🐻 A Bear Destroyed Their Tent

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Our resident hiking writer, Janine, is back for the summer and just published a detailed guide to Middle Sister, one of Canmore's classic summit hikes. If you've already tackled Ha Ling Peak and EEOR and are wondering what's next, this is a natural progression. The hike is considered beginner-friendly because there's no scrambling, but don't mistake that for easy. At 15.4 km round-trip with nearly 1,500 metres of elevation gain, it's a full-day mountain objective. The reward? Some of the best summit views in the Bow Valley. Read our full guide.

- Fortune Whelan, Ben S., Madalyn Beach

A SKINHOLE JUST OPENED UP AT BANFF'S LAKE MINNEWANKA

What’s Happening? A ground collapse at Lake Minnewanka has exposed a previously unknown underground structure that Parks Canada believes may date back to the 1940s. The area has been fenced off while heritage specialists investigate what exactly was buried beneath the beach.

Not A Mine After All? The discovery gained attention after Banff-born local Matt Shakotko posted a video of what appeared to be a newly opened sinkhole near the popular day-use area. Some online speculation linked the feature to the Bow Valley's historic coal mining industry.

However, Parks Canada says early evidence points in a different direction.

"The collapse was caused by the failure of the roof of a previously unknown underground structure located beneath the surface," Banff National Park communications officer Tomi Postma told Bow Valley Insider.

A Piece Of Banff's Past. According to Parks Canada, the structure contains log walls and rough-cut planks made from untreated wood, suggesting it predates the 1950s or 1960s.

Officials believe it may be connected to the former Lake Minnewanka Campground, which operated in the area until 1952 before the site was converted into a day-use area.

"It is possible that this feature was related to the Lake Minnewanka Campground and was likely installed in early 1944," Postma said.

Parks Canada says it has not been able to locate any historical plans or photographs identifying the structure's exact purpose, adding to the mystery surrounding the discovery.

Why It's Interesting. Lake Minnewanka is already one of Banff's most historically significant sites. The area contains evidence of roughly 10,000 years of human occupation, along with the submerged remnants of the former Minnewanka Landing townsite, which was flooded when the lake was raised following construction of the current dam in 1941.

What's Next? Parks Canada has fenced off the area and says the ground remains unstable. Heritage specialists are now assessing the site to determine the structure's origin and whether it holds archaeological or historical significance before restoration work begins.

Read our full article

MEET KAREN: THE WOMAN QUIETLY MAKING BOW VALLEY VACATIONS EASIER

A few years ago, Karen was on a group trip to Nashville when she used a pre-arrival grocery service for the first time.

Instead of spending the first few hours of the trip shopping for food, drinks, and supplies, everything was already waiting when the group arrived.

The experience stuck with her.

After nearly 20 years working in social work, Karen launched Vacay Essentials to bring that same convenience to visitors staying in Canmore, Banff, and surrounding mountain communities.

Today, she helps travelers arrive to stocked fridges, cold beverages, special occasion setups, and other vacation essentials already waiting at their accommodation. She's even sourced unique requests like a Banff Springs Golf Course flag for a visitor planning a surprise 40th birthday gift.

Her goal is simple: help people spend less time running errands and more time enjoying their vacation.

Manage a vacation rental, resort, or guest accommodation? Fill out this quick form, and Karen will be in touch to learn more about your property and explore working together.

_{*Presented by Vacay Essentials.}

THE DIGEST

• 🐻 Popular Lake Minnewanka Trails Shut Down By Bear Activity. Parks Canada has closed the Lake Minnewanka Trail, Aylmer Pass Trail, and several backcountry campgrounds after black bears began displaying food-seeking behaviour in the area. One camper reported returning from a day hike on Saturday to find their tent in "absolute shambles" after a bear ripped through it (see pictures here). The good news: the Lake Minnewanka day-use area remains open if you're just looking to enjoy the shoreline. The closure affects much of the trail network along the lake's north shore. No reopening timeline has been set.

• 📣 Proposed Staircase Lands Development Hosting Public Open House. This is one we know many readers have been following. The team behind Trailhaus, the proposed glamping development on the Staircase Lands near Quarry Lake, is hosting a public open house on June 24 at the Canmore Nordic Centre. Developers say they'll share project details, explain the planning process, answer questions, and hear community feedback. The proposal has generated significant debate locally, with concerns raised around wildlife corridors, wildfire risk, traffic, evacuation routes, and impacts on nearby neighbourhoods. 

