I have always been fascinated with gondola rides. I just think they’re really neat and they give you an incredible view of the world.
When I was researching going to Banff this past summer, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that there are 4 gondolas spread out across the park!
I was determined to go on as many as I could during my stay. And let me say, the gondolas of Banff do not disappoint!
If you want unique views of the natural beauty of Canada, be sure to go on a gondola in Banff!
Now, there are 4 gondolas in Banff:
- The Mount Norquay Gondola
- Lake Louise Sightseeing Gondola
- The Banff Gondola (up Sulphur Mountain)
- and the Sunshine Village Gondola
I was fortunate enough to go on all of them except the Mount Norquay Gondola.
Each experience is truly unique so I’m going to try to break down the best parts of each one.
1. Lake Louise Gondola
The Lake Louise Gondola is about 50 minutes away from Banff and gives you an amazing view of the town of Lake Louise and the actual lake itself. You can even see the Fairmont Lake Louise from up there!
You have the choice of an open air or enclosed lift. I personally chose the open chairlift as I rode during the summer. In the winter, I probably would have chosen the enclosed lift!
The ride is about 14 minutes and you’ll get an incredible view of the mountains. If you pay close attention, you can actually see small rivers and natural springs on the side of the mountain.
Once you get to the top, walk down to the viewing small viewing platform to get a great view of Lake Louise. Definitely get your Instagram pictures here!
After that, walk down to the wild life interpretation center. They have a lot of cool exhibits about the animals in Banff. And the Whitehorn Bistro restaurant is also located there. I was feeling a bit parched so I got myself a beer there!
The top of the mountains has several hiking trails that range from 1.7 km to 3.4 km (round trip). But be warned, there are a lot of wildlife on this mountain, so the trails can be closed down due to bear sightings.
When I was there, they closed many of the trails because of a grizzly bear sighting.
Pros:
- Beautiful views of Lake Louise from the viewing platform on top. One of the best Banff chairlifts.
- Lots of hiking options on the mountain – they also have a few guided tours.
- Plenty of parking at the base unlike some of the other gondolas in Banff
Cons:
- Bear sightings are more common than you would expect, which results in the hiking trails being closed down.
- Limited dining options on the top. If you want to get something to eat, get it at the base camp before you take the gondola up. And be sure to bring snacks!
Important Information about the Lake Louise Gondola
Hours of operation: The gondola hours of operation varies depending on the season (winter and summer), so be sure to check their website for the most accurate information.
Elevation: Enjoy the 14 minute ride to the top of the mountain with an elevation of 2,088 meters (6,850 feet).
Prices (as of 2018):
Adult: $35.95 (Canadian dollars)
Child (6 – 15): $16.95
Family (2x adult, 2x child): $99
5 & under: FREE
Click here to buy your tickets ahead of time (and skip those pesky lines) and get the most accurate pricing information.
2. Banff Gondola
The Banff National Park Gondola is probably the most well known out of all the Gondolas in Banff. As a result, it’s also the most expensive.
It’ll cost $64 Canadian Dollars at the ticket office. But if you buy online, you can save 10% and it’ll only cost $58 for adults.
The 8 minute gondola ride will take up nearly 2,300 ft on Sulphur Mountain. From there, you can get a bird’s eye view of the entire town of Banff from the observation deck.
The observation deck has three levels, including multiple restaurants. You can try to go in without a reservation, but it can be difficult during peak hours.
So if you’re feeling hungry, I would recommend buying a ticket and dinner option at the gate to save time and money.
On the top of the observation deck is a very nice roof and fireplace. During the summer, they also serve beer (not sure if they do that during the winter). This is a perfect date spot if you wanted to do something romantic in Banff.
And sometimes they have someone playing music on the roof so it’s sort of a romantic spot if you want to cuddle with your partner.
I think the best part of the Banff Gondola ride is the Sulphur Mountain boardwalk. The boardwalk will take you to Samson’s Peak, where Norman Samson, hiked all the way to the top of Sulphur Mountain every week for 30 years to check the weather!
He did this until he was 84 years old! At Samson’s Peak, you can see the actual weather house Norman used!
Now, the Banff Gondola is pretty expensive. So if you want to save some money, get a good workout, and see some pretty sights, you can hike to the summit.
Yep! That’s right…you can hike up Sulphur Mountain! It takes about 2 – 3 hours, so be ready to sweat! But be warned, the Banff Gondola hike is pretty grueling.
Once you get to the top, you can enjoy the views and take the Gondola ride down. I don’t think they check tickets on the way down.
Tip: During peak hours, the parking lot at the base of the gondola can become full. If that happens, you may have to park on the side of the road and walk up (as shown below):
Pros:
- Breathtaking views of the town of Banff. You can even see the Fairmont Banff Springs! This is one of the best things to do in Banff.
