🥾 Banff's Hidden Trails Removed

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Quick heads up: The Bow Valley Parkway changes back today. The eastern 17-kilometre section between Fireside Day-use Area and Johnston Canyon reopens to vehicles after a month of car-free cycling. It also restores one of the most popular routes from Banff to Johnston Canyon and trailheads like Cory Pass and Muleshoe Ridge. The next vehicle-free period runs from Sept. 1 to Oct. 6.

- Fortune Whelan, Ben S., Madalyn Beach

BANFF HAS 177 KILOMETRES OF UNOFFICIAL TRAILS. PARKS CANADA WANTS TO REMOVE MANY OF THEM

What’s Happening? Parks Canada has mapped roughly 177 kilometres of unofficial, user-created trails around the Banff townsite and has begun removing some of them as part of a long-term effort to restore wildlife habitat and improve animal movement through the park.

A Hidden Trail Network. Between 2019 and 2021, Parks Canada used GPS surveys to map informal trails created as hikers repeatedly left designated routes. The result was an unexpected network spanning about 177 kilometres around the Banff townsite.

The agency has committed to reducing priority informal trails by 20% from 2019 levels by 2030.

Why They're Being Removed. Parks Canada says informal trails increase human activity in sensitive areas and fragment wildlife habitat. The goal is to restore wildlife corridors that allow animals to move more freely between feeding, breeding and resting areas.

Using wildlife and trail data, the agency identified five priority areas: Tunnel Mountain Bench, the Golf Course, Sulphur Mountain, the Lake Minnewanka area and the Norquay-Cascade corridor.

Progress So Far. Parks Canada says decommissioning has already been completed in the Tunnel Mountain Bench and Golf Course wildlife corridors, though it has not disclosed how many kilometres of trail have been removed.

"Updated figures will be shared as planning and work in the remaining areas continues," the agency said.

Rather than simply blocking access, Parks Canada says it's improving signage, restoring informal trails, discouraging off-trail travel and making targeted improvements to official trails where needed. Some of the work will also be coordinated with wildfire risk-reduction projects.

Why It Matters. The work comes as visitation continues to climb. Banff National Park welcomed more than 4.5 million visitors in 2025, the busiest year in its history, while more than 1.3 million people visited during the first five months of 2026 alone. As visitation grows, Parks Canada says keeping people on designated trails will become increasingly important for protecting wildlife habitat and maintaining connected wildlife corridors.

Read our full story

THE FIRESMART MISTAKE EVERYONE IS MAKING RIGHT NOW

Since last wildfire season, a lot of homeowners have been thinking the same thing.

“We should probably remove those trees.”

It feels like the safest move. Clear space. Reduce fuel. Eliminate the risk.

But that’s not always how it works.

Nordic Tree Care is seeing more properties where people are overcorrecting, removing healthy trees without addressing the things that actually cause homes to ignite. Gutters packed with dry debris. Firewood stacked against the house. Fine fuels collecting under decks and along the foundation.

In a wildfire, it’s often ember storms that do the damage. And those embers are looking for small, overlooked ignition points, not necessarily full-grown trees.

That’s why Nordic Tree Care takes a more balanced approach. Tree removal is sometimes the right call, but it’s rarely the first one.

Fred, the owner, meets homeowners on-site to assess real risk and build a plan that makes sense.

You can book a free estimate and get a clear answer before making any big decisions. If you do book a service, new clients who are Bow Valley Insider readers receive 10% off. 

_{*Presented by Nordic Tree Care.}

THE DIGEST

• 🐻 Grizzlies Rip Into Occupied Tent, Prompt Camping Ban. A family of four grizzlies has forced Alberta Parks to ban tent camping at Kananaskis Lower Lake and Boulton Creek campgrounds after one bear ripped into an occupied tent. No one was injured, and bear spray was used during the encounter. Until at least July 6, only hard-sided camping units will be permitted. The incident comes amid a cluster of bear encounters across Kananaskis over the past two days, including a grizzly approaching a hiker near Mount Engadine and the closure of the Tryst Lake parking lot, the main trailhead for the popular Smutwood Peak hike, because of bear activity.

