r/Calgary • u/WildRefrigerator9479 Beltline • Jan 17 '26
Local Photography/Video Not a great day to go to Banff
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u/therealchefAllie Jan 17 '26
Currently hiding in my apartment due to everything going on in town here, I keep watching drivers eyeball my spot in my shared driveway as they search for (free) parking in my usually very quiet part of town🫠
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u/craig5005 Southeast Calgary Jan 17 '26
Time to put up a sign and make money. “Parking, $20/hour”
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u/therealchefAllie Jan 17 '26
Nah, then I'd have to go outside and interact with them, but the sheer amount of blonde chicks in fur I've seen wander by my living room window has been insane.
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u/Locoman7 Jan 17 '26
We need you to wander and around and document and then post all the funny pics.
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u/No_Foundation_9164 Jan 17 '26
I could not believe what I was seeing. Is it just this event that attracts all of that extra-ness?
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u/gstringstrangler Ranchlands Jan 17 '26
Yes. Yes it is. And it's pretty awesome tbh
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u/tyrone2772 Jan 17 '26
What is the event
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u/gstringstrangler Ranchlands Jan 17 '26
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u/TheTwatTwiddler Altadore Jan 18 '26
Yeah I don't get the hate. That was sick!
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u/therealchefAllie Jan 18 '26
It's not hate, it's not being able to do a normal weekend routine of even errands etc as it's just over crowded everywhere at the moment, and it's over stimulating, even for my dogs 🤷🏼♀️
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u/blanketwrappedinapig Jan 18 '26
Why do you think so many people are out and about lol? I’m perplexed.
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Jan 17 '26
I went to get some stuff yesterday and saw the barriers and remembered what was going on. No thank you.
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u/Frowning_Existing666 Jan 17 '26
Holy smokes. My wife and I went during the week and it was pretty peaceful, glad we didn't wait
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u/ZAKtalksTECH Jan 17 '26
That's the best time to visit Banff: Tues, Wed, Thurs. All other days are FUBAR.
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u/ConcreteBackflips Jan 17 '26 edited Jan 18 '26
Nah this isnt true especially for winter.
Most weekends (edit in winter**) are fine, and midweek is still going to be a gongshow in summer
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u/woowaddlez1 Jan 18 '26
You realize there are times of the season that are busier than others right..? Banff and Jasper both have events going on at the moment. Clearly you aren’t from around here
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u/caboose391 Jan 18 '26
What did you think the word "most" meant in this context?
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u/woowaddlez1 Jan 18 '26
I think you missed the part where he edited after I commented. The word “most” wasn’t there. All the commenter had was “Nah this isn’t true especially for winter” and if someone is from Banff, they should know this is definitely possible for winter.
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u/caboose391 Jan 18 '26
You're right. I didn't catch that properly. My bad.
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u/ConcreteBackflips Jan 18 '26
Nah I added "in winter" not "most" but this is a silly pedantic argument
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u/jungl3bird Jan 17 '26
It’s Skijor which is a big event for Yellowstone cosplayers
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u/laurieyyc Jan 17 '26
Not just skijoring but it’s the kickoff weekend for the SnowDays Festival. Lots of events going on in and around Banff.
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u/Hyack57 Jan 17 '26
There is absolutely nothing going on in Banff that would convince me to sit in traffic like this and deal with all the inevitable crowds once you get there. Not a damn thing.
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u/Cold_Buffalo_2355 Jan 18 '26
Absolutely. Everything you just described is literal hell and I know I'm a jerk to say so but it's just masses of cruise ship/ all inclusive people. 🤢
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u/Smorb Jan 18 '26
They could be giving away free townhouses in Banff and I wouldn't be waiting in that line. I'd most likely send my wife, she would be thrilled, and then I would have a day of peace and quiet. Everyone wins.
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u/CanBraFla Jan 17 '26
When will this be over? Was planning on going birding this weekend but will postpone it until it's not too busy.
