Banff National Park of Canada

Activities

If the activity you are interested in is not listed above, check under Commercial Activities or Prohibited Activities . If you still cannot find what you are looking for, contact park staff:

Information Centres

Commercial Activities

Contact the Banff / Lake Louise Tourism for information on the following activities and equipment rentals.

Boat Tours, Bowling, Dining, Dog Sledding, Downhill Skiing/Snowboarding, Gondolas, Golfing, Guided Sightseeing Trips, Hiking Tours, Horseback Riding, Ice Walks, Museums & Art Galleries, Performances, Pools, Rafting Tours, Sleigh Rides, Snocoach Tours, Spas, Special Events and Waterslides.

Hire a Local Guide

Numerous guiding companies are licensed by Parks Canada to offer their services within Banff National Park, for example: interpretive day hiking or snowshoeing guides, backpacking and mountaineering guides, horse-back and boat-trip guides, and fishing guides.

Before booking your guided activity, you should ensure that the company you are considering is legally licensed to operate within the national park. Please report any illegal or inappropriate guiding activities to Parks Canada by calling 403.762.1470.

If you are considering a guided hiking, snowshoeing or mountaineering experience, look for guides who are accredited by either or both the following professional organizations, for the highest standards of local knowledge and safety:

Any company offering back-country guiding services in Banff National Park must obtain a guided outdoor activity licence prior to commencing guiding activities. Applications are accepted from April 1 to September 1 of each year to be assessed for the next operating season.

For more information, please contact the Municipal Officer, Realty Services for Banff National Park at 403.762.1530

Prohibited Activities

The following activities are not compatible with park goals, and are therefore prohibited in Banff National Park:

• Collecting natural (eg. wildflowers, rocks, mushrooms, berries) or cultural objects (eg. arrowheads)
• Hunting
• Motorized off-road travelling
• Ice Fishing
• Snowmobiling
• Paragliding,
• Parachuting,
• Hang gliding or any heavier-than-air aircraft
• Using personal watercraft (seadoos, wave runners, jet skis, super jet, etc).

Visitor Safety

The awe-inspiring scenery can pose some awe-inspiring hazards too. The most common risks, and how to avoid them, are described on these pages.

Park Radio Station

Weather and trail reports are repeated regularly throughout the day on the park radio station. If you are in the Banff Townsite or driving into Banff National Park from the east, tune into the park radio station at 101.1 FM. In addition to the latest conditions, you'll hear excellent programs on Banff's natural and cultural heritage.

Park Radio at 101.1 FM