Where to Spot Wildlife with Discover Banff Tours
See Bears on the Evening Wildlife Safari Tour with Discover Banff Tours

The best way to spot wildlife in Banff is with the expert guides at Discover Banff Tours.

We know the places they like to hang out, we know how to safely see them, and we know some pretty cool facts that will provide a lot of context to the experience for you and your family.

See elk and other animals on a Banff wildlife tour with Discover Banff Tours
Photo Credit: Nick Parayko @nickparaykoimages

Wildlife in Banff National Park

Wildlife is just that – wild. Spotting the residents of Banff National Park isn’t always guaranteed, but with us, you have a pretty darn good chance of seeing something! Common sightings in our warmer months include black bears, grizzly bears, elk, deer, bighorn sheep, little rodents, and birdlife. From the safety of a vehicle, a favourite sighting among guests are definitely the bears. So, when can you see them, where, and how? Well, let us tell you!

See bears in Banff National Park on a wildlife tour with Discover Banff Tours
Photo Credit: Colleen Gara @colleengaraphoto

Wildlife conservation

Banff National Park is a wild place – it’s a protected part of Canada that is a national treasure and an area we are proud to operate within. The park nurtures, protects, conserves, and enhances the natural environment so that wildlife and humans can live cohesively together. How we do this is an interesting story of education, adaptation, and conservation, and we will explain this to you throughout our tours.

See bighorn sheep on the Evening Wildlife Safari Tour with Discover Banff Tours
Photo Credit: Travel Alberta

See wildlife (including bears!) in Spring

Visiting in the spring provides an excellent chance of spotting all kinds of animals including bears – why? Well, the food is down low. There is still a lot of snow and colder temperatures higher up in the mountains so berries have yet to grow and flowers have yet to bloom. These can, however, be found in the valley bottom which is close to where we run our popular Evening Wildlife Safari. This daily tour runs from spring to fall, and has a 95% success rate for spotting wildlife!

See local wildlife such as coyotes on a wildlife tour with Discover Banff Tours
Photo Credit: Tourism Jasper

Not only do you get the knowledge and experience of our professional guides, but you get the local’s take on where to find our furry residents. Additionally, we bring along sample hides, antlers, facts, and stories to provide further interpretation to our experiences.

Evening Wildlife Safari with Discover Banff Tours

BANFF's BEST WILDLIFE TOURS

Summer views from the Banff Gondola
Family Fun

Discover Banff Tour with Gondola

Experience the picture perfect viewpoints of Banff before soaring up summit Sulphur Mountain on the Banff Gondola for 360-degree views
8:30am
5.5 Hours
See animals such as grizzly bears on a wildlife tour
Family Fun

Wildlife Tour + Chairlift + Lake Cruise

Combo Package; look for wildlife on a twilight tour, ride a chairlift to 7,000' and do a fun and informative
2+
Jun-Oct
See elk and other animals on a Banff wildlife tour with Discover Banff Tours
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
5:30pm, 6:30pm, 7:30pm, Varies seasonally
2 Hours

Discover Jasper & Its Wildlife

Join the daily Wildlife Discovery Tour with knowledgeable guides who are trained to seek out Jasper’s most iconic creatures -
5:30pm, 3:45pm, 4:30pm
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
8:30am
10 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
8:30am
3 Hours

Meet a grizzly bear up close

Coming later in the summer when temperatures are hotter? We still have options! Most of our tours provide a great chance to see wildlife no matter the season, but bears can be a bit harder to spot as the season gets hotter. The berries and flowers have bloomed up high, and they love to hang out in the alpine areas.

But not to worry, we have a tour for you – and his name is Boo!

See Boo the grizzly bear right up close on the Discover Grizzly Bears Tour with Discover Banff Tours in the Canadian Rockies

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in neighbouring British Columbia is home to one of the world’s largest grizzly bear refuges and you can meet its resident, Boo, on the full-day Discover Grizzly Bears Tour. Boo was tragically orphaned at a very young age and given a second chance at life in this refuge built purposefully for him. On this tour, we also include stops at Takakkaw Falls (Canada’s second highest waterfall!) and the famous Emerald Lake.

And if you don’t see Boo, you can go back again for free! Just like in our Wildlife Safari tour, this trip also includes the education and interpretation you’ve come to expect from Discover Banff Tours.

Grizzly Bear Refuge
Photo Credit: Resorts of the Canadian Rockies RCR

Wolfdog tours

For another unique animal experience, meet wolfdogs up close at the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary! Just 45 minutes from Banff, this not-for-profit sanctuary gives visitors the chance to get a better understanding of wild wolves by interacting with the wolfdogs at the sanctuary. The most popular tour is the interactive tour – this semi-private guided sanctuary experience books out weeks in advance and takes you in to a wolfdog enclosure where you will learn about these amazing creatures from a knowledgeable staff member.

The interactive tour allows you to feed wolfdogs at the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary near Banff in the Canadian Rockies
Photo Credit: Travel Alberta / AV Wakefield

Leaving Banff with having some type of positive wildlife encounter brings them closer to nature and an unknown perspective of the wild places that remain. The best way to guarantee this is will happen is with one of our trips at Discover Banff Tours. Book today to avoid as peak visiting periods are in summer and tours often fill up.

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