Banff National Park Travel Forum

Hi there!!!
We will visit Banff next week. Our question is: is there a spot in Banff where a lot of bears have been spotted in the past? Currently we're in Jasper and haven't seen any, unfortunately!!
We hope to hear from you!!
Greetings,
Ralph and Len

They still might be hibernating; but the weather is warming up this week, so they might be out now. It's sort of the luck of the draw whether you see one or not; there's not any special "bear spotting place". Try driving around very early in the morning, just as the sun comes up, or at dusk.

Bears generally avoid places where there's a lot of human activity. As previously mentioned, there are no known bear viewing places in the Rockies. However, if you want to increase your chances, drive along remote roads, away from human settlement, during dawn and dusk.

Or, what you could do is go buy a steak and hang it around your neck. Then walk in the woods. Just Kidding!!! ;o)

You are more likely to see bears in Jasper NP than Banff NP -- at least that is the way it has been for me. But I have never been in either park in April.

If you are going to follow madamx's advice, it is better to go on solitary hikes. People travelling in groups tend to scare the bears away. ;o)

Waterton NP is a good place to see bears. We were staying at the hostel there and got reports daily from the other hostelers seeing bears. We never go to, though.

And make sure the steak is dripping with blood; If you don't see a bear, for sure you'll see a cougar!

I've heard strawberries work well too. When I was a baby my parents went for a picnic in Revelstoke National Park. They left me on the picnic table with some strawberries as they were unpacking the car (which was only a few meters away). While they were at the car a bear came to the table and ate the strawberries. Luckily it didn't eat me. As an adult I wouldn't believe this story if my parents didn't have photographic evidence! NEGLIGENCE!

You are probably about 2 weeks early to see the first bears in the Rockies. The best advice I can suggest is to try low traffic roads. If this isn't easy then try Bow Valley Parkway (Old Trans Canada). It starts about 5 kms west of Banff and goes up to Lake Louise. I've been lucky there in the past. The other highway I've seen many black and grizzly bears on is #93 between Radium and Castle Mountain. I've been along that route 4 times in the past 10 days and haven't seen any bears yet, but should be seeing them soon. Early morning and just before dusk is the best time. You can see pictures of the bears I've seen on my website if you're interested. Good luck