Banff Trail & Visitor Guide
Banff · Canada · 6,641 square kilometers (2,564 square miles) in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta
Why Visit Banff
Banff National Park, established in 1885, protects 2,564 square miles of the Canadian Rockies. The park is renowned for its impossibly turquoise lakes — colored by glacial rock flour — towering peaks exceeding 11,000 feet, and abundant wildlife including grizzly bears, elk, and mountain goats. The town of Banff and Lake Louise village provide bases for exploring over 1,000 miles of trails.
Free Banff Audio Guide with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free, self-guided Banff audio guide. It narrates trails, viewpoints, geology, and wildlife as you explore — Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Johnston Canyon, plus quieter spots like Ink Pots and Consolation Lakes. No guide, no schedule, works offline.
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Signature Trails
- Plain of Six GlaciersAbout 13.8 km round trip from the Lake Louise lakeshore · Moderate, roughly 365 m elevation gain
Trail ends near the toe of Victoria Glacier; a backcountry teahouse (cash only, open in summer) sits about 5.3 km in. Views of the icefall and hanging glaciers.
- Lake Agnes Tea HouseAbout 7 km round trip from Lake Louise · Moderate, roughly 400 m elevation gain
Climbs past Mirror Lake to Lake Agnes and a teahouse operating since 1905 (cash only). Can be combined with the Big Beehive loop.
- Johnston Canyon to the Ink PotsLower Falls 2.2 km RT; Upper Falls 5.4 km RT; Ink Pots about 11.6 km RT · Easy to the Lower/Upper Falls (catwalks bolted to the canyon walls); moderate to the Ink Pots
Waterfalls viewed from steel catwalks, then six cold mineral springs (the Ink Pots) in a meadow. Catwalks can be icy; spikes needed in shoulder season.
- Sulphur MountainAbout 11 km round trip · Strenuous, roughly 700 m elevation gain
Switchbacks to the summit boardwalk and Cosmic Ray Station; you can ride the Banff Gondola down (one-way ticket if available). Views over the Bow Valley.
- Larch Valley and Sentinel PassLarch Valley about 8.6 km RT; Sentinel Pass about 11.6 km RT from Moraine Lake · Moderate to strenuous; Sentinel Pass tops out near 2,611 m
Larches turn gold in mid to late September. Sentinel Pass is one of the highest trail passes in the park. The Moraine Lake road is closed to private vehicles; shuttle or Roam transit required.
Must-See in Banff
- •Lake Louise — a glacial lake of vivid turquoise beneath the Victoria Glacier, with shoreline and alpine trails
- •Moraine Lake — ten peaks reflected in jewel-toned water, with a 1-mile rockpile trail and longer backcountry routes
- •Johnston Canyon — a 3.4-mile round trip along catwalks bolted to canyon walls past lower and upper waterfalls
- •Sunshine Meadows — alpine meadows at 7,200 feet on the Continental Divide with wildflower hiking in summer
Best Viewpoints
- •Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks from the Rockpile trail (private vehicles banned; reach it by Parks Canada shuttle or the Moraine Lake Bus Company)
- •Lake Louise shoreline below the Fairmont Chateau, with Victoria Glacier at the head of the valley
- •Peyto Lake lookout off the Icefields Parkway (Bow Summit, about 40 km north of Lake Louise)
- •Banff Gondola upper terminal on Sulphur Mountain, about 2,281 m, with the Bow Valley boardwalk
- •Bow Lake and Crowfoot Glacier viewpoints along the Icefields Parkway
Quieter Corners of Banff
- •Ink Pots — a 7.4-mile round trip from Johnston Canyon to five cold mineral springs bubbling up through colorful clay
- •Consolation Lakes — a 3.6-mile round trip from Moraine Lake through boulder fields to a quiet alpine lake
Wildlife You May See
Entrance Fee
The Parks Canada day pass is about CAD $11 per adult and about CAD $22 per group/vehicle (up to 7 people). Youth 17 and under are free. A Parks Canada Discovery Pass (annual, valid at all participating national parks) runs about CAD $75 per adult or about CAD $151 per family/group. A valid pass is required to stop anywhere in the park, including the town of Banff.
Getting There
The Banff townsite is about 130 km (90 minutes) west of Calgary International Airport (YYC) via the Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1). Lake Louise is a further 60 km northwest. There is no airport in the park. Banff Airporter and Brewster Express run scheduled shuttles from YYC. Within the park, Roam public transit and Parks Canada shuttles serve the townsite, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake. Moraine Lake Road is closed to private vehicles year-round; access is by shuttle, transit, or commercial bus only.
Where to Stay
The town of Banff and the hamlet of Lake Louise have the most lodging, from hostels (HI Banff Alpine Centre, HI Lake Louise) to mid-range hotels and the Fairmont Banff Springs and Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Tunnel Mountain, Two Jack Lakeside, Lake Louise, and Johnston Canyon are the main Parks Canada campgrounds; reserve months ahead through the Parks Canada reservation system for summer. Canmore, just outside the east park gate, is a cheaper base. Backcountry stays require a wilderness pass and reservations.
Best Time
June through September has the most snow-free trails and full shuttle service; July and August are busiest. Larch trees turn gold for roughly two weeks in mid to late September. Many high-elevation trails hold snow into early summer.
Safety
The top hazard is wildlife encounters, especially bears. Carry bear spray (accessible, not in your pack), make noise on trails, travel in groups, and never approach or feed animals; elk in the townsite injure people during the rut (September to October) and calving (May to June). Trails may have seasonal closures or mandatory group-of-four-minimum rules in grizzly areas. Mountain weather changes fast and snow can fall any month at elevation. Avalanche terrain is a winter and shoulder-season hazard; check Avalanche Canada before backcountry travel.
Scenic Drives
- •Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) from Lake Louise toward Jasper, about 230 km, passing Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, and the Columbia Icefield
- •Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A) between Banff and Lake Louise, with wildlife viewing and Johnston Canyon (seasonal travel restrictions apply)
- •Lake Minnewanka Loop near the Banff townsite
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