Town of Banff

Trip Planning FAQ

How do I get to Banff?

See our Getting to Banff page: it has directions for traveling to Banff by air, car, bus and train. You'll also find a collection of interactive online maps (using Google Maps and Google Earth technology) pinpointing key attractions, facilities and trails in Banff.

Where can I get maps of Banff and the park lands nearby?

A large selection of maps created by the Town of Banff's Geographic Information System (GIS) staff is available online in our Map Gallery. We also have a selection of often-requested printed maps available for purchase. Banff National Park and mountain park topographical maps are available for purchase at local book stores, and from the Parks Canada Information Centre at 224 Banff Avenue.

Will there be a parade and fireworks in Banff on Canada Day?

Yes. Now that the major work of our downtown area refreshing project is finished, the way is clear for Banff's extremely popular Canada Day Parade to return to the streets on July 1, 2008. And as usual, the Canada Day festivities will conclude at 11 p.m. with a spectacular fireworks display. See Canada Day in our Activities & Events section for more details.

I've heard that there is construction going on in Banff  - what's up?

During summer 2007, Banff underwent a major renovation of the central downtown area, which involved replacing century-old infrastructure such as sewers and water supply. We also took advantage of the opportunity to redesign the streetscape to better profile Banff's natural surroundings. This Banff Refreshing project is now essentially complete, and the downtown area has become more enjoyable for everyone. Traffic flows and access to downtown shops and services is back to normal.

I want to read up on Banff before I visit; can you recommend some good books?

There are a lot of books available about Banff, Banff National Park and the mountain parks area, including histories, trail guides, tourist guides, and books about the wildlife, geology and natural environment of our area. Local book stores have comprehensive stocks, and you can also find most titles online at major book retailers' sites. Here are a couple of starting points:

• Frommer's Banff & Jasper National Parks, by Christie Pashby (Frommer's)
  
• The Canadian Rockies Trail Guide, by Brian Patton and Bart Robinson (Summerthought Publishing)
• Handbook of the Canadian Rockies, by Ben Gadd (Corax Press)

I notice references to heli-skiing, heli-hiking, snowmobile tours and other "un-natural" outdoor activites on your site... can you participate in these kinds of activities in a national park?

There are restrictions on flying over the national park, and the use of motorized off-road vehicles such as ATV's or snowmobiles. However, Banff is a base of operations for all kinds of outdoor activities and adventures, including some that take visitors outside the national park to surrounding wilderness areas where these recreations are permitted.

I can't find any pricing information for accommodations and attractions mentioned on your website.

Sorry, but we aren't able to keep that kind of info up to date, so we don't include it. Most Banff and Lake Louise businesses, including accommodation providers and tour operators, maintain their own websites, as well as listings on the Banff Lake Louise Tourism website. Please check there for prices, special offers, and so on.