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Are We Seeing a Once-in-Decades Winter?
🌟 What's On Banff - Events, Activities, Live Music & Good News! 😊
Kevin J
January 07, 2026
Hi everyone - hope your week is off to a solid start.
First up, it’s been a wild beginning to the season. After early storms dropped serious snow across Western Canada, this is shaping up to be one of those winters people talk about for years. If you’ve been out skiing already, you’ll know exactly what I mean - it’s felt more like mid-winter than “early season.”
Big news on the horizon, too: Fortress Mountain’s comeback plan is huge. Not just “maybe skiing again” - we’re talking a complete year-round vision with extra activities and major development ideas. It’s the sort of story that can quietly turn into a big deal for the whole region.
And a quick reality check for anyone dreaming about skates and long lake loops - the world’s longest skating trail at Lake Windermere still isn’t a go. Conditions are being flagged as unsafe, so it’s a “not yet” situation, even if the ice looks tempting.
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 January: Read this before planning your trip!
Banff in February: What you need to know!
🌤️ Today’s Weather
Banff: Mainly sunny, high -6 °C and low -12 °C.
Canmore: Mainly sunny, high -4 °C and low -10 °C.
Jasper: Mostly cloudy, high -10 °C and low -16 °C.
👉 For a complete up-to-date forecast for the week ahead, visit our Weather Page.
Moraine Lake and Lake Louise are two of the most popular Banff destinations, but planning a visit can be surprisingly tricky. Moraine Lake has no private vehicle access, and parking at Lake Louise is extremely limited, especially in peak season.
This half-day tour removes those hurdles by including round-trip transport from Banff and handling access for you.
You get to spend around 90 minutes at each lake. This gives you time to walk the shoreline trails, take your photos of the turquoise water, and spend some time taking in the mountain views. With transport and timing taken care of, you can focus on the experience rather than the logistics.
🏔️ Fresh from the Rockies
⛷️ Canada is off to its best ski season start in decades. Early storms dumped metres of snow across Western Canada, shattering records before Christmas and turning what should be early-season skiing into full mid-winter conditions.
⛷️ Fortress Mountain’s comeback plan is seriously ambitious. Think skiing again, plus hiking, biking, a hotel, a brewery, and more. After nearly 20 years of dormancy, this former resort wants to return bigger, busier, and year-round.
📅 Three million rides later, Roam Transit is celebrating in style. A special Celebration Bus will pop up across the Bow Valley on January 8, handing out treats and swag to thank riders who made transit history.
❄️ Thinking about skating or ice fishing on Lake Windermere? Not yet. Invermere is asking residents to stay off the ice for now, as conditions remain unsafe despite how tempting the frozen surface might look. You will need to wait a little longer to experience the world’s longest skating trail.
⛰️ Trail runners, mark your calendars for Canmore #1. The 5 Peaks race day brings multiple distances, kids races, post-run food, and podium vibes to the Nordic Centre, kicking off another season of dirt, sweat, and mountain stoke.
🔥 Sunset dinner, then full mountain transformation. From Nov 22 to Mar 29, Nightrise invites guests to ride the Banff Gondola, watch the sky fade, and experience a cinematic nighttime journey created with Moment Factory and the Stoney Nakoda Nation.
🚗 Human habits are sending wildlife to the ER. From vehicle collisions to backyard mishaps, Alberta’s main wildlife rehab centre says most animal injuries now trace back to everyday interactions with people - often accidental, but increasingly common.
⚠️ Pyramid Bench area closed for wildfire risk reduction work. Large-scale tree removal is underway this winter, bringing logging equipment, falling trees, smoke, and enough risk that the area is now closed for public safety.
⭐ Most Popular Last Issue
🏔️ Canmore’s vacancy tax could get a major rewrite. Council will debate narrowing the tax to non-Albertan second homeowners only, cutting millions from projected housing funds and reopening big questions about fairness, affordability, and who really pays to live here.
🏕️ Quiz
Which viewpoint is shown in this photo along the Bow Valley Parkway, famous for its sweeping river bend and railway views? |
Today’s quiz answer now appears at the end of the events section below.
