Guide To The Banff Gondola (Is It Worth The High Cost?)

The Banff Gondola in Banff National Park isn’t exactly cheap so I was very skeptical at first for whether it was worth it. But I was happily proven wrong. The Banff Gondola is well worth the cost for the experience at the top of Sulphur Mountain. In fact, I was so happy I did it that it’s one of my must-dos in Banff.

Here’s everything you need to know about going on the Banff Gondola, so you can decide if it’s worth it for you.

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Why Skip The Banff Gondola

There are so many valid reasons to skip the Banff Gondola…

It’s Not Exactly An Affordable Activity

The Banff Gondola ranges from $60 to $80 per person to take the gondola both ways…. that’s not exactly cheap! The price varies based on a few factors, like high season vs. low season and how much in advance you book your tickets. But although it might be more expensive, I actually recommend waiting to book your tickets, continue reading to find out why!

P.S. You can buy tickets in advance on Viator for the Banff Gondola.

the view from a banff gondola looking at another banff gondola going up (or down) the cables lines above. IT's very small, you can slightly make out one body sitting inside. They have a great view all day of the candian rockies and the town of banff below.

It’s Just Another Gondola Ride…

A gondola ride is not exactly a unique activity to Banff. There are tons of gondolas around the world that take you to the mountain tops. I mean, I’ve been on the Tremblant Gondola and the Whistler gondola.

You’ve been to one, you’ve been to them all… right!?

A Lot of Other Activities In The Area

It’s also not like there’s nothing else to do in the area… I mean, you’re surrounded by nature in a huge National Park! There’s no shortage of free Banff activities, or even ones that are more affordable.

So needless to say, I were hesitant to pay extra for it. But, despite all these valid reasons, I still paid the price and went on the gondola up Sulphur mountain.

P.S. You might be interested in my downloadable mini travel guide for Banff National Park! Includes basic information, tips & advice, and a checklist of all the top things to do!

The base to the banff gondola. It's a large triangle roof building with a sign for the banff gondola in the middle. A flag sign for starbucks is cut off on the left of the photo. You can see the cable lines leaving the building and going all the way up the mountain.

You Can Also Hike To The Top Of Sulphur Mountain

The best part about the Banff Gondola? You don’t even need it to get to the top of Sulphur Mountain. There’s a hiking path you can take all the way up (that leads you to exactly the same place!). It’s called the Sulphur Mountain Trail and you’ll find the trail head at the Upper Hot Springs parking lot.

The hike takes about 2 hours (one way!). And remember, you’re in bear country here so please be prepared – keep talking and have your bear spray ready!

If You’re Afraid of Heights or Gondolas It Might Not Be For You

This was probably one of the scariest gondolas I’ve been on. It’s small – it can barely fit two people on each bench (4 people total). To put that in perspective, the Tremblant Gondola in Quebec usually fits 3 per bench, and then there’s still quite a bit of extra room.

The gondola at either base also wasn’t automated… which I have never seen before. Staff members were actually pushing, pulling, AND holding the gondolas in place during boarding and debarking. That was only slightly terrifying.

I also didn’t feel the most secure while suspended thousands of feet in the air on a single cable that was reconstructed in the late 90s. And have I mentioned the gusts of wind yet? Yup, it shook… a lot, way too much for my comfort. And although I don’t love heights and precarious situations, I wouldn’t say I have a fear of heights. But I was very happy when I was back on the ground.

A view going up the banff gondola. Cable cars run parallel next to each other leading out of the frame and to a building below. You can barely see the building among the tall evergreen green. The Canadian rocky mountains surround the cables, and go far off in the distance. There is still some snow at their peak.

Why Book The Banff Gondola

There are a few reasons why I actually recommend taking the Gondola (unless you’re afraid of heights, then you probably still want to skip it!).

Why It’s Worth The Cost

Although the Banff Gondola is expensive, you’re also not paying for many other activities in Banff. Most Banff activities are free (included in your Park Pass), or have a very low additional cost in Banff National Park. So, if you’re going to splurge on one activity in Banff, it should be gondola.

Plus, even though it’s expensive, you can make it worth your while by spending a few hours at the top. It’s not just about the gondola ride.

