gone, so it's clear skies straight through. Full Forecast Here

🏔️ Sleep beside a glacier-fed creek. Baker Creek's cabins sit on the Bow Valley Parkway, about fifteen minutes from Lake Louise. Running water is part of the arrangement. See the cabins here

🥾 Johnston Canyon Guided Hike - Two and a half hours along catwalks bolted straight into the canyon wall, climbing to the Upper Falls while your guide points out where the endangered Black Swift nests in the damp rock crevices. Five kilometres round trip with a gentle 270-metre climb, doable for most families.

🦌 Canmore Evening Wildlife Viewing - Three hours chasing the golden hour when elk, deer and the occasional grizzly become active, with your guide adjusting the route based on recent sightings across the Fairholme and Rundle ranges. Meets at a single central Canmore location - check current pickup options when booking.

🔥 Banff Remote Campfire Experience & Stargazing - Three and a half hours at a secluded backcountry site reached by a short van transfer from Cave Avenue, with a guide tending a wood or propane fire while you watch for constellations, the odd owl, and - on rare nights - the northern lights.

📅 When is the best time of year to visit Johnston Canyon? Every season offers something different - summer brings roaring waterfalls, winter turns the canyon into a frozen landscape, and spring and autumn mean fewer crowds.

🥾 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.

🏨 Do you need to be a hotel guest to use the spa? Not always - many Banff hotel spas accept day visitors, though booking ahead is strongly recommended.

This isn't just a photo stop - the Fairmont Banff Springs is still a hotel today, and it's been standing where the Bow and Spray rivers meet for more than a century.

Find out more

Yesterday’s Question: Which short, steep trail at Moraine Lake leads to the famous viewpoint often seen in photos?

✅Answer: 3) The Rockpile Trail - 60% Correct

The Rockpile Trail is a short, quick hike at Moraine Lake that leads up to the classic viewpoint. Getting to the lake takes a bit more planning - here’s how.

📅 Featured events for today are listed below. Visit our website for a complete list.

FULL EVENT CALENDAR | BANFF & LAKE LOUISE | CANMORE | JASPER NP
BANFF HAPPY HOURS | CANMORE HAPPY HOURS

15:00 | OH, ANNE! | Canmore Collegiate High School | Canmore

17:00 | Live Music: REWD | Sheepdog Brewing Canmore | Canmore

18:00 | Sunset Festival @ Banff Gondola | Banff Gondola | Banff

18:30 | Live Musician Night | The Dusty Boot | Banff

19:00 | Ross Fizzard | Rose and Crown Canmore | Canmore

19:30 | Jazz & Sonic Arts Concert | The Banff Centre | Banff

19:30 | OH, ANNE! | Canmore Collegiate High School | Canmore

19:30 | Free Range Country | Carter-Ryan Theatre | Canmore

19:30 | Jasper Historical Tour | Jasper Town | Jasper

21:00 | Colin MacDonald | Tavern 1883 | Canmore

21:30 | Jazz Jams Session | The Banff Centre | Banff

22:00 | Static | Rose and Crown Banff | Banff

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