Hi Everyone! Here's What’s Happening This Week!
Three of Banff's most visited lakes are now closed to all watercraft. Moraine Lake, Bow Lake, and Lake Minnewanka have been placed off-limits following the spread of whirling disease through the park. Lake Louise remains open, though every waterbody in the park now sits in a zone with its own set of rules. It is worth checking before you load the canoe.
Elsewhere, the Icefields Parkway is closing for two days this week while Parks Canada carries out avalanche control work. If you have plans along the parkway, check the schedule before you head out.
And on Sundance Road, Banff Trail Riders has finally got the go-ahead to build a proper home. After six decades operating out of existing facilities - and one planning refusal along the way - the Development Appeal Board has approved a new consolidated building with a riding arena. If you have ever wondered what it is actually like to take a trail ride in Banff, now is the time to make your plans.
There is plenty happening this week. Dive into the event listings below, or check out the detailed events page on our website.
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For a classic Banff experience, this guided horseback ride is hard to beat. Over the course of an hour, you’ll ride beside the Bow River and through a beautiful part of the valley near Cave and Basin, with mountain views all around you.
It works well for first-time riders and anyone looking to add something memorable to their trip. We often recommend it to visiting friends and family, and because it only takes an hour, it’s easy to fit into a Banff visit.
🏔️ Fresh from the Rockies
Early Morning on the Bow River Trail, Banff
❄️ Heavy snow arrives Wednesday night - clear spell by Friday. Wednesday brings flurries and a high of -2°C, with 15+ cm of snow possible overnight. Thursday stays cloudy with a chance of flurries, reaching -1°C. Friday clears to a mix of sun and cloud before snow returns after dark. Full forecast here.
🛶 New paddling bans hit three Banff lakes after whirling disease spreads. Moraine Lake, Bow Lake, and Minnewanka are now closed to watercraft. Lake Louise stays open. Every waterbody in the park now sits in a zone with its own set of rules.
🐴 Six decades on Sundance Road, and Banff Trail Riders is finally getting a new building. The Development Appeal Board approved the redevelopment after an earlier refusal, consolidating the existing facilities into one structure with a riding arena and concession. Details here.
🏔️ Icefields Parkway closing for avalanche control this week. Parks Canada will shut the road for two days for visitor safety.
🔥 Alberta's mountain towns are preparing hard for another wildfire season. Canmore and Hinton are both building firebreaks, with Jasper's 2024 disaster - a third of the town destroyed, 25,000 evacuated - firmly in mind. How the region is getting ready.
🧴 Rocky Mountain Soap Company is now just Rocky. The Canmore-based natural skincare brand marked its 25th anniversary with a rebrand, sustainable packaging, and a new visual identity. Three buildings and 300 employees later, it's still made in the same small town.
🚗 Norquay's Cool 2 Carpool day is on today, March 11. Carpool to the hill and split a single $139 lift ticket between everyone in the car. Take the free shuttle from Banff instead and pay just $30. Full details and how it works.
⭐ Most Popular Last Issue
🏨 Spacious mountain living at Blackstone Mountain Lodge. These one, two, and three-bedroom suites in Canmore offer full kitchens and extra room for families or groups to spread out. Enjoy a relaxed pace just minutes from Banff National Park with all the comforts of home. Find out more here.
📝Plan Your Trip
🚣Activities You Might Enjoy
🥾 Premium Guided Hiking Tour - Explore the Canadian Rockies on a private full-day hike with a certified local guide. Choose from trails like Bow Glacier Falls or Stanley Glacier, with hotel pickup included and expert insight on the area's geology and wildlife along the way.
🌌 Banff Night Sky Tour - A small-group evening out under the Rockies' dark skies, with guided stargazing, constellation spotting, and the chance of catching the Northern Lights. Great for photographers, too.
🏰 Banff Castle Food Experience - A three-hour guided tasting tour inside the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs, with five food and drink pairings, a chef demonstration, and stories about the hotel's history woven in throughout. A proper treat.
🛌 Where to Sleep in Jasper: The Short List
Jasper is a smaller, quieter alternative to Banff that has, ironically, become considerably busier now that everyone knows it's a smaller, quieter alternative to Banff. These three hotels give you a great base from which to actually enjoy it.
🏛️ Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - Yes, it's 7 km from town, but when you have 700 acres of heritage log cabins, eight on-site restaurants, and elk wandering past at breakfast, leaving the property starts to feel optional anyway. The shuttle runs regularly into town, and the renovation underway until June 2026 is actively improving the place - just check which areas are affected when booking. Worth every penny for a special occasion. Read The Reviews | Book Here
🏡 Jasper Inn & Suites - A smart family pick: two-bedroom kitchen loft suites mean you can self-cater when the mood takes you, the indoor pool and hot tub keep everyone happy after a long day on the trails, and free parking is a genuine bonus in a town where logistics add up. Rooms are spacious, staff are consistently well-reviewed, and the town is a fifteen-minute walk. Read The Reviews | Book Here
🔴 The Crimson Jasper - One block from Jasper's restaurants and shops, with the Marmot Basin ski shuttle departing directly outside - this is one of the most practically positioned hotels in town. Studio suites come with kitchenettes for longer stays, and the indoor pool rounds things out nicely. Pro tip: Request a room facing away from the railway tracks for the quietest night's sleep. Read The Reviews | Book Here
🏕️ Quiz
How did railway workers first enter the Cave & Basin Hot Springs cave in 1883?
Yesterday’s Question: Which famous scenic highway was this photo taken from?
✅Answer: 2) Icefields Parkway - 62% Correct
If you like the idea of a luxury mountain hotel but don’t love Banff prices, The Malcolm Hotel in Canmore is well worth considering. One of the highlights is the outdoor heated pool and hot tubs overlooking the Three Sisters. After a day hiking, sightseeing, or skiing in the Bow Valley, it’s a great place to relax and take in the views.
🎸Events, Activities & Live Music
📅 Today’s Events are listed below. To view future events, visit our website.
Wednesday, March 11
15:00 | Live Music Afternoon | Three Bears | Banff
15:00 | Dolly: Here She Comes Again | Carter-Ryan Theatre | Canmore
15:30 | Park Distillery Tour | Park Distillery | Banff
18:00 | Fat Bike Ride | Canmore Brewing Company | Canmore
19:00 | Trivia with TENAX | Banff Legion | Banff
19:00 | Open Mic Night | The Local | Canmore
19:30 | Dolly: Here She Comes Again | Carter-Ryan Theatre | Canmore
20:30 | Trivia Night | Tavern 1883 | Canmore
21:00 | Open Mic/Jam Night | Rose & Crown | Canmore
22:00 | Tommy's Open Mic | Tommy's Pub | Banff
22:00 | DJ Set with Tenax | Rose & Crown | Banff
22:00 | DJ Bunny Hops | High Rollers | Banff
📅 Got An Event To Share?
📅 Submit Here (8 days before event date)
Complete starred sections. For a FREE LISTING, check the box on the promotions page.
👋 That’s All For Now 🎬
Another week of mountain magic awaits!
We're so glad you're here for the ride.
Keep exploring and sharing, and we'll see you in the next issue with another full lineup of Banff happenings.
Jill & Kevin | Editor | What’s On Banff
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