A view from the banff gondola lookout at the top. There's a wooden barrier, stopping you from falling over. In the right corner is a permanent set of silver binoculars for passersby to look through and see the town below closer up. The town is surrounded by the rocky mountains everywhere, you can see the bow river leading to the lake in the distance. An evergreen tree lines the left of the photo from top to bottom.

There’s a hike, museum, rooftop terrace, and restaurant (but more on the activities in a bit!). So you can easily spend a few hours at the top of the mountain.

P.S. buy tickets in advance on Viator for the Banff Gondola.

Recommend Not Hiking To The Top

As I said, you can opt to skip the gondola in lieu for the hike to the top. But it’s a 2 hour hike. And unless you’re an avid hiker, it’s most likely going to take you even longer and be exhausting.

And remember, there’s another 1 hour hike to the second peak and the cosmic ray station. This is the main thing to do at the top, so you want to make sure you still have energy for that! And if you hiked up the mountain that would be three hours of hiking (not including the hike down the mountain!).

The boardwalk to the cosmic ray statin. There are steps leading down, and inlets with picnic tables, benches, and garbage bins. There aren't many people, about four through the boardwalk, either sitting or walking. Trees line the entire way, you can barely see the top of the mountain above.

One Of The Best Views In Banff (& Of Banff)

I really enjoyed going to the top of Sulphur Mountain because you get one of the best views I’ve seen.

The best part though is that you can recognize so many things from so high up that put Banff into perspective. If you look closely, you can also see some of the top things to do in Banff, like the Banff Springs hotel (which now looks so small!). You also get a full view of Mount Rundle (and see how far it actually goes.). P.S. You can see the start (or end?) of Mount Rundle from the Bow River Falls viewpoint – and it looks COMPLETELY different!

But my favourite was spotting Tunnel Mountain, and realizing how small it actually is compared to the other mountains that surround it too.

a view from the cosmic ray station of the banff gondola among the mountains and trees. You can tell you're high up in the mountains because the trees stop growing and there's still snow at some of the peaks. It's a beautiful day, with blue skies and a lot of clouds.

Banff Gondola Tickets

Banff Gondola tickets aren’t as easy to book as you’d think. For starters, the price can vary. I’ve seen as low at $60 and as high as $80. Then, you also have to choose your time to go up and then come back down the gondola… which just adds unnecessary stress in my mind.

Why Does The Price Vary?

The price varies based on a few factors like season, and how far in advance you book your tickets. High season will always be more expensive (I noticed there was a $5 difference from when I booked in June to July). And, the more last minute you book tickets, the higher the price will be as well.

The highest price were the same day tickets. Traveling in low season, the difference was only $1. During high season, I noticed the price difference was $13 maximum (for same day tickets). The price doesn’t actually vary based on the time of day that you choose.

a mountain goat top of sulphur mountain banff gondola. He (or she) blends in to the rocky ground, almost a light yellow brown colour. The trees then start and make up the rest of the foreground and background lining the mountains in the distance. — *Can you spot the mountain goat!?*

Do Tickets Sell Out For The Gondola In Banff?

I’ve looked for tickets several times (both in June, and when writing this post in July) and have yet to see a day that it’s actually sold out! Of course, you’re always taking a chance that it will sell out!

You do have 48 hour cancellation (so you can completely cancel up to 48 hours before for a refund). And you can also change the date/ time of your gondola ride. You’ll just have to pay the price difference if the ticket price goes up (or they’ll refund you if the price goes down!).

You Might Be Able To Book A Package Or Get A Discount

If you’re interested in another activity in Banff National Park, or even Jasper National Park, you might be able to get a discount on the Gondola ride. They sell different packages, so be sure to check them out before booking your ticket. Like if you’re a family, there’s also a discount if you ride the Gondola in Banff in the morning.

Why Wait To Book Gondola Tickets?

You don’t actually have to wait to buy them, but be okay to pay more and change the date. Despite the higher ticket price you might pay, it’s worth it. You want to make sure you have the best weather you can when you take the gondola. That’s because you’re taking it to the top for the views.

If it’s rainy or cloudy, you won’t be able to see anything, and then there’s really no point in going to the top. So, I’d wait as long as you can to see the weather forecast before booking, or make sure to change your dates.

