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

If Johnston Canyon is on your list, you have until October 12.

After that, it closes for rock slope work, and Roam Route 9 is suspended until about November 30. The Ink Pots stay reachable via Moose Meadows. Crews return next autumn for a second phase, so this is not the last closure.

In the Okanagan, a family pulled a bear cub out of the lake and set it free near the shore. WildSafeBC called it a good result. A rescue society disagrees: the cub weighed about 30 pounds, and it says a cub needs at least 50 to survive hibernation. There is video here if you want to check for yourself.

Closer to home, at least 14 grizzlies have been killed in Alberta this year under the problem bear responder network, up from one in 2025. The Alberta Wilderness Association says the province has not explained the increase.

If you would rather see wildlife than read about it, autumn is a good time. The evening tour from Banff builds its route around that day's sightings, with stops at Lake Minnewanka, Bow Falls and the Mt. Norquay lookout, and dusk is when the animals tend to appear.

Plan a visit to Moraine Lake | How to get to Moraine Lake | Book the Lake Louise / Moraine Lake shuttle (video)

Plan Your Visit To Banff For October | December

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🦌 Timed for Dusk, When the Wildlife Comes Out

Book a spot on this evening wildlife tour, and your guide builds the route around that day's recent sightings - with stops at Lake Minnewanka, Bow Falls, and the Mt. Norquay lookout.

Check availability for your dates

🏔️ Fresh from the Rockies

Ha Ling from the Bow River, Canmore

🪨 Johnston Canyon Bolts Its Doors. Johnston Canyon closes October 13 for rock slope work, with Roam Route 9 suspended until about November 30. The Ink Pots stay reachable via Moose Meadows. Crews return next autumn for phase two.

🐻 Alberta Grizzly Kills Rise to 14. At least 14 grizzlies have been killed this year under Alberta's problem bear responder network, up from one in 2025. The Alberta Wilderness Association says the province has not explained why.

🐻 Okanagan Cub's Odds Disputed. A family pulled a bear cub from Okanagan Lake and set it free near shore. WildSafeBC called it a good result. The cub weighed about 30 pounds. Hibernation, a rescue society, says, needs at least 50. See Video.

🚌 Roam Reshuffles for Winter. Roam Transit's autumn and winter service changes start this week: Routes 4 and 6 end October 4, a new Route 7 starts October 5, and Route 9 to Johnston Canyon pauses from October 13.

🎙️ Canmore Eagles Get a Podcast. Kris Klein, the voice of the Canmore Eagles, now hosts Eagles Weekly, a new podcast of weekly recaps, player and coach interviews, and previews. Patty Shack Burger Bar is picking up the tab.

🐾 Backcountry Skiers Crowding Out Wolverines. A University of Calgary study of 80,000 square kilometres, including Banff, found fewer wolverines where people recreate, especially in winter. The area was expected to hold 500 to 600. About 300 live there.

☀️ Three straight days of sunshine are lined up for Banff - Sunday leads the way with sunny skies and a high of 19°C, well above the seasonal norm. Monday stays sunny at 18°C, and Tuesday keeps the streak alive at 17°C, so pack the sunglasses alongside a warm layer for those crisp evenings. Full Forecast Here

⭐ Most Popular Last Issue

🧊 Driving the Icefields Parkway? This Part Needs a Reservation. Ride onto the Athabasca Glacier, then step onto a glass floor 280m up. Book your time slot

🏞️ Planning a Trip to Moraine Lake? Here's exactly how to get there, with your options laid out in one simple guide. See how to get there

♨️ Hot Springs Takes Another Break. The Banff Upper Hot Springs closes October 13 for annual maintenance, reopening around early November.

🚣Activities You Might Enjoy

🍽️ Castle Food Experience - Five tastings, each in a different part of the Fairmont Banff Springs, with a chef demo and some hotel history thrown in. It's a relaxed way to eat your way through the castle in a small group.

🏔️ Golden Skybridge, Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls - Emerald Lake, Takakkaw Falls and the Natural Bridge sit in Yoho, just over the BC border, and this full-day trip from Banff adds the Golden Skybridge in the afternoon. Pickup is included, so someone else handles the driving.

🧊 Johnston Canyon Icewalk - Ice cleats and hiking poles are supplied, which makes the walk up to Johnston Canyon's frozen Upper Falls a lot more comfortable. A guide, hot chocolate and a maple cookie at the top, plus pickup from Banff.

❓Your Questions Answered

🏘️ Can bears enter towns like Banff and Canmore, and what should you do if you see one? Yes - bears do move through both towns, especially in berry season. Report sightings to authorities, keep your distance, and never approach or feed them.

💆 Are there good spas in Banff? Yes - several hotel spas in Banff and the surrounding area offer everything from massages to mineral pools and hydrotherapy.

👨‍👩‍👧 Is the Canmore Engine Bridge suitable for families and wheelchair users? Several access points to the Canmore Engine Bridge are suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs, making it a genuinely family-friendly outing for all ages and abilities.

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🏕️ Quiz

Which Banff-area ski resort is located closest to the town of Banff?

Yesterday’s Question: Which lake is shown in this photo, known for its bright turquoise colour and wolf-shaped outline?

✅ Answer: 2) Peyto Lake - 74% Correct

🎸Events, Activities & Live Music

Featured events are listed below. View the FULL EVENT CALENDAR for a complete list.

Sunday, October 4

Monday, October 5

Tuesday, October 6

Wednesday, October 7

📅 Got An Event To Share?

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👋 That’s All For Now 🎬

Another week of mountain magic awaits!
We're so glad you're here for the ride.
Keep exploring and sharing, and we'll see you in the next issue with another full lineup of Banff happenings.

Jill & Kevin | Editor | What’s On Banff

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Johnston Canyon Closes October 13