Banff Gondola
Categories: Active Life Parks Active Life Hiking Parks, Hiking [Edit]
Box 1258End of Mountain Ave
Banff, AB T1L 1B2
(403) 762-2523
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
19 reviews for Banff Gondola
19 reviews in English
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Review from Stacey T.
This is a must do when in Banff! If you hike up to the top you can hitch a free ride down because they don't seem to check for any ticket stubs! It was a little too late in the day for us to hike up so we took the Gondola! We got to see some of the most beautiful views ever! When you get to the top you can hike further up Sulpher Mountain.
All my pictures look like post cards!! -
Review from Peter T.
10/22/2011
So my friend and I decide to go on a Banff day-trip while I was visiting Calgary in late September. We decided to take the Sulphur Mountain Hike up and the Banff Gondola down. We asked the ticket sales office, because it was offseason, the down portion of gondola was free.
From the parking lot, follow the signs to the base of the hike. It starts out on a wide path, then narrows into switchbacks thru the forest. The trail is a bit steep, but its only around 3.4 miles, so it's a quick hike, even if you allocate a break or two. As you climb, there's a spot that smells like Sulphur. The trail crosses under the gondolas a few times as well. As you get nearer to the top, the valley opens up below, and you are greeted with a stunning view. The whole town as well as Banff Springs Hotel are within view. The Gondola station marks the top of Sulphur Mtn. Inside the station, there is a snack shop as well as a gift shop. Also, at the top of the station, there is an outdoor 360 degree observation deck where you they have mileages to locations around the world.
Once at the top, you can continue around 1/4 mile up to Sanson Peak, which is an historic Observatory. This mini-hike is crowded from tourists whom took the gondola up. It can get very windy here, so hang on to your hats. There are off-shoots to other hikes from here.
The Gondola ride down is fast and enjoyable. Going down is kinda freaky, but scenic. There is a gift shop when you exit as well.
Overall, a great hike and gondola, a must-do when in Banff. -
Review from Nina P.
9/29/2011
AWESOME VIEWS LAME PRICES
Hubby and I were in the area for a business conference and spent some time in Banff taking in the sites.
The Banff Gondola was recommended by our hotel staff sow we drove up Mountain Avenue and purchased tickets. $29.00 a person is TOTALLY ridiculous - we're not skiing - in fact we got up to the top and it was snowing and violently windy - we managed to stay out on the platform for MAYBE 15 minutes only to chicken out from the elements and head back inside to go down. The short die has stellar views but is very pricey.
Go if you have the cash - it's almost worth it lol! -
Review from Eric B.
6/6/2011
Sulphur Mountain was named in 1916 for the hot springs on its lower slopes. Nearby Sanson's Peak was named in 1948 for Norman Bethune Sanson, who diligently attended the observatory recording equipment atop Sulphur Mountain for nearly 30 years. Also at the top you'll find restaurants, a gift shop, and multiple observation decks.
My advice is the take the Banff Gondola up, take a look at the old research station, and then walk down. It can be a little crowded, but the Bow Valley views going both ways, and the less congested exercise going down makes the experience (and cost) well worth it. And for an even better scenic adventure, drive over to the Lake Louise Ski Area during the off season and ride on theirs. But then again, a soak afterwards at the nearby Banff Upper Hot Springs is a nice bonus after the decent off Sulphur Mountain. -
Review from Erin D.
6/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's an incredible place to take photographs and to take in 360 degrees of the Rockies. The cafeteria at the top is akin to a cafeteria in a hospital so bring a lunch and it's always packed up there so you will be inevitable surrounded by people every step of the way. The ride up can also be a little scary if you are a chicken shit like I am. We went up on a particularly windy day and my palms were sweaty.
Is it worth $30.00 a person? Absolutely not. -
Review from Melanie J.
5/31/2010
Awesome weather, awesome views, awesome hike.
This was my first time to Banff and in my research, read up on "the must do" list. The one that stuck in my mind the most: Hike up Sulfur Mountain and take the gondola ride down. With the perfect hiking weather on our side, this is exactly what we did.
What a great hike! Oh, I said Awesome! Coming from Texas and as a person who absolutely loves to go hiking, I was so gung-ho. Fortunately for me, my canadian friend had been up and down the gondola several times, but never hiked it....so it was a first for both of us.
The hike was located at the base of the mountain. Usually, there is a cost to ride the gondola, but because it was the canadian long weekend, it was free! Yay!
A sign at the bottom of the trail states that it takes anywhere from 2-5 hours to hike to the summit.....amazingly, it took us right under 2 hours - 1 hr and 50 minutes to be exact! The trail consists of a lot of switchbacks and a few of them pretty steep, so wear a good pair of hiking shoes.
Oh, and I know I mentioned I was a Texas girl.....as we got closer to the snow covered peaks, it actually did snow! I was so ecstatic! I have never really been in a place with the snow falling like the little beads from a bean bag! I was giddy and thought it was fantastic - and as silly as I was, my canadian friend enjoyed my elatedness!
As we started to get higher, there would be clearings amongst the trees where we could actually catch a glimpse of the Bow River, Banff, and lake Minnewanka just to name a few of the highlights and these were especially seen with a 360 degree unobstructed view from the summit itself.....absolutely breathtaking!
At the top, there was a restaurant, gift shop, and a skywalk to what used to be a cosmic ray station. The tourist traffic didn't seem so bad to me....maybe it was because rain was forecasted for this day....rain or shine, I came and I ended up being ALL shine, except for a little snow.....most excellent.
