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

Bear 142 and her cub are having a wrestle, and we've got the video. Filmed on the Bow Valley Parkway on 25 May, the footage opens our new Wild Moments section, with Jill sharing a little of Bear 142's history.

Parks Canada has ended its search and rescue dog programme, which last operated in Banff. Its final dog, Leroy, helped find more than 50 people in seven years. That's a considerable amount of work behind a short announcement.

The Bill Milne Trail cougar warning follows a deer kill between Mashee Way and Evan-Thomas Day Use Area. We've included the details below. If that's on your walking route, check the latest advisory before setting out.

For later in winter, the Johnston Canyon evening icewalk takes you to frozen waterfalls by headlamp, with a guide, ice cleats and hot chocolate included. Plan around the construction closure through 11 December, and wait for confirmed reopening.

For now, watching the bears is the easier outing.

Plan Your Visit To Banff For November | December | January | February

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We're starting Wild Moments with a family encounter from the Bow Valley Parkway: Bear 142 play-fighting with her cub.

Filmed on 25 May in Banff National Park, the video runs for just under two and a half minutes, with Jill introducing some of Bear 142's history alongside the footage.

This new section will bring you wildlife videos from around the Rockies, featuring our own recordings and other creators' work, with a little background to help you understand what you're watching.

🎃 Your Rockies Halloween events guide. From pumpkin walks and trick-or-treating to ghost tours and costume parties, browse the full Halloween events list for Banff, Canmore, Lake Louise and Jasper, with times, prices and booking details.

🚗 Banff arrivals rise, bridge traffic falls. A record 1.77 million vehicles entered Banff in July and August, yet Bow River Bridge crossings fell 4.4% from 2025. Local Roam ridership rose 15%.

🐾 Cougar warning on Bill Milne Trail. A cougar killed a deer between Mashee Way and Evan-Thomas Day Use Area. The cougar warning remains in effect until further notice. Travel in groups and keep bear spray accessible.

🏔️ Climbers rescued on Mount Andromeda. An 18-hour Parks Canada rescue on 5 October brought two injured climbers to safety. High winds limited helicopter operations, so rescuers climbed above them and carried out a 100-metre rope rescue.

🏞️ Jasper park staff face job uncertainty. Parks Canada has identified 208 of its 422 Jasper employees as affected by workforce reductions. Some positions may change or disappear; receiving a notice doesn't necessarily mean losing a job.

🐕 Banff loses rescue dog programme. Parks Canada has ended its search and rescue dog programme, which last operated in Banff. Its final dog, Leroy, helped find more than 50 people during seven years of service.

🌨️ Banff's flurries are making way for sunshine. Thursday brings a chance of flurries with a high of 0°C. Friday turns sunny with a high of 4°C. Saturday keeps the sunshine going with a high of 5°C. Full Forecast Here

🏞️ Moraine Lake Questions, Answered. This video guide tackles 5 common questions about visiting Moraine Lake. Watch on YouTube.

🍽️ Banff restaurant earns global rankings. Balkan Mediterranean Restaurant placed fourth worldwide for vegan and vegetarian dining in Tripadvisor's 2026 awards.

🌲 Parks Canada plans staffing cuts. The agency expects to cut 500 full-time-equivalent jobs nationwide amid $145 million in budget reductions over three years.

🛶 Bow River Kayaking Trip - Get on the water before the rental boats do. This small-group paddle from the Banff Canoe Club has the river to itself, with Mount Rundle as a backdrop and a chance of spotting Barry, the resident beaver.

⛏️ Canmore History Tour: Cowboys and Coal Miners - Long before the condos and coffee shops, coal built Canmore. A local guide walks you along the Bow River and into the old town, with historical photos and stories of the miners and cowboys who shaped it.

🛷 Family-Friendly Horse-Drawn Sleigh Ride - Wool blankets, sleigh bells and a hot drink by the fire make this 40-minute ride through the meadows below Rundle and Cascade Mountains an easy winter outing for the whole family, with elk and deer to watch for.

When can I visit Banff with fewer crowds?

For a quieter trip, I'd look at weekdays in April or May, or late October and November. Avoid holiday weekends and check the events calendar before booking: festivals, Christmas markets and ski-opening weekends can bring a rush even outside summer.

The trade-off is what you can do:

If turquoise lakes and summer activities are your priority, I'd consider weekdays in June instead of July or August. Allow for snow on higher trails, particularly early in June.

Don't assume September will be quiet. Lake Louise and Moraine Lake remain popular, and Larch Valley reaches its busiest period during autumn colour season.

Our guides to Banff in May, October and November explain the seasonal compromises so you can choose around what you want to see.

Tunnel Mountain

You don't have to head far from Banff for views across the Bow Valley. Tunnel Mountain is a steady climb through the forest, with the town below and Mount Rundle across the valley. From the lower trailhead on St. Julien Road, allow around two hours for the 4.8 km return hike.

Read our Tunnel Mountain hiking guide

The canyon's a different place in winter. The waterfalls freeze solid, and this guided hike follows the catwalks up to the Upper Falls, now a towering wall of ice.

Book your icewalk

From our last issue: Which of the following waterfalls is located within walking distance of downtown Banff?

✅ Answer: 3) Bow Falls - 76% Correct

Here's what's happening today. Planning ahead? See our FULL EVENT CALENDAR for the rest of the week's events and beyond.

All Day | Taste for Adventure | Banff Town | Banff
All Day | Natural Drawing: Beyond Basics | The Banff Centre | Banff
11:00 | Art Show and Sale: Meg Nicks | Canmore Art Guild | Canmore
13:30 | Park Distillery Tour | Park Distillery | Banff
17:00 | Chess Night | Canmore Public Library | Canmore
19:00 | Magic Show | Rose & Crown Banff | Banff
19:00 | Poker Night | Canmore Legion | Canmore
19:30 | Poetry Slam Night | artsPlace Canmore | Canmore
19:30 | Ain't We Got Fun | Carter-Ryan Theatre | Canmore
19:30 | Balkan Greek Dinner Show | Balkan Restaurant | Banff
20:00 | Trivia Night | The Drake | Canmore
21:00 | DJ Styler Nazo: Requests Night | High Rollers | Banff
22:00 | Dean Lonsdale & The Ramifications | Rose and Crown Banff | Banff
22:00 | Thirsty Thursday Party | Melissa's Missteak | Banff
22:00 | The Last Waltz: Chest Fever | Melissa's Missteak | Banff

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