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

It started with David Thompson in 1811, scribbling notes about oversized footprints near Jasper and moving on. It continued in 1977, when the RCMP made the trip to Manyberries to look at 18-inch tracks in fresh snow. Wildlife biologists later weighed in with a more conventional theory. Alberta filed it and said nothing further. The province has, it turns out, been quietly maintaining a Sasquatch record for the better part of two centuries.

On a more immediately practical note, the Canada Strong Pass is raising concerns for summer 2026 - free entry to national parks across the country. Banff attracted 4.2 million visitors last year, and in a survey conducted the year before, 62% said the volume of people had got in the way of actually enjoying themselves. The fee waiver is real. The infrastructure is what it is.

Banff Springs is running a food tour through the hotel this season - a reasonable excuse to see parts of a building that most people only ever photograph from the outside.

And with spring approaching, the annual Boss poll is live. Over the past decade, emergence dates have ranged from late February to the first week of April - last year it was 7 April, which caught most people out. Your prediction is welcome.

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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Our favourite thing about this place is its setting right beside the mighty Athabasca River. Adirondack chairs line the riverbank, so you can sit with a coffee and watch the powerful current rush past while taking in the surrounding mountains.

The chalets are also a great choice for families. The grounds have lots of open space, with grassy areas and picnic tables, so there’s plenty of room for kids to run around and play. After a day exploring Jasper National Park, you can relax by the river while the kids burn off the last of their energy.

Reserve now to stay beside the Athabasca River

🏔️ Free park entry returns, and Banff is bracing for it. The Canada Strong Pass - which waives national park entry fees - is confirmed for summer 2026. Banff already drew 4.2 million visitors last year. In a 2024 survey, 62% said overcrowding stopped them from enjoying the visit they'd travelled thousands of kilometres for.

🦶 Alberta has its own Sasquatch file, apparently. David Thompson reported giant human-like footprints near Jasper in 1811. In 1977, the RCMP investigated 18-inch tracks in fresh snow at Manyberries. Wildlife experts blame bears. The bears have not commented.

⛺ Alberta is spending $275 million on parks over three years. Budget 2026 funding covers new campsites, trail upgrades, and improved amenities across the province - including 900 new campsites by 2033 and expanded trails in the Canmore area. If passed.

🌙 Last chance for night skiing at Norquay this Friday and Saturday. The Canadian Rockies' only floodlit runs close out their season on 14 March - Fridays and Saturdays, 5-9 pm on the Cascade run. Adult tickets are $54 plus GST.

🌨️ Snow eases Thursday before flurries return Friday and Saturday. Periods of snow clear by Thursday afternoon, with highs of -1°C. Friday brings a 60% chance of flurries, -4°C. Saturday sees further snow, -8°C. Full forecast here.

💧 Field's water is back on, but don't drink it yet. A broken main drained the Yoho townsite's reservoir on Wednesday morning. Service has been restored to most properties, but the boil water advisory remains in effect until tests confirm otherwise.

🌲 Sundance-Highline Horse Trail is closed until mid-May. The section from the Sundance Trail junction to the Healy Creek junction is shut for forest thinning, debris burning, and log hauling. Closure runs from 9 March to 15 May. Fines up to $25,000.

🪚 Some Spray Lower Springs trails reopen amid ongoing work. Sulphur Mountain (west side), Sundance Trail, and the Marsh Loop are now accessible. Sundance Canyon Loop stays closed for bridge construction. Full closure details here.

🐴 Enjoy a classic 1-hour Bow River horseback ride. This guided tour follows the river through the beautiful valley near Cave and Basin with mountain views all around. It's perfect for first-time riders and easy to fit into any visit. Book this memorable experience.

🚙 Calgary to Banff SUV Tour - A full day through the Rockies in a luxury 6-seater, taking in Banff, Lake Louise, and Canmore with a knowledgeable driver doing all the hard work. Small groups, scenic stops, no stress.

🚡 Banff Gondola - Ride up Sulphur Mountain in a glass-sided cabin and soak up views across Banff, the Bow Valley, and six mountain ranges. Walk the summit boardwalk at your own pace. Classic Banff, zero effort.

🛶 Lake Louise Guided Canoe & Moraine Lake Tour - Two of the Rockies' most iconic lakes in one day, with transport from Banff or Canmore, a guided canoe on Lake Louise, and free time to explore Moraine Lake.

Banff in peak season is not a place that rewards spontaneity - the car parks are a nightmare, the queues are real, and "just popping out for a wander" can eat an hour you did not plan to lose. These three hotels, all carrying the kind of genuine age that predates your grandparents, put you exactly where you need to be before the day even starts.

🏯 Fairmont Banff Springs - Dating to 1888 in spirit and 1928 in stone, this is the one everyone recognises from the postcards. What the brochures won't tell you is that staying here means skipping the daily scramble up to the hotel for dinner reservations - you're already there, in a dressing gown, with a full view of the Bow Valley and nowhere particular to be. Read The Reviews | Book Here

🪟 King Edward Hotel - Open since 1904 and sitting directly on Banff Avenue, the King Ed offers the strongest "old Banff" atmosphere at a price that won't require a brief family meeting. It's the kind of place that feels worn-in rather than decrepit - which, in a town increasingly full of polished newbuilds, is actually rather refreshing. Read The Reviews | Book Here

🎩 Mount Royal Hotel - A Banff landmark since 1908 and planted firmly in the middle of town, the Mount Royal puts everything within walking distance. No shuttle, no car, no negotiating the one-way system at 10 pm after dinner. For a historic stay that's as practical as it is atmospheric, this one makes a strong case for itself. Read The Reviews | Book Here

🌄What should first-time visitors know about July in the Canadian Rockies? The conditions are stunning, but the area rewards those who plan ahead - this guide covers the essentials.

🐻Who is Split Lip? Bear 136 is a 500-600 lb grizzly roaming Banff - scarred, dominant, and one of the park's most watched wildlife stories.

🏔️Which Banff gondola is best for first-time visitors? The Banff Gondola on Sulphur Mountain is the classic choice - eight minutes up, six mountain ranges on view, and dining at the summit. But there are other options.

Spring is coming - and that means it's time for one of our favourite annual
traditions: predicting when the Boss will emerge from hibernation!

Don’t know who The Boss is? Find out here.

To help you make your call, here's a look at the first recorded wake-up dates
over the past decade:

🗓️ 2016 – March 5
🗓️ 2017 – March 22
🗓️ 2018 – March 24
🗓️ 2019 – March 19
🗓️ 2020 – February 28
🗓️ 2021 – March 29
🗓️ 2022 – March 14
🗓️ 2023 – March 23
🗓️ 2024 – March 18
🗓️ 2025 – April 7

The 10-year average lands around March 18, but last year's April appearance
showed the Boss doesn't always play by the rules! Will 2026 be an early spring
surprise, or another late exit from the den?

This small-group experience takes you behind the scenes of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel as you visit several dining areas inside the historic building. You’ll enjoy a series of tastings made with locally sourced Alberta ingredients, meet members of the culinary team, and hear stories about the hotel’s history as you explore its grand hallways.

Reserve now to enjoy a guided food experience inside the Banff Springs

📅 Today’s Events are listed below. To view future events, visit our website.

BANFF EVENTS | CANMORE EVENTS | JASPER EVENTS | BANFF HAPPY HOURS | CANMORE HAPPY HOURS |

📅 Submit Here (8 days before event date)
Complete starred sections. For a FREE LISTING, check the box on the promotions page.

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