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

The Smith-Dorrien Trail had an unscheduled pause earlier this month when Bear 139 and her three cubs decided Highway 742 was worth a look. One cub walked upright for roughly ten feet before thinking better of it. What made the sighting more than a traffic story is that one of the three cubs is adopted - the first confirmed case in Kananaskis history, and a detail that wildlife researchers are still piecing together.

Johnston Canyon has a date in the diary too, and not a good one if you were planning a winter visit. Parks Canada has confirmed the canyon will close after October 13th for slope stabilisation work - rock removal, structural supports, and safety systems on the canyon walls. The closure is expected to run two to three months, which puts the November and December ice walks firmly off the table. Worth knowing before you book anything.

On a geological timescale, a grizzly family stopping traffic is a minor footnote. A Calgary geologist's convention is currently hosting a theory that the Canadian Rockies originated in Nevada and only arrived in Alberta around 54 million years ago, carried north by the Tintina Fault. The mountains are not going anywhere now, but apparently, they did travel 1,300 kilometres to get here.

If you'd rather not wait another 54 million years for a view, the Jasper SkyTram puts you on Whistler’s Mountain in about seven minutes. It's all in this week's edition.

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

See Canmore Before You Visit: Canmore Downtown Walk | Canmore Town Drive | Canmore At Night | Canmore Bow River Loop | Quarry Lake Canmore

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If you want to experience the alpine scenery around Jasper without committing to a long mountain hike, the Jasper SkyTram is one of the simplest ways to do it. In about seven minutes, the tram carries you high onto Whistler’s Mountain, where wide views open up across Jasper National Park, glacier-fed rivers, and surrounding mountain ranges.

Once at the upper station, you can take an easy boardwalk stroll or hike the short Whistlers Summit Trail for even broader views. Interpretive panels explain the landscape and wildlife, and you may spot marmots, pikas, or bighorn sheep nearby. It’s a straightforward way to reach an alpine viewpoint that would otherwise take hours to hike.

Book now and enjoy Jasper’s alpine views with ease.

🐻 Three Cubs Stopped Traffic on Highway 742. Bear 139 and her family were spotted on the Smith-Dorrien Trail earlier this month - one cub walked upright for roughly ten feet before dropping back to all fours. Of the three cubs, one is adopted - the first confirmed case in Kananaskis history. See the full video.

🪨 Your Mountains May Be American. A Calgary geologist's convention is hosting a theory that the Canadian Rockies originated at Nevada's latitude, moved north 1,300 kilometres by the Tintina Fault, and only arrived in Alberta around 54 million years ago.

🪨 Johnston Canyon Closes After Thanksgiving. Parks Canada has confirmed the canyon will shut after October 13th for slope stabilisation - rock removal, structural supports, and safety systems on the canyon walls. The two-to-three-month closure rules out the popular November and December ice walks.

🏭 Exshaw Neighbours Take Cement Giant to Court. Alberta's Court of King's Bench has certified a class action against the Exshaw cement plant, now rebranded as Amrize. Around 700 Exshaw and Lac Des Arcs residents have complained about carcinogenic dust and excessive noise since a 2016 expansion. The plant has been in the Bow Valley since 1906.

🪶 Indigenous Voices at Cave and Basin. Cave and Basin National Historic Site hosts Indigenous-led exhibits, art and programming from May 15 to October 12, featuring artists, Elders and Knowledge Keepers from nations including Iyarhe Nakoda, Siksika, Kainai, Tsuut'ina and Metis communities with deep ties to the Bow Valley.

🌤️ Sunshine with a soggy Saturday on the way. Thursday brings a mix of sun and cloud with a high of 12°C. Friday stays partly cloudy with a high of 10°C, but expect rain showers or flurries overnight. Saturday turns soggy with showers and a high of just 7°C. Full Forecast Here.

Today’s activity pick is the Banff Wagon Ride and Cowboy Cookout - a horse-drawn ride along the Bow River, a fire, and a BBQ steak lunch. It is what it sounds like, and that is not a criticism.

🍽️ Eat the Castle - Banff Springs - Three hours, five food and drink pairings, and behind-the-scenes kitchen access. This culinary tour of the Fairmont Banff Springs weaves the hotel's history into every stop - a good shout for a special occasion or a rainy afternoon.

🚣 Family Rafting - Jasper - Five sets of Class 2 rapids on the Athabasca River, suits and safety gear provided. Good family option for ages five and up - elk on the banks are common, and it wraps up in around two hours.

🚡 Banff Gondola - Sulphur Mountain - Eight minutes up, 360-degree views of six mountain ranges at the top. Book your gondola ticket and factor in a couple of hours - the boardwalk walk is worth doing, and bighorn sheep often hang around the upper terminal.

🚶 Is the Canmore Engine Bridge open to walkers and cyclists? Yes - the bridge is now a shared pedestrian and cycling route as part of a riverside trail loop, making it accessible for a range of visitors without any special equipment.

🍂 Is September a good time to visit Banff? September is one of the quieter months in Banff National Park - crowds thin after Labour Day, temperatures are comfortable, and autumn colour is starting to show.

🏨 Can you visit the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel without staying overnight? Yes - day visitors can dine, book a spa treatment. Plan your day.

Banff hotel prices have a talent for making a grown adult cry into their hiking boots. These three hostels offer a legitimate alternative - and in one case, a location that puts the expensive options to shame.

🏙️ Banff International Hostel - Right on Banff Avenue, three blocks from the centre, this is the one you want if you're navigating on foot and hate paying for taxis. The kitchen is well-equipped, there's on-site parking, and the bus stop two minutes away gives you access to Sulphur Mountain and the Upper Hot Springs without needing a car. Dorms or private rooms - your call. Read The Reviews And Book

⛰️ HI Banff Alpine Centre - Bigger, livelier, and sitting just above the Bow River in the Tunnel Mountain District. Every guest gets a free bus pass, which is a quietly brilliant perk given how Banff's parking situation unfolds in summer. The Storm Cellar pub has darts, billiards, and daily happy hours - Cougar Pete's handles the food. It's about a 20-minute walk into town, or 4 minutes on a bus you're not paying for. Read The Reviews And Book

🏔️ HI Lake Louise Alpine Centre - Co-owned by Hostelling International and the Alpine Club of Canada, which tells you something about the clientele. Post-and-beam chalet, vaulted ceilings, a dry sauna, a licensed cafe (Bill Peyto's, well-regarded), a shuttle to the ski resort, and communal kitchens if you'd rather cook than pay Lake Louise restaurant prices. The lake itself is a short drive - but honestly, half the hotels charging three times as much offer less. Read The Reviews And Book

Yesterday’s Question: Which road is Peyto Lake located along?

✅Answer: 2) Icefields Parkway - 80% Correct

Peyto Lake is one of the most popular stops along the Icefields Parkway. Find out when to visit in our Peyto Lake Guide.

If you’re curious about the grand stone “castle” overlooking Banff, this is it. The Fairmont Banff Springs has welcomed travellers for more than a century. It sits just above the Bow River, a short drive from downtown, with mountain views in every direction and walking trails and viewpoints right outside the door.

Book now and experience one of Banff’s most iconic places to stay.

📅 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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