And the reward at the end? The beautiful ride down in the gondola! -
Review from Vicky L.
2/26/2009
Lines are super long, a la carte prices are high, but our tickets were part of our Asian tour package. We had a nice ride up with gorgeous views.
It's a must visit place if you're here in the summer and visibility is prime. When you're at the top, there's a nice short hike up and down stairs to a weathertower/post thing so you can get an even better view.
Tourists definitely congregate here so make sure you refresh your Chinese expletives to yell at the badly behaving ones!!! -
Review from Michelle H.
9/7/2010
Stunning views, great hiking--the essence of Banff. Dress appropriately as it is very windy at the top. 2200 ft elevation change on the hike. What a reward to get to the top. Construction building decks and walkways, but it does not interfere with walk to weather station.
If you don't feel like hauling your own food or water, a simple cafe awaits you.
For the avid hiker, the trail up to the top is well maintained. -
Review from Nina C.
8/7/2008
When visiting Banff, it is a shame to miss a ride on the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain.
It's breathtakingly beautiful... -
Review from Denis K.
8/7/2008
Who can say no to a gondola ride? The ride up is a must and the view from the top.. words do not exist.
Take a walk on the boardwalk. Look around. Slow down and enjoy nature.
review 8/7/2008
I.M.Y. -
Review from Monica L.
11/26/2008
Riding the gondola might seem like the wussy way to get to the top of Sulphur Mountain, and it probably is. I didn't have a couple of hours to spare to climb the steep hillside, but I did have a few dollars to spare ($26 of them, to be exact), so I took the ride up. It was possibly one of the most exhilirating eight minutes of my life as I passed over tall alpine forests, to look out over the Bow River, surrounded by the Canadian Rockies. Each car has huge windows on every side so you have a 360-degree view.
Once at the top, there are two towers. The main one where you exit the gondola has two restaurants (one is cafeteria-style, the other Chinese, which makes me laugh), an observation deck, and a small gift shop. If you're sending postcards anywhere in Banff, be sure to do it here, as (like someone previously mentioned), you get a special stamp. Pre-postage-paid postcards are available for purchase. At the very top is an observation deck with a giant compass and has various flags posted around the rails so you can turn towards your home city/country and stare wistfully into the mountains.
The other tower is the weather observatory and is a short walk away. In November, visitors were advised not to make the slippery trek, so I didn't, but in compensation, I was rewarded with spotting a mountain goat hanging out under the deck about twenty feet away and eyeing me suspiciously.
Before you get into the gondola again for the ride down, a photographer takes your picture, which you can purchase at the shop at the bottom of the mountain. A delightfully tacky end to some absolutely gorgeous views. -
Review from Julie L.
7/28/2010
It's super expensive ($29 per adult), but you get such a gorgeous view. You shouldn't just wait to get to the top. You'll see downtown Banff, but what is more gorgeous is the valley as you go up the gondola. Sadly, it's hard to take a picture.
The top of the ride highlights the mountains rather than having restaurants. This is how it should be as you can even find chipmunks to feed and beautiful birds flying by. Though they could spruce up a little. -
Review from Jack G.
Edmonton, AB
2/26/2010
If you're in Banff you have to take the Gondola at least once. Sometimes it is to cold so I wouldn't recommend it but as long as the weather is bearable suck it up.
It is always slammed with tourists and that's because when you take it you are provided the chance to take in some great views. You can see the bow river and the mountains as you pass over gigantic trees. You get a full view of everything everywhere in the car.
It is really an experience that I can't even do the least bit of justice by writing about it. You have to check it out for yourself. -
Review from Mary I.
8/8/2008 3 photos
I have only been to Sulphur Mountain during the harsh winter, when the temperature is in the high negatives, and it's snowing heavily.
However, you will never hear me complain. In fact, it makes the experience even more unforgettable.
The view from the weather tower is hard to describe, but I think it is something everyone should experience at least once in their lives.
I added some photos but they don't even begin to capture the feeling that comes with making it to the elevation of 7486 ft and seeing nature first hand.
I always make sure to mail out my post cards from the gift shop because they add a special stamp that proves you really made it to the top! -
Review from William B.
9/15/2008 2 photos
On a clear day the views from the Banff Gondola center atop the mountain are spectacular. Sure, it costs a bit more money than what you might want to pay at first, but realize they're charging you for the view, not just the ride up and back!
When we went up on a cloudy September afternoon, we worried the views wouldn't be great. No need - weather changes so quickly in Banff that the clouds parted plenty of times to provide great views. Never mind that at one point it snowed - it's all part of the experience!
Besides just walking around the upper terminal, take a boardwalk stroll over to the old weather station on Sanson Peak, where even greater views of the Bow valley and Rockies can be seen. -
Review from Aaron M.
8/8/2008
Whenever I think of Gondolas I always think of old man bond Roger Moore and his lame fight with Jaws atop one. But this is easy to forget while riding the the Banff gondola. The views are amazing and worth every penny. Just always keep an eye out for an evil henchman.
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Review from Sherri C.
6/10/2010
5 stars for the views alone in any weather. The gondola ride itself is smooth and quick. At the top, we carefully stepped through snow and ice on the boardwalk to the old weather station. Truly amazing views.
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Review from M S.
7/3/2010
Great ride up the mountain. Beautiful views on the way up and down, and it is quite a nice view at the top. Some walking areas up there, and we wandered around for awhile. Definitely worthwile.
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Review from Chris T.
9/8/2008
Although a tad on the pricey side, this Gondola offered amazing views of the whole Banff area. Its worth it for that. Make sure you go on a clear day though.
