Pricey but worth it!! GONDOLA - to be quite honest, the gondola was a bit scarier than I thought. The height was incredible and every time the gondola shook I was a little terrified. BUT It was worth it all. Once you go up, theres a 4 floor building. 1. First floor - takes you outside on a staircase trail. The trail is longer than it looks, but I would day go all the way! Especially if you're a tourist, you know you wont be back again (well at least not any time soon), so just do it!! Theres a cafe and a gift shop as well inside the building. 2. Second floor - BATHROOM! (Or they call it Washroom in Canada). Theres also like a small museum-ish area with a theater 3. Third floor - restaurant 4. Fourth floor - Top deck observatory (takes you outside) read more

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I have been up to the top of Sulpher Mountain on the Banff Gondola many times. It is such a unique and wonderful experience that i love to do even though it is expensive! Banff Gondola now has a restaurant called Pursuit or by Pursuit and it is delicious! I have had two of their food items which were amazing. They were: stop braised short rib with roquefort and a mushroom scone. This food item is so unique because usually braised short rib is just served on a regular piece of white bread or bun or whole wheat bread or bun so the mushroom scones amazing! As well I had a gourmet peanut butter and jelly bar which was also amazing! read more

Minimal parking available and we almost got turned away so if you're attached to this idea buy tickets ahead of time because those people kept getting let in. Would have given 5 stars but we felt like it was a little overpriced for what you get. The fire in jasper smoked up all the mountains so it impacts your views significantly. read more

I'll echo what Jeff said: we almost didn't do it and it would have been a big mistake. That's all you need to know. The reason most probably don't want to do it is the price. That was our case. We already spent a lot on the trip but it was evening and clear out and we were at the hot springs which share the parking lot so we just went for it. The views, the walk, the photos, the history - all so worth the money. Without a doubt, one of the highlights, if not THE highlight of our trip and that's saying a lot. read more

To my knowledge, gondolas are things experienced in Venice, Italy. When I heard I'd be taking a gondola ride in Banff, I envisioned a water taxi, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, captained by a crooning Canadian in a striped shirt. Laugh all you want! I never have done a real winter vacation, nor have I ever gone skiing, snowboarding, etc. Imagine my surprise when I saw what I was in for: a ride in a cable car up a steep, steep snowy mountain! Views... all the views. Slightly harrowing, but once you get past looking backwards or upwards at the wire preventing you from falling into the snowy abyss (I couldn't resist), it's actually quite euphoric. Like the mountain, the price is quite steep. But, tourists, especially first timers, you must do this. You must. I feel like a pro at wintering now. read more

LOVE IT!!!!!! This ride was absolutely amazing, I would highly recommend getting the dinner package which is all in one. Its just the best deal you can do. When it comes to the ride it was really smooth, and the staff very friendly. I loved being able to be at this level with nature and just the views alone were stunning. They have plenty of parking and nicely organized as well which was great. If you are in Banff this should be on a MUST list. We were here in the evening for dinner which I think would be the best time to go but I am sure the day time is just as great. read more

My most favorite place in the world! My now fiancé proposed to me in the most epic place! Take the gondola up for the most spectacular views! Share precious memories with those who surround you. This place is out of this world! read more

Banff Gondola - Parks Near Me - Banff, Alberta

The Banff gondola is a classic attraction, the staff that work there are always kind and helpful. I think it may have been the weather that affected our trip when we went, but we found that at the top it seemed a bit disappointing with the lack of activities. There is two great restaurants at the top, if you're okay with paying the prices that are definitely inflated. The views are spectacular, great working equipment and staff, but if you aren't getting the Alberta resident discount, I honestly don't believe it's worth the price. read more

Banff Gondola - View from the gondola - Parks Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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LOVED IT!! What a great view and a fun ride! You gotta do this if you are in the area! It was great even though it was a but rainy. Have lunch when you are at the top. You will get spectacular views. When you come back down, be ready to LEAN IN for your picture. I would definitely do this again! read more

