Trail conditions
Banff National Park
Important information
Be extra cautious when engaging in any activities to avoid injury and/or getting lost to help minimize the demands placed on emergency response, search and rescue teams, and on the health care system.
CAUTION! Avalanche danger
You are responsible for your own safety. Check the Avalanche Bulletin for the latest conditions.
Vehicle parking is limited to designated areas only. Roadside parking is prohibited. Signage and monitoring will be used throughout the park to inform the public of parking restrictions and encourage compliance.
Dogs are not allowed on some of the groomed ski trails. Refer to the information below for restrictions. Keep dogs on leash and under physical control at all times. Keep dogs on leash and under physical control at all times.
Wildlife and you
Bears are out of hibernation. When you see wildlife, give them space for your safety and their survival. If you’re out on the trails, travel in tight groups of 4 or more, stay alert, make noise, carry bear spray and know how to use it.
Closures and restrictions
For a complete list of ongoing closures and restrictions, please visit our Important Bulletins page.
For more information, please contact us:
Banff: 403-762-1550
Lake Louise: 403-522-3833
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Have you been hiking in the last few days? Share a few pictures with us as well as your impressions. This will help us keep this report accurate for other hikers.
Banff Area Cross-Country Ski Trails
Recent tracksetting: Apr. 4 - Redearth Creek Trail; Mar. 30 - Cascade Valley Trail (Lake Minnewanka parking lot to Upper Bankhead, Lake Minnewanka parking lot to Cascade River bridge - 6km); Mar. 8 - Spray River Trail West, Spray River Trail East, Goat Creek Trail; Mar. 7 - Cascade Valley Trail (Cascade River bridge to Stoney Creek); Mar. 6 - Tunnel Mountain Winter Trails, Sundance Canyon Trail, Healy Creek Trail.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Easy |
Tunnel Mountain Winter Trails | Not Maintained | 17-03-2024: Tracksetting has ended for the season; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River Winter: West Trail | Not Maintained | 16-04-2024: Icy sections; Freeze / thaw cycle; Fresh snow; Tracksetting has ended for the season; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River Winter: East Trail | Not Maintained | 16-04-2024: Freeze / thaw cycle; Icy sections; Fresh snow; Tracksetting has ended for the season; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Sundance Winter Trail | Not Maintained | 16-04-2024: Freeze / thaw cycle; Tracksetting has ended for the season; Fresh snow; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Healy Creek Winter Trail | Not Maintained | 16-04-2024: Tracksetting has ended for the season; Fresh snow; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Cascade Valley Winter Trail: Lake Minnewanka parking lot to Upper Bankhead | Not Maintained | 16-04-2024: Icy sections; Freeze / thaw cycle; Small sections of pavement showing through the snow; Tracksetting has ended for the season; Fresh snow; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Cascade Valley Winter Trail: Lake Minnewanka parking lot to Cascade River bridge | Not Maintained | 16-04-2024: Icy sections; Freeze / thaw cycle; Small sections of pavement showing through the snow; Tracksetting has ended for the season; Fresh snow; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Cascade Valley Winter Trail: Cascade River bridge to Stoney Creek | Not Maintained | 16-04-2024: Icy sections; Freeze / thaw cycle; Tracksetting has ended for the season; Fresh snow; | Trail details |
 Moderate |
Goat Creek Winter Trail | Hazardous conditions. | 16-04-2024: Freeze / thaw cycle; Icy sections; Not recommended; Tracksetting has ended for the season; Fresh snow; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Brewster Creek Winter Trail | Not Maintained | 16-04-2024: Tracksetting has ended for the season; Icy sections; Fresh snow; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Redearth Creek Winter Trail | Poor. | 16-04-2024: Avalanche debris on trail; Icy sections; Freeze / thaw cycle; Tracksetting has ended for the season; Fresh snow; | Trail details |
Banff Area Snowshoeing Trails