• 🚧 Major Kananaskis Parking Closures Begin Shortly. Several popular parking areas along Powderface Road, including Jumpingpound Summit, Prairie Creek, Lusk Pass, and Powderface Ridge, are set to close for construction starting next Monday. Alberta Parks' public notice says the closures are in effect until June 30, 2027. The province says Powderface Road itself will remain open and trails outside the closure areas remain accessible, but we're still working to confirm whether hikers can legally use undesignated roadside parking to access these routes. 

• 🤖 AI Is Now Watching For Polar Bears. This one isn't Bow Valley news, but it's the kind of thing we think many of you will find interesting. A new AI-powered system called "Beardar" has been deployed in the Canadian Arctic to detect polar bears approaching remote communities and research stations. The technology combines radar, cameras, and artificial intelligence to spot bears, track their movements, and alert people before a potentially dangerous encounter occurs. Researchers say it's designed to keep both humans and bears safe as shrinking sea ice pushes more polar bears onto land in search of food. 

You Probably Should’ve Reached Out Already

Not trying to be dramatic… but most of our partners book months in advance.

June? Gone.
July? 90% booked
Summer? Filling fast

We only have so much space each month.

So if your competitor gets here first…

➡️ Fill out the form before they do

JASPER SKYTRAM COULD BE REPLACED WITH NEW GONDOLA UNDER MAJOR PROPOSAL

What’s Happening? One of Jasper's most iconic attractions could be getting a major upgrade. Tourism operator Pursuit is proposing to replace the aging Jasper SkyTram with a modern gondola system as part of a broader $300 million investment strategy across its Rocky Mountain attractions and hotels.

Why Replace The SkyTram? The Jasper SkyTram has carried visitors up Whistlers Mountain since 1964, but Pursuit says demand now exceeds the attraction's current capacity.

In investor materials released alongside its latest financial results, the company identified a gondola replacement as part of its long-term Vision 2030 strategy.

"We are investing in this iconic attraction... to ensure it endures as a defining experience for decades to come," Pursuit's Canadian chief operating officer Stuart Back told Bow Valley Insider.

Pursuit emphasized that the proposal is still under review by Parks Canada and no final approvals have been granted.

A Vote Of Confidence In Jasper. The proposed gondola comes less than two years after the 2024 wildfire that devastated parts of Jasper.

Pursuit says the SkyTram project is part of a broader commitment to the community, which also includes hotel upgrades at the Forest Park Hotel and Lobstick Lodge.

"Jasper is central to Pursuit's long-term strategy," Back said.

The Tourism Numbers Are Strong. The company told investors that demand for Rocky Mountain travel remains robust despite the wildfire's impacts.

Pursuit reported record first-quarter revenue, while forward bookings at its Canadian hotels increased from roughly $49 million to $58 million year-over-year.

Meanwhile, Parks Canada estimates Jasper welcomed approximately 2.13 million visitors in 2025, roughly one million more than the previous year as the community continued its recovery.

What's Next? Pursuit has not disclosed project costs, timelines or design details for the proposed gondola. The company says it is continuing to work through the regulatory review process with Parks Canada before making any final decisions.

Read our full story

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Social Mountain Bike Ride. Looking for people to ride with? Canmore Brewing is hosting a weekly mountain bike ride for intermediate and advanced riders, led by local rider Ryan McKnight. Expect a solid Canmore trail, a good workout, and a post-ride pint back at the brewery with your new riding buddies. 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Canmore Brewing Company. Free.*

• Try Orienteering At Quarry Lake. Part trail run, part scavenger hunt, part navigation challenge. The Alberta Orienteering Association is hosting an evening event around Quarry Lake with courses for all skill levels, including beginners. A short intro session is included, so no experience is required. 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Quarry Lake, Canmore. Registration required. 

Thursday

• Stoney Nakoda Vendors At Canmore Mountain Market. In honour of National Indigenous History Month, the Canmore Mountain Market is featuring Stoney Nakoda vendors throughout June. It's a chance to support Indigenous-owned businesses, meet local makers, and explore products rooted in Stoney Nakoda culture and traditions. 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Elevation Place, Canmore. Free to attend. 

