Banff Gondola Mountaintop Experience

Looking for the best things to do in Banff National Park? This is the official site for the Banff Gondola in the Canadian Rockies. Ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain in Banff, Canada to experience a bird's eye view of six mountain ranges. At the Banff Gondola, you'll see more mountains in a moment than most see in a lifetime. This exhilarating activity is open year-round - a definite 'must-do' on your trip to the Canadian Rockies.

The Ultimate Ride

Your adventure begins with an eight minute journey to the summit of Sulphur Mountain in a modern, fully-enclosed four passenger gondola cabin. The views become increasingly spectacular as you climb 698m (2,292 ft) to an elevation of 2,281m (7,486 ft) at the Summit Upper Terminal – the departure point for a mountaintop of activities.

Click here to see Banff Gondola operating hours and rates.

Banff SummitWalk & National Historic Site

When you arrive at the upper terminal, you will have the choice of exiting the building to witness the breathtaking views in every direction or going up into the restaurant area where you can sit in comfort and still see the view. Above the restaurant levels is the upper observation deck for the best view yet. The Summit Complex and the main observation deck are handicapped accessible. The Banff SummitWalk is an easy 1km self-guided interpretive walkway along the summit ridge that leads to the Cosmic Ray Station National Historic Site of Canada, and the historic Sanson’s Peak Meteorological Station. This is definitely one of the more interesting things to do in Banff National Park. The historical stories of the area and early explorers are as impressive as the spectacular views! More adventurous hikers will want to try the South East Ridge Trail – a favourite among the locals.  To see the view from the top today, check the Banff National Park webcam.

Interactive Giant Compass

Discover the interactive giant compass located at the top of the Upper Summit Terminal. Find out the distance and direction to home and other cities around the world. This makes the perfect souvenir photo to bring home to friends and family!

Wildlife

Stay on the look out for wildlife and birds that frequent the Banff Gondola. This is nature’s wild playground, so a camera is a must! Visit our wildlife sightings and visitor photos to see some of the animals in the Canadian Rockies. You can encounter the local wildlife including Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, Golden mantled ground squirrels, Hoary marmots, Clark’s nutcracker and the Canada (Gray) jay. But please remember that although these animals are for the most part friendly, they are wild and can be dangerous! Please do not feed or approach the wildlife; admire them from a safe distance and help us keep them wild.