- There’s a large boardwalk across from the main viewing platform structure.
Cons:
- Limited hiking trails on the top, unless you want to hike all the way back down!
- The restaurants on the top always have a large line and you typically need a reservation to get food anyways.
- This is the most expensive Chairlift in Banff.
I know a lot of people like to do a Lake Louise Gondola vs. Banff Gondola comparison, but they’re really different experiences.
I would say the Banff Gondola is a little more of a sightseeing adventure, while the Lake Louise Gondola is a little bit more “active” in that there are more hikes available.
Important Information about the Banff Gondola
Hours of operation: Click here to check out their website. The hours change depending on the season. to get the most accurate information.
And yes, the Banff Gondola is open during the winters so you can get those incredibly snowy views!
Elevation: Start at a base elevation of 1,583 m (5,194 feet) above sea level and ride up 2,281 m (7,486 feet) above sea level for a total elevation gain of 698 m (2,292 feet).
Prices: Check out their website for the most accurate prices (they can change often).
3. Sunshine Village
If you love gondola rides, I would highly recommend Sunshine Village!
During the winter, this is one of the largest ski mountains in Banff (and for good reason). During the summer, it’s a great place to get some mountain fresh air and enjoy the natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies.
Fair warning, this is a long gondola ride up to Sunshine Village! The gondola goes u p 2.8 miles! I think the entire ride took about 20+ minutes.
This is definitely the best gondola ride in Banff!
Once you are at the Village, you can shop around at the retail store they have up there and get some cool Banff swag.
There are also a bunch of restaurants and coffee shops in case you are hungry or thirsty. You can also check out the hotel/lodge they have up there!
If you’re feeling adventurous, take the Standish Express Chairlift to the top of the mountain. Warning, this is an open air chairlift and it gets cold even in the summer at this elevation, so bring a big jacket!
After that, walk 2,400 meters straight to the Standish Viewing Deck.
From the viewing platform, you will get a breathtaking view of three beautiful alpine lakes on top of Sunshine Village.
The lakes are Rock Isle Lake, Laryx Lake, and Grizzly Lake. It is truly an Instagram worthy place to take pictures!
My favorite lake there had to have been Rock Isle Lake. Like the name suggests, there is a tiny rock island in the middle of the lake.
From the platform, there are a ton of hiking trails to go on (especially in the summer). So don’t be afraid to get your hand dirty and see the lakes up close in person!
Pros:
- Lots of hiking options. I would recommend taking the Standish Chairlift and hiking around Rock Isle Lake, Laryx Lake, and Grizzy Lake. These are some of the best lakes in Banff!
- Great food options on the top of the mountain.
Cons:
- The gondola ride is really long. I think the first lift up to the village was about 20 minutes.
- Occasional bear sightings on the top can shut down the hiking trails.
Important information about the Sunshine Village Gondola
Hours of operation: The hours of operation depend on the season. Check their website for the most updated information!
Length: This Gondola ride is an incredible 2.8 miles (4.5 km up!)
Elevation: Start at a base elevation of 5,400 feet (1,600 meter) and ride up to the top village terminal at 7,100 feet (2,164 meters).
Prices (as of 2018):
- Adult (16+) $42
- Child (6-15): $21
- Toddlers (0-5): FREE
Prices can change, so check out their website for the most up to date admission prices!
4. Mount Norquay Gondola
Alright I’m going to be honest. Mount Norquay is the only gondola in Banff that I have not been on. As a result, I won’t be giving my first hand experience, but just summarize my research instead.
Mount Norquay is a very popular ski resort in Banff. It operates an open air chairlift to the top of one of Banff’s most famous mountains.
Hiking is one of the best things to do on Mount Norquay in the summer. There are two major trails you should attempt:
- Stoney Squaw Mountain (4.2 km round trip)
- Cascade Amphitheatre (15.4 km round trip)
One of the coolest things you can do on Mount Norquay is the Via Ferrata (“iron road” in Italian). It’s basically an assisted climbing experience above Mt Norquay.
You’ll climb ladders and cross suspension bridges on this guided journey. It’s led by a highly experienced ACMG-certified guide.
Throughout the climb you’ll wear a harness that is always attached to the mountain’s steel cable pathway, securing you to the rock at all times. No climbing experience is required!
Important information about the Mount Norquay Gondola
Hours of operation: Like the other Banff Gondolas, their hours change by the season. Check the website for the most up to date times.
Elevation: Go up nearly 7,000 feet to the top of the mountain!
Prices (as of 2018):
- Adult (16+ years old): 35.00
- Child (6-15 years old): 24.00
- 2 to 5 years old: FREE
Prices can change, so be sure to check the website for the most recent pricing information.