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

The Icefields Parkway is open again. Parks Canada crews spent days running loaders, dozers, excavators, and snowploughs around the clock to clear 12 metres of debris across a 250-metre stretch of highway, 18.5 km north of Lake Louise. Access remains limited, but the road is moving. That is not a small thing.

Norquay turns 100 this Saturday. The centennial programme is a full day, and Ken Read - the first non-European to win a World Cup Downhill - is among the guides. A mountain that has been running for a century probably deserves an hour of your time.

Royal LePage is forecasting a 2.5 per cent rise in Alberta recreational property values this year. The median near Banff was already at $860,000 before the "Buy Canadian" movement started pulling prospective US buyers back across the border. The numbers were heading this way regardless; that just adds pressure.

For a day covering Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon, Emerald Lake, and Yoho's Natural Bridge, there is a guided tour that handles all transport and shuttle logistics. With Moraine Lake closed to private vehicles, it is less of a convenience and more of a necessity.

There is plenty happening this week. Dive into the event listings below, or check out the detailed events page on our website.

👉 Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for more updates!

👉 Sign Up Here to receive “What’s On Banff” five days a week - it’s free!

Visiting the most famous lakes in the Rockies involves significant logistical planning, particularly with the restricted access to Moraine Lake and limited parking at Lake Louise. This tour simplifies the process by handling all transportation and shuttle coordination for you.

You can visit both iconic lakes as well as Johnston Canyon, Emerald Lake, and the Natural Bridge in Yoho National Park. The route is planned to make the most of the day, with time to walk lakeshore trails, take photos, and enjoy a relaxed lunch stop in Lake Louise Village.

If you’re short on time and prefer not to deal with the hassle of coordinating multiple locations, this could be a great option.

Reserve your seat and leave the planning to someone else

🌤️ Banff gets a little taste of spring this weekend, before Sunday remembers it's still March. Friday brings a mix of sun and cloud at +1°C. Saturday is the star of the show with full sunshine and +5°C. Sunday closes things out with periods of snow and a high of 0°C. Full forecast here.

🚧 Hector Slide Clears, Icefields Parkway Reopens. Parks Canada crews ran loaders, dozers, excavators, and snowploughs around the clock to shift 12 metres of debris across a 250-metre stretch of the Icefields Parkway, 18.5 km north of Lake Louise. Access is still limited.

🎿 Norquay Turns 100 This Saturday. Mt. Norquay marks its centennial on March 28 with guided mountain tours, live music, the 58th Bruno Engler race, and a full day of free tastings and fireside chats. One of the tour guides is Ken Read, first non-European to win a World Cup Downhill.

🏕️ Canada Day Campsites Open Saturday. Alberta Parks opens bookings for the June 26 long weekend on March 28 at 9:00 a.m. Set up your Shop.AlbertaParks.ca account beforehand - the site doesn't get more forgiving under pressure.

🐣 Easter Eggs Hidden on Strawberry Run. Sunshine Village is hiding five eggs down the Strawberry run on Easter Sunday, April 5, with a non-denominational service at 11 AM beforehand. Children find the eggs on skis, which is not how most egg hunts work.

🏡 Banff-Area Property Prices Heading Up. Royal LePage predicts Alberta recreational property values will rise 2.5 per cent this year, with demand near Banff National Park remaining steady. Last year's median price was $860,000 - before the "Buy Canadian" movement started pushing US property sellers back home.

🏔️ Icefields Parkway Closed Indefinitely. A size 4 avalanche on Mount Hector buried 250 metres of highway under 12 metres of snow on 21 March - the southern section from Lake Louise remains closed with no reopening date set. Twelve metres is roughly the height of a four-storey building. Check out the video.

If you are looking for something beyond a standard hotel room, Banff's surrounding wilderness offers some truly unconventional options. From backcountry lodges that require a hike to sleeping beside a glacier, these stays are for those who want their accommodation to be the highlight of the trip.

🪵 Storm Mountain Lodge - A cluster of 1920s log cabins where the wood-burning stove does the job the television would have done. Rustic without being uncomfortable, and remote without requiring a search-and-rescue team. Read The Reviews And Book

🧊 Glacier View Lodge - Sitting on the edge of the Columbia Icefield, this is one of the few places in the world where you can fall asleep next to a glacier and wake up to find it still there. An exclusive evening glacier tour runs once the day-trippers have gone home. Read The Reviews And Book

🎿 Skoki Lodge - Getting here requires an 11km hike or ski through the backcountry, which is precisely the point - no roads means no noise, no Wi-Fi, and no reason to be anywhere other than exactly where you are. Candlelit dinners included. Read The Reviews And Book

🚌 What is Roam Transit in Banff? It is the public bus network serving Banff National Park, connecting towns, trailheads, and major attractions across the Bow Valley.

🌅 When are cougars most active in Banff National Park? They are most active at dawn and dusk, so stay extra alert during early morning and evening hikes. See the full guide

✈️ Can foreigners move to Banff? Yes, but you need legal status in Canada first - typically a work permit or permanent residency. Moving to Banff from abroad usually starts with a job offer.

🚡 Banff Gondola - Sulphur Mountain - Eight minutes to 2,281 metres, then a boardwalk stroll with views across six mountain ranges. Bighorn sheep at the top are a regular bonus. A reliable way to get above the valley without the four-hour climb.

🌊 Kananaskis River Whitewater Rafting - Class II and III rapids through the limestone canyon of the Kananaskis, about 45 minutes from Banff. Wetsuits and kit all provided - just turn up ready to get wet. Suitable from age five.

🛶 Lake Louise Canoe & Moraine Lake Tour - A guided six-hour run taking in both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, with a one-hour paddle included. Skips the queues and the parking nightmare - and Moraine Lake is closed to private vehicles anyway.

Yesterday’s Question: Which animal calves are shown in this photo, often seen in the mountain parks?

✅Answer: 3) Elk - 47% Correct

If you spot elk calves like these, it’s important to keep a safe distance - here’s what you need to know about staying safe around elk.

Staying here puts you right at the start of the Johnston Canyon trail, so you can head into the canyon before the crowds arrive, or enjoy it later once the tour buses have gone. It also avoids the challenge of finding parking, which often fills early during busy periods.

Reserve now to stay right beside the Johnston Canyon trailhead.

📅 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.

✉️ If you’re not already on our mailing list, you can sign up here to receive “What’s On Banff” five days a week - it’s free! 👉 Sign Up Here

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

👉 Follow us on Facebook or Instagram for more updates

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