Best Hikes in Banff National Park: Complete Trail Guide

Banff offers hundreds of incredible hiking trails. Here are the absolute best organized by difficulty.

Easy Hikes (Under 5km)

Johnston Canyon to Upper Falls

• Distance: 5.6 km return
• Time: 2 hours
• Elevation: 215m gain
• Highlights: Waterfalls, canyon catwalks
• Tip: Go before 8 AM to avoid crowds

Lake Minnewanka Lakeshore

• Distance: Flexible (up to 15km one-way)
• Time: 1-4 hours
• Elevation: Flat
• Highlights: Lake views, mountains, wildlife

Bow Falls

• Distance: 1 km return
• Time: 30 minutes
• Highlights: Waterfall viewpoint
• Accessibility: Paved, wheelchair accessible

Moderate Hikes (5-10km)

Lake Agnes Tea House

• Distance: 7 km return
• Elevation: 400m gain
• Time: 3-4 hours
• Highlights: Historic tea house, lake views
• Tip: Bring cash for tea and snacks

Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House

• Distance: 10.6 km return
• Elevation: 370m gain
• Time: 4-5 hours
• Highlights: Glacier views, second tea house
• Can combine with Lake Agnes for full day

Sulphur Mountain

• Distance: 11 km return
• Elevation: 700m gain
• Time: 3-4 hours up
• Highlights: 360° summit views
• Tip: Buy one-way gondola ticket down ($40)

Challenging Hikes (10km+)

Sentinel Pass

• Distance: 11.6 km return
• Elevation: 725m gain
• Time: 5-7 hours
• Highlights: Alpine meadows, highest trail pass
• Season: July-September only

Cory Pass Loop

• Distance: 13 km loop
• Elevation: 920m gain
• Time: 6-8 hours
• Difficulty: Scrambling required
• For experienced hikers only

Safety Essentials

Always Carry:

• Bear spray (mandatory)
• 2-3 liters water
• Extra layers
• Rain jacket
• Snacks/lunch
• First aid kit
• Map or GPS

Bear Safety:

• Hike in groups of 4+
• Make noise on trails
• Never approach wildlife
• Know how to use bear spray

Check Before You Go:

• Parks Canada website for trail conditions
• Weather forecast
• Trail closures