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

Thursday is a good day to stay in Banff. Both the Trans-Canada through Rogers Pass and the Icefields Parkway are closing for avalanche control work. Check 511 before you go anywhere ambitious.

While you're waiting for the roads to reopen, Canmore has two more reasons to feel pleased with itself. Ankor and Sauvage both made Avenue Calgary's list of the city's 13 best restaurants this year, with judges calling both worth a special trip.

Separately, Roam Transit - which hit three million riders in 2025 - is looking at the Banff dog park as a potential site for bus maintenance and storage. Both towns are short on municipal land, so this particular conversation is probably just getting started.

More on all of that, plus Jasper's parking ambitions, Fortress Mountain's long and complicated history, and the rest of the week, below.

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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Johnston Canyon remains open in winter and, honestly, we think it’s the best time to visit. The frozen waterfalls are spectacular; you’ll often see ice climbers on the walls, and the biggest bonus is the quieter trails.

This guided tour is a great option if you are nervous about winter driving or want to avoid the stress of parking. You will travel from Banff along the Bow Valley Parkway, a scenic route known for wildlife sightings.

Once there, your guide provides ice cleats and helpful tips for navigating the frozen paths. You will hike the steel catwalks to the 30-metre Upper Falls, stopping for hot chocolate and maple cookies.

Book now and step into Banff's winter wonderland.

🍽️ Two Canmore restaurants make Avenue Calgary's 2026 best list. Ankor and Sauvage both earned spots among Calgary's 13 best restaurants this year. Judges noted both are worth the trip for a special occasion. Read the full list.

🚌 Roam Transit is eyeing the Banff dog park for a new facility. The service hit three million riders in 2025 and needs more space for maintenance and bus storage. Both towns have scarce municipal land and competing priorities for what's left.

❄️ Icefields Parkway closing tomorrow for avalanche control work. Up to 30cm of snow is forecast. The road between Parker Ridge and Saskatchewan Crossing closes at 10 a.m. on February 26 and reopens late afternoon on February 27. Check 511 before you go.

❄️ Trans-Canada is closing Thursday for Rogers Pass avalanche control. Highway 1 between Revelstoke and Golden closes at 7 am, with reopening expected around 3 pm. Commercial traffic holds in Malakwa from 6 am; passenger vehicles can proceed to Revelstoke. Full details here.

Avalanche Safety In Banff

🅿️ Jasper may nearly double paid parking rates this summer. Council is considering raising on-street parking from $4.50 to $7 per hour and full-day lot rates from $17 to $28. Still $5 cheaper per hour than Banff, for what it's worth. Read more.

🎿 Fortress Mountain's mega-resort plan has a complicated past. Alberta's All Seasons Resort Act proposes a 9,000-visitor-per-day, year-round resort in Kananaskis - but the site has a history of bankruptcies, closures, and failed ambitions. Public consultation closes February 27.

🛶 Stay right at the water’s edge. Guests at Moraine Lake Lodge bypass shuttle logistics with direct vehicle access to the lake. Enjoy the rare, peaceful stillness of the area once the daytime crowds and shuttles disappear for the evening. Book now for a calmer visit to Moraine Lake.

🐻‍❄️What happened to Nakoda, Banff’s white grizzly, and her cubs? Both cubs were killed by a vehicle on the Trans-Canada in June 2024, and Nakoda died from injuries shortly after - her loss represents an entire family line gone from the Rockies.

⛰️Are there any mountain hikes starting from the town of Banff? Yes, one starts close to downtown and leads to a summit with amazing views. Find out which one.

🌲When do larches peak in Banff? Golden colour typically peaks between 20 September and 5 October, lasting just 7 to 10 days - and the timing shifts every year. Find out the best places to see them.

🚡 Jasper SkyTram Roundtrip Ticket - Ride the tram up Whistler’s Mountain for sweeping views of Jasper National Park, turquoise lakes, and six mountain ranges. A guided ride, a scenic boardwalk, and a summit cafe waiting at the top.

🌅 Moraine Lake Sunrise or Sunset & Stargazing Tour - Beat the crowds at one of Banff's most iconic spots. Choose a golden sunrise or a sunset followed by stargazing from the Rockpile - hot chocolate included. Small groups, big skies. Not one to miss.

🚁 Banff/Jasper: Canadian Rockies Helicopter & Snowshoe Tour - Soar over snowy peaks, frozen lakes and glaciers, then land in an alpine meadow for a snowshoe to a frozen waterfall - hot chocolate with Irish cream included.

Banff is extraordinary, but it's also absolutely rammed between June and September, and the car parks operate on a system that appears to have been designed as a social experiment. Canmore, twenty minutes down the road, offers a rather more civilised base from which to enjoy the same mountains, minus the queuing.

🏡 The Malcolm Hotel - Sitting five minutes on foot from the town centre, next to the Policeman's Creek boardwalk, the Malcolm brings rooftop hot tubs, an outdoor pool, underground heated parking (genuinely useful in February), and complimentary bikes if you'd like to feel smug about your carbon footprint. The rooms are large, the mountain views earn their keep, and the Stirling restaurant is good enough that you won't feel obliged to head out anywhere for dinner. Read The Reviews | Book Here

🎢 Pocaterra Inn & Waterslide - A hotel with an indoor waterslide is not something one expects to say with a straight face, but here we are. Free hot breakfast, free parking, a sauna, and rooms with fireplaces and balconies - all at a price that sits comfortably in the mid-range for Canmore. Particularly well-suited if you're travelling with children who will not care about the Three Sisters mountain range but will care enormously about the waterslide. Read The Reviews | Book Here

🧖 Everwild Canmore - Nordic Spa & Hotel - Sitting on Silvertip Trail on the quieter eastern side of Canmore, Everwild has positioned itself firmly at the wellness end of the market - Nordic spa circuits, saunas, steam rooms, and a farm-to-table restaurant called Rhythm & Howl. The rooms are modern, spacious, and genuinely quiet. It is slightly further from downtown than some competitors, but if your priority is recovering from your hike rather than finding the nearest pint, that's a fair trade. Read The Reviews | Book Here

Yesterday’s Question: What is the maximum speed limit on most sections of the Trans-Canada Highway through Banff National Park?

✅Answer: 2) 90 km/h - 67% Correct

The speed limit is reduced to help protect wildlife and improve safety on mountain roads.

Reaching Moraine Lake and Lake Louise in summer often means navigating parking restrictions and fitting your plans around fixed tour schedules. This open-top bus tour takes a more flexible approach, with hourly departures that let you manage your time.

Book here and explore on your own schedule

📅 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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