• Nature Sketching Workshop. Want to slow down and pay closer attention to the natural world? artsPlace is hosting a beginner-friendly flower sketching workshop where participants will learn to draw real plants while exploring shape, symmetry, and structure. Materials are included. 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. $52.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🌸 Canmore's Most Colourful Parking Lot. If you’ve driven past the old car dealership on Canmore’s Railway Ave lately, you may have noticed it’s transformed into a full-blown garden centre. Wendy’s Garden Centre is back for another season with hanging baskets, flowering shrubs, veggie starts, herbs, trees, and enough colour to make your current patio setup feel slightly inadequate. Wendy has spent decades helping Canmore businesses and locals make their outdoor spaces look good, and now she’s set up right across from Elevation Place (map). Open daily 9 AM-6 PM (5 PM Sundays), rain or shine.*

• ☕ Whitebark Café Summer Update. We thought we’d share a quick update from one of our favourite Banff coffee shops. Whitebark Café is now open 6 AM-6 PM daily for the summer, which is excellent news for early hikers, patio lingerers, and anyone who needs coffee before forming full sentences. The independent specialty coffee shop serves house-made breakfast wraps, sausage rolls, vegan quinoa rolls, egg cups, soups, salads, baked goods, and gluten-free options. Our go-to is the “Banff Fog,” which is a play on the classic London Fog.*

• 🎉 Grizzly Paw’s Big Shiny Birthday Bash. Still sorting out Father’s Day plans? Grizzly Paw is turning 30 and celebrating with a Father's Day party inspired by the glory days of the 1990s. Expect live cover bands playing 90s and 2000s favourites, brewery tours, family activities, games, food, and beer at the Old Canmore Road Beer Garden. The event runs this Sunday from 12-9 PM. Tickets are $10 and include a hot dog and soda. Kids 12 and under are free.*

• 🗻 Robson Pass Hut Winter Bookings Are Open. Big news for winter backcountry planners: the new Robson Pass Hut (also known as Byron Caldwell Hut) will be open this winter. Located near Mount Robson, the hut gives skiers access to one of the most spectacular alpine areas in the Canadian Rockies. Getting there is no small undertaking. You can book helicopter access on Mondays and Fridays, or ski the 24-km approach yourself through avalanche terrain with 850 metres of elevation gain. Either way, this is firmly in the "serious mountain objective" category.

• 🍁 Canada Day At The Fat Ox. Looking for a front-row seat to Banff's Canada Day parade? The Fat Ox is opening early on July 1 with a special brunch from 9-11 AM before the parade rolls down Banff Avenue. After that, expect patio drinks, music, mountain-town people-watching, complimentary SHAFTs for the first 90 guests, and free s'mores in the evening. It's walk-in only from 9 AM-4 PM, so arriving early is probably a good idea. Dinner reservations resume after 4 PM.*

CIVIC NEWS

• Tourism Canmore Kananaskis Secures Funding Through 2028. Canmore council has approved a new four-year funding agreement with Tourism Canmore Kananaskis, the organization responsible for promoting the region to visitors. The group will continue receiving town funding tied to business license revenue, which has grown from about $54,000 in 2020 to nearly $67,000 in 2024. While the agreement provides stability for the next four years, the organization says its long-term funding model needs work. One issue: many hotels and tourism operators help fund the organization through voluntary contributions, while sectors such as short-term rentals are not currently part of that funding model.

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, June 17th, 10:00 PM: DJ Bunny Hops. Location: High Rollers, Banff. No Cover.

• Thursday, June 18th, 8:30 PM: Jam Night with Gary Gonis.. Location: Tavern 1883, Canmore. No Cover.

• Thursday, June 18th, 10:00 PM: Jesse Roads.. Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

SPORTS

• The Canmore MTB Classic Keeps Getting Bigger. If you stopped by the Nordic Centre last weekend, you weren't just watching a local race. The Canmore MTB Classic attracted riders from across North and South America, Australia, and New Zealand as the only Canadian stop on the UCI Mountain Bike Continental Series. More than 600 athletes competed for valuable international ranking points, with Canmore’s Logan Sadesky placing second in the elite men's event. The race is quickly becoming one of the biggest mountain bike events in the country. Full results.

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Friday, same time, same place! 

Heads Up: We sometimes feature paid promotion from local businesses and organizations we trust. When you see a little asterisk (*), that means it’s a sponsored post. We only work with partners we think our readers will actually care about.