Experience Banff National Park after dark on a relaxed, five-hour evening tour with a local guide and a maximum of 10 guests. With pickup from designated locations in Canmore or Banff, enjoy mountain viewpoints, a guided lakeshore walk and time beneath the stars.
Your evening begins at a scenic lookout above Banff. Take in views of the town and surrounding mountains while your guide shares stories about Banff’s history and how this mountain community came to be.
Continue to Lake Minnewanka for an approximately 45-minute guided lakeshore walk. With headlamps provided and hiking poles available for extra support, explore the nighttime landscape while learning about local wildlife, the lake’s history and Indigenous connections to the area.
The walk follows a natural dirt path with small rocks, exposed roots and uneven sections. Guests should be comfortable walking after dark and keeping pace with the group. Winter ice cleats are provided when conditions require additional traction. All guests must remain with the group throughout the experience and cannot wait alone in the vehicle.
A short drive brings you to Johnson Lake, where you’ll spend approximately 90 minutes exploring the night sky. Settle into a premium heated chair with a blanket, hand and toe warmers, and complimentary tea or hot chocolate as your guide introduces the celestial highlights visible that evening.
Use shared binoculars, a telescope and an iPad with a constellation-identification app to discover the night sky. Depending on the season, moon phase and viewing conditions, you may observe planets, constellations, star clusters and other celestial objects. The Northern Lights are an occasional bonus and cannot be guaranteed.
After an evening of stories, lakeside scenery and stargazing, relax on the return journey to your original pickup location. Stargazing visibility depends on weather and natural conditions.