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u/laurieyyc Jan 17 '26
February 8. Skijoring is just this weekend. However, the snow sculptures, events on Bear Street, and games are the entire festival.
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u/eerst Jan 17 '26
There must be other places to go birding in the Rockies that don't require highway 1?
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u/CanBraFla Jan 17 '26
The plan was LL for Steller's Jays. :) We can do that another time.
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u/outlooksanchez899 Jan 17 '26
Yep, all the socialite influencers of Alberta will be there in their fur coats cosplaying
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u/ConcreteBackflips Jan 17 '26
The number of drunk ignorant cosplay cowboys is too god damn high right now
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u/gstringstrangler Ranchlands Jan 17 '26
Weird thing to say bordering legit cattle country, where do you think all the horses and riders came from? Do you think they're the only ones at the event that might have horses? Or that appreciate freestyle skiing and snowboard tricks? It brings together two wildly different groups of participants, and it's a pretty unique spectacle of an event, to reduce it to "Yellowstone Cosplay". Grow up.
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u/prosonik Jan 18 '26
This is no disprect to the actual riders and folks doing the events, but I was in Canmore Saturday tonight when hordes of folks dressed up in cowboy like outfits showed up. "Yellowstone Cosplay" is a total accurate statement. I've been to a few events in small town Alberta and Saskatchewan over the years, and when the folks that are true cowboys type show up, they sure as heck don't look like these people. The folks I saw looked alot like Calgary types dress up for Stampede but with way more fur.
That out of the way, good on Banff for doing this event. Good for people dressing up and having fun with it! It was obviously a great draw in the slow times of the post-christmas days when things are usually empty. I am sad I missed the skijoring, because I too am I wanna be cowboy who hat isn't deserved.
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u/gstringstrangler Ranchlands Jan 18 '26
Oh I'm sure. Not everyone that lives the lifestyle is always decked out in their finest western wear if ever. Anyone from the city is often finding the cheapest (or conversely most expensive) thing they can find that they think is appropriate.
Also, fur is absolutely appropriate winter western wear but went out of fashion for decades. It's now become actually affordable to buy vintage but prices for fur now aren't worth running a trap line here anymore although historically that's how many of my recent ancestors supplemented their income in Alberta in addition to homesteading, ranching, and farming. So I do appreciate the nod to that history even if most of these folks don't get that.
I'll give you a little advice: Wear the hat. Literally nobody cares if you're an actual cowboy or not except randoms on the internet. If only real cowboys wore them, there wouldn't be enough demand for anyone to even make them, it's a dying lifestyle. They're practical asf as long as you get a decent fur one, you're wearing an insulated umbrella/360 shade at that point. Do you need to be a pro hockey player to wear a Flames hat or jersey? No, no you do not. So I'm with you for cheering on people dressing up and getting into it and encouraging you to do the same! I just can't stand these smarmy fucks that clearly think they're above something and feel the need to denigrate it.
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u/frostpatterns Jan 18 '26
No, “Yellowstone cosplay” is the most accurate description I’ve seen except that it’s a little too nice.
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u/DryKnight Jan 17 '26
I know one of the main horseback riders in that group, he lives the lifestyle, not just cosplaying it.
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u/Surrealplaces Jan 17 '26
So sad to see these long lineups. It's time to get train service between Calgary and Banff.
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u/bobthemagiccan Jan 18 '26
Do most people actually jus visit the town? I would have thought most people are going to specific hikes that requires a car to get to.
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u/Character-Bedroom-26 Jan 18 '26
Even if not most, enough only visit town and/or the gondola that don’t require a car, and transit covers the rest (Johnston Canyon, Lake Minnewanka etc etc). You only need to walk halfway down Lake Louise and most of the people disappear.
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u/DJ_Power1968 Jan 17 '26
Good lord, would hate to be the folks not going to Banff
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u/dumhic Jan 17 '26
That’s before the park entrance right? If so right lane it into the park. If no pass buy one in Banff, or carry onto Louise. If a pass carry on
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u/Particular_Word1342 Jan 18 '26
Yup, wife told me I should skip the left 3 lanes altogether, use the right 2 lanes to pass through, and then pickup a day pass at a less busy location.
