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

A family of lynx crossed an active ski run at Lake Louise this week, apparently unbothered by the snowboarders, the noise, or the general concept of a ski resort. A British visitor on a birthday trip caught them on video. It is the second sighting of the season, which either means the cats are getting more comfortable around people or we are simply getting better at pointing cameras at them. Probably both.

Elsewhere, avalanche danger across Banff National Park hit a 5 - Extreme at all elevations this week, with Parks Canada describing conditions as "extraordinarily dangerous." Highways 93 North and South are closed through Saturday. The scale only goes to five, which is a useful thing to know before making weekend plans.

We've also got Moraine Lake Lodge this week, for those looking for easy access to the lake. Guests can drive directly to the water, which removes the shuttle juggling that most visitors to Moraine Lake have to contend with.

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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This is a great way to experience a little of Banff’s ranching history while enjoying a BBQ steak lunch in the mountains. Instead of the usual sightseeing tour, you’ll travel by horse-drawn wagon along trails beside the Bow River and beneath Sulphur Mountain, with wide views of the surrounding mountains.

About halfway through the ride, the wagon stops at a backcountry cookout spot where your steak is cooked to order and served with roasted potatoes, cowboy baked beans, coleslaw, buns, and dessert.

Afterwards, you can relax by the fire, try a little lassoing, or play horseshoes before settling back in for the scenic ride through forest and meadow on the way back to the stables.

Reserve now to enjoy a wagon ride and cowboy cookout

🌧️ Wet start to the weekend, then flurries by Saturday. Thursday brings showers and gusts to 40 km/h, with snow on the Icefields Parkway. Rain continues Friday, high 7°C. Saturday turns colder with a 60% chance of flurries and a high of just 1°C. Full forecast here.

🏔️ Avalanche danger hits maximum rating across Banff National Park. Parks Canada has rated conditions a 5 - Extreme at all elevations, describing terrain as "extraordinarily dangerous." Highways 93 North and South are closed through Saturday. The scale only goes to five.

🐾 A family of lynx strolled across the slopes at Lake Louise. A British snowboarder on a birthday trip filmed the cats crossing an active ski trail, apparently unbothered. The resort calls it a reminder that the wild still rules here. It does seem to. See the video.

🏔️ Kananaskis has a new chief administrative officer with a full inbox. Former Cochrane mayor Jeff Genung took the role in January, drawn by the province's All-Season Resorts Act. Two resort proposals - Fortress Mountain and Nakiska - sit within KID's boundaries. Fortress alone could eventually add 10,000 residents to a district that currently has 156.

🎿 Spring events are running across all three Banff ski resorts through May. Highlights include the Slush Cup at Sunshine on May 18, Mt. Slushmore Pond Skim at Lake Louise on April 25, and Norquay's Day of Nostalgia on March 28, marking 100 years of skiing on the hill. See the full schedule.

🐻 Canmore is paying residents to remove fruit trees from their properties. Accessing fruit trees is the leading reason bears in the Bow Valley are relocated or killed. The Town's Fruit Tree Removal Incentive is open again this year, with replacement tree funding also available.

🚠 Silvertip gondola hits a provincial peak. The proposed sightseeing lift for Canmore is entering a formal review stage. It involves shifting park boundaries and land-use policy, so don't expect to be hovering over Mount Lady Macdonald by Tuesday.

🧘 Is Banff or Canmore better for avoiding crowds? Canmore has a laid-back local feel with fewer tourists than Banff - but crowd levels aren't the only reason to choose one over the other. See the full comparison

🍕Can I experience Banff's food scene without booking a fancy restaurant? Yes - walking food tours, cowboy cookouts, and brewery visits offer memorable meals at every budget, and there are more options than you might expect.

👮‍♂️Is Policeman's Creek Trail suitable for all fitness levels? Yes, it's a flat, easy 2km walk on gravel paths and boardwalks, perfect for families - and there's even more to plan around it.

🚁 Canmore 25-Minute Three Sisters Helicopter Tour - Fancy seeing the Rockies from above? This 25-minute flight from Canmore sweeps you over the iconic Three Sisters peaks, Spray Lake Valley and the Bow River - in small groups of five.

🚢 Lake Minnewanka Cruise - A gentle hour on Banff's largest lake, drifting towards Devil's Gap past granite peaks and shorelines roamed by bighorn sheep and eagles. The commentary alone - covering a submerged ghost town flooded in 1941 - is worth the trip.

🤠 Banff Horseback Ride with Cowboy Cookout - A wagon ride along the Bow River, past the Cave and Basin, ending at a backcountry cabin with steak on an open grill, lassoing lessons and views of the Rundle Range.

Finding a bed in Lake Louise often feels like a competitive sport where the prize is a very expensive car park space. These three properties allow you to skip the morning commute and actually enjoy the scenery before the tour buses descend.

🛶 Paradise Lodge & Bungalows - A collection of cabins for those who find the idea of a 500-room resort slightly claustrophobic. It offers a sensible, detached existence with enough peace to actually hear the trees, provided you remember to book your slot well before the season vanishes. Read The Reviews And Book

🏊 Lake Louise Inn - The pragmatic choice for families who need a swimming pool to exhaust the children and a kitchenette to avoid the eye-watering cost of three restaurant meals a day. Located in the village centre, it is far enough from the water to be affordable, but close enough to the pub to be strategic. Read The Reviews And Book

🌲 Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise - The only way to bypass the lakeside parking lottery without waking up at 4:00 am to sit in the damp. It is a sprawling, civilised beast of a hotel where the premium price buys you the right to wander the shoreline in your pyjamas while everyone else is fighting for a shuttle bus. Read The Reviews And Book

Yesterday’s Question: Which of these is a legal requirement when using any Banff National Park campgrounds?

✅Answer: 1) You must store all food and scented items in a hard-sided vehicle or designated locker - 76% Correct

Storing food and scented items properly is required to keep both visitors and wildlife safe. Read the key rules in our Banff National Park Rules Guide.

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.

Book now for a calmer visit to Moraine Lake

📅 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 |

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