Hi Everyone! Here's Whatβs Happening This Week!
Parking in Banff has never been generous, and it is about to get tighter. Repairs to the Bear Street Parkade will close up to 35 stalls at a time through September, part of the work needed to protect the rest of the 33-year-old structure from concrete blasting.
Near Sundre, two young grizzlies were shot dead, and investigators have almost nothing to go on beyond a witness account of a black pickup truck. Both bears were three to four years old, just starting out on their own. It is a reminder that the risks facing wildlife here do not end at the park boundary.
For a lower stress way to spend a day outdoors, an e-bike ride along the Bow Valley Parkway pairs well with a walk into Johnston Canyon. Coast past Vermilion Lakes at your own pace, then let your legs take over on the trail to the Lower Falls before taking the shuttle back to town.
If castles suit you better than canyons, the Fairmont Banff Springs sits where the Bow and Spray rivers meet, and its free history tour covers more than a century of architecture and ghost stories.
Jasperβs Big 3 Waterfalls | Maligne Canyon (before the fire) | Athabasca Falls | Sunwapta Falls
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Combine two very different Banff experiences. A relaxed e-bike ride through Vermilion Lakes and along the Bow Valley Parkway, then stretch your legs on the walk to Johnston Canyon's Lower Falls. Afterwards, simply hop on the shuttle back to Banff.
ποΈ Fresh from the Rockies
Sunrise Over Ha Li Peak and the Bow River
π ΏοΈ Bear Street Parkade Loses Some Ground. Repairs to the 33-year-old, 218-stall Bear Street parkade will close up to 35 spots at a time through September - to protect the remaining cars from concrete blasting.
π» Two Grizzlies Shot Dead Near Sundre. Investigators say their only lead is a witness's account of a black pickup truck - no plate, nothing else. Both bears were three to four years old, just becoming independent.
π» New Grizzly Closure in Kananaskis. A grizzly with cubs has closed the paved bike path from Boulton store to Sarrail campground and the Lower Lake Day Use Area in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Full bear report here.
π» More Bear Closures, Not More Danger. Six warnings and two closures hit the Bow Valley and Kananaskis this spring. Parks Canada now closes trails the moment a bear settles in, rather than waiting for trouble. Zero injuries resulted.
π Free National Park Pass Frustrates Locals. Some Banff residents say the Canada Strong Pass is adding to town congestion. Twenty-four-year resident Kyle Mills says it's driving more traffic than the town can handle - he can't even find a spot for his own car.
π¦οΈ Showers clear out for a warm streak. Sunday and Monday are warm and sunny at 23Β°C and 25Β°C. Clouds move in on Tuesday, but it stays warm at 24Β°C. Full Forecast Here
β Most Popular Last Issue
A horse-drawn wagon ride along the Bow River ends at a backcountry cookout, steak grilled to order over the fire. Departures are limited each night in summer, so don't leave it until the last minute.
π£Activities You Might Enjoy
π Banff Hop-On Hop-Off Bus - One pass, all four big stops - Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and back again - along a stretch of the Bow Valley Parkway thick with elk, bighorn sheep and the odd bear in the meadows. A local guide rides along to point out what the window seat might miss.
π€ Maligne Lake Cruise & Wildlife Tour - Cruise to Spirit Island, the most photographed spot in Jasper National Park, by way of Medicine Lake's vanishing act and a valley road where moose and grizzlies turn up in the brush. Six hours in Jasper's wildest corner, guided the whole way.
π΄ Bow River Horseback Ride - Trade the townsite bustle for an hour in the saddle along the Bow River, skirting the marshes and meadows near the Cave and Basin - the actual birthplace of Canada's national parks. No riding experience needed.
βYour Questions Answered
π° Is it cheaper to stay in Canmore than Banff? Generally yes - accommodation in Canmore tends to cost less, and that saving often goes straight into activities like guided hikes or canoe hire rather than sitting in your pocket.
π¨ Can you visit the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel without staying overnight? Yes - day visitors can dine and book a spa treatment. Plan your day.
π¨ Can elk attack people? Yes - stay at least 30 metres back, particularly when they are protecting calves or during rut.
ποΈ Quiz
Which powerful waterfall is shown in this photo?
Yesterdayβs Question: Which mountain does the Banff Gondola take you to the top of?
β
Answer: 3) Sulphur Mountain - 86% Correct
Itβs also possible to hike up Sulphur Mountain, but with an elevation gain of about 655 metres, it isnβt for everyone. For an easier summit hike in Banff, check out our Tunnel Mountain Guide.
For more than a century, this stone castle has stood where the Bow and Spray rivers meet, Mount Rundle rising beyond it. A free history tour reveals its secrets, ghost stories included. Find out more
πΈEvents, Activities & Live Music
π Featured events for today are listed below. Visit our website for a complete list.
Sunday, July 12
All Day | Relentless 24 | Canmore Nordic Centre | Canmore
11:00 | Oh Canada Exhibit | Elevation Place | Canmore
13:00 | Anne of Green Gables | Centennial Park | Canmore
15:00 | The Cheezie Musical | Carter-Ryan Theatre | Canmore
18:00 | Andy Loops | Rose and Crown Canmore | Canmore
19:00 | Little Women | Centennial Park | Canmore
22:00 | Brent Lee | Rose and Crown Banff | Banff
22:00 | DJ Tenax | Rose and Crown Canmore | Canmore
Monday, July 13
19:00 | Colin MacDonald | Rose and Crown Canmore | Canmore
20:00 | Monday Trivia | High Rollers | Banff
20:00 | Live Music Night | Three Bears | Banff
22:00 | DJ Set: With Tenax | High Rollers | Banff
22:00 | Karaoke Night | The Drake | Canmore
22:00 | Brent Lee | Rose and Crown Banff | Banff
Tuesday, July 14
17:00 | Pints & Pottery: Paint a Mug | Grizzly BBQ Beer Garden | Canmore
19:00 | Trivia Tuesday | Rose and Crown Canmore | Canmore
19:00 | Literary Cabaret: Summer Writers | The Banff Centre | Banff
19:30 | The Cheezie Musical | Carter-Ryan Theatre | Canmore
21:00 | Canmore Noche Caliente | The Drake | Canmore
22:00 | Jesse Peters | Rose and Crown Banff | Banff
π Got An Event To Share?
π π Submit Here (3 days before the event date) for a FREE LISTING
π Thatβs All For Now π¬
Another week of mountain magic awaits!
We're so glad you're here for the ride.
Keep exploring and sharing, and we'll see you in the next issue with another full lineup of Banff happenings.
Jill & Kevin | Editor | Whatβs On Banff

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