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

The Bow River has been busy for the wrong reasons this week. Debris and snowmelt turned the Canmore stretch faster and murkier than usual, and eight people needed rescuing there in a single day. Every one of them was wearing a lifejacket, and rescuers say that's the only reason they're still here to talk about it. Something to remember before you put a canoe or paddleboard in this weekend.

Bears have been making headlines too, though not in the way you'd expect. A Brigham Young University review of 326 dog-bear conflicts found dogs started the confrontation more than half the time. The research traces straight back to the 2023 Red Deer Valley attack that killed two experienced hikers. If you're hiking with a dog this summer, that's one to keep in mind on the trail.

If you'd rather spend an evening somewhere the wildlife is on your terms, there's a horse-drawn wagon ride along the Bow River that ends at a backcountry cookout, steak grilled to order over the fire. Departures are limited each night in summer, so it's not one to leave until the last minute.

And if a creek instead of a wagon sounds better, Baker Creek Cabins sit right beside a glacier-fed stream about fifteen minutes from Lake Louise, close enough for an early start before the crowds arrive. Details on all of it below.

See Banff’s Lakes Before You Visit | Moraine Lake | Moraine Lake Rockpile | Lake Louise | Peyto Lake | Bow Lake

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This is the one we send visiting family on when they've only got an afternoon spare. An hour beside the Bow River near Cave and Basin, no riding experience required, and you're back in town in time for dinner.

Still got an afternoon free? This fits it

🛶 Eight Rescued From Bow River in One Day. Debris and snowmelt have made the Canmore stretch of the Bow River faster and murkier than usual. Rescuers say the eight survived because they were wearing lifejackets- without them, they likely wouldn't have.

🐕 Your Dog Might Cause the Bear Encounter. A Brigham Young University review of 326 dog-involved bear conflicts found dogs started the confrontation over half the time. The research traces back to the 2023 Red Deer Valley attack that killed two experienced hikers.

🥾 Bears and Rockfall Reshuffle Trails. A grizzly with cubs shut the Peter Lougheed paved trail this week, while rockfall closed the Rundle Rock climbing area near Banff. Ten backcountry campgrounds are still underwater. Full trail closures report has the list.

🐻 Alberta Finally Counts Its Grizzlies. A new fRI Research project will tally the province's grizzly population through 2026, informing management decisions. Most current data is over five years old - past the recovery plan's own recommended interval.

💸 Jasper Burned. The Cash Didn't Follow. A proposed $4.1 billion national resilience package has gone nowhere since Jasper lost 358 buildings in 2024. Three in four Canadians support a national firefighting force. Ottawa hasn't built one

❄️🌦️ Banff's weather can't quite make up its mind this weekend. Sun, showers, and a rumble of thunder, but it settles down nicely by Monday. Saturday brings 25°C with a 30% chance of showers and a thunderstorm risk; Sunday cools to 21°C with more scattered showers; and Monday clears right up to a sunny 24°C. Full Forecast Here

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.

🧊 Columbia Icefield & Skywalk Tour - Ride a six-wheeled Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier, then walk out onto a glass floor suspended 280 metres above the Sunwapta Valley - two very different ways to feel small next to the Rockies. Timed entry and a guided glacier walk are both part of the package.

🚣 Kananaskis River Whitewater Rafting - Class II and III rapids on a dam-regulated stretch of river make this a genuinely family-friendly introduction to whitewater, with kids as young as five welcome aboard. Hollywood filmed 'The Revenant' along this same valley, and a hot drink waits at the end of the run.

🐻 Kicking Horse Grizzly Refuge Tour - Meet Boo, a resident grizzly roaming a 20-acre mountainside enclosure near Golden, on a day that also takes in Takakkaw Falls, Emerald Lake and the Spiral Tunnels of the old CPR line. A grizzly sighting is guaranteed - or you're back for another go.

🥾 Can families with young children visit Takakkaw Falls? Yes - the flat, accessible trail welcomes strollers and wheelchairs, making it one of the easiest big experiences in the Rockies.

🐻 Who is Split Lip? He is Bear No. 136, a 500-600 pound grizzly in Banff National Park named for a distinctive facial scar earned through years of brutal rivalry - and his full history in the Canadian Rockies is even more extraordinary. See the full guide

⏱️ How long does it take to walk around Bankhead Ghost Town? It's a short, relatively flat loop that most visitors complete in under an hour - ideal if you want a low-key Banff activity that doesn't fill a full day.

These cabins sit right beside a glacier-fed creek, so falling asleep to running water is part of the stay. It's also about 15 minutes from Lake Louise, handy for an early start before the crowds build.

Find out more

Yesterday’s Question: Yesterday’s Question: Which ski resort has the highest summit elevation within Banff National Park and Jasper National Park?

✅ Answer: C) Banff Sunshine Village - 41% Correct

Banff’s Sunshine Village boasts the loftiest runs (with a top elevation of 2,730m) and some of the best snow in the Rockies. Discover more about Banff’s top ski spots.

📅 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

10:00 | Family ARTventures | The Banff Centre | Banff

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

11:00 | Relentless 24 - 24-hour Endurance Run | Canmore Nordic Centre | Canmore

13:00 | Leighton Artist Studios Open House | The Banff Centre | Banff

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

15:00 | Live Music Afternoon | Three Bears | Banff

15:00 | The Cheezie Musical | Carter-Ryan Theatre | Canmore

16:00 | Mike Burns LIVE | Banff Legion | Banff

18:00 | Ross Fizzard | Rose and Crown Canmore | Canmore

19:00 | Little Women | Centennial Park | Canmore

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

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

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

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