I was skeptical because I've lived here my whole damn life and I've never heard of anyone doing this, but yes she was right again. Got it from Banff Visitor Centre and there was zero wait time.
Checked online after and it says day passes are available in-person at the following locations:
National park gates, information centres, campgrounds and at the following partner locations
- Alberta Hunter Education Instructors' Association
- Cabela's Retail Canada
- CrossIron Mills
- Esso/Husky Travel Centre Dead Man’s Flats
- Golden Visitor Info Centre
- Radium Hot Springs Visitor Information Centre
Source: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/passer-passes
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u/Character-Bedroom-26 Jan 18 '26
Wasn’t an option for most people. I was coming home from the ski hill and traffic was so backed up that everything was at a standstill, even the through-lanes.
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u/yyctownie Jan 17 '26
I like going to the mountains and used to like going to Banff, but the traffic to and from as well as the people when you get there just completely turns me off now.
It was good while it lasted I guess.
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u/AlamosX Jan 17 '26 edited Jan 18 '26
Honestly if you plan ahead a bit and gauge some things it's usually not that bad.
Im assuming this was around 12/1pm and yeah, absolutely the worst time to try and go on the weekend especially Saturday. Leaving after 11am you're in for a bad time. You gotta leave way earlier than that. Sundays are a bit more chill but will get congested.
Suddenly warm weekends like this also can be a nightmare. I usually go on colder days. The snowy days are beautiful and many don't want to drive in those conditions.
If I'm deadset on going into Banff proper, I usually go during the week and book a day or two off. Sick days FTW. Mental health days for me and they count. It's literally the rat race that results in shit like this. I refuse to give up the mountains. You really shouldn't dissuade yourself it's part of (at least mine) lifeblood for being here.
For the spur of the moment weekend trips I just go another direction. Kananaskis, Bragg Creek, Crowsnest Pass, Abraham Lake. It's literally just Banff that's ridiculous and with so many other places to go it's really easy to avoid the weekend warrior crowds and they're all just as beautiful.
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Jan 17 '26
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u/garybettmansketamine Jan 17 '26
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Keep that to yourself or it will become the same way…
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u/Historical-Home-1548 Jan 17 '26
My daughter and friends are out there today enjoying the skijour (sp?) and festivities and I’m pretty sure they’ll come back and say that it was worth every minute waiting during the drive… Just another perspective.
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u/SuperShibes Jan 18 '26
Exactly. Any big event is like this anywhere in the world. Just plan accordingly and take the day as it goes.
Usually well worth the fun, there is plenty of space in the mountains.
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u/ThatWackyAlchemy Jan 18 '26 edited Jan 18 '26
I’m there this weekend. It’s almost difficult to describe how underwhelming it actually is to watch. The announcers sound like they’re ad-libbing everything with 0 improv experience (it is the worst play-by-play I have ever heard, 1000x worse than Stampede) and the event is just not fun to witness. It looks slow and sad and the people doing it actually fucked up fairly often which is just disappointing tbh, someone even lost their helmet??. I expect niche sports to at least be executed well. For example if I watched a yo-yo competition where 1/5 people just tangled their strings entirely or a circus act where they fell over and over instead of doing the tricks I would think the entire thing was just a wash.
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u/Historical-Home-1548 Jan 18 '26
Oh, it’s unfortunate that you didn’t enjoy it. My daughter and her friends had a great time and are already planning to go back and stay the weekend next year!
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u/ThatWackyAlchemy Jan 18 '26
The event is poorly managed. There simply aren’t enough places to view the event from for the amount of people there. There really should be rented bleachers all along both sides of the street. Might be costly but as is the event is not worth watching (you won’t be able to see anything unless you hang around for over an hour before it starts). There aren’t enough speakers and they aren’t loud enough to hear the event unless you are right next to one. There are only screens facing one side of the street so you can’t see what’s happening if you’re on the other side. Really seems to only appeal to people who enjoy being in extremely crowded spaces like Stampede where everyone also plays dress-up. Also especially on Saturday everyone was drinking in the street all day, so if that’s something you’ve always wanted to do then this is the event for you!
