Free park entry ended four weeks ago, and almost nobody has said so out loud. If you planned your autumn trip back in the summer, this is the one to read first. Banff isn't free anymore Over the summer, the Canada Strong Pass made national park entry free from June 19 to September 7, 2026. That window has closed. Since September 8, normal admission applies again. For Banff that means $12.25 per adult per day, $10.75 for seniors, $24.50 for a family or group, and anyone under 18 gets in free....
1 day ago • 3 min read
Fifteen days. That's how long the alpine lakes stay reachable this year. And this week Parks Canada quietly signalled that the rules for getting to them are about to change for good. Lake Louise is rewriting its access rules Parks Canada is finalising a visitor use management plan for the Lake Louise area. It covers how congestion and access get handled at the busiest spots. Public comment closed back in March. The final plan is expected this autumn, and Parks Canada's own FAQ says some...
8 days ago • 3 min read
The gold is on. Last week I said the larches were about a week out they're turning now, and historically the best week of the whole season is the one we're in. If you're going, go now Peak colour at Larch Valley elevation usually lands somewhere in the September 18–28 stretch, and the window is only 7 to 10 days wide. Lower trails like Boom Lake run a little later, into early October. The Moraine Lake shuttle keeps running through October 12, so the shuttle isn't what closes the door — the...
15 days ago • 2 min read
Back on schedule this week — and with decent timing, because the best two-week window in the entire Rockies calendar is about to open. The gold window opens in about a week The subalpine larches above Banff and Lake Louise are the one conifer that drops its needles, and they turn brilliant gold before they do. At Larch Valley elevation the peak usually lands somewhere between September 18 and 28, with only 7 to 10 days of genuinely good colour. Lower trails like Boom Lake hold on into early...
22 days ago • 2 min read
Quick apology first — this should have reached you yesterday. I was out sick over the weekend, so it's a day late. Straight into it, because one thing in here expires tonight. Free park entry ends today The Canada Strong Pass runs through September 7 inclusive — so today is the last day of free admission to Banff, Jasper and every other Parks Canada site. From tomorrow, normal fees return: $83.50 for an adult annual Discovery Pass, or a daily rate at the gate. The federal fuel tax holiday...
28 days ago • 2 min read