With longer days and warmer weather, spring is a wonderful time of year to visit the mountain town of Banff. Here’s how to spend a fun weekend in Banff this spring!
In Banff, spring is that wonderful in-between season where you can ski and bike (or hike) on the same day, then enjoy a cold one on a patio. Whether you seek a day of adventure, or just wanna chill in a gorgeous mountain setting, Banff has fun for everyone, only 1.5 hours from Calgary. Here are seven fun things to do in Banff this spring.
Disclosure: This story was sponsored by Pursuit Banff Jasper Collection, but all words and opinions are my own.
Fun things to do in Banff this spring
1. Ride & Dine at Banff Gondola
Ride the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain and enjoy sky-high dining at Sky Bistro or Northern Lights Alpine Kitchen. While the award-winning Sky Bistro is a perfect date spot with floor to ceiling windows (go at sunset!) and an amazing wine and drink list, they also have a kids’ menu. Northern Lights Bistro puts on an incredible buffet brunch (weekends only) and buffet dinner (daily) complete with carving station.
Allow time to explore the Upper Terminal, take in the panoramic views from the rooftop observation deck, then hike the boardwalk and 368 stairs to Sanson’s Peak (500 metres one way).
Spring events include:
- Bloom & Brunch Festival: This spring festival features a buffet brunch, mimosa bar, live music, Instagram-ready floral displays, and more. Saturdays & Sundays from April 6 to May 12, 2024, 11 am – 3 pm.
- Nightrise, a beautiful and immersive multimedia experience, runs evenings only from November 18, 2023 until March 31, 2024. Read more about it in our story, Brazen + Nightrise: A Night to Remember.
Current promotions:
- Kids 5 & under ride free with a paying adult!
- Kids 6-15 rid free with a regular-priced adult until 12 noon (one free child ticket per paying adult) AND get a free treat when you book the Family Experience. Cannot be combined with any other offer.
- Alberta residents get up to 20% off with Pursuit Rewards Admission (Must have a valid Alberta postal code and consent to receive email offers from Pursuit.).
- Book the Sky Experience Lunch, Nightrise Sky Experience, Northern Lights Lunch, or Northern Lights Nightrise Experience to save when you ride and dine.
To buy tickets or get more information, visit Pursuit Banff | Banff Gondola | Deals & Packages.
***If you’d like to hike up and ride the gondola down, you will need to purchase a one-way ticket in advance.***
2. Hike to an old hermit cabin, hoodoos, and mountain swing
Billy Carver, known as The Hermit of Inglismaldie, built a log cabin near beautiful Johnson Lake in 1910 and lived alone in it for 27 years. If you know where to look, you can discover this relic from the past. For directions to the hermit cabin, hoodoos lookout, and swing, read our story: Exploring Johnson Lake.
For more short trails to try, see our story: The Best Short Spring Hikes in Banff.
3. Picnic in the park
Get takeout from your favorite restaurant (Farm + Fire has amazing flatbread and rotisserie chicken), and have a picnic at Banff Central Park, located at Banff Avenue and Buffalo Street. The park has picnic tables and a cool nature playground, and is walking distance to Bow Falls (1.3 km).
Cascade Ponds, five kilometres from downtown Banff, is a pretty picnic area with firepits. Roast some hot dogs and marshmallows, then explore Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive. Two Jack Lake, Johnson Lake, and Lake Minnewanka are all worth a visit.
4. Discover Banff’s rich history with Open Top Touring
Open Top Touring offers scenic and historic tours in vintage-style open top coaches (*glass roofs are put on in cold/wet weather). Visit some of Banff’s most instagrammable places and learn about the local movers and shakers of the 1920s. Fun for all ages! For more information, see our story: Discover Banff’s History & Scenery in Style with Open Top Touring.
90-minute tours are available Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from October 13, 2023 – May 17, 2024 (10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm), weather permitting. Book Open Top Touring tickets here.
5. Ski Banff
Banff National Park has three amazing ski resorts: Mount Norquay, Sunshine Village, and Lake Louise Ski Resort. Mount Norquay is Banff’s oldest and closest ski hill. Established in 1926 and just minutes from downtown Banff, Norquay has terrain for all levels and an awesome ski school. Sunshine Village boasts “Canada’s Best Snow and three mountains of diverse terrain.” You’ll find one of the gnarliest runs in the world at Sunshine’s renowned Delirium Dive (experts only, avalanche gear required and helmets strongly recommended). Lake Louise Ski Resort was voted Best Ski Resort for Families in 2018, but it’s probably best known for its killer views! Don’t let the family-friendly rep fool you either – with four mountain faces and 10 lifts, there is some challenging terrain here in addition to beginner runs.