Banff Gondola - It's about 10 mins to get up there - Parks Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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The Banff Gondola is definitely on the list of must-try activities when visiting Banff. We arrived at the parking lot around 10 am and were fortunately able to find a spot - unfortunately, when we bought tickets we were left with a 2 hour wait. We visited the gift shop, walked around on a small path outside, and visited the attached Starbucks to borrow their WiFi while we waited. The eight minute ride provided some great views - I definitely wouldn't want to hike up that by myself. When we got to the top, we had purchased the cafe lunch package which came with an entree, drink and dessert. Honestly, you don't save any money buying the meal and gondola package for lunch at the cafe. In fact, if I had only gotten my entree (vegetable curry, $12) without the drink and dessert we could have saved money. This left me a little bitter. The boardwalk path is really easy, and gives you a great view of the surrounding mountains and the city of Banff below. A bit crowded, but I highly recommend doing it at least once. We had to rush back to make our trip back down the gondola, so if you like to take a lot of pictures I would recommend asking for extra time. You also do not save any money if you take the hike down. If you hike up and want to take the gondola down, you have to pay $32. read more

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Sometimes it's hard to know if an experience optimized for tourists is worth it, but the Banff Gondola definitely was. We took the four-seater gondola up to the observation deck and thoroughly enjoyed the breathtaking 360-degree views of the Canadian Rockies. We then walked along the ridgetop boardwalk to another observation point for more panoramic vistas. We could have challenged ourselves to hike up or down the switchbacks of Sulfur Mountain, but we opted to take the ten minute gondola ride back down so we could do a different hike that day. We bought tickets for two hours at the summit and that was plenty of time. I'd recommend bringing an extra layer as it can get cold with the wind and a good camera. Check out the photos below! read more

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Initially, I leaned toward skipping the Banff Gondola. I had hiked up to the top of the Big Beehive above Lake Louise and felt the views could not be better at the top of the Gondola. However, a waitress in town highly recommended the Gondola and noted it was one of her favorite spots in Banff. Accordingly, I changed my mind. I am glad I did because she was absolutely correct. The 360 views at the top of the summit of Sulphur Mountain, where the Gondola brings you to, were spectacular and one of a kind. At the top, you will have an aerial view of the town of Banff and Lake Minnewanka on one side. On the other side, there is a sea of mountains as you stand among the peaks. While there was light smoke from the forest fires in British Colombia when I was there, it could not smother the beautiful views. Definitely walk on the boardwalk at the top. It can be very cold with the wind but the best views are on it. I spent a half an hour walking to the end of the boardwalk and back. When you get off the Gondola, you will be in the Banff Interpretive Centre. It is a state of the art, gorgeous building with a museum, quick film about the National Park, and dining. While I did not dine at the restaurants, the food smelled great. Moreover, there are stunning mountain top views for you to enjoy while you sit at the top of the world and eat. It is a $64 round trip ticket for the Gondola. There is a line for the tickets outside but I walked inside to a booth. There were only a couple of people in front of me and I got a ticket immediately. The ticket will give you approximately an hour and 20 minutes to go up and enjoy the views at the top before catching your ride back down. However, you can adjust the departure time at the ticket window at the top if you want more time. The designated times for the trip up and the trip back down are only used to control lines. It is a quick 8 minute ride one way on the Gondola. It can be a little rocky with the wind. However, it is safe. If you are afraid of heights, it is better to sit on the side facing the top of the mountain on both legs of the ride. You can always turn and look backwards. You can also hike up Sulphur Mountain from the parking lot. It is a 5.5 km (3.4 mile) hike one way that will take at least 1.5 hours. However, it is definitely strenuous because the end point is 7,486 feet above sea level. Accordingly, the air is thinner and it becomes more difficult to breath. In addition, the hike is legitimately steep with 655 meter (2,149 feet) elevation change. From the gondola, I could see the switchbacks and tell it was very steep. Moreover, it can be very cold as the wind blasts you on the side of the mountain. Personally, I would probably only do the hike in sunny, warm weather. On the other hand, I saw a group of people run a race up the mountain. One of them noted she was slow because she completed it in an hour. As such, it can definitely be done. It is certainly a challenging but rewarding hike. If you hike up and do not want to hike back down, the one way ticket will cost half the roundtrip. If you are visiting the Canadian Rockies and looking for recommendations, feel free to message me through Yelp and I can share my itinerary/ recommendations, which includes my Yelp reviews. The information for an electronic copy can also be found via my Yelp profile. read more