• 🧐 F1 Superstar Spotted Canoeing At Emerald Lake. At Bow Valley Insider, none of us follow Formula 1 closely, so we had to do a little homework on this one. Lewis Hamilton is apparently kind of a big deal. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion, who has more than 40 million Instagram followers and has recently been the subject of dating rumours involving Kim Kardashian, shared photos of himself and his mom canoeing at Emerald Lake this week.  The post has already racked up more than 1.1 million likes.

• 🚁 Helicopter Company Penalized After Banff Glacier Crash. Alpine Helicopters has been fined after a 2023 crash near Saskatchewan Glacier in Banff National Park. A whistleblower alleged fuel-soaked snow and crash debris were dumped on Crown land near a creek instead of being properly disposed of. Investigators later found debris matching the crashed helicopter at the site. The company denied intentionally avoiding disposal costs, saying the decision was made during a rushed response ahead of bad weather. It has until mid-July to appeal the $18,550 penalty. 

• 🚌 Brewster Workers Vote To Authorize Strike. More than 80% of Brewster drivers, mechanics, and bus washers have voted to authorize strike action after rejecting a proposed contract, with a legal strike possible as early as July 28 if a deal isn't reached. The workers, who operate transportation services to popular attractions throughout Banff and Jasper, are seeking higher wages and better working conditions. An informational practice picket is planned for July 9, while Brewster owner Pursuit says it remains committed to reaching a fair agreement through negotiations.

Here’s What Banff Sport Medicine Said About Working With Us

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BANFF DROPS SKIJORING AFTER REVIEW FINDS EVENT NEEDS MAJOR OVERHAUL

What’s Happening? Banff & Lake Louise Tourism has cancelled its annual skijoring event after concluding it would require a complete redesign, including ticketing and controlled access, to continue safely and successfully.

The event, which featured skiers being pulled by horses along Banff Avenue, had become one of the town's most popular winter spectacles.

Popularity Became The Problem. Organizers said January's event had simply outgrown Banff's ability to host it in its traditional format.

"With the event's growth in popularity, it was clear that it would need to be fundamentally redesigned, to include ticketing and controlled access," Banff & Lake Louise Tourism president and CEO Leslie Bruce said.

After reviewing attendance, economic data, alternate venues and consulting local businesses and partners, the organization concluded the event no longer met its goals of increasing overnight visitation, improving the visitor experience, supporting the local community and delivering a worthwhile return for Banff's economy.

"Considering the return on investment for Banff's economy, as well as the weather-dependent nature of the event, we determined that it wasn't viable to continue," Bruce said.

A Wake-Up Call For Banff. Mayor Corrie DiManno said the weekend became an important lesson as the town develops its long-term visitor management strategy.

"We saw what it looked like when a growing Calgary decided to come on the same day at the same time," she said. "It created this never-before-seen compression."

She warned that without better planning, similar crowding could become commonplace.

"My biggest fear is that, if we don't plan in earnest for the future, we could have a skijoring every Saturday of the summer 10 years from now," she said.

More Than Just Traffic. While overall vehicle volumes were slightly below peak summer levels, the event created record hourly surges that overwhelmed parking, sidewalks, emergency access and transit. It also became the busiest day in Roam Transit's history, though buses still struggled to keep up because congestion delayed service.

The Bottom Line. Bruce acknowledged the decision will disappoint some people but said it followed months of analysis and was made "thoughtfully, and in the best interests of our members and community."

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THINGS TO DO

Friday

• Books & Brews Book Swap. Trade your finished reads for new ones at Canmore Brewing's community book swap. Bring as many books as you'd like (labelled by genre), swap throughout the evening, and enjoy a voucher for a $6 pint. 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM. Canmore Brewing Company. Free.*

Saturday

• Mountain Made Market. Local artists, food vendors, coffee, live music, and plenty of handmade goods return for a Canada Day market. A good excuse to spend the afternoon browsing and supporting local makers. 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Canmore Civic Centre. Free. 

• Morleyville Interpretive Trail Opening. Celebrate the opening of the new Stories of the Land and People Interpretive Trail, developed over five years with Stoney Elders and community members. The event includes a Pipe Ceremony, cultural programming, and refreshments. 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM. Historic Morleyville, McDougall Memorial Church. Free. 

