Banff Gondola in Winter
Banff Gondola in Winter »In Winter, the Banff Gondola offers a magical Canadian Rockies experience as the landscape transforms into a snow-covered wonderland.
As the gondola ascends Sulphur Mountain, experience stunning views of the snow-dusted Rocky Mountains, frozen rivers, and frosty forests. At the top of Sulphur Mountain, the boardwalk and viewing platforms provide panoramic vistas of the surrounding peaks, valleys, and the town of Banff blanketed in white.
The Banff Gondola Winter Experience
The Gondola interpretive center and restaurants remain open in Winter, allowing guests to learn about the region's natural history, geology, and wildlife that continue to endure in these colder months. The winter months also offer unique activities, such as stargazing events and warm-up spots with cozy seating and fire pits.The Banff Gondola is less crowded in Winter over summer, which only adds to the peacefulness of Banff National Park's surroundings. Sulphur Mountain's crisp mountain air, combined with breathtaking views, makes the Banff Gondola a memorable winter destination. More on the Banff Gondola in Winter.
Banff Gondola Winter Hours
The Banff Gondola operates daily during the Winter season, with hours varying throughout the period.Banff Gondola Operating Hour Notes
Please note that the last Gondola ride down departs 10 minutes prior to close.Gondola operating hours are subject to change.
Book the Banff Nightrise Gondola Ride »
The Banff Gondola Winter Nightrise Experience
Banff Gondola Nightrise Winter Star Gazing, Aurora, Shows and Dazzling Lights.Nightrise transforms the Banff Gondola summit into a nightly winter wonderland of light, sound, and storytelling. After dark, Sulphur Mountain comes alive through immersive multimedia installations created in collaboration with the Stoney Nakoda Nation, blending modern artistry with Indigenous perspectives. Visitors ascend into a glowing mountaintop experience featuring vibrant projections, atmospheric soundscapes, and stunning night views across Banff. With dining options and a uniquely elevated setting, Nightrise offers an unforgettable winter evening that redefines the classic gondola experience.
Banff Gondola Nightrise »
Banff Gondola Patio Fires Welcoming Warmth
During Nightrise evenings at the top of the Banff Gondola, patio fire features create a welcoming focal point on the summit terraces. Set against the night sky and surrounding mountain silhouettes, these outdoor fires provide both warmth and ambiance, inviting guests to linger outside even as alpine temperatures drop. The soft glow of the flames contrasts beautifully with the surrounding night lighting, making the patios feel intimate and relaxed rather than exposed.
Banff Gondola Patio Fire Warmth »
The patio fires are also a gathering place for classic mountain comforts like marshmallow toasting. Guests can warm their hands, roast marshmallows over the fire, and enjoy a simple, nostalgic experience that complements the immersive sights and sounds of Nightrise. This shared activity encourages conversation and connection, making the summit feel social and communal rather than purely observational.
Between exploring light installations, viewpoints, and indoor spaces, the fires offer a natural pause point. Visitors often return to them multiple times throughout the evening, using the warmth to recharge before heading back out onto the boardwalks. Combined with the crisp mountain air and sweeping nighttime views of the Bow Valley below, the patio fires help define Nightrise as a cozy, atmospheric alpine experience rather than just a nighttime visit to the summit.
Evening Nightrise Mountain views from Sulphur Mountain Summit
As evening settles in, the mountain views from the summit transform into a quiet, awe-inspiring panorama. The fading daylight gives way to deep blues and indigo tones, with the surrounding peaks becoming dramatic silhouettes against the sky. From the boardwalks and terraces, the vastness of the Bow Valley unfolds below, creating a sense of elevation and stillness that feels distinctly alpine.
Nightrise Banff Gondola Ride »
As darkness deepens, the town lights of Banff begin to glow far beneath the summit, tracing streets and rooftops like a constellation on the valley floor. The contrast between the illuminated town and the dark, rugged mountains emphasizes the scale of the landscape, making the view feel both intimate and immense at the same time. Guests often pause quietly here, taking in the rare perspective of civilization nestled within wilderness.
Under clear conditions, the night sky becomes an extension of the experience. Stars appear crisp and abundant, framed by mountain ridgelines and open horizons. Combined with the cool mountain air and the gentle ambient lighting of the summit, these evening views create a calm, reflective atmosphere-one that encourages visitors to slow down, look outward, and fully absorb the beauty of the mountains at night.
Book the Banff Gondola Winter Nightrise »
Gondola Nightrise unfolds Light, Sound, and Visual Installations
Winter Evening Nightrise at the Banff Gondola is a immersive nighttime journey that reimagines a classic mountain ascent as a sensory experience shaped by darkness, winter, and story. As evening settles over Banff, the gondola ride becomes quieter and more contemplative, with the town lights glowing below and the surrounding peaks fading into shadow. The ascent feels unhurried and atmospheric, setting the tone for an experience focused on reflection rather than sightseeing alone.
