Alberta Parks Hit Numbers No One Expected

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

Alberta’s outdoor season ended on a high note, with parks across the province reporting their strongest summer turnout in four years. Millions visited, campgrounds filled quickly and interest in exploring local nature keeps rising. It’s a positive sign as we move deeper into winter.

Nightrise is also underway on Sulphur Mountain, offering an inviting after-dark escape. The lights, soundscapes and gentle storytelling create a relaxed evening experience high above town, with plenty of small touches that make it feel special.

For something different to add to your winter plans, Abraham Lake delivers a mix of clear ice, bubble formations and wide-open views that feel a little otherworldly. The lake changes with the wind and light, revealing new patterns throughout the season, and the long stretches of exposed ice make the whole trip feel fresh and a bit adventurous. It’s an easy day out, but still unusual enough to feel like you’ve discovered something special.

And for anyone planning a bigger adventure, the six-day Rocky Mountaineer rail journey is now on sale. The train ride, sightseeing stops and views through several national parks make it a true bucket list trip with a mix of comfort and exploration.

There is plenty more happening this week. Dive into the event listings below, or check out the detailed events page on our website.

• Banff in December: What to Expect in the Heart of Winter!

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🌤️ Today’s Weather

Banff: Mainly sunny, high 0 °C and low -10 °C.
Canmore: Mainly sunny, high 0 °C and low -12 °C.
Jasper: Mostly cloudy with light snow, high -4 °C and low -16 °C.

👉 For a complete up-to-date forecast for the week ahead, visit our Weather Page.

🏔️ Plan Your Trip

Visit Abraham Lake for Wind, Ice, and the Rockies' Strangest Winter Spectacle

If you're looking for a winter day trip from Banff that's equal parts beautiful and bizarre, Abraham Lake is hard to beat. The famous ice bubbles look like stacked white discs trapped in clear blue ice, and on windy days, the whole lake feels alive with sound and movement. It's one of the most unique winter sights in the Rockies, especially if you enjoy scenery with a bit of drama.

Mid-winter usually offers the best conditions, when strong winds sweep the snow away and reveal huge glassy patches filled with bubble stacks. The experience is unforgettable, but it can also be intense. Expect gusts strong enough to push you across the lake, cracking ice noises that add to the atmosphere, and extremely slippery surfaces where microspikes are almost essential. Abraham Lake is a reservoir, so ice thickness varies, and caution is necessary. Guided trips are a good choice if you're unsure.

With no services at the lake, pack warm gear, bring everything you need, and treat the trip as a true backcountry outing. The reward is a surreal winter landscape unlike anything else near Banff.

👉Read The Guide | Book A Tour

Experience a Classic Winter Moment: Sleigh Rides in Banff and Lake Louise

If you're visiting Banff or Lake Louise in winter, a horse-drawn sleigh ride is one of the most charming ways to enjoy the season. Wrapped in blankets, moving slowly through snowy meadows with mountain peaks all around, it's an easy and memorable outing that suits families, couples, and anyone who wants to enjoy the Rockies without gearing up for a full adventure.

Banff's rides begin at Warner Stables and follow open trails framed by Cascade Mountain. You can choose group rides or private sleighs, and some outings include hot drinks and fireside treats. Lake Louise offers a more postcard-like version, with sleighs gliding along the lakeshore toward Victoria Glacier. Both destinations offer private two-person sleighs if you're planning something special.

Winter conditions vary, but rides typically run from mid-December through March. Dress warmly and book early, especially around Christmas and New Year.

👉 Read the full guide | Book a tour

🏕️ Quiz

Yesterday’s Question

✅ Answer: 2) Peyto Lake - 65% Correct

Peyto Lake is famous for its bright turquoise colour. Moraine Lake, Bow Lake and Emerald Lake are also known for their striking blue colours. Learn more in our Peyto Lake Guide.

🏔️ Fresh from the Rockies

🌲 Alberta Parks sees biggest visitor and camping boom since 2021. Millions flocked to the province’s 305 parks this summer, with camping bookings hitting a four-year high and Kananaskis leading the charge. Even seniors' discounted stays surged as Albertans rediscovered their love for the wild.

🚂 6-day Rockies adventure pairs Rocky Mountaineer luxury with iconic park highlights. This Vancouver-to-Banff route, currently on sale, delivers a true bucket-list journey with panoramic train travel, guided sightseeing and stops at Lake Louise, Jasper, Yoho and the Icefields Parkway, plus flexible accommodation options and strong recent reviews.

✨ Nightrise lights up Sulphur Mountain. The after-dark transformation is already running, blending sound, projection, and Stoney Nakoda storytelling into a stunning nighttime journey. Expect stargazing, marshmallows, and atmospheric magic - step into the experience.

🍺 The Drake Screaming Retriever Bar announces soft opening and weekend return. The team is back in action with a soft launch tonight, followed by a full reopening on Friday featuring live music from Coda Club. Staff say it’s hectic behind the scenes, but they can’t wait to welcome everyone again.

🎭 Pine Tree Players prepare a one-night-only Play in a Day performance. Alumni and friends will rehearse and stage a whole 90-minute show - The Blue Eyed Hag - on December 22, celebrating creativity and the CSTF mentorship program with a joyful, chaotic, one-time-only production.

⛰️ Alberta designates three iconic ski areas as all-season resorts. Castle Mountain, Fortress and Nakiska have been granted year-round status, a move aimed at boosting tourism, supporting local businesses and opening the door to expanded recreation opportunities in the Rockies.

🏡 Banff explores funding to safeguard at-risk heritage homes. With historic buildings disappearing under redevelopment pressure, the town is eyeing a new grant to study buying and preserving key properties long-term as the push to save Banff’s character gains momentum.

🏘️ Canmore council greenlights rezoning for townhomes and employee housing. Despite concerns over traffic, views and parking, the project cleared its final hurdle and now moves toward the permit stage.

⭐ Most Popular Last Issue

🏘️ Canmore's vacancy tax heads to Alberta's top court. After a two-hour hearing, judges will decide the fate of the controversial levy set to roll out in 2026. Supporters call it vital for housing; critics say it's overreach - track the legal showdown

🎸Events, Activities & Live Music

📅 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 |

Thursday, December 11

14:00 | A Christmas Carol | Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel | Banff

15:30 | Park Distillery Tour | Park Distillery | Banff

18:00 | Live Music: Steph O'Dette | The Bison | Banff

19:00 | Thursday Night Poker | Canmore Legion | Canmore

19:30 | Film: International Mountain Day | The Banff Centre | Banff

19:30 | ABBA-SOLUTELY Fabulous Show | Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel | Banff

19:30 | Harry Manx | artsPlace Canmore | Canmore

19:30 | Cabaret: Joy to the World | Carter-Ryan Gallery and Theatre | Canmore

20:00 | Irish Night: Live Music | St. James Gate | Banff

21:00 | Late Night Legends | High Rollers | Banff

22:00 | Thirsty Thursday Party | Melissa's MisSteak | Banff

22:00 | Garrett Barbuto & The Hot Pursuit | Rose & Crown | Banff

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