Summer visitors to Banff have a wealth of outdoor recreation opportunities to choose from that can range from relaxed and passive--think lazy afternoon soaks in the park's many spas or natural hot springs or touring the park by car using the park's narrated GPS program--to fast-paced and physically strenuous. The park offers more than 1,000 miles of defined trails for day and overnight hiking adventures and for those craving the hiking experience at a higher elevation, heli-hiking opportunities, which are helicopter rides to specific high-elevation points where hikers can either hike or ride horses down to the starting point, are offered by licensed tour companies. Canoeing, kayaking and whitewater rafting opportunities are available to visitors who bring gear, rent gear or choose to use a tour company; fishing along the banks of the park's many lakes and rivers is a popular summer past time.
More than two dozen independently owned art galleries show off the work of some of Canada's most famous artisans. Those who treasure history and the study of place (indiginous culture, geology, flora, fauna and the natural sciences) will revel in what Banff has to offer in the summer months. The Banff Centre is a world-famous venue for live theater, dance, film, music and cultural exhibits that reflect the wide influences that have come to this region of Canada while the Banff Park Museum National Historic Site of Canada serves as one of the country's premier natural history museums. A visit to the ghost town of Bankhead provides is a first-hand view into the coal mine towns that helped shape Alberta's future; the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum is an equally rich visitor experience with a focus on First People heritage and culture.
For visitors with a strong interest in the natural sciences,consider a summer visit to the Cascades of Time Gardens-a botanical garden with more than 50,000 flowers in the summer months- or a visit to the Su;phur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station or the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, a treat for those who are into geophysics or geologic sciences, respectively.
Orchestrated by The Banff Centre, special events occur all summer in Banff but the Banff Summer Arts Festival is a feast of more than 150 events that play out from May through August. Live music, dance, film festivals, book fairs, food festivals and literary readings are just a few of the choices open to visitors. The Banff National Park Bike Fest celebrates all things cycling including competitive road races and, slightly later in the summer, the park's Lake Minnewanka serves as host to the Dragon Boat Festival.