The observation deck at the cosmic ray station. There are two people reading the information plaques set up telling you about the station. There are trees all the way until the observation deck sits high up. And the rest of the mountains surround it.

What Upload / Download Time Should You Choose?

When booking your Banff Gondola tickets, you have to choose an upload and download time. The upload time is when you take the gondola up, and the download is when you take it back down the mountain.

Choose a time that you think might work best for you, but it doesn’t really matter all that much. If there’s room they’ll let you change your time. I originally booked our tickets for 4:00 P.M. and our decent for 6:00 P.M. But, I finished my morning activity early and had some time to spare. Instead of waiting around, I went to the Banff Gondola anyway. I ended up changing my upload time to 30 minutes earlier than my original tickets. I also changed our decent time to come back 30 minutes earlier.

Don’t worry about missing your decent time either, they’re able to change that at the top for you as well (there’s a small kiosk just outside the gondola centre). And you can also make it earlier if you need to! I was very happy with my upload time at 3:30 P.M. I also didn’t have to wait in any line going up or coming back down 2 hours later… but this easily could have happened.

I did notice the line going down at 3:30 was LONG! It wrapped around as far as it could go. My theory was that there was a big lunch time rush and now everyone is heading back down.

If you want the flexibility to not have to choose a specific time in advance (I know it always stresses me out), you can book your tickets with Viator. They’re a bit more expensive, but you don’t have to pick a time, and they’re refundable.

a huge lineup at the banff gondola to go down at 3:30 pm, the suspicion is that this is the lunch crowd. It lines the white building and wrap around the corner. — *Banff Gondola line at 3:30 P.M. going down*

How Long Is The Gondola Ride To Sulphur Mountain?

The gondola ride to the summit is around 8 minutes, which is apparently at it’s top speed. I didn’t know there were multiple speeds but I think it’s based on the wind speed and other weather conditions. So it might be slower on the day you’re visiting..

Things To Do Once You’re At The Top Of Sulphur Mountain

Although the Gondola ride is always an experience, the Banff Gondola is more than just the ride to the top. At the top, there’s a perfect, well groomed hike (with spectacular views), a small museum, and restaurants!

a man leans over the railing to snap a photo of the canadian rockies from the top of sulphur mountain. A woman looks backwards at the camera with a big smile on her face and her camera in her hand. — *I couldn’t stop taking pictures at the top!*

The Hike To The Top Of Sulphur Mountain

The main thing to do at the top of the Banff Gondola is to hike to Sanson Peak – the highest peak on Sulphur Mountain. Sanson Peak is also home to the Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station. This is actually a historic building that was set up to measure (and forecast) different weather activity in the park.

It’s a fully maintained boardwalk to get to the peak with some stairs going up. So it’s more of a walk than a hike. But the boardwalk makes it very accessible for more people to do. Although, my mom has a slight fear of heights so she only ended up making it about halfway. It wasn’t because she couldn’t physically do it, but her fear got the best of her.

The entire hike took about an hour one way, stopping for views and pictures of course along the way!

The boardwalk trail to the cosmic ray station. There's not one other person walking o nit. It hangs over the edge on the left, but the right side is up against the rocky side of the mountain. It's a straight path with some stairs at the end.

Relax With A View

And of course, you don’t even have to leave the gondola station if you don’t want to. There’s a view right when you walk outside, and the view doesn’t change all the much the more. There tends to be quite a bit of people there though.

You can also go to the rooftop of the Gondola centre. Hopefully there are fewer people there. Plus, try to grab a chair and just relax and admire the view in front of you!

Enjoy Some Food With A View

There are two restaurants at the top of the gondola.

The Sky Bistro is a fancier dining experience, but you’re looking out onto the best view the whole time (with floor to ceiling windows!).

For a more casual dining experience, there’s also the Rocky Mountain Cafe for simple food and drinks. Pick something up here and bring it up to the rooftop!

The rooftop terrace at the banff gondola. There are two empty lounge seats and more seats facing the view that are all full. You can see the peaks of the mountains and the sky above.

