Best trails in Banff National Park
In the fall of 1883, three Canadian Pacific Railway construction workers stumbled across a cave containing hot springs on the eastern slopes of Alberta's Rocky Mountains. From that humble beginning was born Banff National Park, Canada's first national park and the world's third. Spanning 6,641 square kilometres (2,564 square miles) of valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows and rivers, Banff National Park is one of the world's premier destination spots.
Top trails
Visitor info
Banff National Park charges a fee to enter.
Parks Canada offers free admission and access to programs for support persons traveling with a visitor who has a disability and depends on the support person to travel and experience a Parks Canada destination.
The Banff and Lake Louise Visitor Centres are wheelchair accessible, with accessible restrooms and water fountains. They are also equipped with information and resources for individuals with hearing, vision, mobility, or cognitive disabilities.
Many museums are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers, with accessible restrooms and water fountains. Assisted listening devices and closed captioning are provided for video presentations. The Cave & Basin National Historic Site is a visitor favorite for its accessible features.
Additional information about accessibility at Banff National Park can be found on their website: https://www.banfflakelouise.com/accessibility.
Roam, Banff's public transport service, operates buses that are wheelchair friendly, with a fold-out ramp and low floor to assist in getting on and off. Visit the Roam Transit website for details: https://roamtransit.com/about-us/transportation-policies/.
The Banff Scooter Company at the Banff Train Station offers mobility scooter rentals.
The Banff and Lake Louise Visitor Centres are wheelchair accessible, with accessible restrooms and water fountains. They are also equipped to provide information and resources for individuals with hearing, vision, mobility, or cognitive disabilities.
Many of the museums are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers. Assisted listening devices are available, and closed captioning is provided on video presentations. The Cave & Basin National Historic Site is a visitor favorite, with facilities for those with hearing and sight challenges, an all-terrain wheelchair surface, a wheelchair-friendly bathroom, and guides upon request.
The Banff Upper Hotsprings has a water-accessible wheelchair. The Banff Gondola is fully wheelchair accessible.
Wheelchair accessible restrooms are available throughout the town of Banff, in the picnic areas near Lake Louise, and along the Bow Valley and Icefields Parkways.
All frontcountry campgrounds in the Banff area have accessible facilities except for Two Jack Main, Two Jack Lakeside, Mosquito Creek, and Silverhorn Creek Campgrounds.
All service dogs must have an Alberta Service Dog Identification Card to ensure access to public places.
Trail reviews for Banff National Park
The first 3 km are on an asphalt cycle track, then a steady climb on a gravel road. No technical difficulties, it's all about cardio. Descending via the magnificent gondola, we continued on foot to the Banff fairmont.
According to the clock hands setting off. Banff first walks along the road, but in parts in the forest, and then the return route is beautiful.
This was long hard hike. We started at 6 and made it on top at 12:30pm with few breaks. This hike has all kinds of terrain. Looks for the orange markings beyond the treeline on the rocks to stay on the right path. At times it's difficult to find the markings but they are there. The view are totally worth it. You can see banff city, lakes and just a beautiful view. Hike is long so have enough water, electrolytes as few people we meet had cramps and needed additional water. Have good hiking shoes, poles would be recommended. It's a full day. Would do it again in the future!
Great warm up trail for our week in Banff. Despite easy access, the trail was not super crowded. The first leg was the steepest and definitely challenged our lungs. Great views of the Bow River and the town of Banff. A lot of runners! Poles were helpful.
Great bike path between Canmore and Banff. Fabulous views along the way.
An amazing hidden gem in Banff NP!! There was absolutely no one else at the falls when we got there.