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

A grizzly on the Taylor Lake trail did exactly what grizzlies are supposed to do this week: it walked off. The dog that started the encounter did not get off so easily - Parks Canada has laid charges over the unleashed dog that turned a sighting into a standoff, a reminder that leash rules exist for reasons beyond politeness. See the full video.

The air has been mixed news. Smoke and heat have been trading off through the week, and Canmore has opened Elevation Place and the Canmore Recreation Centre as clean air centres during regular hours if you need a break from either.

If Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are on your list, the parking and shuttle logistics tend to eat more of the day than the lakes themselves. A full-day tour linking both with Emerald Lake, Natural Bridge and Johnston Canyon lets someone else handle the timing.

For anyone staying near Lake Louise rather than just visiting for the day, Paradise Lodge & Bungalows puts you close enough to reach the lakeshore on foot in under twenty minutes, with a private shuttle option for Moraine Lake that skips the usual scramble for a ticket.

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Lake Louise and Moraine Lake take more planning than most visitors expect. This full-day tour keeps it simple, linking them with Emerald Lake, Natural Bridge and Johnston Canyon, so you can focus on the stops rather than the shuttles, parking and timing.

🏔️ Fresh from the Rockies

Lake Louise Alpenglow

🐻 Bear Walks Away, Hikers Do Not. A Taylor Lake trail grizzly encounter ended with the bear ambling back into the trees unharmed, while Parks Canada laid charges over the unleashed dog that turned the sighting into a standoff.

🌫️ Canmore Opens Clean Air Centres. With smoke and heat expected to alternate over the coming days, Elevation Place and the Canmore Recreation Centre are open as clean air centres during regular hours, offering cooler air for anyone needing a break.

🔥 Redstreak Campground Fire Ban Begins. As of 1 pm MT on July 23, Kootenay National Park has issued a fire ban at Redstreak Campground, prohibiting campfires, charcoal barbecues, and turkey fryers - propane stoves and lanterns are still permitted.

🍻 Craft Beer Festival Returns to Banff. Tickets are now on sale for the Banff Craft Beer Festival, running October 22 to 24 at the Cave and Basin, with hotel packages available for a full weekend getaway.

🏠 Jasper Rebuild Passes Halfway Mark. Ahead of the two-year anniversary of the Jasper wildfire, Parks Canada says more than half of the 374 destroyed properties have been rebuilt or approved for rebuilding.

🌫️ Smoky skies give way to sunshine as the weekend rolls in - Friday still carries some haze at a warm 30°C, but Saturday clears up sunny at 29°C, and Sunday keeps it bright at 26°C. Great weather for patio season! Full Forecast Here

⭐ Most Popular Last Issue

🌿 Leave the Crowds Behind: This 3-hour guided walk trades Banff Avenue for quiet trails, passing geothermal springs and hidden waterfalls, with wildlife spotting along the way. Check availability

🚣Activities You Might Enjoy

🏔️ Sunshine Meadows Guided Hike - Named Canada's top day hike by Lonely Planet, this trip rides the gondola and chairlift to 2,400m before a 12km loop past three alpine lakes on the Continental Divide, with lunch included.

📸 Banff Photoshoot Experience - A licensed Banff photographer leads this private two-to-three-hour session across up to three national park locations, with a fully edited digital gallery delivered afterwards. Good for couples, families, or proposals, with pickup available for a fee.

🌊 Jasper Family Friendly Rafting - Five sets of Class 2 rapids on the Athabasca River make up this two-hour trip, gentle enough for kids from age five and scenic enough for spotting elk along the banks. Wetsuits are provided; the water stays near freezing year-round.

❓Your Questions Answered

📅 When is the best time of year to visit Johnston Canyon? Every season offers something different - summer brings roaring waterfalls, winter turns the canyon into a frozen landscape, and spring and autumn mean fewer crowds.

🏨 Do you need to be a hotel guest to use the spa? Not always - many Banff hotel spas accept day visitors, though booking ahead is strongly recommended.

🏔️ Is it possible to live in Canmore, or does it have the same restrictions as Banff? Canmore does not have the same rules - find out how you can move there.

These cabins sit close enough that you can reach Lake Louise shore in under 20 minutes on foot. There's also a private shuttle option to Moraine Lake, so you dodge the usual scramble for a shuttle ticket.

🏕️ Quiz

What is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies?

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Yesterday’s Question: Which animal is shown in this photo, commonly spotted foraging in the mountain forests of Western Canada?

Answer: 2) Black Bear - 92% Correct

Before hitting the trails, it’s worth refreshing your bear safety basics.

🎸Events, Activities & Live Music

📅 Featured events for today are listed below. Visit our website for a complete list.

Friday, July 24

All Day | Rockies 24 2026 | Canmore Nordic Centre | Canmore

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

15:00 | Summer Book Sale | Canmore Public Library | Canmore

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

18:00 | Sunset Festival @ Banff Gondola | Banff Gondola | Banff

19:00 | May Contain Alcohol | Mineshaft Tavern | Canmore

19:30 | Chamber Music Concert | The Banff Centre | Banff

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

19:30 | Jasper Historical Tour | Jasper Town | Jasper

20:00 | Kylie Austin: Live | Banff Ave Brewing Co | Banff

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

21:00 | Colin MacDonald | Tavern 1883 | Canmore

22:00 | HALO | Rose and Crown Banff | Banff

📅 Got An Event To Share?

📅 👉 Submit Here (3 days before the event date) for a FREE LISTING

👋 That’s All For Now 🎬

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 | What’s On Banff

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