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

Banff's fire danger rating moved to extreme on July 7, which sounds more dramatic than the current rules actually are - campfires are still allowed, provided they're contained to a metal pit and properly doused after use. That could change quickly if the dry spell continues, so it's worth checking before you build one.

Traffic through town has its own complications this week. Tunnel Mountain Road dropped to single-lane travel on July 6 as Parks Canada repaves the stretch from Douglas Fir Resort to the Hoodoos, a project expected to run through fall. Campground access stays open, just slower than usual.

If navigating your own route through the park sounds like more hassle than it's worth, the half-day shuttle to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise handles the driving and the parking for you, with 80 minutes at each stop and a guide filling in the details along the way.

For families needing more room than a standard hotel room offers, Blackstone Mountain Lodge's suites come with full kitchens and separate bedrooms - useful if you're travelling with kids who go to bed before you do.

Canmore Easy Hikes | Bow River Loop | Quarry Lake | Three Sisters | Policeman’s Creek | Larch Island

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Every week, readers email us asking where to stay, what to prioritise, and how to make the most of their time here. We've put together a one-to-one consultation service so we can answer those questions properly - tailored to your trip, not a generic list. Learn More.

This round-trip shuttle picks up from Banff and Canmore and takes you straight to the lakes, with a guide pointing out park highlights along the way. 1 hour 20 minutes to explore at each lake.

Check it out and book

🔥 Fire Danger Bumped to Extreme. Banff's fire danger rating hit extreme on July 7, with fires expected to ignite easily and spread fast. No ban yet - campfires remain allowed in metal fire pits, soaked and stirred cool after each use.

🦬 Parks Canada Names Its Own Harm. A 2024 review found Banff's founding disrupted Indigenous land use for millennia, with people forcibly removed and barred from hunting. $61.7 million is now funding Indigenous-led programming.

🚧 Tunnel Mountain Gets Its Turn. Single-lane traffic hits Tunnel Mountain Road from July 6 through fall, as Parks Canada repaves from Douglas Fir Resort to the Hoodoos. Campground access stays open - just slower.

🚌 Buses Rehearse Going Nowhere. Brewster workers held a practice picket in Banff Thursday, after 85% voted for a strike. They can walk out July 28. The union frames it as a wage fight in a region buckling under the cost of living.

💥 Yamnuska Trails Closed for Blasting. Blasting at Lafarge Quarry closes all Yamnuska access trails - Climbers' Access, East Ridge, Scramble Route and West Col - within a 600-metre radius until 5 pm on July 10.

☀️ Banff's stuck on repeat this weekend, and the repeat is "sunny." Friday's mainly sunny and 26°C, though there's a bit of smoke haze lingering in the morning. Saturday shakes it off entirely for a full-on sunny 26°C. Sunday keeps the good times going at a sunny 25°C. Full Forecast Here

The hop-on-hop-off bus runs to Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and the Lake Louise Gondola, and you choose how long to spend at each. No fixed lunch stop, no guide moving the group along, just guaranteed seating between stops.

🌄 Moraine Lake Sunrise/Sunset Tour - Arrive at the Rockpile 45 minutes before first light or lingering into astronomical twilight for stargazing over the Valley of the Ten Peaks. This small-group tour hands you blankets and headlamps for the cold.

🍂 Larch Valley Guided Hike - Climb 565 metres through switchbacks to catch the larches at their brief golden peak, with a guide, trekking poles and lunch included to lighten the load. Grizzly country means safety in numbers matters here, and this hike keeps groups small.

👻 Banff Ghost Walk - Banff after dark has a different story to tell - unsolved crimes, permanent hotel guests who never checked out, and the grittier side of the town's railway-era past. Lantern-lit and led by a local guide, it's history with a side of the unexplained.

🐻 What made Nakoda the white grizzly so unusual? Her pale coat was caused by a rare genetic condition - white grizzly bears are extraordinarily uncommon in inland mountain populations like those around Banff.

🍺 Does Banff have craft beer and local drinks worth trying? Yes - Banff has a great craft brewery and distillery scene producing locally made beers and spirits, often using ingredients and water sourced from the Rockies.

🐻 Is wildlife a concern on the Bow Falls Trail? Yes - elk and bears are regularly spotted near the trail, so carrying bear spray and staying alert applies even on this easy town-side walk.

Blackstone's suites come with full kitchens and separate bedrooms, so families or groups get real space to spread out.

Find out more

Yesterday’s Question: Which famous mountain pass is shown in this photo, known for its views of the Ten Peaks and Larch Valley?

✅Answer: 2) Sentinel Pass - 73% Correct

You can find more inspiration for your next autumn hike in our guide to larch season in Banff.

📅 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

11:00 | Oh Canada Exhibit | Elevation Place | Canmore

13:00 | Anne of Green Gables | Centennial Park | Canmore

16:00 | Paw-lympics – SPCA Benefit Party | Grizzly BBQ Beer Garden | Canmore

17:00 | Rooftop Sessions | Rose and Crown Banff | Banff

19:00 | R.U.R., A Torrent of Light- Opera | The Banff Centre | Banff

19:00 | Little Women | Centennial Park | Canmore

19:00 | International Packraft Film Festival 2026 | artsPlace Canmore | Canmore

19:30 | The Cheezie Musical | Carter-Ryan Theatre | Canmore

20:00 | Hannah Avery: Live | Banff Ave Brewing Co | Banff

21:00 | Jam Night | The Stand Easy | Jasper

22:00 | The Party Darts | The Drake | Canmore

22:00 | Throttle Up | Rose and Crown Banff | Banff

22:00 | Matt Beatty | Rose and Crown Canmore | Canmore

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