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

Someone filmed 82 seconds of a grizzly bear circling and lunging at a leashed dog near Mount Engadine Lodge last Tuesday, and the video has been moving quickly. Bear spray was not involved. Kananaskis has an estimated 40 grizzlies, and encounters near trailheads are more common than most visitors expect.

Bear activity across the wider park system is worth checking before you head out. A family group of four grizzlies in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park has been active since June 25, resulting in hard-sided-only restrictions at Lower Lake and Boulton Creek campgrounds until at least July 6, and a full closure at Tryst Lake Parking Area. Here is a full list of current warnings and closures - Banff, Kananaskis, Yoho, Kootenay, and Jasper.

Banff's Canada Day parade is still happening; it now kicks off at 10 a.m. after a tied council vote landed on an earlier start and a crowd management budget of up to $25,000.

Staying in town? Peaks Hotel & Suites is under a minute's walk from Banff Avenue and is consistently well reviewed - a great choice if you're still sorting accommodation.

Canmore Easy Hikes | Bow River Loop | Quarry Lake | Three Sisters | Policeman’s Creek | Larch Island

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

Every week, readers email us asking where to stay, what to prioritise, and how to make the most of their time here. We've put together a one-to-one consultation service so we can answer those questions properly - tailored to your trip, not a generic list. Learn More.

The Banff Gondola is one of Banff’s most popular attractions. It offers an easy way to reach the summit of Sulphur Mountain without hiking. The short 8-minute ride leads to observation decks, a boardwalk, and an interpretive centre.

It is a great way to gain a high-altitude perspective of the Bow Valley and the surrounding peaks. However, we do recommend booking in advance, especially during busy periods, as tickets can sell out.

Book your ride for summit views without the hike!

🐻 Viral Kananaskis Grizzly Encounter Prompts Warning. A grizzly near Mount Engadine Lodge repeatedly circled and lunged at a leashed dog just before 6 a.m. on June 24 - 82 seconds of it caught on video and now widely circulating. Bear spray was not in the picture. Kananaskis is home to an estimated 40 grizzly bears, and encounters near trailheads are not as rare as people tend to assume.

🚒Banff Parade Moves to 10 a.m. A 3-3 council deadlock ended in compromise: the Canada Day parade stays, but starts earlier, with up to $25,000 from reserves added for crowd management.

🐻 Bear Report: Saturday 27 June. All current warnings and closures across Banff, Kananaskis, Yoho, Kootenay, and Jasper. Two new closures and a camping restriction have been added since Wednesday - all in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, linked to a family group of four grizzly bears active since June 25. One bear investigated and tore a hole in an occupied tent. Bear spray was deployed. Lower Lake and Boulton Creek campgrounds are now hard-sided only until at least July 6. Tryst Lake Parking Area in Spray Valley is fully closed. Everything else from Wednesday remains in place.

🍁 Jasper's Canada Day: Breakfast to 10 p.m. Pancakes, Zumba, a parade, and live entertainment through the evening on July 1. The flag raising at 11 a.m. includes both the Canadian flag and the Truth and Reconciliation flag.

🌧️ A Rare Weather Pattern Hits This Weekend. A "Rex Block" is bringing heavy rain and winds of 50-70 km/h to the Rockies Sunday into Monday. The last one in Alberta was 2013, which most Calgarians remember for reasons other than the wind.

⛰️ Backcountry Warning: Winter Conditions Persist. Record snowfall means avalanche risk, unsafe river crossings, and travel times two to three times normal across subalpine and alpine areas. Parks Canada recommends postponing if you're not equipped for winter conditions in late June.

🌧️ Periods of rain roll in before a warm-up - Sunday brings periods of rain at 16°C, Monday actually warms things up to 21°C (still rainy, but hey, progress), and Tuesday settles into a steady round of showers at 16°C. Pack your patience along with your rain jacket. Full Forecast Here

🏰 Stay inside Banff's iconic "castle." The Fairmont Banff Springs has welcomed travellers for over a century, perched above the Bow River with mountain views in every direction. Close to town, yet tucked into the mountains. Find out more here.