Above Banff Interpretive Centre

The Above Banff Interpretive Centre is a small museum giving you the chance to delve deeper into Banff National Park. If you’re traveling with kids, this is a great spot to bring them as they have a lot of kid friendly learning activities.

Above Banff Theatre

If you’re looking for a way to get off your feet a bit, head to the Above Banff theatre to watch epic scenes of Banff on the big screen.

Extra Tips For The Banff Gondola!

How Long Do You Need At The Top?

Staff recommended that most people spend about an hour and a half to two hours at the top. I pushed it closer to the 2 hour mark (walking all the way to the cosmic ray station and back… with a lot of photo stops!).

But I didn’t really hang around for much longer. I still checked out the view at the top and around the gondola. I didn’t stop for a coffee or snack even! Honestly, I could see spending even longer if you just grab a seat, a snack, and enjoy the views.

The boardwalk to the cosmic ray station around the corner on the edge of the mountain, making the ascent more gradual and more accessible.

What Should You Wear – Pack Layers!

I were told that I should expect it to be around 5-10 degrees colder at the top. But you never really know what it’s going to be like until you’re actually there. And it can change… quickly! So the only real way to be comfortable at the top is to be prepared for any weather by that by bringing layers, and be ready to add on or take off as needed.

When I went it was about 15 degrees (celsius) at the base of the gondola, so I was expecting it to be about 5-10 degrees at the top. Right when we got off the gondola, I was so happy that I put on my extra pair of pants – it was cold. There was a huge gust of wind and the sun wasn’t really out. I put on my hat, had my scarf, and even a pair of gloves. Plus a jacket and windbreaker of course (on top of two sweaters)!

A couple hike on gravel in the Canadian rockies. They are all bundled up wearing proper hiking boots, pants, and a windbreaker jacket. The woman is also wearing gloves and a hat and you can see she's wearing a thicker polar fleece under her jacket. It's also a sunny day so sunglasses are worn as well. — *Wearing 2 jackets, 2 sweaters, and 2 pants at the top of Sulphur Mountain!*

Once I started the walk to the cosmic ray station, the sun came out and the wind COMPLETELY died down. Everyone was undressing about halfway through the hike. Jackets came off, and hat, gloves, and scarf all went back in my backpack (p.s. I love the Fjallraven Kanken mini to fit all extra my layers!).

On the way down I even had to take off my extra pair of pants – I was so hot!

P.S. The gondola itself is also pretty warm too. There’s only two small windows that they leave open. Other than that, you’re in a hot box for 8 minutes at least!

Visit After Doing Some Other Banff Activities

I wouldn’t recommend the gondola as one of your first activities in Banff. Try saving it for a few days into your trip if you can (obviously, it also depends on when you have the best weather!).

But part of why the Banff Gondola was such a neat experience was because I was able to identify places I had already been. It’s always fun to spot things below and actually know what you’re looking at!

Check Out My Banff Digital Download To Print

You might be interested in my downloadable mini travel guide for Banff National Park! Includes basic information, tips & advice, and a checklist of all the top things to do!

See it on Etsy >>

A very happy couple posing for a photo at a view point on top of sulphur mountain in banff. They have removed some layers from the previous photo, like gloves and a jacket. — *Took off some extra layers at the top!*

Need A Place To Stay In Banff? My Hotel Recommendations

You have to book your hotels EARLY in Banff. We booked the Buffalo Mountain Lodge for June back in February… and most hotels were already fully booked at that point.

The place to stay is at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel – but that will cost you. We opted to just visit the Banff Springs instead, but you can check rates and availability on Booking.com.

We stayed at the much more affordable Buffalo Mountain Lodge. They have some renovated rooms, which I recommend booking. It was more of a resort hotel, with a cozy room and balcony to enjoy! Breakfast is also included which is a great way to start the day of hiking! It is a 15 minute walk to the town of Banff though. Check availability and room rates on Booking.com.

If you’re looking for a more reasonable priced hotel, in the town of Banff, we really wanted to book the Mount Royal Hotel (see it on Booking.com). Although the rooms are a lot smaller, there’s a fun jacuzzi on the roof, and you cannot beat the location on Banff Avenue – you can’t get a better location than that! Check availability and room rates on Booking.com.