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

A young buck spent part of last week tangled in a wire fence near Banff, which is not how anyone plans their Tuesday. Banff Fire and Parks Rescon crews responded, calmed the animal, and pried the pole loose. The deer left under its own power. Watch the rescue here.

The Canmore Folk Festival has published its full lineup and set times for the August long weekend. If you have been loosely planning to go, now is the time to get specific about which stage you want to be at and when.

The Park & Ride returns Thursday, June 26. Leave your car at Lake Minnewanka Park and Ride and ride Roam Route 6 out to Johnson Lake, Two Jack, and town. Departures from the lot are free, one way only - which makes it one of the more practical options for getting around the park without fighting for a parking spot at every stop.

If you'd rather hand the logistics off entirely, the hop-on, hop-off bus covers Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and more - useful in summer when car parks fill before most people have finished breakfast.

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👉 Find out what is happening this week and beyond on our Events Page.

Not sure where to stay? Wondering how many days you need? Trying to fit too much into your itinerary?

Book a 50-minute consultation with Jill for personalised advice on planning your Banff and Canadian Rockies trip. You'll also receive a written summary and follow-up email support. Learn More.

If you’re travelling with kids, it’s good to know there’s one place in Banff where they can simply be kids for a while. The waterpark at Douglas Fir Resort has the town’s only waterslides, along with a shallow wading pool and indoor play areas where younger visitors can burn off some energy.

It’s the kind of break many families appreciate after a day of sightseeing or hiking. While the kids are busy on the slides, adults can slow things down in the hot tubs or relax nearby. The setup works well for families who want a mix of fun for children and a bit of downtime for everyone else, without needing to leave Banff to find it.

Book now and enjoy Banff’s only waterslides

🦌 Buck Freed From Banff Fence. A young deer tangled in wire was freed by Banff Fire and Parks Rescon, who calmed it and pried the pole loose. The crew first had to clear it with Parks Canada, the fence sitting within park jurisdiction.

🚌 Park & Ride Returns June 26. Leave the car at Lake Minnewanka Park and Ride and ride Roam Route 6 out to Johnson Lake, Two Jack, and the town of Banff. Departures from the Park & Ride are free, one way only.

🐻 Rampart Creek Goes Hard-Sided Only. Bears moving through the campground have closed it to tents and tent trailers until further notice. Hard-sided units only for now. Leaving anything that smells of food out can run you up to $25,000.

🎶 Canmore Folk Fest Sets Its Schedule. The festival has published its full lineup and set times. See the schedule before you start planning which stage to plant yourself at.

🎬 Indigenous Films Free Until June 27. The Banff Centre is streaming five short films by Indigenous filmmakers, drawn from its 50th Mountain Film and Book Festival. Watch them online for free, though viewings are capped and the window closes June 27.

🌦️ Get out while the getting's good. Wednesday is mainly sunny and a generous 25°C, the warmest day of the bunch. Thursday holds onto comfortable warmth at 22°C with a chance of showers sneaking in, before Friday cools to 16°C with showers more likely. Full Forecast Here

💧 Takakkaw Falls Running Strong. One of Canada’s tallest waterfalls is open and running high on spring snowmelt. Worth the drive up the Yoho Valley Road.

🧊 Columbia Icefield & Skywalk - The six-wheeled Ice Explorer gets you onto the Athabasca Glacier itself, and the full circuit also takes in the glass-bottomed Skywalk suspended 280 metres above the Sunwapta Valley.

👻 Banff Ghost Walk - Banff's after-dark history is far grimmer than the postcard suggests, and this 100-minute evening walk covers the unsolved crimes, railway-era tragedies, and famously reluctant hotel guests. Bring a warm layer - the Bow Valley gets cold once the sun drops behind the peaks.

🌊 Kananaskis Rafting - The Kananaskis River runs Class II-III, which makes this four-hour afternoon trip a great choice for families or first-timers - wetsuits and kit provided at Nakoda Lodge. Bald eagles are a regular sighting along the corridor, and the surrounding peaks have doubled as a Hollywood backdrop more than once.

Do I need bear spray in Banff?

Yes. Carry it on every hike. Bear spray is the most effective deterrent in a bear encounter - more so than noise, and far more so than bear bells (skip those - the science doesn't support them, and the unfamiliar sound may actually attract curious bears).

Banff has a healthy population of both black bears and grizzlies, some famous enough to have names. The Boss and Split Lip are two of the park's most well-known grizzlies, with home ranges that overlap popular hiking areas. This isn't a place where bears are a theoretical risk.

A few things worth knowing:

Wear it, don't pack it. Clip it to your hip belt where you can draw it in two seconds.

You can't fly with it. Buy it on arrival - any outdoor gear shop in Banff or Canmore will have it.

Know how to use it. Remove the safety clip before you need it. Aim low, spray in a wide arc as the bear approaches. Range is around 7-10 metres.

One canister per group isn't enough. Each adult should carry their own.

Read our bear safety post for a full guide on how to stay safe in Banff.

The Rockies are easy to love, but a week of altitude, long days, and ambitious hiking tends to leave its mark. These three properties have the facilities to actually help with that - not a single folded towel swan in sight.

🌿 Everwild, Canmore - A Nordic thermal spa hotel in Canmore, 20 minutes from Banff - which means free parking, a quieter base, and a proper thermal circuit with saunas, cold plunges, and hot pools. You get the mountains without the Banff noise, and the park is still right there when you want it. Compare prices before you book

🦌 Banff Caribou Lodge and Spa - Free underground parking and free Banff transit passes are included - which takes care of two of the town's more persistent headaches before you've unpacked. The Red Earth Spa has six treatment rooms, a hot pool, and a sauna. On Banff Avenue, so everything is walkable, and The Keg Steakhouse is in the lobby if you'd rather not go anywhere at all. Compare prices before you book

🏔️ Rimrock Banff - Closed for renovation and reopening July 2026 as Rimrock Banff, Emblems Collection - with a new thermal wellness facility and infinity pool on Sulphur Mountain. Early rates are already live. If a summer 2026 trip is on the cards, worth locking in before availability goes. Compare prices before you book

Yesterday’s Question: Which animal is shown in this photo, known for its tufted ears and elusive nature in the Canadian Rockies?

✅Answer: 3) Lynx - 77% Correct

The lynx is known for its tufted ears and elusive nature, while cougars are another rarely seen big cat in the Rockies. Learn more in our lynx and cougar guides.

Access and parking are a real challenge in summer at places such as Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake, where access is restricted, and car parks can fill up before sunrise. This hop-on, hop-off bus lets you move between key stops at your own pace, with guaranteed seating and no driving stress.

Reserve your seat and leave the logistics to someone else

📅 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 | Banff Farmers Market | Central Park | Banff

16:00 | Nomadisms Open Studios | The Banff Centre | Banff

17:00 | Chess Night | Jasper Municipal Library | Jasper

18:45 | Ecstatic Dance | The Yoga Lounge | Canmore

19:00 | Music Bingo | Melissa's Missteak | Banff

19:00 | Open Mic Night | The Local | Canmore

19:00 | Trivia Night | The Stand Easy | Jasper

19:30 | Lacey Hill | The Banff Centre | Banff

20:30 | Trivia Night | Tavern 1883 | Canmore

20:30 | Line Dancing Beginners | The Dusty Boot | Banff

21:00 | Open Mic/Jam Night | Rose & Crown Canmore | Canmore

22:00 | DJ Bunny Hops | High Rollers | Banff

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