Hiking Trails Banff
*Trail details and trailhead descriptions are courtesy of
Brian Patton.
Banff Area Map A
Aylmer Pass
13.3 km one way, elevation gain 810 m, 8 hours round trip
Trailhead: From the Minnewanka Interchange on the
Trans-Canada Highway take the Lake Minnewanka Road, following it to the west
end of the lake 5.5 km beyond the Trans-Canada junction. Park in the large
parking lot just above the tour boat concession entrance. At a junction near
the Lm8 campground, the Aylmer Pass trail branches north from the lakeshore
trail and climbs steeply to a 2285 m summit.
Aylmer Lookout
11.6 km one way, elevation gain 560 m, 7-8 hours round
trip Trailhead: Same as Aylmer Pass.
Stewart Canyon
1.4 km one way, no elevation gain, 1 hour round trip
Trailhead: From the Minnewanka Interchange on the
Trans-Canada Highway drive Lake Minnewanka
Road 5.5 km to the parking lot at the west end of Lake
Minnewanka. The Canyon trail becomes faint after
several km.
C-Level Cirque
3.9 km one way, elevation gain 455 m, 3 hours round trip
Trailhead: From the Minnewanka Interchange on the
Trans-Canada Highway drive Lake Minnewanka
Road 3.5 km to the Upper Bankhead picnic area, on
the left.
Johnson Lake
3 km loop, no elevation gain, one hour round trip
Trailhead: Johnson Lake picnic area. Trail follows the
shoreline.
Tunnel Mountain
2.3 km one way, elevation gain 260 m, 2 hours round trip
Trailhead: Follow Wolf St. east to St. Julien Road.
Follow St. Julien uphill to the parking lot on the left,
0.3 km from the Wolf St. junction.
Bow River / Hoodoos
5.1 km one way, elevation loss and gain about 60 m,
3 hours round trip
Trailhead: Follow Buffalo St. east to the parking lot at
Surprise Corner (parking for the Bow Falls
Viewpoint), a distance of about 1.2 km.
Spray River Loop
12.0 km round trip, elevation gain 65 m, 3-4 hours round
trip
Trailhead: Follow Spray Avenue from the Bow River Bridge to
the Banff Springs Hotel. Go past the hotel parking facilities to the trailhead
parking lot. Follow the Spray River trail upstream for 6 km to a footbridge.
Cross the river and return downstream along the eastside of the valley to Banff
Springs Golf Course Road.
Sulphur Mountain
5.5 km one way, elevation gain 655 m, 3.5 hours round trip
Trailhead: Follow Mountain Avenue about 4 km from the Bow
River Bridge to the Upper Hot Springs parking lot. The trail leaves from the
corner of the lot closest to the pooi.
Sundance Canyon
4.3 km one way, elevation gain 145 m, 3 hours round trip
Trailhead: From the Bow River Bridge drive 1.6 km to the
Cave and Basin parking lot. Walk past the building to the start of the bike
path.
Stoney Squaw Mountain
2.1 km one way, elevation gain 190 m, 2 hours round trip
Trailhead: From the Mt. Norquay Interchange follow Mt. Norquay Road about 6 km
to the Norquay ski area. Just inside the main parking lot, on the right, is the
trail sign.
Cascade Amphitheatre
7.7 km one way, elevation gain 640 m, 6 hours round trip
Trailhead: Follow the Mt. Norquay Road approx. 6 km to the Mt. Norquay ski
area. Park in the lot on the left and walk through the main parking lot and
past the ski lodge.
Cory Pass
5.8 km one way, elevation gain 915 ml 6 hours round trip
Trailhead: The Fireside Picnic Area at the eastern end of
the Bow Valley Parkway. Follow a 1 km access road from the parkway to the
picnic area. This is one of the most strenuous hikes in Banff National Park.
Strong hikers who are good route finders can return from Cory Pass by making a
ioop around Mount Edith and descending the Edith Pass trail (13 km round trip).
Check a trail guide for detailed directions.
Edith Pass
4.6 km one way, elevation gain 640 m, 4-5 hours round trip
Trailhead: Same as Cory Pass.
Hiking The Castle Junction Area
Banff Area Map B
Rockbound Lake
8.4 km one way, elevation gain 760 in, 6 hours round trip
Trailhead: Drive to the parking area on the north side
of the Bow Valley Parkway 0.2 km east of Castle Junction.
Castle Lookout
3.7 km one way, elevation gain 520 in, 3-4 hours round
trip Trailhead: Drive to parking lot on north side of Bow
Valley Parkway 5 km west of Castle Junction.
Boom Lake
5.1 km one way, elevation gain 175 in, 3-4 hours round trip
Trailhead: Drive to the parking lot on the right hand side
of Highway 93 South, 7 km from Castle Junction (en route to Radium).
Arnica Lake
5.1 km one way, elevation gain 580 ni, 4 hours round trip
Trailhead: Follow Highway 93 south 8 km from the
Trans-Canada Highway at Castle Junction and park at the Vista Lake Viewpcint on
the left side of the highway.
Twin Lakes
7.4 km one way, elevation gain 595 m, 6 hours round trip
Trailhead: Same as Arnica Lake Trail.
Taylor Lake
6.3 km, elevation gain 585 in, 2.5 hours one way
Trailhead: Follow the Trans-Canada Highway 8 km west of
Castle Junction to the Taylor Creek Picnic area on the left of the highway.
Caution: In the westbound lanes, there is no left hand turn lane, so the
trailhead is not signed. Do not stop on the highway, but in the shoulder to
wait for oncoming traffic to pass before turning into the trailhead parking
lot.
O’Brien Lake
8.1 km one way, elevation gain 640 in, 3 hours one way
Trailhead: Same as Taylor Lake. From the junction
just prior to Taylor Lake, turn left.
Hiking Areas Index Map
http://www.worldweb.com/parkscanada-banff/visacti.html
http://www.worldweb.com/ParksCanada-Jasper/recreation/rec.html
