🚠 Chairlift Fall Sparks Review

Good morning, Bow Valley!

Well, we’re back after our little Christmas break. By Sunday night, we were already getting antsy to hit publish again. Today’s edition is a bit different. Instead of our usual Things to Do section, we’ve swapped in a quick roundup of our top picks for New Year’s Eve around the Bow Valley. Enjoy!

— Fortune Whelan & Ben S.

TWO BANFF HIKES RANK IN THE TOP 10 MOST-USED TRAILS IN THE WORLD

What’s Happening? Two of Banff’s most recognizable hikes, Johnston Canyon and Tunnel Mountain, ranked among the top 10 most-used trails in the world in 2025, according to new data from AllTrails, widely considered the leading hiking and navigation app globally. While few locals will be surprised, the scale of the data underscores how intense year-round trail use has become.

How They Made the List. The rankings come from AllTrails’ annual Year on the Trails report, which analyzed real-time navigation activity from more than 90 million users across roughly 500,000 trails worldwide. Unlike lists based on reviews or star ratings, this one tracks where people actually went using the app’s Navigate feature. “This year’s ranking is based on real-time usage, not ratings,” said Christina Saint Louis, a public relations associate with AllTrails. “It shows where people are actively navigating on the ground, rather than which trails are simply bookmarked or reviewed.”

A First for These Banff Trails. While Canadian hikes have appeared in past year-end lists, this marks the first time Johnston Canyon and Tunnel Mountain have ranked among the world’s most-used trails under this usage-based methodology. “In 2023 we released a slightly different selection, featuring five Canadian trails, including one in Yoho National Park, the Lake O’Hara Alpine Circuit,” Saint Louis said. That year’s rankings were based on average star ratings rather than real-time use.

Accessibility Matters. Both trails are located close to town, relatively short, and accessible year-round, factors that tend to drive high traffic. They now sit alongside globally famous routes like Delicate Arch in Utah and Roys Peak in New Zealand.

Popularity Comes With Pressure. The ranking mirrors what locals and visitors have already seen on the ground. During peak summer, Bow Valley Insider previously reported on congestion, parking conflicts, and litter at Johnston Canyon, underscoring how global popularity can reshape the experience on Banff’s busiest trails.

Check out our full article for the complete top 10 global trail rankings and locals’ reaction.

FOR THE PAIN YOU KEEP MANAGING, NOT SOLVING

If you have bounced between massage, standard chiropractic, stretching apps, and that one mobility routine you swore you would stick to, Precision Spinal is probably the clinic you try when nothing else has fully worked. Their focus is NUCCA, an upper cervical technique that starts at the top of the neck and can change the entire alignment of the spine below it. The adjustment is gentle and very different from the traditional chiropractic style most people expect.

What surprises their patients is how often long standing issues finally shift once the head and neck are corrected. Think headaches that come and go for years, hip pain that keeps returning, weird leg tightness that never resolves, or that constant “off balance” feeling.

The first two visits include laser aligned X-rays and computerized muscle scans so the plan is crystal clear before treatment begins.

Bow Valley Insider readers get a complimentary 30-minute in-person consultation with Dr. Chris Long to review your symptoms and concerns. Fill out this quick form, and they’ll be in touch.

_{*Presented by Precision Spinal}

THE DIGEST

• 🚠 Skier Injured After Falling From Chairlift At Sunshine Village. An 18-year-old skier was injured after slipping from the Wawa Chair on Dec. 21, prompting an on-mountain medical response and transport to hospital in stable condition, according to Banff Sunshine Village. Photos and claims circulating online suggested a 40-foot fall, but the resort has not confirmed a distance. Sunshine says the incident is rare and has launched an internal review.

• 🚗 Parking Rules Have Quietly Changed At Two Icefields Parkway Viewpoints. Parks Canada has introduced temporary changes at Bow Lake and Crowfoot Glacier along the Icefields Parkway, adding dedicated entry and exit points, concrete barriers, and reworked parking layouts. Passenger vehicles can still stop, but capacity is tighter. Large vehicles face new limits: no bus or RV parking at Bow Lake, and restricted access at Crowfoot Glacier. 