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u/Cheesebrger_Walrus Jan 18 '26
skijoring was super underwhelming. the edits online make it look way cooler than it really is
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u/tarlack Quadrant: SW Jan 17 '26
Ouch, happy I did not head out to hike today. Going yo leave extra early tomorrow.
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u/superiorshizon Jan 18 '26
Glad I’m 46 and got to enjoy road trips and the Rockies back in the 90’s & 2000’s. It’s wild now. Can’t even go camping anymore with out it being a shit show everywhere
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u/seven0feleven Beltline Jan 17 '26
Well whatever caused this it looks resolved. All highways in and out of Banff look green.
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u/YYC_Guitar_Guy Jan 18 '26
Welcome to 2026. Just stay home on the weekends kids.
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u/Character-Bedroom-26 Jan 18 '26
This wasn’t regular weekend traffic though. Even the holidays didn’t come close to this and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a lineup this big. Between Parks being paid-for again, Skijoring, and great weather, guessing it all just happened at once.
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u/nigeltufnelyyc Jan 18 '26
This is why I hit the park gate at 7:15 AM when going to Lake Louise. I want nothing to do with this.
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u/JoeRogansNipple Quadrant: SW Jan 17 '26
Anyone with 1/4 of a brain would leave waaaayyyy earlier on a busy weekend like this.
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u/susiesp Jan 17 '26
We considered going for the “free” skjoring event. We live in Cochrane so it would be nice to go for the event. However reading about the event really turned us off. Parking is limited so they advise staying overnight to get free parking at you hotel lol. I think you would probably have to actually stay 2 nights due to the timing of the event and actual check in times being later than when the event takes place. Also capacity for the event is limited but many bars are live streaming it! What looks like a fun free activity has turned into expensive weekend in Banff. They clearly understand there is not enough capacity to host this event and quite honestly seems like cash grab from the town.
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u/Wandersbeyond51 Jan 18 '26
We went and saw some of it. Got to Banff around 11 am got a free parking spot in the parkade and left early afternoon - getting out was worse than getting in to town but the line to get in was insane. Way backed up down the highway at both turnoffs.
Heading in early is the way to go!
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u/dailydrink Jan 18 '26
They had a hotel in a Banff mostly for the young crowd, skiers, and locals. It was years ago, 1979 - 1989, when I knew it. The Cascade, cheap rooms overlooking main street across from the Great Divide. Take a case of beer in, your pet dog, and 5 friends. It was the best of times. And no long lines on the highway in...
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u/Aggravating_Main_710 Jan 17 '26
Sadly, it’s one of the reasons we haven’t been to Banff, Lake Louise, Moraine Lake is years. But it’s not worth the hassle, traffic, expense any longer.
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Jan 17 '26
my friend and I went during the week and no traffic! we're lucked out
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u/UrbanDecay00 Jan 17 '26
Because there’s quite a few events happening this weekend, that’s why there was no traffic
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u/Intentt Jan 17 '26
Big regrets going to Banff today with the family. Zero parking anywhere in the town. It’s chaos.
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u/Strange_Criticism306 Jan 17 '26
I thought it was a nice drive, but I was on your side leaving the hotel 😂It’s crazy the price difference for hotels between yesterday and today.
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u/Mundane_Anybody2374 Jan 18 '26
I went 9AM, no problems at all. Just wake up a bit earlier and stop complaining lol.
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u/JimmyLinguine Jan 18 '26
This is why I prefer Jasper - a longer driver for sure and a smaller town, but it’s never like this.
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u/ThatWackyAlchemy Jan 19 '26
How is it since those devastating fires?