• A Night Of Electronic Music. Canmore's electronic music collective returns with a night of original music, local DJs, and art installations. Featuring Bunny Hops, Lethargica, IceFerg, and Quantum Monastery, the event is built around the PLUR philosophy: peace, love, unity, and respect. 8:00 PM - 1:00 AM. artsPlace, Canmore. $12.75-$15.*

Sunday

• Afternoon Chamber Music Concert. Celebrate live music with an afternoon of strings, piano, and vocals featuring works by Bach, Handel, Piazzolla, Strauss, and more. The concert brings together local and guest musicians. 2:00 PM. St. George in the Pines, Banff. $30.

EUROPEAN NAIL TECHNIQUES HAVE ARRIVED IN CANMORE

We recently visited Ivana at Pika Nails to see why clients are booking her Russian manicure service. Originally trained in Europe, Ivana specializes in detailed cuticle work and natural-looking results that can last for weeks. Her approach focuses on creating stronger, healthier-looking nails without the bulky appearance often associated with gel manicures. Watch our experience to see the process for yourself. Bow Valley Insider readers can get $20 off when booking a gel nail manicure + pedicure by filling out this quick form.

_{*Presented by Pika Nails.}

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🍽️ Cornerstone Café Tests Lamb Curry Meal Kit. Cornerstone Café is trying out a new recipe for its Reheat & Eat take-home meal kits, and this week’s feature is lamb curry. The flash-frozen meal serves two comfortably and comes packed with tender lamb and hearty vegetables. Customers who buy one and message feedback to their Instagram will be entered to win a free Reheat & Eat meal. Just pop into the café at the Canmore Nordic Centre sometime over the next week to give it a try.*

• 🏕️ One More Camping Tip Before Canada Day. We mentioned Alberta Parks' new Spot Watch tool on Wednesday, but it's worth another reminder with Canada Day camping season about to hit. The free tool lets you track sold-out campgrounds and sends a text or email the moment a campsite opens up. It only takes a few minutes to set up, and if you're hoping to snag a last-minute cancellation this summer, now's a good time to get your account ready. One important catch: getting an alert doesn't reserve the campsite. It’s still first-come, first-served.

• 🎸 Musicians Wanted For Ride The Cyclone. Ever wanted to play in the pit for a live musical? Pine Tree Players is looking for band members for its November production of Ride the Cyclone. Musicians of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, whether you've played theatre before or not. Rehearsals begin Aug. 10, with performances running Nov. 18-28. Applications close July 8.*

• 📍 Reuse Hub Expands With New Location And Hours. Back in May, we told you about ReUse Bow Valley's pilot project to keep reusable building materials out of the landfill. The community-run hub has now moved to Unit E7, 110 Bow Meadows Crescent, and is now open Thursdays from 3-6 PM, Saturdays from 8-10 AM, and Sundays from 10 AM-12 PM. Whether you're donating leftover building materials or hunting for supplies for your next project, it's worth a visit.*

CIVIC NEWS

• Banff Extends Canoe Club Contract By One Year. Banff council has approved a one-year extension for the Banff Canoe Club after a failed retaining wall and smaller temporary dock increased operating costs and reduced launch capacity. The operator told council labour costs have risen because staff can no longer store canoes at the dock, while launches have dropped from five or six canoes at a time to just two or three. The extension gives the business additional time to recover while the Town works toward replacing the retaining wall.

LIVE MUSIC

• Friday, June 26th, 2026, 5:00 PM: DJ Tenax.  Location: Rose and Crown, Banff. No Cover.

• Friday, June 26th, 2026, 10:00 PM: Matt Beatty.  Location: The Drake, Canmore. No Cover.

• Saturday, June 27th, 2026, 9:00 PM: Deejayzorrow.  Location: Sizzlers, Banff. No Cover.

• Saturday, June 27th, 2026, 10:00 PM: Banff Latin Fiesta.  Location: Boston Pizza, Banff. No Cover.

SPORTS

• Canmore Athlete Takes On Two Of North America's Toughest Mountain Races. You may remember the name Emma Cook-Clarke from our reporting earlier this year on Canada's Olympic ski mountaineering team. The Canmore athlete is now shifting from skis to trail shoes as she tackles two of North America's most demanding mountain running races in back-to-back weekends: Alberta's Minotaur Vertical Kilometer and Alaska's legendary Mount Marathon. Cook-Clarke says she's drawn to "terrain that pushes my limits" as she continues to compete across multiple mountain sports. 

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Monday, 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.