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

Seventeen dollars and fifty cents. That is what Parks Canada will charge per vehicle, per day, to park at the Sulphur Mountain gondola and hot springs lots from 15 May this summer. The three-year pilot runs through to 12 October. For context, it is cheaper than Lake Louise - though whether that context helps is between you and your wallet.

Gary Bettman, meanwhile, has closed the door on an NHL outdoor game at Lake Louise. Federal land rules, no infrastructure, and nowhere to put the fans were among the reasons given. The idea of hockey on the ice at Lake Louise was always more poetry than proposal, and it will remain exactly that.

On a more optimistic note, artsPlace Canmore has a full outdoor film season lined up through March to May - nine films, snowboarding to fly fishing, one arts centre quietly getting on with it.

Further afield, the Wildlife Tour and Spirit Island Cruise offers a full day in Jasper's Maligne Valley, taking in Medicine Lake before a 90-minute cruise out to Spirit Island. One of the more efficient ways to see the park without having to plan any of it yourself.

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

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If you’re hoping to see wildlife and visit one of Jasper National Park’s most iconic views, this tour combines both in a single trip. The route follows the Maligne Valley, an area known for frequent wildlife sightings, and passes through some of the park’s most scenic landscapes.

The day includes a stop at Medicine Lake for a short walk along the shoreline before continuing to Maligne Lake. From there, you’ll take a 90-minute cruise to Spirit Island, one of the most recognisable views in the Canadian Rockies. With transport and timing handled for you, it’s an easy way to experience some of Jasper’s best-known highlights.

Book now and explore Jasper’s Maligne Valley with ease

🌤️ Flurry risk Thursday, then dry and mild into the weekend. Thu brings sun and cloud with a 30% flurry chance and a gusty SW wind; high 5 degrees C. Friday is clearer and calm, reaching 6 degrees C. Saturday warms to 10 degrees C before showers arrive overnight. Full forecast here.

🅿️ Paid parking is coming to Sulphur Mountain this summer. Parks Canada is charging $17.50 per vehicle per day at the gondola and hot springs lots, May 15 to Oct. 12, as part of a three-year pilot. Less than Lake Louise, for what it's worth.

Banff Parking: The Real Summit to Conquer

🏒 The NHL Commissioner has ruled out an outdoor game at Lake Louise. Gary Bettman cited federal land regulations, no infrastructure, and no fans as the main obstacles. Magnificent in theory, impossible in practice.

🎬 artsPlace Canmore has a full outdoor film season lined up. From snowboarding to fly fishing, the programme runs from March through May. Nine films, one community arts centre.

🥚 Table Food + Drink is doing 50% off eggs Benedict in March. Monday to Thursday, 7-10 am, at the Coast Canmore Hotel. Half-price hollandaise requires no further justification.

🏔️ Avalanche risk rises in March as warmer temperatures destabilise snowpack. Alberta Parks recommends checking conditions at avalanche.ca before heading out, and using the ATES trip-planning tool for Kananaskis Country.

🏔️ Skip the mountain logistics! Visit Moraine Lake and Lake Louise without the parking stress on this easy half-day tour from Banff. Enjoy 90 minutes at each iconic turquoise lake with all transportation handled for you. Book now for a relaxed lakes experience.

⛰️Where do I get that famous Three Sisters reflection shot? There's a small pond at the end of a short trail that mirrors the peaks on calm days. Find the exact spot locals love.

🌲How does September compare to summer in the Canadian Rockies? You get similar scenery and activities but with fewer people, lower temperatures, autumn colour, and a shift in wildlife behaviour that makes for a very different experience. See the full guide

🧸Are there grizzly bears in Banff National Park? Yes, and sightings are common in certain areas. Learn how to stay safe.

🌊 Banff Thermal Waters and Hidden Waterfalls - 3hr Walk - A lovely guided nature walk through Banff National Park, taking in geothermal hot springs and tucked-away waterfalls. Great for wildlife spotting and photography too.

🚣 Banff Afternoon Kananaskis River Whitewater Rafting Tour - Perfect for beginners and families, this 4-hour rafting adventure through the stunning Kananaskis takes you down gentle rapids with a guide, finishing with a snack at the river base. Fancy giving it a go?

🐻 Canmore Evening Wildlife Viewing Tour - A 3-hour guided tour into Banff National Park at sunset, keeping an eye out for elk, deer, and bears. Small groups, pick-up included, and brilliant for photography.

Banff is not, and has never pretended to be, cheap - and the Fairmont Banff Springs is a genuinely wonderful place to stay, should your budget stretch to it. These three hotels won't recreate that experience, but they will leave you with enough left over to actually enjoy the town you came all this way to see.

🛏️ The Dorothy Motel - A renovated boutique motel with contactless check-in, courtyard-facing rooms, local Rocky Mountain Soap products in the bathroom, and complimentary access to the rooftop hot pools at the Hotel Canoe across the street - which is, frankly, punching above its weight class for the price point. About a 20-minute walk from the centre, or a short hop on the free Roam Transit pass provided at check-in. Read The Reviews | Book Here

🏔️ Irwin's Mountain Inn - Right on Banff Avenue with free underground parking, a hot tub, sauna, and a discount at the attached El Toro Restaurant for guests - it's one of the better-located mid-range options in town, steps from the bus stop and a short walk to everything. The rooms are older but clean; you're paying for position, not polish. Read The Reviews | Book Here

🌲 The Rundlestone Lodge - Sits at the quieter end of Banff Avenue, which means a 15-minute walk into town - or a free bus pass, which they hand out at check-in, so that particular complaint evaporates fairly quickly. Free heated underground parking, an indoor pool, a hot tub, and the notable perk that elk occasionally wander the grounds. Affordable is relative in Banff, but this one consistently comes out near the top of that particular shortlist. Read The Reviews | Book Here

Yesterday’s Question: Statistically, which animal is considered the most dangerous to humans in Banff National Park?

✅Answer: 1) Elk - 53% Correct

While predators are often more feared, elk cause more injuries to visitors each year. Find out how to stay safe.

If you’re travelling with kids, it’s good to know there’s one place in Banff where they can simply be kids for a while. The waterpark at Douglas Fir Resort has the town’s only waterslides, along with indoor play areas where younger visitors can burn off some energy. Adults can relax in the hot tubs nearby.

Book now and enjoy Banff’s only waterslides

📅 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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