This is for the people who don't really want to hike the dozens of trails in Banff but still want a worthwhile sight. The price is fair, and there is a small walk around on the top to see the various valleys and mountains around Banff. Very do-able for families with kids and the elderly. There is also a gift shop, Starbucks, a cafe and restaurant for a quick bite or coffee. Go early to avoid the crowds. read more

Banff Gondola - Parks Near Me - Banff, Alberta

So fun - so great and food on the mountain was great.....recommend the Sky Bistro for lunch! Pretty high end (don't think pub....think wine bar)! read more

The gondola is pretty neat, and the view it offers is quite amazing as well. If you have the opportunity and funds to take the Gondola ride to the observatory at the top. The views are worth it. read more

Are you looking to see the magnificent view from BANFF?? You definitely don't want to snooze on this top tourist destination. This Gondola takes you from the bottom to the top of Banff! You can probably see your house from here! I can even see my girlfriend cheating on me.. But apart from that matter this is definitely a spot YO BOOTY should not miss. read more

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The Sulphar mountain hike is 3 hours long total...Surely hikers will be drinking water on the long way up. We brought masks with us for "Covid measures" and everything but the workers at the gondola here STILL wouldn't let my sister and her boyfriend use the washroom!?! You had to pay $65 to use the gondola to use the washroom... WTF that is so wrong & unfair! So instead my sister & her bf had to go to the washroom outside, climbon the side of the mountain with the mountain goats. It's honestly dangerous to make people do that and they should change these Covid measures immediately because it is completely unfair and unsafe. read more

We did this on a rainy and cloudy day where we seriously couldn't see 10 feet in front of us on the top of the mountain. However, it was still beautiful and dramatic, especially the ride up into the fog. Even on a nearly non visible day the exhibits at the top of the mountain are very cool. The long boardwalk looked amazing but again, no fun walking into a cloud. read more

Banff Gondola - Parks Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Great experience that everyone who visits Banff should try ! The equipment and staff are up to date, qualified and friendly read more

Tickets around CAD $65. Worth it if you ask me. There is a restaurant, gift shop and displays at the top. A big outdoor area. Then you can hike to top of the other hill for a different view. Two of the red chairs. My father is 82 so it was nice way for him to get the view. You do get an assigned load time. We had to wait a bit before we could go up. You also have an assigned come down time. A bit odd but I do get why they have it. At the bottom there is a coffee shop and a gift shop. Parking can be a bit difficult. You can also hike up to the top. I would think you need to be in great shape. The path did look good enough though. I am glad we spent the time to do this. read more

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What a great experience! I highly recommend checking this place out! You purchase tickets at the counter outside.Tickets are a little expensive. It's about $60 CAD or alittle more. The lift is about 8 mins and it's very beautiful! After you reach the top, there is a hike that you can embark on. We hiked all the way to the top of Sulphur Mountain and it was beautiful! The hike is definitely worth it! They also have a gift shop and coffee shop if you do not want to hike and want to stay near the observatory deck. I highly recommend taking the gondola lift in Banff! read more

Banff Gondola - The view from the observatory deck! - Parks Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Great experience! The views to the top were awesome! We thought it was just a ride up and then you turn back down, but you actually get off at the top and it's a big 4 story building with different levels, including an open top level for views! There's s café, restaurant, Store, children's activity area, and rest rooms there. There's a door where you can exit and it takes you to the Sulphuric Mountain Ridge Trail, which we hiked and got some great photos! read more

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Breathtaking views! The gondola swings a bit due to the wind and scared me but is worth it. The view to the Fairmont is beautiful. *thumbs up* read more