Yesterday's question:
Which group of three mountain peaks is shown in this photo overlooking Canmore?
✅Answer: 1) The Three Sisters - 92% Correct
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. Guided tours are available if you’re nervous about winter driving, want to avoid the stress of parking, or simply prefer to leave the planning to someone else.
🏔️ Plan Your Trip
Visiting Banff and Lake Louise Without a Car: What to Know
Doing Banff and Lake Louise without a car is not only realistic, it often makes the whole trip smoother. Parking is limited, access roads fill early, and some of the most popular places now require shuttles. Travelling car-free removes a lot of the daily stress and lets you focus on timing, scenery, and enjoying where you are rather than worrying about where to leave the vehicle.
A car-free trip works best when you plan around transit and guided options. Roam Transit connects Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise, and key sights, making it easy to build simple day plans. Parks Canada shuttles and connector buses handle access to places like Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, while hop-on, hop-off sightseeing buses and guided day tours bundle transport with stops at multiple highlights. These options are especially useful if you’re short on time, visiting in peak season, or travelling with kids.
Where you stay matters more without a car. Accommodation near Banff Avenue, Roam Transit stops, or central Canmore makes mornings easier and evenings more relaxed. Adding in bookable experiences like gondola rides, lake cruises, wildlife tours, or sightseeing tours can also simplify planning, as transport is handled for you and timing is built in. For longer days, combining transit with a guided tour often works better than trying to piece everything together yourself.
If you like the idea of seeing the Rockies without driving, booking transport and experiences ahead of time makes a car-free trip feel intentional rather than limiting. Done well, it’s one of the easiest ways to experience Banff and Lake Louise.
🎸Events, Activities & Live Music
📅 Today’s Events are listed below. For more details and to view future events, visit our website.
Wed, 7th Jan
15:00 🎶 Live Music Afternoon - Three Bears, Banff
15:30 🥃 Park Distillery Tour - Park Distillery, Banff
18:00 🚴 Mountain Bike Ride - Canmore Brewing Co, Canmore
19:00 🎤 Open Mic Night - The Local, Canmore
19:00 🎲 Bingo Night! - Sheepdog Brewing, Canmore
19:00 🎬 Film: Trailblazing - artsPlace Canmore, Canmore
20:00 🎬 Film: Trailblazing - artsPlace Canmore, Canmore
20:30 ❓ Trivia with Awale - Tavern 1883, Canmore
21:00 🎧 ONE SLOT: DJ Competition - Melissa's MisSteak, Banff
21:00 🎤 Open Mic/Jam Night - Rose & Crown, Canmore
22:00 🎧 Live DJ Set - High Rollers, Banff
22:00 🎧 DJ Dougasaurus Decks - 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.
🏕️ Today’s Quiz Answer
✅Answer: 2) Morant’s Curve
Morant’s Curve is a well-known stop along the Bow Valley Parkway, popular for its river bend and railway views. Learn more about this scenic drive in our Bow Valley Parkway Guide.
📢 The Banff Bulletin
🧊 Discounted Abraham Ice Bubbles Tour - Visit Abraham, Peyto and Bow Lakes, with snowshoeing. Was $149, now $90 until March 3. Reserve here
🏰 Fairmont Banff Spring Hotel - Spring savings now running at Fairmont Banff Springs, with limited-time hotel offers & special rates for select stays. View deals
🦌 Elk & Oarsman Happy Hour, Banff - Daily happy hour from 14:00 to 17:00 with half-price drinks and flatbreads. Plus weekday food specials. View details
🏞️ Banff Highlights Tour Deal - See Lake Louise, Emerald Lake, Bow & Peyto Lakes, plus Crowfoot Glacier on a 5⭐ rated day tour. Discounted until Jan 23. Book now
🍽️ Steak Sandwich Wednesdays at Georgetown Inn & Pub, Canmore - Enjoy a steak sandwich with fries and slaw for $18.00, 11 am to close. More here
👋 That’s All For Now 🎬 Another week of mountain magic awaits! Jill & Kevin | Editor | What’s On Banff |  |
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