Lake Louise Parking Fees Are Insane

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

If you have been following mountain news lately, you know it never stays quiet for long. Lake Louise is back in the headlines as parking fees are set to rise yet again, pushing the cost of a visit higher for anyone hoping to drive to the lakeshore next season.

Sunshine Village is also dealing with an all-too-familiar challenge. Another bear has denning plans near key access routes, prompting closures so it can sleep through winter without disturbance. It is a frustrating time for skiers, but a reminder that wildlife always has the final say in the Rockies.

If you ask around quietly, some locals will tell you their favourite winter day is nowhere near Banff. The world’s longest skating trail sits on a frozen lake just two hours away and feels like a well-kept secret. No lines, no rush, and space to move at your own pace. It is simple, scenic, and refreshingly low-key, which is exactly why people who know about it keep it to themselves.

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: Mostly sunny with light snow, high 2 °C and low -2 °C.
Canmore: Mostly sunny with light rain, high 6 °C and low 2 °C.
Jasper: Mostly cloudy with light rain or snow, high 3 °C and low 0 °C.

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

🏔️ Plan Your Trip

Getting to Lake Louise Without the Stress

Lake Louise might look calm and effortless in photos, but getting there can feel anything but if you don’t plan ahead. Between parking restrictions, early-morning crowds, and multiple places all labelled "Lake Louise," it’s easy for first-time visitors to feel overwhelmed. This guide is designed to take the pressure off and help you choose the option that suits your travel style.

Whether you’re driving yourself, using Parks Canada shuttles, hopping on Roam Transit, or booking a tour, each option comes with its own pros and trade-offs. The guide clearly explains how to reach the lake from Banff, Canmore, or Calgary, what to expect at different times of day, and how Moraine Lake fits into the picture now that private vehicles are banned. It also covers sunrise visits, budget-friendly choices, and when it makes sense to let someone else handle the logistics.

If Lake Louise is high on your wish list, a bit of planning makes the experience far more enjoyable.

Glide Into Winter on the World’s Longest Skating Trail

If you think winter around Banff and Canmore is already pretty special, this is one experience that genuinely stands out. Just a couple of hours away in Invermere, the Lake Windermere Whiteway lets you skate on the longest skating trail in the world - nearly 30 km of cleared ice stretching across a frozen lake. It’s big, open, and very Canadian.

What makes it even better is that it’s not just about skating. The Whiteway also has walking paths, fat biking routes, cross-country ski tracks, and fire pits where you can warm up between laps. Some people skate for hours, others just do a short glide, take photos, and call it a day. The drive there is part of the fun too, with a scenic route through Kootenay National Park and plenty of winter views along the way.

It’s an easy winter day trip that feels a bit different from the usual Banff outings - and that’s precisely why it’s worth doing.

Not convinced? Check out the video.

🏕️ Quiz

Yesterday’s Question

✅ Answer: 1) Takakkaw Falls - 60% Correct

Takakkaw Falls is one of the tallest waterfalls in Canada and an easy stop in Yoho National Park. Find out how to visit in our Takakkaw Falls Guide.

🏔️ Fresh from the Rockies

🐻 Sunshine Village closed AGAIN because a bear picked the worst possible bedroom. A different black bear has denned near the gondola corridor on Eagle Mountain, prompting Parks Canada to shut down part of the area so it can hibernate undisturbed. Again, proving wildlife continues to ignore human scheduling entirely.

🚗 Lake Louise parking set to jump to $42 next summer. Daily parking at the Lakeshore will rise from the current $36.75 to $42 in 2026. This takes the current cost to nearly four times higher than when fees were first introduced in 2021. The charge applies during the busy May to October shuttle season, adding another hurdle for visitors.

🥾 The Sundance Canyon Bridge closure is due to reopen on December 15. Parks Canada is completing essential repairs on the bridge just minutes from the Banff townsite, with the Sundance Canyon Loop closed for safety. The main Sundance Trail remains open, though hikers should watch for contractor vehicles accessing the site.

🥾 The Canmore Area Trails Master Plan outlines over 500 km of trail network. Alberta Parks is proposing a long-term framework to manage and designate more than 500 km of existing and planned trails. Addressing growing demand for biking, beginner and adaptive routes, with public feedback now open.

🎄 A glowing Christmas story unfolds in Banff. Wander the Cascade of Time Garden as lights, wildlife characters, and festive storytelling guide you through a gentle holiday adventure. Tickets are staggered, so grab them fast - step into the story.

🏛️ Canmore pushes back on proposed Banff-Jasper riding name. The town council is challenging a suggested provincial riding rename, arguing Canmore should be included because it is the largest municipality in the area.

📝 Canmore wants residents to name the most significant social issues in town. The Town has launched a broad social needs assessment survey, open until December 19. They want to know what supports are working, what is missing, and where pressure is rising - from affordability and housing to childcare, mental health and seniors' needs.

⭐ Most Popular Last Issue

🐻 Nakoda, the white grizzly, left a lasting mark on Banff. Born with a rare white coat, Nakoda became one of the Rockies’ most watched bears. Her life and tragic death expose hard truths about roads, wildlife behaviour and the fragile balance between people and nature.

🎸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 |

Sunday, December 14

13:00 | Childrens Holiday Party | Canmore Legion | Canmore

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

14:30 | Holiday Concert | St Mary's Church | Banff

15:00 | Hoppy Holiday Market | Canmore Brewing | Canmore

15:00 | Cabaret: Joy to the World | Carter-Ryan Gallery and Theatre | Canmore

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

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

19:30 | Bow Valley Chorus -Messiah | Whyte Museum | Banff

19:30 | Jacob Wutzke Trio | artsPlace Canmore | Canmore

20:00 | Music Bingo with Sam | Tavern 1883 | Canmore

21:00 | Sunday Funday: Party | High Rollers | Banff

21:00 | Sunday Funday (Party) | Melissa's Missteak | Banff

22:00 | Brent Lee: Live | Rose & Crown | Banff

📅 Got An Event To Share?

📅 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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