Banff Wildlife Tours
Watch rutting elk lock horns in combat, giant moose strut across the landscape, and shaggy-haired grizzly bears feast on buffaloberries. Seeing these creatures for the first time is a true Banff experience. On our wildlife watching tours, there’s no knowing what animals you might end up spotting. But our eagle-eyed guides know the top places to visit for the best chances of a sighting.
On our popular Evening Wildlife Safari, keep your eyes peeled for elk, moose, deer and coyotes. To guarantee seeing a bear, join our Grizzly Bear Refuge Tour and meet “Boo” – an orphaned bear who lives and plays in the world’s largest enclosed and protected grizzly bear habitat.
Learn about wolfdogs and meet them up close at the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary, a not-for-profit organisation that offers a variety of tours to educate the public on wolfdogs and raise awareness regarding wolf conservation.
Highlights
- We see wildlife on over 95% of our tours
- Learn about animal behavior, eating habits and the conservation efforts being made to protect their natural environment
- Buses are smaller so you have more interaction with the guide and everyone has a great view
- Buses feature hands-on interpretive props to help you get a better understanding of the wildlife
- Tours are free for children aged five and under (please note that some tours have a strict minimum age)
Most Popular
Evening Wildlife Safari
Where do you find the animals of Banff when the sun goes down? Your guide will know! So keep your eyes peeled for twilight wildlife encounters. As the sun sets behind the craggy peaks, the wildlife of Banff National Park become more active in the cool hours before dark. We see wildlife on 95% of our tours, so this is your best chance to get up close with some of Banff’s wildest residents. Your guide will lead a bus tour to the hotspots where you are most likely to see Rocky Mountain creatures. You might spot an elk sauntering across a clearing, a mountain goat perched high on a ridge, and sometimes even a grizzly bear snuffling through a berry bush. You’ll also learn about how the park protects these animals and their natural habitat from many threats to
Apr-Oct
5:30pm, 6:30pm, 7:30pm
2 Hours
Family Fun
Discover Banff & Its Wildlife
Uncover the secrets of a historic mountain haven with a local guide leading the way as you gaze at stunning views and visit Banff's key landmarks. The Town of Banff is an island of culture and history, surrounded by a sea of untamed wilderness. This tour enriches your visit with stories of 11,000 years of history, hidden in these rugged hills. Navigate a half-day journey to some of the most important landmarks in the area. You'll stop at the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Bow Falls, Lake Minnewanka and the “oh wow!” view at Surprise Corner. Venture down peaceful pine-scented trails and learn about wildlife habitat and behaviour. Ask as many questions as you like, as our guides are experts and love to share their knowledge. Don’t forget your camera - we spot wildlife on 95% of these tours.
Apr-Nov
8:30am
3 Hours
Discover Grizzly Bears
Meet Boo at the Grizzly Bear Refuge! Seeing a bear in the flesh is a thrilling moment that will stay with you long after you’ve left the mountains. Meet Boo, a bear with paws the size of hubcaps, a mouth full of sharp teeth and enormous muscles moving beneath his shaggy fur. He saunters slowly through his 20-acre habitat in the Rocky Mountain bush, allowing you to watch him explore, hunt and forage just like his wild cousins. You’ll also hear his personal story and learn about grizzly bear behaviour during your visit to the largest enclosed grizzly bear habitat in the world. The tour includes stops at gorgeous Takakkaw Falls (the second highest waterfall in Canada!) and stunning Emerald Lake. We’ll also take a gondola ride up to the top of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, where you’ll enjoy
Jun-Sep
8:30am
10 Hours
Private Wildlife Tours
Looking for a more in depth way to connect with Banff's wildlife? Book a private wildlife tour of Banff National Park for the best chances of animal sightings. Use one of our existing wildlife tours, the morning Discover Banff and Its Wildlife Tour, of a night on Evening Wildlife Safari as your itinerary, or connect with us for a custom quote. With our fleet of different vehicles, and a team of accredited guides, we can match your group size, whether you are a small family or a large corporate group. Sample Rates: Rates are dependent on number of guests & vehicle required. For eg, $125 per guest with a minimum of 6 guests for a half day wildlife tour. Contact Us for Custom Quote: Call: 1 -877-565-9372 to chat, or complete the form below.
Year Round
5 Hours
All Ages
Wolfdog Sanctuary – Self Guided
This self-guided interpretive walk allows visitors to see the sanctuary and view and photograph the various packs of wolfdogs at your own pace. Educational signs are placed throughout the sanctuary, so visitors are able to learn interesting and key facts about wolves and wolfdogs. This is a great opportunity to learn interesting facts about wolves and wolfdogs and support the sanctuary, as well as photograph the wolfdogs from outside their enclosures. Throughout the day different activities are scheduled, so while on the walk guests may be able to see different packs get fed, given toys etc. This tour provides a general admission into the sanctuary. Since this tour has unlimited availability, this is a great tour option for large groups, school groups, and any last minute visits to the sanctuary. Please note that there is no interaction with the wolfdogs
Year Round
Throughout the day
1 Hour
Wolfdog Sanctuary – Intro
Want to know more about wolfdogs? Learn all about the sanctuary during a 30 minute introductory talk inside a wolfdog enclosure. During the tour guests are taken inside one of the wolfdog enclosures (behind a short barrier) and given a 30 minute presentation on wolfdogs. Guests can expect to learn general information on wolfdogs and the mission of the sanctuary from an experienced staff member. This is a great way to photograph one of the packs of wolfdogs from inside their enclosure as well as have full access to one of the wolfdog experts. In addition, guests can also enjoy a self-guided Sanctuary Walk, either before or after their tour. Please note that there is no interaction with the wolfdogs on this tour. The Wolfdog Sanctuary Interactive Tour is recommended for anyone interested in this.
Year Round
10:45am, 12:15pm, 1:15pm, 2:15pm, 3:45pm
30 Mins
Limited Space
Wolfdog Sanctuary – Interactive
Come enjoy an up-close and intimate look at wolves and wolfdogs on this semi-private guided sanctuary tour with plenty of photo opportunities. Gain a better understanding about wolf behaviour through the wolfdogs at the sanctuary and how this behaviour fundamentally differs from domestic dogs. This is also a great opportunity to learn about the importance of wolves in our ecosystem, and why it’s so important to preserve them in the natural environment. You will also have plenty of photo opportunities and ample time to speak with a sanctuary team member leading the tour. This exclusive tour has limited availability and restricted numbers per tour to ensure the wolfdogs stay inquisitive and close during your visit, and is the only sanctuary tour that offers an up-close and personal experience with wolfdogs.
Year Round
10:30am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm, 3:30pm
45 Mins