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The Banff Blog
Home / Activities / Banff Scenic Sunshine Meadows Gondola

Banff Scenic Sunshine Meadows Gondola

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase through our links we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Read about our policy here.

Quick Overview

Destination:
  • Banff
Type:
  • Gondola
  • ·
  • Hiking
Adrenaline Level:
  • 😌
  • ·
  • 😊
Season:
  • Fall
  • ·
  • Summer
Length:
  • Full Day
  • ·
  • Half Day

The Sunshine Gondola offers exceptional lift-assisted hiking in Banff National Park. The scenic gondola delivers hikers to a high alpine landscape known for its excellent mountain views, alpine lakes, and abundant wildflowers. We love the gondola because it provides hikers access to a difficult-to-reach alpine environment.

Natasha At Rock Isle Trail In Sunshine Meadows

The scenic gondola ride takes visitors through a picturesque valley before delivering them to the resort village. The resort village has an alpine hotel, restaurant, cafe, and small interpretative center. However, the facilities are nowhere near as expansive as those of the Banff Gondola.

Visitors hop on the Standish Chairlift from the village base for the final elevation gain. A network of trails spread out from the chairlift. The classic option is to pass the three lakes of Rock Isle, Grizzly, and Laryx. It’s around an 8 km loop and has some exceptional views.

Book Tour Here
book on Viator

Sunshine Meadows Experience

Sunshine Meadows-hike
  • Location: Banff Sunshine Ski Resort
  • Length: 3-6 hours
  • Included: Scenic Gondola Ride and
  • Pick-up: Free Shuttle (Runs on schedule from Banff)
  • Parking Lot: Yes
  • Public Transport: No
Book Tour Here
book on Viator

Sunshine Gondola Season & Times

DatesTour Times
June 22nd – October 26th8:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.

Our Thoughts On The Columbia Icefield Experience

We have a great post that compares the various gondolas around Banff if you’d like to compare. However, the Sunshine Meadows Gondola is one of our favorite gondolas in Banff. If you want lift-assisted hiking similar to what you’ll find in the European Alps, we recommend it.

No other gondola in the area offers trails that are comparable in terms of quantity and quality. Above all, we love the gorgeous flowers that grow abundantly around Sunshine Meadows.

Book Tour Here
book on Viator

We're Cameron and Natasha

We've been writing about travel for the last decade. In 2018, we settled in the Canadian Rockies, one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Now, we live in Canmore and spend as much time as possible exploring and hiking around Banff. It’s one of the most spectacular areas and the perfect place for an outdoor vacation.

We aim to help you get the most out of your trip to Banff National Park and the surrounding areas. Learn more about us here. If you've found our website helpful for planning, please consider booking some of our recommendations or supporting our work here.

Disclaimers:

  • Adventure sports and non-supervised activities have inherent risks; please take necessary precautions. The World Pursuit LLC is not responsible for injury, loss, or damage while participating in an activity. Readers are responsible for ensuring their safety.
  • This post may contain affiliate links; we may earn a commission (at no additional cost) if you purchase via our links. See our disclosure for more info. Thank you for allowing us to keep this information completely free and supporting our site by purchasing through our links.
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Privacy・Terms ・ Site Credit

  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Work With Us
  • Learn More
    • Rocky Mountain National Parks
      • Banff National Park
      • Yoho National Park
      • Kootenay National Park
      • Jasper National Park
      • Waterton National Park
    • Towns and Villages
      • Banff
      • Canmore
      • Jasper
      • Lake Louise
      • Fernie
      • Golden
      • Revelstoke
      • Whistler
  • Plan Your Trip
    • Recommendations
    • What to Pack
    • Transportation
    • Weather & Webcams
    • Example Itineraries
    • Route Guides
    • FAQ
  • Where To Stay
    • Hotels
    • Camp
    • Lodge
    • Cabins
    • Short Term Rentals
  • Things To do
    • Book A Tour
    • Hike
    • Lakes
    • Gondolas
    • Scramble
    • Icefields Parkway
    • Eat
  • Need Help Planning?
    • Digital Travel Guide
    • Trip Consultation
    • Custom Itinerary
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