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

On 12 May, a 38-year-old skier fell 25 metres into a crevasse on the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park and did not survive. He was with two friends. Rescuers reached him that evening; recovery came the following day. Despite its popularity with visitors, the glacier remains a hazardous environment

Jasper also has a reopening to report: the Valley of the Five Lakes trail reopens on 23 May after two years of wildfire restoration. New boardwalks, burnt snags still standing, recovery growth coming through. The trail has changed; it's worth seeing.

Back in Banff, the Gondola has quietly bundled in a free shuttle to Sulphur Mountain for the season - running from 15 May to 12 October via Brewster from Banff South and Downtown, or Roam Transit Route 1. Parking is still an option at $17.50 if you prefer it.

For Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, the open-top Big Bus runs hourly departures so you can set your own pace at each stop, with lunch in Lake Louise Village included. A full day that doesn't feel like one.

All that and more inside.

Plan a visit to Johnston Canyon | Why you need to hike Johnston Canyon | Johnston Canyon Hike - Banff National Park in July | Take the Hop on Hop off Bus | eBike to the canyon

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Reaching Moraine Lake and Lake Louise in summer often means navigating parking restrictions and fitting your plans around fixed tour schedules. This open-top bus tour takes a more flexible approach, with hourly departures that let you manage your time.

Travelling by double-decker bus, open on warm days and enclosed when it’s cooler, you’ll visit Moraine Lake for time on the Rockpile Trail before continuing to Lake Louise to explore the shoreline at your own pace. A lunch break in Lake Louise Village is included, and the full day runs 8 to 10 hours, so it doesn’t feel rushed.

Book here and explore on your own schedule

🏔️ Man Dies in Crevasse at Columbia Icefield. A 38-year-old man died on 12 May after falling 25 metres into a crevasse on the Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park. He was skiing with two friends when he fell. Rescuers reached him by 7:50 p.m. but were unable to recover him until the following day. Hidden crevasses on the glacier have caused multiple fatalities over the years.

🚧 Grassi Lakes Trails Under Improvement. Crews are working on the Grassi Lakes Interpretive and Upper trails near Canmore. Both trails remain open, but expect equipment and workers on-site - follow signage and stay clear of active construction zones.

🌿 Five Lakes, Two Years On. Jasper's Valley of the Five Lakes trail reopens on 23 May after two years of post-wildfire rebuilding. Burnt snags, new boardwalks, and recovery growth - the trail looks very different from the one most people remember.

🚌 Gondola Ticket Now Covers the Shuttle. From 15 May to 12 October, a Banff Gondola ticket includes free shuttle service to Sulphur Mountain - either via Brewster from Banff South and Downtown, or Roam Transit's Route 1. Parking is $17.50 if you'd rather drive.

🌲 The Guardrails Came Off Quietly. Alberta's All-Season Resorts Act cuts independent environmental review from the resort approval process. The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society says assessments under the new framework aren't adequate - particularly on water use in a region already under drought stress.

🐾 Banff's At-Risk Species Plan Goes Out for Comment. Parks Canada's updated action plan covers 20 species - grizzly bears, wolverines, bull trout, and the Banff Springs snail, among them. The draft is open for review until 14 June. Bow Valley Naturalists warn that without addressing human use, the measures risk being site-specific fixes to a landscape-scale problem.

☀️ Buckle through Wednesday and the Rockies reward you handsomely - showers and thunderstorm risk on Wed, 20 May (10°C), then a gloriously sunny Thu, 21 May (17°C), and a mix of sun and cloud to round out Fri, 22 May (17°C). Full Forecast Here

🏕️ Canmore Glamping Plan Meets Petition. Trailhaus is proposing 74 canvas-tent units on the Staircase Lands above Quarry Lake - an elk and bear corridor with one access road in and out. Around 2,500 residents have signed against it. The land has been sitting idle since the coal mine closed in 1916.

🐻 Boo the Kicking Horse Grizzly - A full day out of Banff that takes in Yoho, Takakkaw Falls, Emerald Lake, and the Golden Skybridge - but the headline act is meeting Boo, a resident grizzly in his 20-acre mountain refuge. Guaranteed sighting or they'll bring you back.

👻 Banff Ghost Walk - Banff's history gets darker after sundown. This 100-minute evening walk through the townsite covers unsolved crimes, railway-era grit, and the Fairmont's more permanent residents. Dress warm - the valley gets cold fast once the sun drops.

🤠 Canmore History Tour - Before the boutiques and coffee shops, Canmore ran on coal. This 1.5-hour walking tour of Canmore's industrial past traces the cowboys and miners who shaped the Bow Valley long before it became a tourist destination. Flat route, good guides.

🐻 How is responding to a cougar different from responding to a bear in Banff? With bears, you may play dead in certain situations - with cougars, you always fight back. The two animals require different responses, and understanding both is part of hiking safely in Banff.

🗺️ Can one Parks Canada pass cover both Banff and Jasper? Yes, a valid pass covers Banff, Jasper, Yoho, and Kootenay - but there are still extra costs that catch visitors off guard.

🚌 How do I get to the popular larch viewpoints without a car? Key trailheads fill quickly during larch season - using shuttles and public transport is often the most realistic option at peak times.

Eating out every night in Banff is a very efficient way to spend money you didn't budget for. These three properties have proper kitchen facilities - so you can shop, cook, and redirect the savings towards something more worthwhile.

🏙️ Basecamp Suites Banff - Apartment-style suites right on Banff Avenue, with full kitchens including oven, fridge, dishwasher, and a dining table. There's a grocery store directly next door, which removes any excuse for not using it. The rooftop hot tubs are a reasonable reward for a day on the trails. Read The Reviews And Book

🌲 Lake Louise Inn - One of the more practical options for actually being in Lake Louise rather than commuting to it. The suites and condos come with full kitchens, and the village grocery store is a five-minute walk. Free parking, free shuttle to the ski resort in winter, and a better base for the Icefields Parkway than anything in Banff town. Read The Reviews And Book

🏔️ Blackstone Mountain Lodge - Condo-style suites in Canmore with full gourmet kitchens, in-suite laundry, fireplaces, and free underground parking. The lodge itself is a short walk from Canmore's main street. Read The Reviews And Book

Yesterday’s Question: Which river is shown in this photo of Canmore (the same river flows through Banff)?

✅Answer: 3) Bow River - 86% Correct

The Bow River flows through both Canmore and Banff and is easy to explore on foot. Take a walk along it with our Bow River Loop Trail Guide.

If visiting Lake Louise and Moraine Lake is high on your list, Paradise Lodge & Bungalows is a convenient place to stay. The cabins sit about 1 km from Lake Louise, so you can walk to the lakeshore, and with a Parks Canada shuttle ticket, you can take the Lake Connector between Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.

Reserve now to stay close to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake

📅 Featured events for today are listed below. Visit our website for a complete list.

FULL EVENT CALENDAR | BANFF & LAKE LOUISE | CANMORE | JASPER NP
BANFF HAPPY HOURS | CANMORE HAPPY HOURS

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