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

A young grizzly nearly didn't clear a passing train at Morant's Curve this week - video captured the moment, and while the bear hasn't been officially identified, it's within Bear 142's known range. Weeks ago, she lost a yearling cub to a train near the Eldon siding. The railway corridor through Banff has always been a hazard for wildlife, but some weeks it's harder to look away from than others.

If you're heading to the park later this summer, at least eight construction projects are running simultaneously - Norquay Road, Lake Minnewanka Road, and Mountain Avenue among them, with more starting in late June. Check the list before you go.

The Canmore MTB Classic returns June 10-13 at the Nordic Centre, drawing riders from Brazil, Chile, Peru, Israel, and Puerto Rico. It began in 2016 because a handful of parents decided Alberta's provincial circuit wasn't doing enough for their kids. It's grown considerably since.

Parking at Lake Louise fills before most people are awake, and you can’t drive to Moraine Lake. If that's on your list, the hop-on, hop-off bus is a practical way around it - reserved seating, no parking lottery required.

And now a quick announcement before we get into this week's news - we've just launched a new one-to-one trip consultation service. If you're planning a visit to Banff and the Canadian Rockies and would like personalised advice from someone who actually lives in the area, you'll find all the details here.

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Access and parking can be a real challenge in summer at places like Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake, with parking lots often filling before sunrise and Moraine Lake access restricted. This hop-on, hop-off bus is a practical way to get around those issues and still see the highlights.

You buy your ticket in advance and use the bus to travel between Banff town, Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and the Lake Louise Gondola. You decide where to stop and how long to stay, whether that’s hopping off at one place or visiting several along the route.

With guaranteed seating and no need to worry about driving or parking, it’s a flexible, low-stress way to explore Banff National Park during the busiest months.

Reserve your seat and leave the logistics to someone else

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.

🐻 Train Nearly Hits Grizzly at Morant's Curve. Video from Morant's Curve shows a young grizzly narrowly clearing a passing train. The bears haven't been officially identified, but it's Bear 142's known range - weeks after she lost a yearling cub to a train near the Eldon siding.

🚧 Eight Construction Projects Hit Banff This Summer. Banff National Park has at least eight active projects running simultaneously, including Norquay Road, Lake Minnewanka Road, and Mountain Avenue. More are starting in late June. If you're visiting after that, check the list before you go.

🏡 Canmore: Third Priciest Rec Market in Canada. The Re/Max 2026 Recreational Property Report puts Canmore's average home price at $966,000, trailing only Whistler and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Local realtor Kirsten Kyle notes every investor purchase is one fewer home for the nurse, ski instructor, or restaurant manager trying to put down roots.

🐻 Sunshine Meadows Off-Trail Use Banned. Parks Canada has restricted all off-trail travel in the Sunshine Meadows, Citadel Pass, and Healy Pass areas until October 15, to protect grizzly bear habitat. Hiking remains permitted on designated trails only. Straying off them carries a maximum fine of $25,000.

🚵 Canmore MTB Classic Returns June 10. The Canmore MTB Classic runs June 10-13 at the Nordic Centre, drawing riders from Brazil, Chile, Peru, Israel and Puerto Rico. It started in 2016 because a few parents felt Alberta's provincial circuit wasn't enough for their kids. The organiser is currently in Czechia, watching World Cup racing to see what it would take to bring one here.

🌧️ It's a wet weekend ahead for Banff - showers are sticking around from Friday through Sunday. Friday leads off with a chance of showers and a high of 13°C; Saturday stays cloudy with a 60% chance of showers and a high of 12°C; and Sunday keeps the pattern going with a 70% chance of showers and a high of 11°C. Full Forecast Here

🚪 What happened to Room 873 at Banff Springs? It was sealed off after disturbing reports - the door simply no longer exists, and the full story raises more questions than answers.