🦌 Wildlife Evening Canmore - The Bow Valley's elk and deer come out at dusk, so this three-hour evening tour times its run for golden hour. Binoculars provided, a naturalist guide along.

🚴 Ebike and Hike to Johnston Canyon - Why not let the e-bike do the climbing? This four-hour trip cycles 26km along the Bow Valley Parkway before a short walk to the Lower Falls. Pedal-assisted through Vermilion Lakes so you arrive fresh.

🛶 Big Canoe - No paddling experience needed for this one. You join a 12-passenger voyageur canoe on the Bow River for 90 minutes, heading upstream first for an easy float back. Glide past the Banff Canoe Club docks with a guide handling the history. Great for families.

💰 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.

🏨 Can you visit the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel without staying overnight? Yes - day visitors can dine, book a spa treatment. Plan your day.

⚠️ How do you stay safe around elk? Keep your distance, control your dog, and watch for warning signs of aggression.

The Lake Louise area rewards the organised and punishes everyone else - car parks fill well before sunrise in summer, Moraine Lake road is closed to private vehicles entirely, and the Fairmont is priced for people with different budgets. These three properties sidestep most of that.

🌿 Moraine Lake Lodge - Adults only and not cheap, but the location is genuinely unmatched. Private vehicles are banned from Moraine Lake road in peak season - guests here walk out the door instead. Complimentary canoeing, guided hikes, and afternoon tea in the library are included.

🌲 Paradise Lodge & Bungalows - Individually renovated cabins sitting about 1km from Lake Louise, with kitchens, fireplaces, and free parking. The village is a short drive from food and supplies, and the trailheads are walkable.

🏨 Lake Louise Inn - A 247-room property on Village Road with three on-site restaurants, a heated indoor pool, and a shuttle to the ski area in winter. Well-run and positioned within easy reach of both the lake and the village.

Yesterday’s Question: What is the Banff Springs Snail?

✅ Answer: B) A rare species found only in the Banff Upper Hot Springs

A quick correction: our answer wasn’t quite right. The Banff Springs Snail is found in several thermal springs around Banff, not just in the Banff Upper Hot Springs. One of the best places to learn about them is at the Cave and Basin National Historic Site in Banff.

When travellers on TripAdvisor consistently rank a hotel among the top places to stay in Banff, it’s usually worth a closer look. In this case, a big part of the appeal is location. Peaks Hotel & Suites is less than a minute from Banff Avenue, so you’re right in the centre of town, with restaurants, cafés, and shops all within easy walking distance.

Check it out for yourself here

📅 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

13:00 | Intro to Air with CYAN | Canmore Nordic Centre | Canmore

14:00 | Peaks & Prairies Ensemble: Live | St George in the Pines | Banff

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

16:00 | IN A LANDSCAPE: Classical Music in the Wild™ | The Banff Centre | Banff

18:00 | Mitch Belot: Live | Rose & Crown Canmore | Canmore

20:00 | Drag Bingo! | Tavern 1883 | Canmore

22:00 | Brent Lee | Rose & Crown Banff | Banff

18:00 | Headshots & Pints with CYAN | Canmore Brewing Co | Canmore

20:00 | Live Music Night | Three Bears | Banff

20:00 | Monday Trivia | High Rollers | Banff

22:00 | DJ Set: With Tenax | High Rollers | Banff

22:00 | Karaoke Night | The Drake | Canmore

22:00 | Andrew StayGold | Rose & Crown Banff | Banff

All day | Lux Cinema – Cheap Tuesday | Lux Cinema Banff | Banff

19:00 | Trivia Tuesday | Rose & Crown Canmore | Canmore

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

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

21:00 | DJ Styler Nazo | High Rollers | Banff

21:30 | Line Dancing Intermediate | The Dusty Boot | Banff

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