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Best trails in Banff National Park

Best trails in Banff National Park

4.4(228,209 reviews)

·

Canada
#1 of 49 national parks

Want to find the best trails in Banff National Park for an adventurous hike or a family trip? AllTrails has 461 great trails for hiking, backpacking, and snowshoeing and more. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. Ready for your next hike or bike ride? Explore one of 43 easy hiking trails in Banff National Park that are great for the whole family. Looking for a more strenuous hike? We've got you covered, with trails ranging from 16 to 28,851 feet in elevation gain. Whatever you have planned for the day, you can find the perfect trail for your next trip to Banff National Park.

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Visitor info

Hours
Open 24 hours
Passes & fees
Fee required
Accessibility
General park hours
Every day • Open 24 hours

Banff National Park charges a fee to enter.

Get details from the park
Overview

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.

Transportation

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.

Facilities

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.

Camping

All frontcountry campgrounds in the Banff area have accessible facilities except for Two Jack Main, Two Jack Lakeside, Mosquito Creek, and Silverhorn Creek Campgrounds.

Service animals

All service dogs must have an Alberta Service Dog Identification Card to ensure access to public places.

Trail reviews for Banff National Park

177,811 trailgoers Busiest in August
Jun 9, 2025
Bathrooms availableGreat conditionsGreat views

Gorgeous day 06/08/2025 Sunday and as expected a lot of folks. Arrived 10:30 AM no problem with parking. At 2:00 PM all lots appeared full. If you do come later in the day like 5:00 PM parking should be no problem and this was a Sunday. Awesome views! Definitely worth the time to go to the upper falls. I said a lot of people? Yep. Pathway (not really a trail) was pretty crowded (if you been to Zion and the Narrows) you know what I mean there ya go. Regardless, definitely a stop you should make in Banff National Park. Neat restaurant and store with very good soft serve ice cream at the end of a glorious perfect day.

Johnston Canyon to Upper Falls
Jun 9, 2025Hiking
Easy to parkGreat conditionsGreat views

Very easy walk along the Bow River out to the falls and can be combined with other similar paths in the area. There’s nowhere to park at the a lot where this is listed as the beginning but you can park at the falls behind the Banff Springs Hotel instead and follow it in reverse.

Bow Falls Viewpoint
Jun 1, 2025Hiking
Great conditions

Walked from village 1 to Banff and back. Easy trail and not too crowded

Surprise Corner to Hoodoos
Jun 7, 2025Hiking
Easy to parkNot crowdedDog-friendlyGreat conditionsGreat views

One of my favorite spots in Banff, far away from the crowds and the public. First couple of miles are beautiful then the trail dives into the woods until you arrive at Glacier Lake. New outhouse and a couple of dinning tables are a welcome convenience for the campsite. Seeing the lake in the morning with clear skies does not disappoint. Trail was in decent shape, a few trees need to be cleared towards the end. Made it to the campsite in just under 3 hour with four kids and packs in tow.

Glacier Lake
Jun 8, 2025
Easy to parkGreat views

Easy trail with a stellar view. Parking lot is massive. The directions to this trail noted a toll, but it is referring to a Banff Park Pass.

Parking: Free
Peyto Lake Viewpoint
Jun 7, 2025Hiking
Great views

Wonderful trail! The views of Lake Louise get better and better as you go up. We went up to Little Beehive first, and then to Lake Agnes. If you have time to do one Banff hike, do this! We arrived by 6 am and there was parking on Saturday, June 7.

Parking: Paid
Little Beehive via Lake Agnes Trail
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Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to hike in Banff National Park?

According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Banff National Park is Lake Agnes Trail, which has a 4.7 star rating from 12,042 reviews. This trail is 4.6 mi long with an elevation gain of 1,646 ft.

What is the longest trail in Banff National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Banff National Park is Great Divide Trail Section C: Kananaskis - Field. This trail is estimated to be 127.7 mi long.

How many trails are in Banff National Park?

There are 461 trails in Banff National Park. These trails have an average 4.4-star rating from 228,209 AllTrails community reviews.

Which trail has the most elevation gain in Banff National Park?

If you're looking for elevation gain, Banff National Park has you covered. Great Divide Trail Section C: Kananaskis - Field boasts the most elevation gain with 28,851 ft of total ascent. The park's runner-up is Cascade 100KM Loop, which will get you 18,530 ft of elevation gain.

Are there camping trails available in Banff National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 129 camping trails in Banff National Park and the most popular is Healy Pass Trail with an average 4.6 star rating from 2,019 community reviews.

Are there running trails available in Banff National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 232 running trails in Banff National Park and the most popular is Lake Agnes Trail with an average 4.7 star rating from 12,042 community reviews.

Are there biking trails available in Banff National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 58 biking trails in Banff National Park and the most popular is Lake Minnewanka Lakeside Trail with an average 4.6 star rating from 2,137 community reviews.