Looking down to Sunshine Meadows from the Standish Viewpoint, Banff National Park

After an absence of 20 years, the Sunshine Village gondola will once again transport hikers to the Sunshine Meadows on weekends and holidays for the 2016 season.

The gondola will commence its summer operation on July 1st with the bonus of a free ride on the Standish Chairlift to the Standish Viewpoint atop Standish Ridge.

The 4.5-km (2.8 mi) gondola was a popular fixture back in the 1980s and early 90s when it transported hikers to the trails of Sunshine Meadows and some of the best wildflower hikes in the Canadian Rockies. But when the service was discontinued, a shuttle bus provided summer access, as it had before the gondola was built.

As in the past, the Mad Trapper’s restaurant will be open in the old log Sunshine Lodge at the Village and providing a lunch menu for visitors throughout the summer.

Sunshine gondola tickets and information

A 2016 round-trip ticket on the gondola will run $39 for adults and $21 for children between 6 and 15 years (age 5 and under ride free). While the Standish Chairlift will be a free service on the July 1st weekend, there will be an additional charge of $13 for adults and $7 for children 6 to 15 years on subsequent weekends.

In 2016, The gondola will operate from 9:00 to 6:00 on Fridays through Sundays and holidays until Sept. 5. The remainder of the week, shuttle bus access will be provided from the lower gondola parking lot and Banff by White Mountain Adventures, a service which will last until Oct. 3rd. Round trip bus rates from the lower parking area are $29 for adults and $16 for children (3 to 12 years).

For full information on the gondola and Sunshine Meadows, see Banff Sunshine Meadows.