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

If you've been planning to crawl the Bow Valley Parkway looking for bears, the rules just changed. Parks Canada has brought in a 1.5km no-stopping zone between Baker Creek Chalets and Protection Mountain Campground for June mating season, when male bears range further and behave less predictably. You can still drive it. You just can't park and gawk where the bears are most active.

Further west, Highway 93S through Kootenay has three construction projects running at once from June 1, including bridge work at Sinclair Canyon. Peak delays could hit 45 minutes on a road with no detour, so build in the time before you go.

If you're heading north instead, the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge has finished a $100 million renovation - 330 rooms redesigned, three new dining venues, and a restored Stanley Thompson golf course. Worth a look if Jasper is on your list this year.

And for something that asks nothing of you but an hour, there's the guided horseback ride along the Bow River, past the Cave and Basin where the parks system began. No experience needed.

Before we get into today's news, an embarrassing correction. Yesterday we announced our new one-to-one Banff and Canadian Rockies trip consultation service... and then managed to break the links to it. Not our finest moment.

The good news is the links now work (we hope🤞). Thanks to Gary for letting us know there was a problem. If you'd like personalised advice to help plan your Banff and Canadian Rockies trip, you can find all the details here.

👉 Follow us on YouTube | Facebook | Instagram for more updates!
👉 Find out what is happening this week and beyond on our Events Page.
👉 Sign Up Here to receive "What's On Banff" five days a week - it's free!

For many visitors, seeing Moraine Lake means juggling shuttle bookings and tight time windows. Staying at Moraine Lake Lodge removes that altogether. Guests are able to drive directly to the lake, which makes arrival simpler and gives you far more flexibility during your stay.

But the biggest benefit comes at the end of the day. Once the daytime crowds thin out and the last shuttles leave, the area regains a sense of space and quiet. Being on site gives you a rare chance to enjoy Moraine Lake without the chaos of the crowds.

Book now for a calmer visit to Moraine Lake

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.

💸 Record Season, Smaller Paycheque. Bow Valley winter job postings averaged $21.72 an hour this year, down from $24.44, during the park's busiest winter on record. Renting a single room in Banff now runs $1,546 a month.

🐻 No Stopping for Bear Jams. Parks Canada has introduced a 1.5km no-stopping zone on the Bow Valley Parkway between Baker Creek Chalets and Protection Mountain Campground. June mating season means male bears are ranging further and behaving less predictably than usual.

🏨 Jasper Park Lodge's $100 Million Refresh. The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge has completed a major renovation with 330 of 397 rooms redesigned, three rebranded dining venues, and new pickleball courts. The Stanley Thompson golf course was restored rather than replaced. Thinking of visiting? Check it out.

🚆 Alberta Plans Calgary-Banff Rail Link. Alberta's new Passenger Rail Master Plan includes high-speed service to Banff at over 160 km/h, with the province committing $15 million to the next planning phase. The timeline is 30 years.

🚧 Three Projects, One Highway. Highway 93S through Kootenay National Park hosts three simultaneous construction jobs from June 1, including bridge work at Sinclair Canyon and a culvert repair at km 27.5. Peak delays could hit 45 minutes on a road with no detour.

🌧️ The weekend starts unsettled - before the mountains remember it's June. Showers and a thunderstorm risk on Saturday give way to a sunny Sunday (13°C) and a mix of sun and cloud on Monday (14°C). Saturday tops out at 12°C with a 60% chance of afternoon showers, so maybe hold off on that big hike. Full Forecast Here

🐻 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.

🚌 Hop On Hop Off - The most straightforward way to hit Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake in a single day without dealing with parking restrictions or shuttle queues. The Banff Hop-On Hop-Off bus runs on yellow school buses with a guide on board. Take the 07:45 departure if you want to do all stops comfortably.

🌊 Kicking Horse Rafting - Twelve kilometres of Class 2-4 rapids through the Middle Canyon near Golden, finishing with the "Portage Shotgun" - a sustained Class 4 stretch that lives up to its name. Book the Kicking Horse and just bring a swimsuit and towel; all technical gear is provided.

🐴 Horse Ride (1 Hr) - A one-hour ride along the Bow River from the Banff Trail Riders stables, passing the Cave and Basin - the spot where Canada's national parks system technically began. Relaxed pace, suitable for beginners, and a decent introduction to the Banff backcountry on horseback.

🍂 When is larch season in Banff? The larches typically turn golden for a short window in autumn, making it one of the most popular times to visit - timing your trip carefully is essential.

👀 Can visitors actually see The Boss? Sightings happen, mostly from roadsides like the Bow Valley Parkway - but treating any encounter with caution and distance is always the right approach.

🅿️ Is parking free in Banff? Free parking exists but fills fast - the Train Station lot has 500 free stalls and is just an 8-minute walk to downtown.

The most famous lakes in the Rockies now require shuttles, reservations, and a fair amount of patience. These three hotels let you skip all of that.

🏰 Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise - The Chateau sits directly on the lakeshore, which means guests are there when the first light hits the water - well before the shuttle queues form in the valley below. It costs accordingly, but you're paying partly for the timing. Read The Reviews And Book

⛺ Moraine Lake Lodge - Moraine Lake Road is permanently closed to personal vehicles, with registered lodge guests being the only exceptions. That's not a small thing - it means waking up at one of the most photographed lakes in Canada without booking a shuttle at 4 am. Read The Reviews And Book

🌿 Emerald Lake Lodge - Over in Yoho National Park, there's no cell service and no in-room television - which either sounds like a problem or exactly what you came for. The lodge has its own private parking lot, and the day-tripper crowds arrive considerably later than you'll have already been out on the lake trail. Read The Reviews And Book

Yesterday’s Question: Which of the following ghosts is not said to haunt the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel?

✅ Answer: D) The Ghostly Diner - 33% Correct

While the Banff Springs has its share of ghost stories, the Ghostly Diner isn’t one of them. Read about Banff’s spooky legends.

For a classic Banff experience, this guided horseback ride is hard to beat. You’ll ride beside the Bow River, through a beautiful part of the valley, and because it only takes an hour, it’s easy to fit into a Banff visit. Perfect for first-timers!

Reserve now to enjoy a scenic horseback ride in Banff

📅 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

08:00 | 5 Peaks Canmore #1 | Canmore Nordic Centre | Canmore

09:30 | Early Years Fair | Canmore Rec Centre | Canmore

10:00 | Monthly Full Moon Swap | Public Library | Canmore

12:00 | Ribbon Skirt Community Project | artsPlace Canmore | Canmore

13:00 | Sheepdog Brewing 7th Birthday Party | Sheepdog Brewing | Canmore

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

19:30 | Women of the Bow Valley | artsPlace Canmore | Canmore

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

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

21:00 | DJ Night: DJ Faust | The Banff Centre | Banff

21:00 | Marten Borch: Live | Tavern 1883 | Canmore

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

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

✉️ Not on our mailing list? 👉 Sign Up Here to receive “What’s On Banff” IT’S FREE!

💬 Want to get in touch? For feedback, local stories, or questions, reply to this email.

👉 Follow us on YouTube | Facebook | Instagram for more updates!

💡 This email contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.