• ❄️ Lake Louise Just Rewrote Its Early-Season Record Books. A relentless December storm cycle has delivered 504 cm of snow on the upper mountain, making this the deepest start to a season in the resort’s history. The milestone comes alongside the opening of Richardson’s Ridge, the new 200-acre terrain area. “It’s been an exceptional start to the season and it doesn’t show signs of stopping,” said Emmett McPartlin, the resort’s director of sales and marketing.

• 🩺 Mobile Mammography Screening Is Returning To Canmore In January. Alberta Health’s Screen Test unit will be parked at Canmore General Hospital from Jan. 23 to 27, offering no-cost breast cancer screening for residents ages 45 to 74 by appointment. The mobile clinic helps fill a local gap, giving Bow Valley residents easier access to early detection without travelling out of town.

• 🐻 A Grizzly Bear Briefly Shut Down A Ski Race At Lake Louise. One of the Bow Valley’s famous grizzlies, Split Lip, wandered onto a ski run during the Santa Slalom races at Lake Louise Ski Resort on Dec 20, prompting officials to halt the event. Parks Canada staff monitored the bear as it moved through the Juniper area before heading back toward the backcountry. See the footage here. 

WATCH: AVALANCHES RUN TO VALLEY FLOOR AFTER 10-DAY ICEFIELDS PARKWAY CLOSURE

What’s Happening? After a 10-day shutdown that began December 14, the Icefields Parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper has reopened following an unusually intense December avalanche cycle that dumped more than 170 centimetres of snow and sent avalanches to valley bottom. Watch the video footage from multiple slides.

Why This Closure Stood Out. Winter closures on Highway 93 North are common. A 10-day shutdown in mid-December is not. Avalanche control and snow clearing were required along the entire parkway as snowfall totals in parts of Jasper National Park already matched levels typically seen in April. During an aerial reconnaissance flight on December 23, safety teams observed a widespread natural avalanche cycle, with multiple slides rated up to size 3.5, large enough to destroy vehicles, break mature timber, and threaten highways.

Avalanches Running to the Valley Floor. One of the most striking features of this cycle was how far several avalanches travelled. On Mount Hector, a slide ran the entire path and crossed the highway. “The Hector path typically hits the road in May as a big wet spring avalanche,” said Grant Statham, a mountain guide and avalanche forecaster. “The size of this December avalanche was unexpected.” Similar full-path avalanches were also observed on Mount Saskatchewan, highlighting how widespread and powerful the cycle was across the region.

Not Just the Icefields Parkway. The avalanche cycle extended beyond Highway 93 North. Near Sunshine Village, a size 3 avalanche released on Mount Bourgeau on December 27, with patrol investigations suggesting it was triggered by mountain goats. 

Near Canmore, avalanche control the same day temporarily closed Spray Lakes Road while crews worked on Mount Buller and the East End of Rundle. Officials described the Buller area as “hot with debris,” with avalanche debris reaching the roadway and forcing several hours of cleanup before reopening. It marked the second avalanche control operation on the East End of Rundle this month, following an earlier operation on December 16.

PLANNING NEW YEAR'S EVE? 5 PICKS WE’D ACTUALLY POINT OUR FRIENDS TO

• Trivia Night. If your ideal NYE involves laughs over loud music, trivia night at the Banff Legion is your move. Things get underway at 7 PM with teams of 2 to 12, themed questions, and prizes. It’s free, open to everyone, and kid-friendly until 9 PM. Pro tip: arrive early. The kitchen will be open.*

• Candlelit Dinner With Fancy Cocktails. Looking for cozy, indulgent, and just the right amount of fancy? Fat Ox is leaning into candlelight, table-side martinis, and a New Year’s Eve menu that includes scallop crudo with caviar, white truffle risotto, and beef tenderloin with lobster mashed potatoes. It’s a great fit for couples or anyone who wants to be well-fed and in no rush to leave.*

• Family Friendly Neon Light Tunnel Experience. From now until Jan. 3, the Canmore Recreation Centre football field transforms into a 100-foot immersive light tunnel. Walk through, interact, and watch the colours respond. All ages welcome, zero pressure, and very photogenic. A great kid-friendly activity best seen after sunset. 