Need rentals? Black Tie Ski Rentals of Banff can outfit you with performance skis, snowboards, and ski wear, AND deliver the gear straight to your hotel! Black Tie delivers to Canmore, Banff, and Lake Louise.
6. Bike Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive and the Bow Valley Parkway
For amazing views and wildlife viewing opportunities, bike Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive Loop. Park at Cascade Ponds Day Use Area and bike to Two Jack Lake and Lake Minnewanka! The loop is 24 kilometres long and has about 180 metres elevation gain. Go early in the morning to avoid traffic.
Bike the east side of the Bow Valley Parkway without cars from May 1 – June 25, 2024 (8 am to 8 pm) and August 30-September 30, 2024 (8 am to 8 pm)*. Bike from the Banff Train Station (free parking) to Vermilion Lakes Drive, then head west to the Bow Valley Parkway / Highway 1A. It’s 31.3 kilometres from Fenlands Rec Centre to Castle Junction. Bring a bike lock and hike to Johnston Canyon if time allows! This popular hike is only 1.2 km to Lower Falls, or 2.4 km to Upper Falls.
For more fun without breaking a sweat, rent e-bikes from Banff Cycle or sign up for a guided e-bike tour.
See our story for more information: e-bike the Bow Valley Parkway and Hike Johnston Canyon.
*Note there is a seasonal travel restriction on Bow Valley Parkway east for cyclists and hikers from 8 pm to 8 am to give wildlife a break.
7. See the sights and learn about local history on the Lake Minnewanka Cruise
The Lake Minnewanka Cruise is an awesome opportunity to discover the sights and secrets of Minn-waki, the “Water of the Spirits” (as its known in the Stoney Nakoda language). Read more about our experience in our story Discover the secrets of the “Water of the Spirits” on the Lake Minnewanka Cruise in Banff.
Where to Stay
Elk + Avenue Hotel (Expedia affiliate link), conveniently located on Banff Avenue, has spacious, stylish rooms – including suites if you’d like more space. With fantastic dining onsite (see our review of Farm + Fire Restaurant for more info), and a grocery store across the street in case you forgot anything, you can park the car and relax after a day of adventuring. We love the loft suites because the adults can hang out downstairs while the kids sleep upstairs.
Know Before You Go
- A Parks Canada Discovery Pass is required to stop in Banff National Park. Save up to $10 at AMA (in-store purchase)! Passes may also be purchased at MEC, Parks Canada, or the park gates.
- You are in bear territory (I have even seen bears on the edge of town!). Review our Bear Safety Tips and keep bear spray accessible.
- Dogs must be kept on a leash in the national parks.
What to Bring
Disclosure: This section includes affiliate links through which I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our small family business!
Good hiking boots, a down hoody/fleece, toque, gloves, and windproof/waterproof shell are recommended year round.
For winter hiking, we recommend traction devices such as Kahtoola Microspikes (Available from Amazon and MEC), or Hillsound Trail Crampons (Available at Amazon and Sport Chek) and trekking poles with snow baskets. Base layers, insulated winter boots, a down jacket and windproof/waterproof shell (or insulated ski jacket/parka), gloves or mittens, and toque are cold weather must-haves.
- See our fall/winter hiking gear guide for product recommendations.
- For snowshoeing, see our Snowshoeing Gear List.
You should also carry The Ten Essentials including: water, extra food, extra clothes, a headlamp, a GPS/satellite communicator (or compass) and map of the area, sunscreen (this one is safe for babies), bug spray (this one contains 20% icaridin and will repel ticks), and bear spray. Carry bear spray in a Frontiersman Bear Spray Holster or Scat Belt.
Getting Here
Banff is located 1.5 hours (129 km) west of Calgary, just a few kilometres off the Trans-Canada Highway.
Related Posts
- Hiking Johnston Canyon
- Stewart Canyon Trail, Banff
- Best Short Hikes in Banff
- Spring Road Biking in Banff and Kananaskis
- Fun things to do in Banff this summer
- How to Spend a Fun Girls’ Weekend in Banff
- A Fun Tube & Stay Winter Weekend in Banff