I am afraid of heights. Afraid in the sense that whenever I can't see an ending to my fall, my limbs turn to jello and my body temperature reaches up to 120 degrees. Not humanly possible to live through a body temp of 120? Think again. Let me just say that they did not design this with acrophobia in mind. You're probably thinking, "Duh, haven't you been on a snowboarding lift, or anything like that, you amateur?" And as a matter of fact, I have not. I'm more old-fashioned in that I prefer to use an ancient method of what we refer to now as, "walking." So, as usual, my entire life flashed before me as I walked into this egg-shaped piece of metal to ascend Sulphur Mountain. I was further comforted by the fact that it was an extremely windy day, and our gondola was shaking back and forth with three passengers who all ate at a buffet prior to doing this. Oh, and was I just filled with joy when the gondola's bottom started scraping against the steel posts for stability. Since it was my lucky day, it also became suffocatingly hot in this dome of horror; however, if I opened the windows while being thousands of feet above sea level, I had a feeling I was going to poop my pants. So I had to sit there, holding onto a bar for my dear life with my left hand and fanning myself with my right hand. Was it all worth it? Totally. The ride up to Sulphur Mountain is not very long, thankfully. When you get off, the scenery is probably one of the most outstanding sceneries I have seen in a long time. Like sensory overload. It was almost too much that it became kind of overwhelming because in order to get to the highest peak to see everything, you have to climb quite a few stairs after you get off the gondola. It's a win-win situation in my eyes; you get to see nature at its finest, and you get a good cardiovascular workout. The beauty of Sulphur Mountain is enough to take your breath away. This is where all of the legit stuff is. To maximize your time here and money spent to ride the gondola, try to come here on a day with no clouds and good lighting. That way, your photographs come out really nicely and without a horrible gray cast. That's unfortunately what happened to me. I would recommend this ride to anybody visiting Banff National Park, though. It's definitely become a must-see on my travel list. It's not every day you come across a mountain as gorgeous and vast as Sulphur. read more

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This gondola! It comes out hot, and delivers a few minutes going (both ascending and descending) of fabulous views, all in a covered lift. Covering ideal for safety and sanity. I suggest doing it on your first day in Banff if you are a visitor. Even the most mountain-romantic at heart get used to the views, and this ride provides some hella perfect views. The one issue you might find with the trip up Sulphur is the price. Roughly $40 can be a lot on the wallet. If you are able-bodied and into the outdoors, I suggest doing the hike up the mountain. In the winter you can take the Gondola down for free after the hike, and in the summer it's only $20. I can't stress enough, though, this is a legit two hour hike, and isn't one of those Alberta hikes that is really just a long walk next to nature. You gotta work, B. read more

Banff Gondola - Weee! - Parks Near Me - Banff, Alberta

After taking the tramway in Jasper to see panoramic views of the glacier-covered mountains, beautiful Jasper town, glacier-fed lakes and tall mountains, I knew what to expect from the Banff Gondola experience, but at the same time I was pretty excited too! It was one of those days when it wasn't crowded, so just my husband and I had the luxury to go in one gondola car. A 7 minutes took us to the top of the Sulphur mountains and the whole way up, we were peeking through the glass windows to catch a glimpse of the beautiful views all around. From views of Banff town, the smaller Tunnel mountain amidst the sheer, snow-capped mountains, the peacock green color Bow River, the monarchical The Fairmont Banff Springs, the craggy Canadian Rocky mountain range, a glimpse of the electric blue Lake Minnewanka, the gondola ride was an incredible experience. Soon we reached the Sulphur mountain peak and I immediately took out my binoculars to do - I don't know what, but just randomly looked around everywhere. From the observation deck, we walked for a bit to reach the Cosmic Ray Station. The views from the Cosmic Ray Station aren't that different from the views from the observation deck, but it was a nice walk nevertheless. We even spotted a couple of mountain goats in the mountain slopes. They kind of look like sheep with big horns! I guess that's how these animals adapt themselves to the harsh winters. Our way down on the gondola was an equally neat experience, while we were trying to identify each and every landmark that we knew! read more

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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. read more

This is a must to experience Banff. The gondola ride is 7 minutes. It's just like a gondola ride at a ski resort. It was cool to see people work hard to hike up the mountain. There's a neat gift shop at the top. There's a wonderful walk that has soaring vistas of the mountains and downtown Banff. It's not an easy walk, but the very top is worth it. There's an old observatory there with relics of the meteorologist who would make treks weekly. Loved this activity. We had perfect summer weather. You'll be taking lots of pics. read more