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Tunnel Mountain Drive - Winter | Wet and snowy sections. | 18-04-2024: Freeze / thaw cycle; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Johnson Lake Winter Trail | Spring conditions | 18-04-2024: Icy sections; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Surprise Corner to Hoodoos Winter Trail | Spring conditions | 18-04-2024: Icy sections; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Upper Stoney Winter Loop | Spring conditions | 18-04-2024: Cleats recommended; Icy sections; Compact snow; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Westside Winter Trail | Variable conditions. | 18-04-2024: Sections of deep snow; Risk of post-holing; Freeze / thaw cycle; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Ink Pots Winter Trail | Spring conditions | 18-04-2024: Cleats recommended; Icy sections; Compact snow; | Trail details |
Banff Area Winter Walking Trails
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Fenland Winter Trail | Variable conditions. | 18-04-2024: Cleats recommended; Icy sections; Wet and muddy sections; Freeze / thaw cycle; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Marsh Winter Loop | Variable conditions. | 18-04-2024: Cleats recommended; Icy sections; Wet and muddy sections; Freeze / thaw cycle; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray Winter Connector | Variable conditions. | 18-04-2024: Cleats recommended; Icy sections; Wet and muddy sections; Freeze / thaw cycle; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Stewart Canyon Winter Trail | Variable conditions. | 18-04-2024: Cleats recommended; Icy sections; Wet and muddy sections; Freeze / thaw cycle; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Johnston Canyon Winter Trail | Variable conditions. | 18-04-2024: Cleats recommended; Icy sections; Wet and muddy sections; Freeze / thaw cycle; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Mountain Summit Winter Trail | Variable conditions. | 18-04-2024: Cleats recommended; Icy sections; Wet and muddy sections; Freeze / thaw cycle; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Winter Trail | Variable conditions. | 18-04-2024: Cleats recommended; Icy sections; Wet and muddy sections; Freeze / thaw cycle; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sundance Canyon Winter Trail | Variable conditions. | 18-04-2024: Cleats recommended; Icy sections; Wet and muddy sections; Freeze / thaw cycle; | Trail details |
Banff Area Fat Biking Trails
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Tunnel Mountain Multi-use Winter Trails | Variable conditions. | 18-04-2024: Studded tires recommended; Icy sections; Wet and muddy sections; Compact snow; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River East Winter Trail | Variable conditions. | 18-04-2024: Studded tires recommended; Icy sections; Wet and muddy sections; Compact snow; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Sundance Winter Trail | Variable conditions. | 18-04-2024: Studded tires recommended; Icy sections; Wet and muddy sections; Compact snow; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Banff Avenue Winter Trail | Variable conditions. | 18-04-2024: Studded tires recommended; Icy sections; Wet and muddy sections; Compact snow; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Bench Winter Loop | Variable conditions. | 18-04-2024: Studded tires recommended; Icy sections; Wet and muddy sections; Compact snow; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lake Minnewanka Winter Trail | Variable conditions. | 18-04-2024: Studded tires recommended; Icy sections; Wet and muddy sections; Compact snow; | Trail details |
Lake Louise Area Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking Trails
Winter conditions. Avalanche risk! When travelling beyond the marked trails, or past an avalanche danger sign, assume that you are in avalanche country - your group should be prepared with the appropriate knowledge, skills and equipment. For more information on winter travel and how to stay safe in the mountains, visit Parks Canada - Mountain Safety
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 08-04-2024: Dogs on leash permitted; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Fairview Lookout Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 08-04-2024: Dogs on leash permitted; Cleats recommended; Slippery sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Lake Louise Creek | Snow covered with icy sections. | 08-04-2024: Dogs on leash permitted; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
 Difficult |
Taylor Lake Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 08-04-2024: Dogs on leash permitted; Cleats recommended; Avalanche danger beyond reaching the lake; | Trail details |
| Easy |
