Take a thrilling and beautifully scenic ride on the only bi-cable gondola in Canada. First opened in 1959, the Sulphur Mountain Gondola was the first bi-cable gondola in North America and the first gondola of any kind in Canada.

You’ll reach the top of Sulphur Mountain, where the elevation is 7,486 feet (2,281 meters) above sea level at the end of an 8-minute gondola ride.

Once at the top, you’ll find a unique complex of visitor services including restaurants, gift shop and numerous outdoor observation decks.

When you arrive at the upper terminal, you will have the choice of exiting the building to witness the breathtaking views in every direction or going up into the restaurant area where you can sit in comfort and still see the view.

Above the restaurant levels is the upper observation deck for the best view yet! The Summit Complex and the observation decks are completely handicapped accessible.

Several scenic hiking trails lead away from the summit complex. One of the most popular is the self guided interpretive walkway to Sanson’s Peak on which you can follow in the footsteps of Norman Sanson, who walked to the top of the mountain about every week for 30 years to check the weather!

More adventurous hikers will want to try the South East Ridge Trail – a hiking trail that runs along the ridge of the mountain to the south, taking you to Sulphur Mountain’s true summit. While hiking, you may encounter the local wildlife including:

• Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep
• Golden mantled ground squirrels
• Hoary marmots
• Clark’s nutcracker
• And the Canada (Gray) jay

The Banff Gondola at Sulphur Mountain is located at the end of Mountain Avenue in Banff.