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You could hike up Sulfur mountain, or you could take this beautiful ride. We booked a ticket for this through Discover Banff Tours, and claimed the ticket at the front desk when we arrived. The line was short, and moving quickly. Parking is difficult, we had to park far away and do a little bit of a walk to the entrance of the Gondola start. Follow the signs and ask the park staff so you're not just driving around and around in circles. 8 minute ride. Put your phone down and look around in its entirety. What a world we live in! Be sure to do the rest of the hike up the boardwalk to the very top of Sulfur mountain - the weather station. It will be unlike anything you've ever done before. When coming back down, they take a photo of you in the gondola car and offer to sell it to you - if you're into that. read more

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!!! read more

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. read more

HEIGHTS. If you're not a fan of heights, you may have to push that out the window and pull some courage in. Going up the lift freaked me out, but looking out into the view of the mountains took my fear away. Nothing else could compare to it and the experience was all worth it. Luckily our day was very sunny, minimal to no clouds at all and I could not get over the view. It felt so surreal and almost like I was looking into a fake backdrop. No matter where you go or walked around to, every corner and area was picture perfect. Make sure you have enough memory space in your camera to capture it all. But even then, pictures could not do enough justice at how magnificent the view was. There is a cafe located at the top, the food was alright nothing stood out for me to remember or for it to be remembered. Just come here for the view and experience. I know it can be a bit pricey, but it's worth it and the price you pay will never amount to how gorgeous the mountain view is. read more

Banff Gondola - One side of the amazing view on top - Parks Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Nothing but great things to say about my experience here. All staff were very friendly. Great gift shops and food/beverage options. Plenty of seating. Fire pits. Educational information. The view is spectacular! read more

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We had a great time here. It would be nice to try the gondola here. You could see almost the whole town when you are way up. Fun

Neat gondola ride - up Sulphur Mountain in the Bow Valley of Banff National Park ... just a short ride from the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. The gondola ride is a bit expensive but it is also breathtaking. Wonderful views of the Bow Valley and Banff Springs Hotel. You can hike up or down the trail and take the gondola in the return direction - we took the gondola both ways. Worth the visit. read more

Banff Gondola - Summit of Sulphur Mountain via Banff Gondola - view facing Cosmic Ray Park Station in the distance. - Parks Near Me - Banff, Alberta

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Absolutely amazing views from the top. The gondola ride is really a cool experience for both locals and tourists. If you're like me who doesn't have the heart strength to climb a whole mountain, but wants the view, this is the way to go. Really amazing staff. Everyone was extremely friendly. From those at the bottom to those at the peak - everyone was great. Dress warmly though if you are wanting to walk the summit path. Because if it's windy you'll be feeling it. And there isn't much at the gift shop to purchase to keep your face warm. read more

Banff Gondola - Boardwalk at the peak. - Parks Near Me - Banff, Alberta

My family and I came here during the start of winter. Be sure to bundle up as the ice cold winds have quite a bite on your skin. Also make sure you have good shoes as it is very slippery, icy, and wet. The ride up has spectacular views to Sulpher Mountain. And then a short 15min hike that even your mom and dad can do. Well worth the pay to experience amazing sites. There is a starbucks and gift shop at the Gondola entrance as well as restaurants and more gift shops at the top. A must do on your list if you're ever in Banff. read more

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! read more

Breathtakingly beautiful. We bought a package which included our hotel, gondola ride and an excursion which I recommend doing. The ride to the top was around 7 minutes and we stayed at the top for a couple of hours before returning down. I don't think anyone should skip this if you are visiting Banff. I recommend bringing layers as the temperature at the base was +2 but with the wind it was much cooler at the top. We didn't bring a pet but noticed it was pet friendly! read more

Banff Gondola - Gondola view part way up - Parks Near Me - Banff, Alberta

Way cool gondola ride! A beautiful way to see the gorgeous area and would highly recommend to anyone going to Banff. The views are incredible. I'm somewhat uncomfortable with heights, but felt felt comfortable in this ride. The equipment was updated, clean and safe. Bring some layered clothing as it gets a little chilly... I'd have given it 5 starts except we went up in a group and had dinner. Think Sizzler quality on a bad day . Poo poo food and service. We were an inconvenience to the wait staff. Would have been more upset but "look at that view!" Skip the meal and enjoy the view. read more

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