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

The Boss Is Back

The Boss emerged from his den on March 27 looking more or less as expected - a large bear at the end of a long winter. He is back in the valley, the season has shifted, and the usual precautions apply from here on out.

The snow is not done yet. Environment Canada is calling for 15 to 25 cm in the park from Saturday night, with unsettled driving conditions on the major highways expected to last into Monday. Sunday has the look of a day better spent indoors.

Banff is expecting another record summer. The people who will be making the coffee and running the dining rooms are in shorter supply than usual, not because the work is unappealing, but because there is nowhere affordable to live. It is a problem the valley has been aware of for some time, and awareness has yet to solve it.

If a summer trip is in the planning stages, the hop-on, hop-off bus is worth looking at before the season fills up. It runs between Banff town, Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake - the sites where parking is most reliably a problem - and lets you decide how long to spend at each stop. It is the straightforward option for seeing the highlights without the early alarm.

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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Access and parking can be a real challenge in summer at places like Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake, with parking lots often filling before sunrise and Moraine Lake access restricted. This hop-on, hop-off bus is a practical way to get around those issues and still see the highlights.

You buy your ticket in advance and use the bus to travel between Banff town, Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and the Lake Louise Gondola. You decide where to stop and how long to stay, whether that’s hopping off at one place or visiting several along the route.

With guaranteed seating and no need to worry about driving or parking, it’s a flexible, low-stress way to explore Banff National Park during the busiest months.

Reserve your seat and leave the logistics to someone else

🌨️ Banff bundles up for a snowy start to the week before the sun finally makes a cameo. Sunday brings flurries and a chilly 0°C. Monday doubles down with snow and drops to -3°C. Tuesday finally cracks a smile with a mix of sun and cloud, with a more forgiving 2°C. Full forecast here.

🐻 The Boss Is Back. Bear 122 emerged from his den on March 27 - one of the first confirmed grizzly sightings of the season in the Bow Valley. He looked about how you'd expect after months underground. Check the video.

🌨️ 20 cm Forecast for the Weekend. Environment Canada has issued a Special Weather Statement for Banff National Park, with 15 to 25 cm expected Saturday night through Sunday and poor travel on Highway 1 and Highway 2 lasting into Monday. Sunday may be a coffee shop day.

🏨 Banff's Busiest Summer, Fewest Staff. Hospitality businesses in Banff and Canmore are heading into peak season dangerously short-staffed, with Grizzly Paw Brewing needing 35 hires by June 1. The root cause is housing. Ninety new units are planned.

🚧 Lynx and Caribou Closes Monday. The intersection of Lynx and Caribou streets shuts from March 30 to June 30 while crews replace a failing water main beneath it. Use Banff Ave instead.

💧 Sunwapta Falls Closed This Weekend. Sunwapta Falls Road, parking, and trails close March 30 to April 2 for hazardous tree removal. Athabasca and Tangle Falls remain open nearby. Reopens April 3 - with some tidying still underway.

🌌 Good Night for Stargazing in Jasper. Earth Hour runs from 8:30 to 9:30 pm tonight - and Jasper National Park is a certified Dark Sky Preserve. Pyramid Island and Jasper Lake are both worth a look.

🛣️ Wabasso Road Opens Early. The full length of 93A is now open to vehicles and cyclists ahead of schedule, giving Marmot Basin two access points again. A single-lane alternating section remains at Mile 5 Hill due to mud and rock debris.

🏨 Stay lakeside at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. This iconic hotel offers direct access to the shore, letting you beat the crowds for early morning views and evening peace. Explore trails like Lake Agnes right from your door or use it as a base for Moraine Lake. Plan your stay here.

🎟️ Do I need to book anything in advance for a July trip to Banff? Yes - popular sites and activities fill up weeks ahead in peak season. Sorting key bookings early saves a lot of frustration once you arrive.

🐾 Why has Split Lip been linked to killing other bears' cubs? It is a natural behaviour called sexually selected infanticide, common among dominant male grizzlies - but the incidents involving Split Lip are more dramatic than most, and well worth reading in full. See the full guide

🐻 Can you see wildlife from a gondola in Banff? Yes - some gondola routes pass directly over active wildlife corridors, making them a genuine way to spot animals without leaving the gondola.

🧊 Columbia Icefield & Skywalk - Ride a six-wheeled Ice Explorer onto the Athabasca Glacier, then walk a glass-bottomed skywalk suspended 280 metres above the valley. Big-scale stuff, and genuinely unlike anything else in the Rockies.

🚵 E-Bike & Hike to Johnston Canyon - A 26km e-bike ride along the Bow Valley Parkway followed by a hike into Johnston Canyon's limestone gorge. Good mix of cycling and walking, and the Lower Falls are well worth the effort.

👻 Banff Ghost Walk - A lantern-lit evening stroll through Banff's darker history - unsolved crimes, railway-era grit, and the Fairmont's more permanent residents. A change of pace from the usual mountain sightseeing.

Banff gets the postcards, but it also gets the parking chaos, the $30 breakfast, and the feeling that you're sharing every pavement with a tour group. These three Canmore properties put you 20 minutes from the park gate with quieter streets, more space, and - in most cases - a kitchen.

🍺 Pocaterra Inn & Waterslide - Don't let the waterslide put you off; this family-friendly inn on Bow Valley Trail is genuinely good value for the area, with an indoor pool, hot tub, and rooms that won't require a spreadsheet to afford. Walking distance to several good restaurants, and easy access to the Trans-Canada for early starts. Read The Reviews And Book

🦌 The Malcolm Hotel - Canmore's most polished option, sitting in the Spring Creek neighbourhood with rooftop hot tubs, a proper restaurant, and mountain views from most rooms. It's priced accordingly, but for the quality, you'd be paying considerably more inside the park. Read The Reviews And Book

🌲 Blackstone Mountain Lodge - All-suite accommodation with full kitchens, in-suite laundry, and a heated outdoor pool, which makes it particularly useful if you're staying more than a couple of nights and don't want to eat every meal out. Popular with families for good reason. Read The Reviews And Book

Yesterday’s Question: Which of the following waterfalls is located within walking distance of downtown Banff?

✅Answer: 3) Bow Falls - 74% Correct

Bow Falls is an easy walk from Banff - see our guide to the Bow Falls Trail for how to get there.

Our favourite thing about this place is its setting right beside the mighty Athabasca River. It’s also a great choice for families, with lots of open space on the grounds. 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 in Jasper

📅 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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