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

Two grizzly cubs on Highway 93 and eight bears in a single drive along Highway 40 - spring has arrived, and the bears are making up for lost time. Stay in your vehicle, keep moving, and hold 100 metres. They are hungry and have no particular interest in being photographed.

Johnston Canyon reopened Monday after a search was suspended following the death of a 25-year-old American visitor who entered Johnston Creek on May 1st. The canyon is open again, but the creek is running fast and cold.

Passes for the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival are now on sale for the October 31 to November 8 run. Over 80 films are on the programme this year; individual tickets open when the full schedule drops on July 28.

For a view of the Rockies that no trail delivers, a 30-minute helicopter flight over Lake Minnewanka puts the whole landscape into perspective in a way that's hard to replicate from the ground.

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 could easily be the standout experience from your Banff trip. The 30-minute helicopter flight offers a completely different view of the landscape, lifting you above rivers, valleys, and mountain ranges, giving you a perspective you can’t get from the ground.

You’ll fly past the iconic Mount Yamnusak and over Lake Minnewanka, where the wide open terrain really shows the scale of the area. It’s a short flight, but it gives you a clear sense of just how vast and dramatic this part of the Rockies is.

Book now & see the Rockies from a new perspective!

☀️ Sunshine is winning in Banff this week. Wednesday leads the charge, mainly sunny with a high of 19°C, Thursday keeps it going with full sun and a high of 18°C, and Friday stays mild with a mix of sun and cloud and a high of 18°C. Full Forecast Here

🐻 Eight Bears in a Single Day. Spring is delivering, with two cute Grizzly Cubs spotted on highway 93 and with eight bears spotted in one drive on highway 40- an extraordinary run even by local standards. Keep moving, watch from the car, and stay 100 metres back. The bears are hungry and not particularly interested in your schedule.

Bear Safety

🚨 Johnston Canyon Reopened After Fatal Incident. A 25-year-old American visitor entered Johnston Creek on May 1st and did not resurface. The canyon reopened Monday after a multi-day search was suspended due to dangerous water conditions.

🎬 51 Years of Mountain Stories. Passes for the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival are now on sale for the October 31-November 8 run. Over 80 films are on the programme; individual tickets follow when the full schedule drops on July 28.

🍺 Sheepdog Brewing Heads to Cochrane. The Canmore brewery is targeting a July opening at 217 Bow Street, with 16 rotating taps and a pizza kitchen on site. The name honours first responders - several of the founding families work in firefighting, the military, and healthcare.

🐦 Banff Gets a Bird It's Never Had. A Vermilion Flycatcher - whose nearest breeding grounds are in the U.S. southwest - was spotted behind the Royal Canadian Legion on April 20, marking the species' first Alberta record. The same week, a Ross's Gull near Lethbridge claimed the same distinction.

📱 Two Alerts, Two Very Different Reasons. Canmore, Banff, MD of Bighorn, and Parks Canada are testing their emergency alert systems tomorrow at 10 a.m. MDT. A second test follows at 1:55 p.m. - that one's reserved for situations where lives are immediately at risk.

🏔️ Skip the shuttle scramble at Moraine Lake. Staying at Moraine Lake Lodge means you can drive right to the lake and linger long after the crowds leave. Experience Moraine Lake the way it's meant to be seen. Book your stay here.

🗺️ How long should you set aside for a Johnston Canyon visit? It depends on how far you go - a quick return to the Lower Falls takes under an hour, while the full hike to the Ink Pots is a solid half-day out.

🐻 Who is Split Lip? He is Bear No. 136, a 500-600 pound grizzly in Banff National Park named for a distinctive facial scar earned through years of brutal rivalry - his full history in the Canadian Rockies is even more extraordinary. See the full guide

🗺️ What else can you see while visiting Takakkaw Falls? Emerald Lake, the Natural Bridge, and the Spiral Tunnels are all within a short drive, making Yoho a full day out.

🦌 Banff Wildlife & Scenic Highlights Tour - A three-hour evening tour timed for peak wildlife activity, taking in Lake Minnewanka, Bow Falls, and Surprise Corner. Guides adjust the route based on recent sightings, so no two runs are identical.

🐻 Boo the Grizzly & Yoho National Park Tour - A ten-hour day trip from Banff covering Takakkaw Falls, Emerald Lake, and a guaranteed grizzly bear sighting at the Kicking Horse Refuge. Lunch included - pickup starts around 07:55 from Banff hotels.

🌊 Kicking Horse River Rafting - Twelve kilometres of Class 2-4 rapids through the Middle Canyon near Golden, including the sustained Class 4 whitewater of the Kicking Horse River. All gear provided - just bring a swimsuit and a towel. Ages 12 and over.

Banff is not a budget destination, and pretending otherwise helps no one. If you're going to spend the money, these three properties give you something genuinely worth spending it on.

🏔 Fairmont Banff Springs - Open since 1888 and still the most recognisable building in the Rockies, the Banff Springs sits at the foot of Sulphur Mountain with 724 rooms, 12 restaurants and bars, a championship golf course, and a spa that draws on the area's mineral spring heritage. Standard rooms are on the compact side - the suites are where the space opens up. Walking distance to town, which matters more than you'd think when you're trying to avoid paying for yet another taxi. Read The Reviews And Book

🏔 Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise - The only hotel in the Rockies where you can walk out the front door and straight onto the lakeshore - no shuttle, no parking lottery, no 4 am alarm to beat the crowds. With 539 rooms and eight dining options on-site, it's entirely possible to spend three days here without leaving the property. The new BASIN thermal bathing experience is worth knowing about if wellness is on your agenda. Read The Reviews And Book

✨ Rimrock Banff, Emblems Collection - The newly renovated Rimrock reopens for bookings from 1st July 2026, and it's worth paying attention to. Perched above town on Sulphur Mountain with head-on views across the Bow Valley, the reimagined property joins Accor's Emblems Collection - its first North American hotel to do so. Expect a 9,600 sq ft wellness centre with thermal bathing, an infinity pool overlooking the valley, four dining concepts, and rooms designed with considerably more care than the previous incarnation. If you're planning a late-summer or autumn visit, this is the one to book early. Read The Reviews And Book

Yesterday’s Question: Which glacier is shown in this photo, taken from the popular Parker Ridge hike along the Icefields Parkway?

✅Answer: 4) Saskatchewan Glacier - 19% Correct (a tricky one, good job if you got it right)

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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