The Best Summer Activities on Offer in Banff

Summer in Banff means one thing – tons of amazing activities to keep you busy on your vacation!
Banff National Park is a phenomenal area to visit in the summer. There are countless beautiful hikes, lakes, viewpoints and wildlife-sighting opportunities in the area, making it the ideal location for a summer vacation full of fun. Expect to be blown away by the incredible Canadian wilderness of this breathtaking National Park – complete with sweeping alpine vistas, snow-capped mountain peaks, dense forest, towering glaciers, and endless wildlife.
Exploring nature in the National Park is lots of fun, but the town of Banff is a wonderful place to hang out too. A bustling tourist haven, summer is the perfect time to experience local festivals and events and enjoy excellent local offerings including an impressive array of local restaurants, shops, bars and spas.
While in Banff, you will quickly discover that the area is also a mecca of exciting activities that range from totally family-friendly, to catering for complete adrenaline junkies! People flock to Banff from all over the world for the local skiing in winter, and hiking, biking, canoeing, fishing, rafting and more in summer.
Banff’s mountain setting lends itself to some amazing activity opportunities that are pretty unique. Whether you’re taking your trip to Banff with family, friends, or your partner, there’s something for everyone to do.
Here are our top ten picks for great Banff activities. We’ve broken them down into 3 categories: family fun, adrenaline rush, and unique experiences, so you can easily select the ones that may appeal to you most!
 

SUMMER FAMILY FUN IN BANFF

Banff has lots of incredible activities for families to enjoy!
 

 
Ropes Challenge Course & Zipline
This exhilarating ropes course program is a lot of fun 30 ft. off the ground! With a series of obstacles and challenges from poles and trees, participants can complete the ropes course in a variety of combinations. This is a particularly good activity for families with kids of different ages, as it is set up to allow participants to only have to complete the obstacles they feel comfortable tackling. You can complete the course alone, or work together as teams. However you choose to do it, the ropes course is a great day out full of fun. Upon completion, have even more fun with a 70 meter zip line back down to the ground.
Book the Ropes Challenge Course & Zipline here!
 

 
Sundance Loop Ride
Horseback riding is an absolute blast in Banff, with a chance to explore the rugged wilderness and get close to wildlife. One of the best family-friendly trips is the Sundance Loop Ride. Over 2 hours you’ll explore stunning scenery, and spot wildlife that you may miss on foot. The guides are fun and friendly, and even teach guests some cowboy tricks! Take in some seriously beautiful sights too as you trek past natural hot springs, venture along the Bow River, and explore the historic Cave and basin.  From there, you will take in the gorgeous Bow Valley and venture on to climb Sulphur Mountain for a seriously great photo opportunity!
Find out more about different horseback riding tours in Banff.
 

 
Beginner Experiential Rock Climbing
This fun and relaxed day at the rock pitch is designed for beginners and those who have never climbed before, making it an ideal activity for families with younger children. During the course of your experience, you’ll learn basic safety and top rope techniques for climbing outdoors and you’ll be coached on basic rock climbing movement skills. The climbing is all done in a fun, safe environment and is a great way to break a sweat while trying something new!
Book the Beginner Experiential Rock Climbing tour here!
 

ADRENALINE RUSH

If you’re looking for a walk on the wild side with your Banff activities, read on..
 

 
Ridgewalker Tour
This tour is an excellent opportunity to get some genuine climbing thrills. The Ridgewalker Tour was designed for those who want to get a feel for heights and exposure – expect some amazing views and nerve-jangling moments on this half day adventure. The tour takes you high up on the Norquay cliffs, climbing Memorial, Sunrise and Vista buttresses and crossing a daunting suspension bridge. Expect 260m of vertical over your four hour trip, and to tackle 4 Via Ferrata sections with ladders. This is an amazing day out for any climbing-lover.
Curious? Learn what a day spent tackling the Via Ferrata is like.
 

 
Adventure Cave Tour
Calling all cavers! This adventure tour of Rat’s Nest Cave is recognized as a Canadian Signature Experience. Cavers will rappel 18m (6 stories!) inside the cave, and have the chance to push their limits in the warm-up and challenge squeezes, and the Laundry Chute. They’ll also visit the impressive Grand Gallery, and get immersed in the Grotto’s ancient cave formations. Challenging and fun, the Adventure Tour is an unforgettable 4 hours spent underground!
Book the Adventure Cave Tour here!
 

 
Ultimate Rafting on the Kicking Horse River
At 27km long, the Ultimate is the most complete river experience on the Kicking Horse River. Start with calmer rapids on the gentle upper canyon, enjoying the spectacular scenery, and move along to the thrilling middle rapids. The rafting culminates in the challenging lower canyon, known for deep canyon walls and mighty rapids. This section offers one of the longest, sustained class 4 to 4+ whitewater sections in Western Canada – which will satisfy even the most adventurous thrill seeker!
Get more information about our different rafting adventures on offer.
 

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES IN BANFF NATIONAL PARK

Incredible experiences and encounters that are simply unmissable, these Banff activities are definitely special!
 

 
Mount Assiniboine Helitour
This sensational flight incorporates all the best sights in the area, including the Three Sisters, Goat and Sundance Mountain ranges, and the amazing “Matterhorn of the Canadian Rockies” which rises majestically to 3,611 meters (11,870 feet) along the Great Divide. The surrounding glaciers and icefalls will astound you and capture your imagination where you will get up close and personal with the Gloria Glacier as it tumbles off of Mount Assiniboine. This is an experience you will not forget!
Discover the different helitours we have on offer!
 

 
Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary
The Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary tour provides an up close and intimate look at wolves and wolfdogs. Gain a better understanding about wild wolves and their importance in the natural environment while also seeing first hand wolf behaviour through the wolfdogs at the sanctuary. This tour is an amazing opportunity to learn more about these magnificent animals, and provides a semi-private guided experience in a sanctuary setting. Also expect plenty of photo opportunities!
Learn more about the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary here.
 

Book Your Summer Banff Activity Now!

Give our Destination Experts a call on 1.877.902.1616 if you’d like to learn more about any of our Banff activities on offer – we will be more than happy to help you book the perfect activities and accommodation in Banff for your trip!