Which Rocky Mountain Gondola To Take, Banff, Lake Louise Or Jasper?

With three gondola choices within Banff and Jasper National Parks people often wonder which one is the best. We have taken all three and can honestly say we have enjoyed them all. They each have their own charms and differences, but they all share the commonality of offering spectacular views. If you have a fat wallet don’t hesitate to take them all! For more details and photography for each individual gondola see our posts for the Banff Gondola, the Jasper Skytram and the Lake Louise Gondola.

Two Factors That Might Make Your Decision For You

Time Of Year

• The Jasper Skytram operates from the end of March to the first week of October.
• The Banff Gondola operates year round except for a small window of maintenance in the 2nd and 3rd week of January.
• The Lake Louise Sightseeing Gondola operates mid-May to early October and a lift only ticket is available during the ski season staring in early November to sometime in April. (condition dependent).

Weather

The weather can be unpredictable in the Rocky Mountains at any time of year, including the summer months. There is no point taking a gondola ride if the views are obscured by low cloud cover or fog. Sometimes the best gondola choice is the one you are near on a clear day. However the risk in not purchasing ahead is that you can end up standing in a long line and with the new price structure for the Banff Gondola you will pay more if you don’t purchase an advance online ticket.

Jasper, Banff And Lake Louise Gondola Overviews

We can offer some advice to help you make your gondola choice, but it’s always a matter of opinion and personal preference. People may like one gondola over another for a variety of reasons.

The Jasper Skytram

• Large tram car with some seating, can have over 25 people in busy times, not everyone will get a proper window view
• Elevation – 2277 meters or 7472 feet, ride time 7 minutes
• Cost adult 16+ $49.30 children 6-15 $26.20 children (5 and under free) Family package $124.80 (2 adults, 2 children)
• Wheelchair accessible cable car and boardwalks at upper terminal
• Operation – last week of March to first week of October

Extra Features

• Ride and dinner packages and early bird breakfast packages
• Reservation can be made 24 hours ahead (online only) for specific date and time to avoid line ups
• Tram guide giving interpretative talk about the areas points of interest, history and wildlife during the accent

From the top of the Jasper gondola you are very high up, the views are a bit more like what you would experience from an airplane. Some people do not like that, others enjoy it because the distance you can see is much more expansive.

Where we feel the Jasper experience really excels is if you have the ability to hike up to the top of Whistlers Mountain. The gondola only goes part way up the mountain. The views are fantastic from the upper terminal, but there are limited areas to walk around. If you have the time and stamina to hike up the steep trail to the summit you will be rewarded with 360 degree mountain views. It truly feels like you are on top of the world.

There’s usually a marmot or two running around the upper terminal area and more at the summit of the mountain. Other wildlife that may be present are White-tailed Ptarmigan, Ground Squirrels, Pika and occasionally Bighorn Sheep.

The Banff Gondola

• 4 person seated cable car with 360 degree views for each person, glass panel in the bottom
• Elevation 2281 meters or 7486 feet, ride time 8 minutes
• Ticket costs fluctuate deepening on season and time of day. Advanced online purchases will always be cheaper. An adult ticket starts at $50 and up, youths 6 to 17 are $25 and up. Under 5 is free but still require a ticket.
• Discounts are available for Alberta locals and there are family discounts at certain times of the year.
• wheelchair accessible
• Operation – year round except for scheduled maintenance in the 2nd and 3rd week of January.

Extra Features

• dinner and ride packages at various times of the year
• several wooden boardwalk areas at the summit that make it easy to navigate around to get different views

From the Banff Gondola the views are still quite high, but lower than Jasper and not as expansive. They are more like a bird’s eye view over the town of Banff, the Bow Valley and surrounding mountains. You can still see several mountain ranges and get a great perspective of the town of Banff. You can clearly make out the famous Banff Springs Hotel down below you.

In winter months we feel the Banff gondola is the better choice over the lift only ticket for the Lake Louise ski hill. There are more possibilities for walking around the observation decks and boardwalks. There is a possibility of seeing Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, ground squirrels, Hoary marmots, Clark’s nutcracker and the Canada Gray jay.

The Lake Louise Gondola

• 4 person seated cable car or open chair lift in warmer months
• Elevation 2088 meters or 6850 feet, ride time 14 minutes
• Cost during sight-seeing season (May 15 to the first week of October) Adult 16+ $37.95 child (6-15yrs) $16.95 , (5 and under free) Family rate x2 adults and x2 children $99.00 A discount is available for last hour of the day
• See their website for reduced rates for a lift only ticket during the ski season (November to the end of April)
• Operation, Interpretative center and pre-ride orientation May 15 to beginning of October

During the winter ski season there is a lift only ticket available, but there are no facilities at the top. (no restaurants, lodges, washrooms or shelter) See their website for lift only rates.

Extra Features (available from May 15 through first week of October)

• Award winning Natural Heritage Interpretation Program offering indoor presentations and visitor center to view at your leisure
• access to many hiking trails from easy to more strenuous
• Guided walks
• pre-ride welcome orientation
• autumn lift and lunch or breakfast with guided tour to see the larch trees
• summer ride and dine packages
• opportunity to see bears during warmer months

The Lake Louise Gondola offers views somewhat similar to Banff minus the interest of overlooking the town of Banff and Bow River. You can see Lake Louise in the distance with the tiny appearance of the Chateau Hotel sitting at the shore. There are views in both directions looking through the Bow Valley and several mountain ranges.

In the winter the area to walk around at the top of the ski hill is limited and there’s not much more to do other than watch the snowboarders and skiers for a while and snap a few photos of the views.

There are opportunities to see wildlife at each gondola, however the Lake Louise Gondola has an advantage in this aspect. From around late May through September the ski runs turn into grassy slopes that make the perfect grazing spot for bears and other wildlife. There are opportunities to them while on the gondola. Wildlife sightings include cougars, lynx, wolves, mountain goats, elk, mule whitetail deer and big horn sheep and grizzly bears. The tour operators keep a calendar of major animal sightings. You can view the current and previous year on their website.

If you are into hiking from the top of the Lake Louise gondola there are trails that range from easy strolls to more strenuous and adventurous hikes.