Nightrise Light, Sound, and Visual Installations »
At the summit, Nightrise unfolds through carefully designed light, sound, and visual installations that invite guests to explore the mountain in a different way. Outdoor terraces, boardwalks, and interior spaces are subtly illuminated, guiding visitors through a sequence of artistic moments inspired by natural winter phenomena such as stars, frost, wind, and cosmic light. Rather than overwhelming the landscape, the lighting enhances it, encouraging guests to slow down, listen, and take in the stillness of the alpine night.
Evening Nightrise Winter Setting Heightens Your Senses
Sound plays a central role throughout the experience. Ambient music, spoken word, and natural audio elements are woven into the environment, creating a sense of narrative and place. These layers of sound help connect visitors to the mountain’s rhythms after dark and add emotional depth to the experience, especially as snow falls or wind moves across the ridgelines.Nightrise Banff Gondola Ride »
The winter setting heightens everything. Cold air, snow underfoot, and crisp night skies make the experience feel intimate and distinctly seasonal. On clear nights, stars appear sharp above the Rockies, while the Bow Valley glows far below. Whether paired with a summit dinner or enjoyed as a standalone evening visit, Nightrise offers a calm, evocative way to experience Sulphur Mountain-less about panoramic views, and more about atmosphere, story, and the quiet beauty of winter at night.
Book the Banff Gondola Winter Nightrise »
Banff Gondola Winter Nightrise Experience
Nightrise is an immersive, after-dark winter experience at the summit of Sulphur Mountain, accessed by the Banff Gondola. Once the sun sets, the entire Gondola summit complex transforms through multimedia installations that blend dynamic lighting, projection, sound, and ambient storytelling.Upon arriving at the top of the Banff Gondola, you will move through a series of indoor and outdoor zones featuring synchronized light shows, projection art, colour-washed viewpoints, and immersive soundscapes. The Gondola Summit's terraces glow with shifting patterns that respond to the landscape, while indoor areas host atmospheric lighting and interactive features. The boardwalk and observation decks remain open, inviting visitors to step into the cold mountain air and enjoy expansive views enhanced by the nighttime design.
Nightrise Banff Gondola Ride »
Nightrise Winter Banff Gondola Ride
Banff Gondola Nightrise Winter Star Gazing, Aurora, Shows and Dazzling Lights.Nightrise runs during the winter season, typically from late November through late March. It operates in the evening hours, allowing Gondola visitors to experience the summit after dark even early in the season when daylight is limited. The gondola ride itself becomes part of the experience, lifting guests from the lights of the townsite into the quiet, illuminated summit environment.
Banff Gondola Nightrise
Nightrise is a winter evening attraction at the Banff Gondola that transforms the summit of Sulphur Mountain into an immersive, multi-sensory experience. After dark, dynamic lighting, projections, original soundscapes and interactive art installations create a unique environment to see and hear the Sulphur Mountain Summit in a new way. The Nightrise Gondola experience was developed in partnership with multimedia designers and the Stoney Nakoda Nation, and it incorporates cultural storytelling alongside visual and audio elements.Book the Banff Gondola Winter Nightrise »
The Nightrise Experience
Once guests board the Banff Gondola in the evening and ascend to the summit, original soundscapes and spoken words set the tone within the gondola cabins. At the summit, the space is transformed by four primary installation zones-each themed around a sensory element such as light patterns, interactive projections or sound engagement. These zones offer opportunities to lounge, explore and absorb the atmosphere through both indoor and outdoor areas. On the Gondola summit observation deck, audio "sonic binoculars" and other features amplify ambient sounds to encourage visitors to literally "listen to the view." The outdoor boardwalk and terraces are also part of the experience, allowing panoramic views of the night sky and surrounding Rockies.
Banff Gondola Winter Ride Admission »
Banff Gondola Ride in Winter
In winter, the Banff Gondola offers a magical experience as the landscape transforms into a snow-covered wonderland. As the gondola ascends Sulphur Mountain, experience stunning views of the snow-dusted Rocky Mountains, frozen rivers, and frosty forests. The Sulphur Mountain summit, where temperatures can be brisk, has its own unique charm in winter, with fresh snow creating a serene and picturesque setting.At the top of Sulphur Mountain, the boardwalk and viewing platforms provide panoramic vistas of the surrounding peaks, valleys, and the town of Banff blanketed in white. The Gondola interpretive center remains open, allowing guests to learn about the region's natural history, geology, and wildlife that continue to endure in these colder months. The winter months also offer unique activities, such as stargazing events and warm-up spots with cozy seating and fire pits.