🐻 See Boo at Kicking Horse Grizzly Refuge - If you're going to spend ten hours on a day trip, this one earns it. The Kicking Horse Grizzly Refuge guarantees a grizzly sighting in a 20-acre mountain enclosure, and the route out takes in the Spiral Tunnels, Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls, and the Golden Skybridge.

🚢 Maligne Lake Cruise & Wildlife - Six hours into the Maligne Valley covering Medicine Lake, a 90-minute cruise to Spirit Island, and wildlife-spotting along a road that regularly turns up elk, moose, and bears. Worth noting: the Maligne Lake cruise still runs despite the 2024 wildfire changing the landscape significantly. Bring warm layers - it's cold on the water.

⛏️ Canmore History Tour - A 1.5-hour walking tour that covers what Canmore actually was before the boutiques arrived - a coal-mining town that kept Western Canada running until the mines closed in 1979. The Cowboys and Coal Miners walk is flat, accessible, and about as far from generic sightseeing as you'll get in the valley.

💳 Is the annual Discovery Pass worth buying for a Rockies trip? Usually yes if you are visiting for several days or multiple national parks - the full breakdown helps you decide.

⏱️ How long does the Grassi Lakes hike take? Most people complete the round trip in one to two hours, though it's worth budgeting extra time to enjoy the lakes at the top.

🐾 How likely is it that I'll see a cougar while hiking in Banff? Cougar sightings are genuinely rare - most hikers never see one despite spending weeks in the Rockies. They're solitary and highly elusive, but knowing what to do in cougar country is still worthwhile.

Most accommodation in Banff has arrived fairly recently and charges accordingly for the privilege. These three have been here since the town was finding its feet, which gives them a different kind of weight - and in some cases, a noticeably different kind of price tag.

🏨 King Edward Hotel - Built in 1904, it's the second oldest hotel in Banff, sits right on Banff Avenue, and has just 21 rooms - which means it operates more like a quiet town-centre base than a resort. No frills, no pretending to be something it isn't. If you want central and unfussy, this is the one. Read The Reviews And Book

🏰 Mount Royal Hotel - Originally opened in 1908 as the Banff Hotel, it's survived two fires and a complete rebuild, which says something about how much Banff values having it around. The rooftop hot tubs and lobby museum are the details most people don't expect - one gives you mountain views without leaving the building, the other explains exactly why the town looks the way it does. Read The Reviews And Book

👑 Fairmont Banff Springs - First opened in 1888 as a Canadian Pacific Railway hotel, designated a National Historic Site in 1988, and still the building that makes first-time visitors stop walking and stare. The location is a short taxi ride from town, but with twelve restaurants on-site and a spa, most guests find they don't need to leave very often anyway. Read The Reviews And Book

Yesterday’s Question: Which hiking area near Moraine Lake is shown in this photo, famous for golden larch trees in autumn?

✅Answer: 3) Larch Valley - 52% Correct

Larch Valley is one of the best places in the area to see golden larches in autumn. Find out more in our Larch Season in Banff Guide.

If you’re travelling with family or a group, having space to spread out can make a big difference. Blackstone Mountain Lodge in Canmore offers one, two, and three-bedroom suites with full kitchens. It works well if you want easy access to the park while staying somewhere that feels more like a home than a hotel.

Book now and enjoy the space of a mountain suite.

📅 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

All Day | Lake Louise Summer Gondola Opens | Lake Louise Ski Resort

09:00 | Golf Tournament | Stewart Creek Golf Club | Canmore

15:00 | Live Music Afternoon | Three Bears | Banff

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

17:00 | Monthly Full Moon Swap | Public Library | Canmore

19:30 | Art of Piano | The Banff Centre | Banff

19:30 | Balkan Greek Dinner Show | Balkan Restaurant | Banff

20:00 | Live Music: Kate Stevens Trio | The Banff Centre | Banff

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

21:00 | Andy Loops: Live | Tavern 1883 | Canmore

22:00 | LifzGood Acoustic: Live | Rose & Crown Canmore | Canmore

22:00 | Breaking the Fall | The Drake | Canmore

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