Tours and programs

Cave and Basin National Historic Site

Memories await

From tours by our friendly Heritage Presenters to Xplorers Club, check out the unique experiences at the Cave and Basin.

Cave and Basics Tour

A quick introduction to all the highlights Cave and Basin National Historic Site has to offer.

Natural History Tour

Explore the biodiversity of the wetland area surrounding the Cave and Basin, where snakes, fish, birds, bears, microbes, snails, flowers, and humans all...

Indigenous Voices

This summer, Cave and Basin National Historic Site presents programs that celebrate “Indigenous Voices” from communities with traditional and contemporary ties to Banff and the greater Bow Valley Region.

Cave and Basin lies within the traditional territories of many Indigenous Nations, including Îyârhe Nakoda (Chiniki, Goodstoney and Bearspaw), Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, Tsuut’ina, Ktunaxa, Secwépemc and Métis.

Parks Canada is honoured to present this collection of Indigenous-led exhibits and projects, featuring artists, Elders, Knowledge Keepers and other esteemed voices from these vibrant Indigenous communities.

Dates: Daily, May 15, 2024 to October 15, 2024

Times: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: Pool Deck

Métis Plant Identification Walk

Enjoy a leisurely walk to identify local plants from an Indigenous perspective. Learn how plants of the Rocky Mountains are used for food & medicine by Alberta's Métis communities, with stories from a Métis herbalist. The gentle pace of this tour is suitable for most participants & their families. Please wear weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.

Dates: June 30, July 21, and August 18, 2024

Times: 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Location: Welcome Building at Cave and Basin National Historic Site

Xplorers Club

Activity Booklet

Pick up an Xplorers club booklet during your visit to Cave and Basin National Historic Site where kids can become slime sleuths, snail detectives and more as they "xplore" the site.

This activity booklet has a dozen fun activities.
At the end of this self-guided challenge, don’t forget to ask a Parks Canada staff member to sign your Xplorers certificate and receive a souvenir!

Exhibits

Visit year-round for interpretive exhibits, movies, and seasonal activities.

Imagine a country!

Imagine a Country is an interactive exhibit at the Cave and Basin where you’re invited to share your vision for an ideal country.

Conservation is about preserving what we most value in culture and nature. The places, objects and stories we protect help us to understand who we are, where we have been, and where we are going.

What would you choose to protect for future generations?

Conservation starts with you…

Free with Banff National Park admission

You can also participate at home!

Share your vision with us on social media:

Download the Imagine a country file (PDF, 414 Ko)
Print the page that contains the sentence that inspires you and complete it
Take a picture and share your vision on your social media, #ImagineACountry, #ParksCanada

HTML version

In my dream country, society would protect ...
In my dream country, we would remember ...
In my dream country, my fist act of conservation would be ...
In my dream country, an important story to tell is ...
In my dream country, an important thing to preserve for future generations would be ...

First World War Internment Exhibit

Through National Historical Recognition Program funding, Parks Canada has created an exhibit to increase awareness about Canada's First World War internment operations 1914-1920. The 1,000 ft2 exhibit, located adjacent to the Cave and Basin National Historic Site in Banff National Park, includes interactive touch-screens, mixed media and two-dimensional displays that encourage visitors to discover at their own pace and reach their own conclusions about a difficult and challenging time in Canadian history.

Learn more

Free with Banff National Park admission

Movies

4-Screen HD Movie

Enjoy the 4 screen HD movie in our Story Hall that takes you to national and cultural treasures Parks Canada administered places across Canada - from sea, to sea, to sea. (11 minutes long)

Location: Story Hall

A Glimpse of the Precarious Existence of The Sublimate Organism

Get an up-close look at the endangered Banff Springs Snail. This inconspicuous creature is about the size of a popcorn kernel! This video by Noel Bégin gives you a glimpse into its enigmatic world. (10 minutes long)

Location: Basin

Story Stations

Through a series of interactive video displays, discover the story of natural and cultural treasures administered by Parks Canada from 1885 to today. (Various durations, from 1 to 4 minutes.)