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

Moraine Lake Road is open to cyclists as of this week - Parks Canada has cleared the snow and avalanche debris, and the 14 km climb is yours without a car in sight until 1 June. That's a narrow window, so if you've been waiting for a reason to dust off the bike, this is it.

On the other side of the park, Kananaskis Golf Course has a rather different kind of visitor problem. Alberta Parks issued an open-ended bear warning for the Evan-Thomas Provincial Recreation Area on 21 May - multiple bears have been frequenting the course, and the warning remains in effect. Worth knowing before you tee off.

In town, the Eleanor Luxton Historical Foundation has formally opposed all six proposed designs for the new visitor centre on the 200 block of Banff Avenue. Their concern is that the winning concept subordinates the visitor centre to a high-density housing project - on land Parks Canada spent nearly 30 years assembling.

Getting to Lake Louise or Moraine Lake without a car is easier than most people expect. The hop-on, hop-off bus covers the key stops and saves you the early-morning scramble for a parking spot that, in peak season, is rarely there.

The rest of the week is below.

Plan Your Trip Wildlife Safety | Bear | Elk | Wolf | Cougar

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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 a shallow wading pool and indoor play areas where younger visitors can burn off some energy.

It’s the kind of break many families appreciate after a day of sightseeing or hiking. While the kids are busy on the slides, adults can slow things down in the hot tubs or relax nearby. The setup works well for families who want a mix of fun for children and a bit of downtime for everyone else, without needing to leave Banff to find it.

Book now and enjoy Banff’s only waterslides

🚴 Moraine Lake Road Open to Cyclists. Parks Canada has cleared snow and avalanche debris, opening the 14 km climb to cyclists now - but not to vehicles until 1 June. That leaves about ten days of car-free riding up 527 m of some of the busiest roads in the Rockies.

🏛️ Heritage Group Flags Visitor Centre Design. The Eleanor Luxton Historical Foundation has formally opposed all six proposed designs for the 200 block of Banff Avenue, saying the winning concept subordinates the visitor centre to a high-density housing project. Parks Canada spent nearly 30 years assembling the land for the redevelopment.

🗺️ AllTrails Plus Half Price This Week. Cell coverage is patchy across much of Banff National Park, making offline maps worth having. AllTrails Plus is 50% off until 26 May with code SUMMER26.

⛳ Jasper Park Lodge Golf Returns 29 May. The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge course opens for the season on 29 May. Tee times are now open.

🐻 Bears on the Fairway at Kananaskis. Alberta Parks has issued a bear warning for Kananaskis Golf Course in the Evan-Thomas Provincial Recreation Area, effective 21 May and open-ended. Multiple bears have been frequenting the area.

🏳️‍🌈 Two-Spirit Takeover Comes to Canmore. Canmore Pride and Blake Brewhouse are hosting a drag and burlesque show featuring Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer performers on 7 June, marking both National Indigenous History Month and Pride Month. Tickets are on sale now, with proceeds supporting Canmore Pride and Two-Spirit initiatives.

🌤️ Sun, showers, then sun again - Banff can't quite make up its mind. Saturday reaches 20°C with a chance of afternoon showers, Sunday clears to a lovely sunny 18°C, and Monday bounces back with a mix of sun and cloud and a high of 22°C. Full Forecast Here

For a guided half-day that takes the logistics off your hands, the Johnston Canyon E-Bike and Hike tour runs from Banff through Vermilion Lakes and along the Bow Valley Parkway, before swapping the bikes for boots at the canyon. The Lower Falls are the turnaround point, with a shuttle back to town.

🚁 Kananaskis Helicopter Tour - Thirty minutes over the front ranges, the Ghost River valley, and out across Lake Minnewanka - a scale of landscape that's impossible to grasp from the ground. Book the Minnewanka helicopter tour here and bring sunglasses.

🤠 Banff Cowboy Cookout - A horse-drawn wagon along the Bow River, steak cooked on an open grill at a backcountry cabin, and lassoing lessons thrown in. The Banff cowboy cookout and wagon ride is three hours and worth every minute of it.

🦌 Canmore Evening Wildlife Tour - The elk don't care about your itinerary, but dusk is when you're most likely to find them. This small-group evening wildlife tour out of Canmore covers the quieter corridors of the Bow Valley when the day crowds have gone. Binoculars provided.

⚔️ What is the feud between Split Lip and The Boss? The Boss is Bear 122, Banff's long-dominant male, and the two have clashed in dramatic encounters across the Bow Valley - but the full saga of their rivalry spans years and thousands of kilometres. See the full guide

💧 Is Takakkaw Falls worth a detour from Banff? Absolutely. It is one of Canada's most dramatic waterfalls, and the trail is flat, short, and suitable for all fitness levels.

🎟️ Do you need to book transport to Lake Louise in advance? Shuttles and tours fill quickly in peak season, especially morning departures. Booking ahead is strongly recommended if you want a guaranteed spot.

Banff is worth every minute you spend there, but sleeping in it is a different calculation entirely - the prices are high, the parking is a negotiation you'll lose, and the town doesn't exactly quieten down at night. These three Canmore properties put you 20 minutes from Banff town centre with considerably more breathing room.

🏨 The Malcolm Hotel - Canmore's most polished full-service hotel, with a rooftop pool, hot tubs, and a proper restaurant on-site. You're a five-minute walk from Main Street and a straightforward drive to Banff, Lake Louise, or Kananaskis - with free underground parking included in the room rate, which is more than Banff will offer you. Read The Reviews And Book

🏕️ Pocaterra Inn - A solid, no-fuss base that gets consistently strong reviews for comfort and value - two things that are harder to find in Banff at the same price point. The indoor pool and waterslide make it genuinely useful if you're travelling with children who need somewhere to burn off energy after a long day, and breakfast is included. Read The Reviews And Book

🏔️ Blackstone Mountain Lodge - Condo-style suites with full kitchens, in-suite laundry, and mountain views from the balcony. Good for longer stays, multi-generational groups, or anyone who'd rather cook half their meals than eat every dinner out at Banff prices. Read The Reviews And Book

Yesterday’s Question: Which famous lake in Banff National Park can you no longer drive to?
✅ Answer: B) Moraine Lake - 78% Correct.

Since 2023, Parks Canada has closed Moraine Lake Road to private vehicles. Find out how to get there.

Access and parking are a real challenge in summer at places such as Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake, where access is restricted, and car parks can fill up before sunrise. This hop-on, hop-off bus lets you move between key stops at your own pace, with guaranteed seating and no driving stress.

Reserve your seat and leave the logistics to someone else

📅 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

1:15 | Wild Life Distillery Tour | Wild Life Distillery | Canmore

3:00 | Live Music Afternoon | Three Bears | Banff

3:00 | Here Comes the Sun: The Beatles | Carter-Ryan Theatre | Canmore

3:00 | Yoga and Wellness Festival | Mount Norquay Resort | Banff

6:30 | Live Musician Baiden | The Dusty Boot | Banff

7:00 | Canmore Punk Night | Core Values Cidery | Canmore

7:30 | Bradley Bischoff and Scott Duncan | artsPlace Canmore | Canmore

7:30 | Here Comes the Sun: The Beatles | Carter-Ryan Theatre | Canmore

9:00 | Andy Curtis: Live | Tavern 1883 | Canmore

10:00 | House DJ Stompin' Ty | The Dusty Boot | Banff

10:00 | Club Night: DJ Raven | High Rollers | Banff

10:00 | Greg Doucette | Rose & Crown Canmore | Canmore

10:00 | Wild T & The Spirit: Live | Rose & Crown Banff | Banff

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