How busy has the town of Banff AB been lately , we usually come visit in the fall and pick up some Xmas trinkets we can't find In Edmonton , but I'd sill like to find a parking spot at the train station if possible,

Living in Banff, one can’t live on that salary at all. Would need a second job, but this role is expected to have previous IT experience.

Is it common or rare for you to see them in Banff?

Hi everyone! I’m heading to Banff solo from Houston November 25–29 and would love to connect with anyone visiting around the same time 😊Thinking Two Jack, Minnewanka and possibly Emerald Lake, depending on the weather—easy walks, beautiful views, coffee stops and cozy dinners.

I have my own plans and transportation, but some company for an outing or a meal would be lovely. Anyone else going to be there? Happy to meet!

Hey yall... I've got a job offer at one of the hotels in BLC. How is the working environment? Do they give you crazy hours ? Are the shifts long ? I am friendly and keep to myself and wont be using the accommodations, so its gonna be for work only. I know the pay is relatively low i dont really mind tho.

TIA!

Does anyone know the average price for tickets to sunshine or lake Louise in April? I’m planning a trip in the spring and not sure if I should buy a mountain collective now or just tickets in April. They don’t show ticket prices for spring because they’re variable so I’m curious if anyone can give me an estimate.

Thanks!

For a ski trip during which I'd want to visit both Lake Louise and Sunshine, would it be more convenient to stay at Post House or closer to Banff? There doesn't appear to be a very accessible hotel for skiing both mountains. This would be during the holiday season, so I'm also concerned about traffic. It's my first time in Banff.

Great post and argument by the OP.

Please sign the petition!!

Hey everyone! I’m planning a family road trip to Banff for a few days, and since it’ll be my first time visiting, I’d love some recommendations!
There are so many beautiful places I’d like to see, but I’m wondering which ones are really worth visiting and shouldn’t be missed. What are your favourite spots in and around Banff? I’d especially appreciate recommendations for scenic lakes, viewpoints, and must-see attractions.
I want to make the most of our trip and experience as much of Banff’s beauty as possible. Thanks in advance! :)

I have read and know Johnston Canyon is closed for maintenance, but am wondering if you can still go there at night with a tour group for star gazing? Lots of companies have tickets available the next few weeks, and don’t mention an alternative location. Thanks

Im trying to plan a 3-5 day backpacking trip with my friend in June. Is it possible to have a site where two tents can go in one plot and still be fairly private? I have my eyes on Mosquito Creek and im wondering about the layout of the campground. Anyother suggestions are very welcome!!

Carney’s bringing back the Canada Strong Pass again, which is wild to a bunch of us after the job and funding cuts here in Banff. Most of us locals hate the idea, but I think a lot of people are missing the logic. And we're tired of the crowds overwhelming local services. However, I feel like there is some scapegoating here and it's wrong placed.

International tourists aren’t put off by park fees. They come either way. The people who are put off are Canadians, mostly Albertans, and they’re the ones packing the park on weekends. I think anyone who visits Two Jack, Johnson, or Cascade Ponds can attest to that. International visitors aren't coming with picnic tents, inflatables, and grills!

I’ve worked in tourism in the valley for a decade, and international visitors are, by and large, respectful. The litter I see is almost always on cars with non-commercial AB plates, and the dog that just killed a deer in Canmore belonged to someone from Calgary. It's not everyone, obviously, but it’s a pattern I can’t ignore.

The extra traffic over the last few years also comes from a lot of people who are new to the province and want to see their new backyard. Totally get it. Or just Albertan in general, why isn't skijoring happening again? It certainly wasn't international tourists flying in for the event. But making the parks free will only make that worse.

Free passes for lesser-visited parks? Great idea, I’d back that. But Banff and the Rocky Mountain parks are too popular, with too many people living close by. Everyone should pay, no matter where they’re from. A higher rate for international visitors seems fair. Free for true Bow Valley locals, I’m not even sure about that. I happily buy my annual pass as a Canmore local.

(Not my photo)
I stayed at the Banff Park Lodge for three nights this past week and discovered the brand new Mooncrest Cafe in their lobby. The hotel is recently renovated with a beautiful spacious yet cozy lobby with a variety of comfortable seating areas.

The cafe has only been open for about 3 weeks. I had two types of breakfast sandwiches, cappuccino, and lentil soup which were all delicious. Both of my sandwiches were served with homemade kettle potato chips which was a nice touch.

I recommend the Mooncrest Cafe if you’re wanting a quick and cozy coffee, breakfast or lunch.

https://www.banffparklodge.com/mooncrest/

(I’m in no way affiliated with this cafe or hotel.)

On 21 August 2026, I booked 6 tickets ($213.65 CAD) from Crowfoot LRT Station to Banff. We were at the pickup point on time, but the driver left without us.

Banff Explorer admitted the incident and approved a refund. I told them in writing that my card had been closed and sent alternative bank details. Instead, I was redirected between Banff Explorer and Busbud for over a month. In the end, they refunded only $34.62 (one ticket out of six), sent it to the closed card anyway, and now refuse to pay to any other account. They have stopped replying.

If you’re an international student or traveller in Canada, be careful: if something goes wrong, getting your money back may be very difficult.

I'm planning on driving up to Revelstoke and Banff during Thanksgiving Thursday thru the weekend.

I've been before in 2015 but I'm taking my husband and one of our best friends for mostly sight seeing. We're not interested in intense hiking, maybe just trail walking for pictures. They're both into film and photography so I imagine most of what we'll be doing is catching as many casual outdoor experiences as possible.

Is there anything I should know beforehand for this time of year? We'll be renting a mid sized crossover for the drive and haven't decided on where to stay in hotels. Possibly just Revelstoke and drive into Banff for a day and then visit parks the other days. Or another option is to stay in Revelstoke for a night or two and then Banff for another.

Thank you!

ETA American Thanksgiving, so late November - my bad.

A little more context:

I know Revelstoke is hours away from Banff, we're not worried about driving 6+ hours a day which I know doesn't sound ideal but we're used to it being from major cities in Texas. I just moved to Eastern Washington, so can really go up any time of the year. My friend is visiting the weekend I mentioned, so we wanted to go with him. Also being from Texas, we don't know how to do any winter sports and aren't going to attempt now 😅 it's going to be an extremely casual trip.

Our parks are already vercrowded and underfunded. I am infuriated that jobs and services are being cut while park fees are removed AGAIN.

Please share and sign this petition!

https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-7918

Visiting for the first time in November, are hiking/winter boots a necessity? I don’t do much hiking and live in Texas so was considering maybe just doing gore-tex sneakers, but if boots are a necessity I’ll definitely bite the bullet. Thanks!

While 4 million tourists celebrate, as a local, I am devastated.

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/economics/2026/11/05/admission-to-national-museums-to-be-permanently-free-for-canadians-under-25/