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

Elk calving season is underway across Banff National Park, and the park is responding accordingly. The west slope south of Tunnel Mountain Trail closes on 15 May until 30 June - female elk use the area to calve alone, and the closure is there to keep it that way. Across the park, cows are moving closer to roads and townsites as calves arrive. Stay 30 metres back, and never position yourself between a cow and her calf - there may be one nearby that you haven't spotted yet.

Canmore's Main Street pedestrian zone returns on 11 May, running through to 16 October between 7 and 8 Avenue. Vehicle access is restricted for the full five months.

On the housing front, a $14.5 million development at 409-413 Squirrel Street has been approved - 30 staff units jointly built by the Town of Banff and Parks Canada, funded through rental revenue. Construction starts this fall, with occupancy expected in spring 2028.

Parking at Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake fills before most people have had breakfast. The hop-on, hop-off bus covers all three, plus Banff town and the Lake Louise Gondola - reserved seating, no parking required.

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

Useful Links | How to get to Moraine Lake | Moraine Lake In August | Moraine Lake Rockpile Trail

👉 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

👉 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!

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

☀️ The weekend is bringing a sunny warmup to Banff - and it's worth getting outside for. Saturday is mainly cloudy with a high of 16°C. Sunday turns sunny with a high of 20°C. Monday clouds back over with a high of 11°C. Full Forecast Here

🚶 Canmore's Main Street Goes Car-Free Again. The seasonal pedestrian zone returns on 11 May, running through 16 October between 7 and 8 Avenue - vehicle access is properly restricted for the full five months, not just discouraged.

🏗️ 30 Staff Units Approved for Squirrel Street. A $14.5 million joint development at 409-413 Squirrel St. will give the Town of Banff and Parks Canada 30 units of staff housing - funded through rental revenue, not taxes. Construction starts this fall, with occupancy expected in spring 2028.

🦌 Tunnel Mountain West Slope Closes for Calving. The west slope south of the Tunnel Mountain Trail is closed from 15 May to 30 June - female elk use the area to calve alone, away from the herd.

🦌 Elk Calving Season Has Begun. Elk are moving closer to roads and townsites as calves arrive across Banff National Park. Stay 30 metres back and never step between a cow and her calf - a calf may be nearby even if you can't see one.

🏛️ Yoho Visitor Centre Opens for 2026. The Yoho National Park visitor centre is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Worth a stop before you head out - it's avalanche and bear season simultaneously.

⛷️ Marmot Basin Closes This Weekend. Jasper's ski hill wraps up its season on Sunday, with clear skies and soft spring snow forecast for the final days. Marmot Road reopened this week, so access is straightforward for a change.

🚴 Bow Valley Parkway Goes Car-Free. From April 30, the eastern 17km of the Bow Valley Parkway is closed to vehicles daily from 8 am to 8 pm until June 25 -full route guide, parking tips, and what to watch for in the link.

🚵 E-Bike & Hike to Johnston Canyon - A 26km ride along the Bow Valley Parkway followed by a one-hour hike through Johnston Canyon's limestone gorge to the Lower Falls. A shuttle brings you back to Banff, so the return leg takes care of itself.

👻 Banff Ghost Walk - A 100-minute evening tour through the darker side of Banff's history - railway-era crimes, unsolved mysteries, and the Fairmont Banff Springs' more permanent residents. Narrative-driven rather than theatrical, which makes it more unsettling, not less.

⛏️ Canmore History Tour: Cowboys & Coal Miners - A 1.5-hour walk through Canmore's industrial past, covering the mining and frontier history that shaped the Bow Valley long before the boutiques arrived. Flat, accessible route - guides, gratuities, and bear spray all included.

Jasper's accommodation scene is genuinely excellent - the problem is everyone else has already figured that out. These three properties earn their keep by putting you where you need to be, without the faff.

🌲 Pyramid Lake Lodge - Five kilometres from the townsite and sitting right on Pyramid Lake, this one sorts your scenery problem before you've even unpacked. No circling the Connaught Drive car park - just water, mountains, and a level of quiet that Jasper town can't offer in July. Read The Reviews And Book

🏨 The Crimson Jasper - Right in the middle of town, which in Jasper is less of a compromise than it sounds. Walk to restaurants, the information centre, and stores without moving your car once. Solid mid-range option if you'd rather spend your money on what's outside than what's inside. Read The Reviews And Book

⛳ Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - The sprawling lakeside resort that has been doing this since 1922, and knows it. Four kilometres from town means you need a plan to get in and out, but the grounds are large enough that you may not feel the urge. If you're going to spend properly, this is where the money goes. Read The Reviews And Book

🎟️ Do I need a park pass to visit Banff in 2026? Yes, unless your trip falls in the free admission window from June 19 to September 7 - there is more to know before you go.

👀 Can visitors actually see The Boss? Sightings happen, mostly from roadsides like the Bow Valley Parkway - but treating any encounter with caution and distance is always the right approach.

🍂 When is larch season in Banff? The larches typically turn golden for a short window in autumn, making it one of the most popular times to visit - timing your trip carefully is essential.

Yesterday’s Question: What is Lake Minnewanka known for within Banff National Park?

✅Answer: 4) Being the only lake with motor boat cruises - 64% Correct

Lake Minnewanka is the only lake in Banff where motor boat cruises operate. Plan your visit with our Lake Minnewanka Guide.

If you’re travelling with family or a group, having space to spread out can make a big difference. Blackstone Mountain Lodge in Canmore offers one, two, and three-bedroom suites with full kitchens. It works well if you want easy access to the park while staying somewhere that feels more like a home than a hotel.

Book now and enjoy the space of a mountain suite.

📅 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.

👉 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

👉 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.