Outdoor Activities in Banff

Join an animal-spotting bus tour in Banff National Park, observing the park's amazing wildlife at dusk on this 2-hour, small-group tour that's perfect for nature enthusiasts. Enjoy Banff's beautiful landscapes in the evening searching for elk, deer, bears and more because each tour has a 95% success rate of viewing animals in their natural environment. You'll also hear about the park's efforts to protect animals and their habitat from your expert guide.

Choose from among four of Banff National Park's most iconic trails on this 7-hour guided hiking tour with packed lunch. Pick the perfect walk for your level of ability and experience, varying from 4.5 miles (7km) to 6.6 miles (10.6km) in length, with spectacular mountain scenery no matter which option you select. The trip's four options include explorations of the Larch Valley, Stanley Glacier, Kootenay National Park Trails or the Plain of Six Glaciers. Your excursion also includes round-trip transportation, and hiking poles.

Enjoy this full-day tour from Banff, visiting the Athabasca Glacier and the stunning scenery lining the breathtaking Icefields Parkway. This tour travels halfway along the world-famous Icefields Parkway, recognized as one of the top drives in the world passing numerous Rocky Mountain peaks, glaciers, waterfalls and emerald lakes. Your tour also includes round-trip transport from Banff, a mountain picnic lunch, Glacier Skywalk, and an all-terrain Ice Explorer tour.

Take your Banff trip to new heights with this 2.5- or 4-hour 'Via Ferrata' adventure, an alpine climbing activity with fixed iron ropes that's perfect for those of all experience levels. Choose from one of two protected climbing routes you'll ascend using a fixed steel cable (Via Ferrata means 'iron road' in Italian), offering a safe and scenic way to explore the gorgeous scenery of the Canadian Rockies. Your Via Ferrata excursion includes an experienced guide and all necessary equipment.

Pursue the elusive Canadian Grizzly Bear on this 10-hour excursion through Banff and Yoho National Parks, perfect for animal- and nature-lovers alike. Head out for a gondola ride up to 7,700 feet for a mountain-top lunch at Canada's highest restaurant, and then take a chairlift ride up to the world's largest enclosed and protected grizzly bear habitat to see Boo the resident bear rescued as a cub. This full-day trip also includes round-trip transportation, professional guide, lunch and light refreshments.

Experience the winter wonderland of Banff's Johnston Canyon on this 4-hour ice walk tour. Join a professional guide on a hike along the canyon's steel walkways, where you'll visit the beautiful lower and upper waterfalls, and learn how this majestic canyon was formed. Your excursion includes round-trip transportation, ice cleats, and a hiking pole, plus a light snack and hot chocolate to help warm you up.

Saddle up for a 1-hour trip through the celebrated landscape of Banff National Park on this guided horseback-riding adventure. Get out of the car and onto the trails of the Bow River or the Spray River, where you'll enjoy the area's beautiful outdoor environment, largely unchanged from the days of the pioneers. This equine-themed odyssey includes a guide, use of a horse, and all necessary equipment.

Take an unexpected winter excursion through the landscape of Banff as you search for the park's famous wildlife on this 3-hour tour. Head out on a nature-spotting tour to observe animals and learn about their ability to survive the cold winter months. Your morning tour includes round-trip transportation, a professional guide, a light snack and hot chocolate.

Trek safely through Johnston Canyon in the winter, surrounded by frozen waterfalls and ice pillars, in the company of a guide. This half-day tour allows you to embark on an icy trek without worrying about safety issues or directions; your guide will be with you the whole way. Listen to guided commentary on the canyon's formation and see fossils buried in the rocks, giving a window into the past. This moderately difficult hike includes cookies and hot chocolate to warm up with at the conclusion.

Visit Kootenay National Park, Marble Canyon, and Lake Louise all in one day on this tour from Baniff that includes round-trip transport and snowshoes for trekking around the snow and ice. After you get a look at one of the deepest canyons in the Rockies, head over to the lake. You can choose to ice skate or go on a sleigh ride (own expense), or you can relax at the Chateau Lake Louise or follow your guide around on snowshoes through the area.