Banff Gondola's Amazing Views

Take a ride aboard the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain with amazing views of Canada's Rockies.

*Purchasing Gondola Tickets in Advance is Recommended. Book the Banff Gondola

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Book Banff National Park Adventures and Attractions. Originally set aside to preserve sulphur hot springs for public use, Banff National Park's towering peaks and beautiful meadows make it among Canada's most incredible holiday areas.

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Gondola Ride up Sulphur Mountain

Maximize views of Banff with minimal exertion during this round-trip gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain.

*Purchasing Gondola Tickets in Advance is Recommended. Banff Gondola Ride Admission

Banff Gondola Winter Nightrise Fantastic Light Show

The Banff Gondola Winter Nightrise Fantastic Light Show is a specially designed evening experience that brings the summit of Sulphur Mountain to life after dark during the winter season.

Banff Gondola Winter Nightrise Fantastic Light Show

The Banff Gondola Winter Nightrise Fantastic Light Show is a specially designed evening experience that brings the summit of Sulphur Mountain to life after dark during the winter season. Rather than being a single, intense sequence, the show is a cohesive interplay of light, colour, and atmosphere that unfolds across multiple zones at the summit. As night falls over the Bow Valley, lighting elements shift in tone and intensity to complement the changing sky, animate the architecture, and enhance natural features without overpowering the surrounding darkness.

Central to the Fantastic Light Show is its use of layered illumination. Cool-hued washes highlight broad surfaces and pathways with gentle motion, while accent lights bring definition to gathering spaces and vantage points. The overall palette tends toward deep blues, soft purples, and muted teals in the earlier stages, transitioning to warmer tones that emphasize comfort and visual warmth as the event progresses. The lighting rhythms evolve gradually, fostering a sense of calm rather than spectacle, encouraging visitors to wander, pause, and absorb their surroundings.

Strategically placed fire features and warm light sources are woven into the design to provide contrast and focal interest. The interplay between the subdued ambient lighting and the richer amber glow of the fires creates visual depth and a physical warmth that is welcome in the crisp alpine air. These contrasting elements make key areas inviting places to gather, converse, or simply stand and take in the views of the snow-draped peaks and the lights of Banff far below.

The Fantastic Light Show also considers its broader context-the vast dark sky overhead and the dramatic mountain silhouettes. Rather than competing with these natural elements, the show's lighting respects and frames them, enhancing the sense of place. The result is not a bright, fast-paced spectacle, but an immersive and memorable evening experience that combines thoughtful lighting design with the majesty of the Canadian Rockies on a winter night.
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Banff Gondola Ride Reviews

Truly a must, and highly recommend to visit around sunset time..

Yeyoung Chang, January 2026
It was a spectacular experience. Truly a must, and highly recommend to visit around sunset time so that you can still see the view while going up, and then see the night time view from the top to see the lights from the village. Also, the interactive experience to make music for the mountain with the other people on the top was amazing. I cried. Whoever created this, it's so good. You goated.

Amazing views from the ride up above the snow covered pines.

Tony Pruitt, January 2026
Definitely worth the ride up to the top. Amazing views from the ride up above the snow covered pines. We went up late afternoon and came back early evening. The hike out to Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station National Historic Site is also a must do at the top.
An absolute must if you are visiting Banff.

The Banff Gondola is absolutely worth the ride.

Vishaka, January 2026
The Banff Gondola is absolutely worth the ride. The views as you ascend Sulphur Mountain are breathtaking, and once at the top, the panorama of Banff, the Bow Valley, and surrounding peaks is unforgettable. The boardwalk along the ridge is easy and offers different vantage points-every few steps feels like a new postcard shot.
The visitor center at the summit is modern and well designed, with interactive exhibits, a rooftop observation deck, and a caf�/restaurant where you can sit and take in the scenery. It's family-friendly, and you can spend anywhere from an hour to half a day exploring, depending on how much walking you want to do.
If possible, go at sunset-the colors over the mountains are magical. The gondola is a bit pricey, but the experience and views make it worthwhile.

Views from the top were unreal-mist rolling through the peaks, everything blanketed in white.

Shane Perry, January 2026
It snowed during our visit, which made the whole experience feel straight out of a movie. I went with friends, and the views from the top were unreal-mist rolling through the peaks, everything blanketed in white. The boardwalk was still walkable, just a bit slick. Definitely dress warm and give yourself time to take it all in. Worth every minute.

The Banff Gondola is pure magic - an experience that makes you feel on top of the world.

Michelle Goes Global, January 2026
The Banff Gondola is pure magic - an experience that makes you feel on top of the world (literally).
From the moment the gondola lifts off, you're rising above the trees, watching the valleys and peaks open up below you. The ride is smooth and surprisingly quick, but the views unfold like a movie - every angle more breathtaking than the last.
At the top, you're standing at one of the highest accessible points in Canada, with panoramic views that truly make you feel small in the best way possible. Snow-capped peaks, endless forests, crisp mountain air - it's nature showing off.