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

The fire ban came in at noon yesterday, which is poor timing if the long weekend plan involved sitting around a fire. Open fires are banned across Banff National Park, including campfires, charcoal barbecues and tiki torches. CSA-certified propane stoves and fire pits are still permitted, so dinner is not cancelled, only quieter.

If the fire was going to be the evening's entertainment, the workaround is to let someone else keep one. The horse-drawn wagon ride along the Bow River ends at a backcountry cookout with steak grilled to order over the coals.

Kananaskis has another problem. Spray Lakes Road has been closed between Grassi Lakes and Goat Creek since June's rockslide, and crews are now clearing rubble and bolting the slope above it. About 200 cubic metres of debris has to come out before the mid-August reopening target.

For anyone who would rather end the day sitting in warm water than arguing about propane, the rooftop hot pools and sauna at Hotel Canoe and Suites are the simpler option.

Plan a visit to Johnston Canyon | Why you need to hike Johnston Canyon | Johnston Canyon Hike - Banff National Park in July | Take the Hop-on Hop-off Bus | eBike to the canyon

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Trade the usual bus tour for a horse-drawn wagon ride along the Bow River to a backcountry cookout, with steak grilled to order by the fire. Departures are limited each evening in summer.

Reserve your spot before they fill up

🔥 Fire Ban Starts in Banff. All open fires are banned across Banff National Park from noon on 30 July, including campfires, charcoal barbecues and tiki torches. CSA-certified propane stoves and fire pits remain permitted.

🪨 Spray Lakes Road Reopening Targeted. Crews are clearing rubble and bolting rock above the section closed between Grassi Lakes and Goat Creek since a June rockslide. About 200 cubic metres of debris will come out before the mid-August target.

⚠️ Long Weekend Parking Crackdown. Canmore bylaw officers issued 319 parking tickets at Quarry Lake and Rundle Forebay over two hot July weekends, with targeted patrols during peak visitation. Parking illegally on Spray Lakes Road costs $90; two hours in the lot costs $20, and Roam's summer service from downtown is free.

🏔️ Tourist Towns Running Out of Staff. Restaurants are closing, and hotels are cutting services as the tourism labour shortage hits Banff and Canmore. Average Canmore rent for a one-bedroom is $2,344; entry-level jobs pay $15 an hour.

🍹 Cocktail Trail Winds Through Banff. The Banff Cocktail Trail starts with a free tour at Park Distillery, then works along Bear Street via a Matcha Colada, an Apple Pie on the Rocks and a Cucumber Gin Smash.

☀️ The heat peaks today before a sharp comedown this weekend - Friday scorches at a sunny 29°C, Saturday stays hot and sunny at 28°C, before Sunday brings a drop to a much cooler 16°C. Enjoy the last blast of summer heat while it lasts. Full Forecast Here

♨️Canmore's newest hotel has a Nordic spa: hot and cold pools, saunas, steam rooms, all with mountain views. After a day on the trails, it is exactly where you want to end up before dinner. Find out more

🐴 Bow River Horseback Ride - No riding experience needed for this one. An hour in the saddle takes you along the Bow River and past Cave and Basin, with guides front and back keeping the pace gentle.

💧 Yoho and the Golden Skybridge - Worth the early start if you fancy a big day out: Emerald Lake, the Natural Bridge and Takakkaw Falls before crossing into Golden for Canada's highest suspension bridges. Pickups from Banff or Canmore.

🔦 Canmore Caving Adventure - Six hours inside Rat's Nest Cave, beginning with an 18-metre rappel into the dark. Expect crawling, squeezing and a fair amount of mud before you reach the grotto pool. Not one for the claustrophobic.

🏔️ How busy is Banff in August? August is one of the busiest months of the year - booking accommodation, shuttles, and tours well in advance is strongly advised to avoid disappointment.

🍂 Are the easy trails in Canmore open year-round? Most of Canmore's easy trails are accessible in all seasons, though conditions vary - some paths can be icy in winter, and certain trails are at their best in the warmer months.

🐻 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

Relax in the rooftop hot pools, unwind in the sauna or settle into the lounge while taking in the views. It is the perfect place to wind down after a day exploring.

Find out more

Yesterday’s Question: Which iconic mountain peak is shown in this photo, towering over the town of Canmore?

✅Answer: 1) Ha Ling Peak - 48% Correct

The area near the Canmore Engine Bridge is a great spot for photos of the peak.

📅 This is a SELECTION of today’s events. Visit our website for the complete list.

FULL EVENT CALENDAR | BANFF & LAKE LOUISE | CANMORE | JASPER NP
BANFF HAPPY HOURS | CANMORE HAPPY HOURS

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

18:00 | Mike Petroff | Wild Life Distillery | Canmore

18:00 | Mike Burns | Rose and Crown | Canmore

18:00 | Sunset Festival | Banff Gondola | Banff

18:30 | Live Musician Night | The Dusty Boot | Banff

19:00 | Bingo Night | Canmore Legion | Canmore

19:00 | Treblemakers | Mineshaft Tavern | Canmore

19:00 | Doug Robb: Live | Moxy Banff | Banff

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 | Andy Curtis | Tavern 1883 | Canmore

22:00 | The Party Darts | Rose and Crown | Banff

22:00 | Jamie Allanach | Rose and Crown | Canmore

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