The ride up the Banff Gondola is approximately 8-minutes long. The track is approximately 1.6 km (1 mile) long.
The Banff Gondola is located 2.5 km from Banff town centre.
From Banff Avenue: Head south towards the Bow Bridge. Make a left turn after the Bow Bridge onto Spray Avenue. Keep to the right lane and turn onto Mountain Avenue. Follow Mountain Avenue to the end of the road, where you will find the Banff Gondola parking lot. Please note parking at the Banff Gondola is very limited.
Take advantage of the Banff ROAM Public Transit Route 1, which departs from downtown Banff to the Banff Gondola (one way cash fare: $2 per person).
During the summer, show your Banff Gondola ticket to the Route 1 bus driver and get a free return ride*.
*Valid only on Route 1 to and from the Banff Gondola on the day of your visit.
You can also ride the free Banff Gondola shuttle on Saturdays and Sundays from May 21 to June 12 and daily from June 13 to October 9 to and from Downtown Banff. View schedule
Our gondola cars comfortably fit four adults. You may also be able to fit an additional small child or baby.
Yes. The Banff Gondola facilities are wheelchair accessible and easily accessed by guests who are elderly or less mobile, as well as families with children.
We provide handicapped parking within 30 meters of the entrance and ramp access into the building. All four levels within the summit complex are accessible by elevator. Seating can be found in all areas.
The gondola cabins come off the track to load and unload passengers, allowing our guests as much time as they require to board. The gondolas can accommodate most standard-sized manual and motorized wheelchairs, walking frames and mobility assistance devices with a size limit of 31" wide and 41" long and a total weight limit of 320 kg (705 lb.).
Please note: Though our facilities are wheelchair accessible, the summit boardwalk is not as it consists of 368 shallow stairs each way.
Due to the limited space in Banff Gondola cabins and the mountaintop facilities, we do not recommend strollers.
Pets are not permitted on the gondola or in our facilities, with the exception of service dogs*.
*Appropriate accreditation must be presented on-site. Emotional support animals are not permitted.
Stroll along the ridgetop boardwalk, where the views get better with every step, then warm up in our state-of-the-art upper terminal building. From mountaintop restaurants and interactive exhibits to a multi-sensory theatre and breathtaking 360-degree rooftop observation deck, there are endless things to do at the Banff Gondola.
The best times to avoid crowds are anytime is before 12 p.m. or after 5 p.m.
The weather can vary here in the Canadian Rockies, changing from warm summer sunshine to freezing rain and snow within an hour. At the top of the Banff Gondola, the temperature is several degrees lower than the bottom. So, no matter the season, it's wise to dress in quick-drying layers.
During winter, it's particularly important to bring proper attire. Our gondola cabins are not heated, and it can get cold and windy at the top. A winter jacket, hat, mitts, gloves and warm socks are strongly encouraged. In the event that a guest's attire is deemed unsuitable and potentially unsafe, we may need to respectfully decline their entry to the Banff Gondola.
Banff Gondola tickets (including Pursuit Passes) are non-refundable. Changes can be made online up to 48 hours before your visit. If you need to make changes within 48 hours of your visit, give us a call at 1.866.756.1904 and we will do our best to help.
Yes! A one-way trip down on the Banff Gondola is available for half the regular price of admission (5 & under are free) during our Daily Operating Hours.
Please note: if you would like to take the Banff Gondola up and hike down, you must purchase a full-price ticket.
During the winter season, hikers must be aware that the trail will be covered in snow/ice. Appropriate hiking gear suitable for winter conditions is required.
The hike will take between 1.5 and 3 hours to complete depending on fitness and trail conditions. The clear, well-marked switchback style trail is approximately 5.5 km in length, beginning in the the parking lot of the Banff Upper Hot Springs.
The Lower Terminal is 1,583 metres (5,194 feet) above sea level, the Upper Terminal is 2,281 metres (7,486 feet) above sea level and Sanson's Peak is approximately 10 metres (33 feet) above the Upper Terminal's elevation.
Yes. All group bookings must be made 48 hours in advance through our reservations team to be eligible for a discount. A group consists of 15 people or more.
The Banff Gondola is the perfect venue for group functions. Please contact our corporate and event management team and let us custom-build the perfect group function for you. Call 1.800.661.1750 or click here for more information
No. Parks Canada requires all adult visitors to Canada’s national parks to buy a permit for the duration of their stay to support visitor services and facilities. Day Passes or a yearly Discovery Pass are available to buy in-person at Parks Canada's park gates and information centres in Banff and Jasper. Admission for youth 17 and under is free.
No, there is no skiing on Sulphur Mountain. Mount Norquay, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise are all popular ski resorts located within Banff National Park.
For the safety of our guests and staff, and due to size constraints, sporting equipment such as mountain bikes, skis, snowboards, sleds are not permitted on the Banff Gondola.
Parks Canada has designated all Canadian national parks as “no drone zones” for recreational use. Fines apply — please leave your drone at home. (See Parks Canada for further details)
The cost of a taxi ride from the Banff Gondola to downtown Banff is approximately $10 to $15
For the most accurate Banff ROAM Public Transit arrival times, click here to view the Route 1 bus schedule. The cost of a one-way ticket is $2 per person, however, during the summer, show your Banff Gondola ticket to the bus driver and get a free return ride*.
*Valid only on Route 1 to and from the Banff Gondola on the day of your visit.
Very safe. The Banff Gondola has an extensive and exhaustive maintenance program, and all of our lift safety systems are tested every morning before we open. We also run tests and inspections on all of our equipment daily, monthly and yearly. Safety is our number one priority.
The Banff Gondola is in the Spray Valley. The town of Banff is in the Bow Valley.
Lake Louise is 61 km from the Banff Gondola — around a 40-minute drive.
The Columbia Icefield is 187 km from the Banff Gondola — around a 2.25-hour drive.
Jasper is 292 km from the Banff Gondola — around a 3.5 hour drive.
Calgary is 133 km from the Banff Gondola — around a 1.75-hour drive.
Vancouver is 850 km from the Banff Gondola — around a 10.5-hour drive.
It is important to treat all animals with respect — keep your distance and never feed the wildlife. For more information, please visit Park Canada's website.