“Highline” trail to Paradise Creek | Caution. | 08-04-2024: Avalanche Risk rated as Simple Class 1 terrain - at km 1, the trail crosses the runout zone of an avalanche path which rarely runs; Unmaintained trail; Deadfall on trail; Snowshoes or ice cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Mirror Lake, via Lake Agnes Trail | See comment section | 08-04-2024: Avalanche risk: Sections of this trail cross avalanche terrain. Beyond Mirror Lake, the trail is rated as Challenging Class 2 for avalanche exposure and travel requires appropriate avalanche training and equipment; Cleats recommended; Slippery sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Laggan's Loop | Snow covered with icy sections. | 08-04-2024: Dogs on leash permitted; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
Lake Louise Area Cross-Country Ski Trails
All tracksetting is done for the season. Recent tracksetting: April 7 - Lower Tramline. April 6 - Pipestone, Hector, Drummond, Merlin; Great Divide (west of Great Divide arch closed). April 5 - Moraine Lake Rd. March 31 - Upper Tramline; Lower Telemark; Bow River Loop.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Moraine Lake Road | See comment section | 18-04-2024: Avalanche risk: Beyond the viewpoint the trail crosses large avalanche paths.; No dogs allowed; Please walk, snowshoe or fat bike beside tracks set, not on tracks; Tracksetting has ended for the season; Icy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Fairview Loop | Snow covered. | 08-04-2024: Tracksetting has ended for the season; No dogs allowed; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Lower Tramline | See comment section | 19-04-2024: Please walk or snowshoe beside tracks set, not on tracks; Tracksetting has ended for the season; Snow covered; Icy sections; No dogs allowed; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Upper Tramline | See comment section | 19-04-2024: Please walk or snowshoe beside tracks set, not on tracks; Tracksetting has ended for the season; Snow covered; Icy sections; No dogs allowed; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lake Louise Loop | Caution. | 19-04-2024: Ice is thin, unpredictable and may give away unexpectedly; Lake surface not recommended; Tracksetting has ended for the season; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Upper Telemark | Snow covered. | 19-04-2024: Tracksetting has ended for the season; No dogs allowed; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Great Divide Trail | See comment section | 18-04-2024: No dogs allowed; Please walk, snowshoe or fat bike beside tracks set, not on tracks; Tracksetting has ended for the season; Icy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Peyto Trail | Snow covered. | 19-04-2024: Tracksetting has ended for the season; No dogs allowed; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Lower Telemark | Snow covered. | 19-04-2024: Tracksetting has ended for the season; No dogs allowed; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Campground Loop | See comment section | 19-04-2024: Tracksetting has ended for the season; Campground road section has been plowed. ; Mainly dry; Icy sections; Snow covered sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Bow River Loop | Variable conditions. | 17-04-2024: Dogs on leash permitted; Snow covered; Icy sections; Tracksetting has ended for the season; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Townsite | Variable conditions. | 17-04-2024: Dogs on leash permitted; Snow covered; Icy sections; Tracksetting has ended for the season; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Pipestone Loop | Spring conditions | 17-04-2024: Dogs on leash permitted; Icy sections; Snow covered sections; Tracksetting has ended for the season; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Drummond | Spring conditions | 17-04-2024: Dogs on leash permitted; Icy sections; Snow covered sections; Tracksetting has ended for the season; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Hector | Spring conditions | 17-04-2024: Dogs on leash permitted; Icy sections; Snow covered sections; Tracksetting has ended for the season; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Merlin | Spring conditions | 17-04-2024: Dogs on leash permitted; Icy sections; Snow covered sections; Tracksetting has ended for the season; | Trail details |
Bow Summit Area on Icefields Parkway
Winter conditions. Avalanche risk! When travelling beyond the marked trails, or past an avalanche danger sign, assume that you are in avalanche country - your group should be prepared with the appropriate knowledge, skills and equipment. For more information on winter travel and how to stay safe in the mountains, visit parksmountainsafety.ca
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Peyto Lake Viewpoint | Snow covered with icy sections. | 08-04-2024: Snowshoes or ice cleats recommended; Trekking pole(s) recommended; Slippery sections; | Trail details |
- Date modified :