• Live Jazz and a Late Dinner. If you’re looking for something relaxed, Bankhead Restaurant is hosting the local jazz band, Exit 91. Late-dinner seating begins at 9:30 PM, with guests seated at that time for a special four-course menu featuring crab salad, bison ravioli, Alberta beef striploin steak, and chocolate cake. A good option for people who want to enjoy music at their table. Call 403-679-1771 for reservations.*

• Open Your Own Champagne Bottle With a Sword. Banff Social is hosting a four-course Western Canadian dinner, plus the option to open your own champagne bottle tableside using a ceremonial blade, with staff guiding the moment. Two seatings are available from 5 to 7:30 PM or 7 to 9:30 PM. A solid pick for anyone looking for dinner that feels special without being over the top.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 🚲 Try Fatbiking This Winter. Rebound Cycle invites you to try fatbiking. Fatbiking is essentially mountain biking adapted for snow, using oversized tires that float and grip on winter trails. They offer a full fleet of Trek Fatbikes rentals for adults and kids, plus electric options. Everything you need is included, with in-house guides who know the best snowy trails. Use code BVINSIDER for 15% off, valid until January 31, 2026.*

• 🐾 Inside Canmore’s Newest Pet Store. If your pet barks, meows, hops, slithers, chirps, or scurries, this one’s for you. We checked out the new Pet Valu in Canmore, and it’s packed with way more than just dog and cat supplies. Think full habitats, enrichment toys, specialty food for all kinds of pets, plus a dog wash for those muddy winter hikes. Watch our quick store tour video.*

• ✨ ABBA Tribute Show Brings a Holiday Party to Banff Springs. From Mamma Mia to Voulez-Vous, every ABBA hit gets its turn at the Banff Springs. This show is pure joy with glitter, harmonies, and nightly prizes for the best dressed. It is a holiday night out that feels more like a party than a performance. Tickets are already pretty reasonable, but use code BOWVALLEYINSIDER for an extra 15% off.*

• 💼 A New Way for Small Businesses to Access Support. The Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce is rolling out a new Microbusiness Membership for 2026, aimed at newer or smaller businesses in the Bow Valley. If your annual revenue is under $30,000, you may qualify for a lower-cost way to access Chamber resources, networking, and support. Worth a look if you’re early-stage or testing the waters locally. Learn more.*

• 🚌 ROAM Transit Ticketing Update. Starting January 1, 2026, riders using Token Transit will no longer scan their ticket on the fare box. Instead, you’ll simply show your active ticket to the driver when boarding. The change is intended to speed things up and make boarding smoother, especially during busy periods.

CIVIC NEWS

• MD Bighorn Pushes Back on Canmore. MD Bighorn council has rejected a Town of Canmore proposal that would have nearly doubled recreation fees in 2026, citing cost concerns. Instead, council approved a one-year extension of the current agreement while talks continue. The stopgap deal raises fees to $117,990, roughly 7% higher than 2025 and more than double 2020 levels, keeping access in place as both sides work toward an agreement.

• Bow Valley Transit System Hits Record Ridership. Roam Transit carried 3 million riders in 2025, officially making it Alberta’s third-largest system behind Calgary and Edmonton. Ridership is up 12% year over year, and buses are now considered essential infrastructure. The catch: the system is operating near capacity, and no new buses are expected to arrive before the 2026 summer rush.

LIVE MUSIC

• Monday, December 29th, 2025, 8:00 PM: Andy Curtis. Location: Canmore Rose and Crown.  No cover.

• Tuesday, December 30th, 2025, 10:00 PM: JG n' The District. Location: Banff Rose and Crown. No cover.

SPORTS

• Canmore Skier Qualifies for Olympics in Photo Finish. Canmore’s Xavier McKeever is headed to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games in cross-country skiing after winning his sprint final at Olympic trials by just 0.13 seconds. The 22-year-old secured his first Olympic berth in a dramatic lunge at the line, capping a high-pressure race where only a win would guarantee qualification.

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Wednesday, 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.