The Banff Gondola is less crowded in Winter over summer, which only adds to the peacefulness of Banff National Park's surroundings. Sulphur Mountain's crisp mountain air, combined with breathtaking views, makes the Banff Gondola a memorable winter destination.
Banff Gondola Tickets »
Banff Gondola Winter Boardwalk Hike
The boardwalk leads to the historic Cosmic Ray Station and Sanson's Peak, offering breathtaking 360-degree views of the surrounding mountain ranges.Experiencing the Banff Gondola during winter offers a unique perspective of the Canadian Rockies. As you ascend Sulphur Mountain, the gondola provides panoramic views of snow-covered peaks, frozen rivers, and the town of Banff blanketed in white. The enclosed cabins ensure a comfortable journey, allowing you to fully appreciate the winter landscape.
At the summit, the Sulphur Mountain Boardwalk remains accessible, though it can be snowy and icy. It's advisable to wear appropriate winter gear, including boots and jackets, to navigate the boardwalk safely.
Winter Nightrise Considerations
Winter weather at the Gondola summit can be very cold, especially at night, so warm clothing and winter gear is essential. Foot traffic areas outside may be icy depending on weather conditions; pathways and boardwalks are maintained, but caution is advised. Because lighting and projections are part of the experience, individuals sensitive to flashing or coloured lights should consider this when deciding whether Nightrise is suitable for them. Indoor areas and main summit facilities have elevator access, but some outdoor boardwalk sections are not fully accessible.Banff Gondola Tickets »
Winter Dining at the Banff Gondola
Summit restaurants such as the Sky Bistro and the family-friendly Northern Lights Alpine Kitchen remain open during Gondola's Nightrise evenings. Dining packages are available that combine the gondola ride, summit meal and Nightrise experience.Cultural and Artistic Elements
Nightrise features original audio that includes Indigenous voices and perspectives, and traditional language and storytelling appear as part of the soundscape and visual elements throughout the summit installations. On select nights, additional cultural performances or activities may be offered.Tours and Attractions in Alberta
Best Tours in Banff National Park »Best Tours in Jasper National Park »
Best Tours in Lake Louise »
Hikes in Banff National Park »
Hikes in Jasper National Park »
Best Hikes in Lake Louise »
Banff Gondola »
Banff Gondola Winter Nightrise Experience »
Bow Falls »
Lake Louise »
Moraine Lake »
Peyto Lake »
Bridal Veil Falls »
Cascade Ponds & Bow Valley Parkway »
Lake Minnewanka »
Sulphur Mountain & Banff Gondola »
Tunnel Mountain »
Banff Park Museum »
Banff Upper Hot Springs »
Cave & Basin National Historic Site »
Johnston Canyon »
Mt. Norquay »
Sunshine Village »
Icefields Parkway »
Bow Valley Parkway »
Bankhead Ghost Town »
Cascade Ponds »
Cave and Basin Marsh Loop »
Fenland Trail »
Healy Pass »
Hoodoos Trail »
Johnston Lake »
Silverton Falls »
Upper Stoney Lookout »
Vermilion Lakes Drive »
Lake Minnewanka Viewpoints »
Norquay Green Spot Viewpoint »
Sulphur Mountain Summit Boardwalk »
Tunnel Mountain Summit »
Vermilion Lakes Scenic Drive »
Bow Falls Viewpoint »
Cascade Gardens Mountain Viewpoint »
Hoodoos Viewpoint »
Johnston Canyon Upper Falls »
Mount Edith Pass »
Surprise Corner Viewpoint »
Upper Stoney Lookout »
Athabasca Falls & Sunwapta Falls »
Athabasca Glacier & Jasper Columbia Icefield »
Athabasca Falls »
Dark Sky Preserve & Northern Lights »
Jasper SkyTram Up Whistlers Mountain »
Maligne Canyon »
Maligne Lake & Spirit Island »
Medicine Lake »
Miette Hot Springs »
Mount Edith Cavell & Cavell Meadows »
Pyramid Lake »
Skyline Trail »
Whitewater Rafting on the Athabasca River »
Hike Jasper | Tour Canadian Rockies | Jasper Columbia Icefield | Maligne Lake Boat Cruise | Jasper Wildlife | Book Banff National Park | Book Jasper National Park | Banff Gondola | Lake Minnewanka Boat Cruise | Athabasca River Rafting | Jasper Wildlife Tours| Rocky Mountain Train Tickets | Maligne Ice Walk | Shopping Jasper | Columbia Icefields Glacier Skywalk | Jasper SkyTram | Jasper Maligne Lake Cruise | Johnston Canyon | Golden Skybridge | Banff Boat Cruise | Tour Moraine Lake