Wondering if anyone knows of any anywhere to land near Canmore or Banff AB. I know Banff airport is closed and for emergency only but is there anywhere else nearby that is useable; airstrips, private strip, lakes etc. Thanks in advance.

You're on amphibs? Nice.

Calgary/Springbank is the closest. I fly an ampib too, out of Airdrie. Ghost Lake is a possibility, but leaving your airplane there unattended is risky. Suggest you stay off Chiniki. It's regarded as sacred by the locals. Spray Lakes reservoir might be legal, but it's the water supply for Canmore. They allow motorized boats, but float planes get more scrutiny. I just don't know if they've got any regulations in place to prohibit airplane's. Motorized boats are also allowed on Minnewanka, but call the park office before you alight there. They'll probably fuss, the warden wasn't an airstrip proponent when we fought that battle.

Honestly, ground transport will be easiest from Springbank if you want to rent a car.

No not on amphibs... yet anyhow. Currently have 172 but been looking at other options. Have family and condo in Canmore so trying to find more routes in. Last summer seen a guy with a floatplane for sale in Canmore and seemed like it kept it on one of the lakes all summer so trying to figure out if thats possible or not. Will have to contact the park office and find out more about the rules of the lakes around Canmore.

Side Note: How do you like having amphibs? Whats it like landing on wheels off strip? Is it more maintenance intensive than straight floats? Any down sides to having amphibs?

Thanks for your help!

Here's what the Alberta Parks website says about boats: Boats used on any water body must
conform with the Canada Shipping Act and regulations. To obtain information on boating regulations and general boating safety contact Transport Canada at 1–800-267-6687 or visit Transport Canada’s marine transportation web site at tc.gc.ca/eng/marine-menu.htm.

Doubt you'll get any traction with Parks Canada. Minnewanka is likely not an option. They fought hard enough to keep the airstrip closed.

Your side note is really where your answer lies. It's impractical. You might be able to land on Spray Lakes, but where will you beach or otherwise secure it. It will be at risk of hail damage in the summer. We get a lot of hail here.

I really like amphibs. I take my airplane out of the hangar and splash around in local lakes, or take it somewhere that I don't fear hail damage. I taxi up to the pumps and fuel up instead of carting gas cans to a shore line somewhere. I can depart a lake at dusk and fly home to a night landing. On the flip side, it's heavy, has all the performance of a 172, and twice the fuel burn. It's also slow and inefficient. 120 knots at 17 GPH IS 7 nautical /gallon.

I sure wouldn't leave it unattended in a provincial park, subject to wind, hail, theft, and vandalism!

Buy a cheap car and leave it at Springbank for use when you're here. It'll be cheaper and less risky. Fly from Saskatoon on wheels, jump in the car, and your total trip time will still be less than flying to Spray on floats, just not near the glory!