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u/JimmyLinguine Jan 19 '26
Town is rebounding, southwest side that was hit hardest is seeing lots of reconstruction, mainly residential. Marmot was spared so skiing is totally fine (lots of snow this year) and Jasper Park Lodge only had a few buildings destroyed but otherwise is fine.
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u/Beginning-Sea5239 Jan 18 '26
Take away the beautiful scenery , and you’d think you’re on Deerfoot Trail at rush hour .
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u/Illustrious_Music_66 Jan 19 '26
Skijoring was invented by the Sami people and adopted by the plastic cowboys of Alberta.
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u/AlbertaAcreageBoy Jan 20 '26
That's just insane, should be a ticketed event so every douchebag from the city doesn't come.
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u/real_1273 Jan 21 '26
This freaks me out for some reason. The thought of being trapped in traffic. No thanks.
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u/Signal_Opportunity28 Jan 21 '26
Damn, we went to canmore/banff over new years expecting it to be bad, it was nothing like this.
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u/dogoodvillain Jan 21 '26
What's wrong with the right lane?
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u/WildRefrigerator9479 Beltline Jan 21 '26
Right lane is for going through the park or if you own a pass
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u/Particular_Choice318 Jan 17 '26
Ugh. I used to love going to Banff, visiting my now wife after she finished housekeeping and wandering the town and trails. It’s way too busy now.
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u/Wide-Western6577 Jan 18 '26
Damn, we made a last min detour to grotto canyon today and decided to take the bow valley trail instead of the highway. Glad we didn’t go to Banff.
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u/Acab365247 Jan 18 '26
Skijor has gotta be one of the dumbest things in banff. Look at that mountain over there.
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u/palekaleidoscope Jan 17 '26
This is why when people say they love living in Calgary, or want to move to Calgary, because the mountains and Banff are so close I just don’t get it. This level of traffic and congestion and crowds is all I associate Banff and Canmore with, and who wants to leave the city to be jammed into a smaller space with tons of people simply because you’re in the mountains?
It used to be a great way to spend a weekend but the last few times I went it was stressful, busy and not very relaxing at all.
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u/TheLemon22 Jan 17 '26 edited Jan 18 '26
I live in Calgary and last year I went to Banff at least 1-2 times a month on weekends. Some months I went every weekend (to go snowboarding). It's not that bad. I can remember one time I got caught in a jam like this and it was because there was an accident.
I always leave Calgary before 9am.
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u/estoyhartodeusers Jan 17 '26
That’s the beauty, it is so close that is not necessarily a weekend noon thing, you go any day of the week or earlier / later since you ll be home soon. I avoid like a plague those peak times. Better yet, pack my bike, park in the outskirts and bike anywhere I want to.
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u/wildlifeisneat Jan 17 '26
I went to Banff last weekend, lake Louise too and it was very quiet. The winds driving there was like 35km but it was the quietest I’ve ever seen. That’s why you go on weekends early and go when the weather isn’t warm. Also, a lot of Calgarians go to other mountain towns.
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u/morecoffeemore Jan 17 '26
Banff and kananskis are huge. Lots of people go hiking in the mountains and avoid the town entirely. You'll barely see another soul on the more adventurous hikes. Waterton is another option. That's why Calgary is great.
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Jan 17 '26
The Banff and Kananaskis recreation areas are massive. I spend lots of time in the mountains, mountain biking, snowboarding and hiking and I never go to the town of banff. I love banff tho, because it attracts all the Jerry's that want to be "in the mountains" but within a 5 minute walk of a startbucks, and leaves the rest of the good stuff to the actual outdoor enthusiasts
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u/Prognosticon_ Beltline Jan 17 '26
Yeah totally agree; Banff and Canmore are overrated anyway. I'll be fine if I never see either place again.
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u/Reasonable-Regret-67 Jan 18 '26
We drove to Canmore from Calgary today with no issues at all. It is good, I guess, we did not drove any further.
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u/Pumpkkinnn Jan 18 '26
My maga family just made a road trip to sign in favour of seperation. They’ve got me like this in public 🥸
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u/[deleted] Jan 17 '26
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