Trail conditions
General conditions
Trails at lower elevation are mostly dry. Mud is present on many trails.
Share your pictures with us!
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 pc.banff-vrc.pc@canada.ca
Be alert for bears
Travel in groups, make noise, carry bear spray and know how to use it. Keep pets on a leash at all times.
Closures and restrictions
For a complete list of ongoing closures and restrictions, please visit our Important Bulletins page.
Town of Banff Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Easy |
Fenland Trail | Good. | 23-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Marsh Loop | Good. | 23-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Sundance Trail | Excellent. | 23-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
 Moderate |
Sundance Canyon Trail | Excellent. | 23-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Westside Trail | Good. | 23-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Trail | Excellent. | 23-08-2019: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River West Trail: Trailhead–Spray River bridge | Excellent. | 23-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River West Trail: Spray River bridge–Goat Creek Trail | Excellent. | 23-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River East Trail | Excellent. | 23-08-2019: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Goat Creek Trail | Excellent. | 23-08-2019: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Mountain Summit Trail | Excellent. | 23-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Surprise Corner to Hoodoos Viewpoint Trail | Excellent. | 23-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Tunnel Campground Loop | Mainly Dry. | 23-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Upper Stoney Squaw Trail | Excellent. | 24-08-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Cascade Amphitheatre Trail | Good. | 23-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
Lake Minnewanka Area
SEASONAL TRAIL RESTRICTIONS on Lake Minnewanka Trail (from Stewart Canyon Bridge to the East Park Boundary), Aylmer Pass Trail and Aylmer Lookout Trail from July 10 to September 15. Hikers MUST travel in a tight group of four or more, carry bear spray at all times. Bikes and dogs are not allowed.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Johnson Lake Loop | Excellent. | 23-08-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
C-Level Cirque Trail | Mainly Dry. | 18-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lake Minnewanka Trail: Stewart Canyon–Aylmer Pass Junction | Good. | 18-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lake Minnewanka Trail: Aylmer Pass Junction–Devil's Gap | Good. | 18-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Stewart Canyon Trail | Good. | 18-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
 Difficult |
Aylmer Lookout Trail | Good. | 18-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Aylmer Pass Trail | Good. | 18-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | Trail details |
Egypt Lake Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Sunshine Meadows / Rock Isle Lake Trail | Some muddy sections. | 20-08-2019: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Redearth Creek Trail | Good. | 07-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; Bear with cub(s) frequesting the area; | Trail details |
Bow Valley/Castle Junction Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Bourgeau Lake Trail: Trailhead–Bourgeau Lake | Trees blown down. | 12-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Bourgeau Lake Trail: Bourgeau Lake–Harvey Pass | Good. | 14-08-2019: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Cory Pass Loop | Good. | 15-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Healy Pass Trail | Good. | 24-08-2019: Mainly dry; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Johnston Canyon Trail | Good. | 24-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Ink Pots Trail | Good. | 21-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Rockbound Lake Trail | Good. | 14-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Silverton Falls Trail | Good. | 14-08-2019: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Boom Lake Trail | Water on trail in some sections. | 15-08-2019: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Trailhead–Vista Lake | Good. | 14-08-2019: Water levels are high; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Vista Lake–Arnica Lake | Good. | 14-08-2019: Water levels are high; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Arnica Lake–Twin Lakes | Good. | 14-08-2019: Water levels are high; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Castle Lookout | Good. | 21-08-2019: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Taylor Lake | Wet and muddy sections. | 14-08-2019: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
Lake Louise Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Lake Louise Lakeshore | Bear warning : Hike in a group and make noise. | 24-08-2019: Bear warning in effect; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lake Agnes | Bear warning : Hike in a group and make noise. | 24-08-2019: Bear warning in effect; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Little Beehive | Bear warning : Hike in a group and make noise. | 24-08-2019: Bear warning in effect; | |
| Moderate |
Big Beehive Lookout | Bear warning : Hike in a group and make noise. | 24-08-2019: Bear warning in effect; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Bow River Loop | Good. | 31-07-2019: Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Bear with cub(s) frequesting the area; Stay on designated trails and viewpoints; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Plain of Six Glaciers Trail | Bear warning : Hike in a group and make noise. | 24-08-2019: Bear warning in effect; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Tramline Trail | Bear warning : Hike in a group and make noise. | 24-08-2019: Bear warning in effect; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Louise Creek | Bear warning : Hike in a group and make noise. | 24-08-2019: Bear warning in effect; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Great Divide | Bear warning : Hike in a group and make noise. | 24-08-2019: Bear warning in effect; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Fairview Lookout | Bear warning : Hike in a group and make noise. | 24-08-2019: Bear warning in effect; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Saddleback trail | Bear warning : Hike in a group and make noise. | 24-08-2019: Bear warning in effect; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sheol/Paradise Connector | Good. | 31-07-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Pipestone | Closed for the season. | 31-07-2019: Construction work in progress; | Trail details |
Paradise Valley Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
"Highline" trail to Paradise Creek | Wet and muddy sections. | 24-08-2019: Hike in a group and make noise; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lake Annette | Wet and muddy sections. | 24-08-2019: Hike in a group and make noise; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Paradise Valley and Giant Steps | Wet and muddy sections. | 24-08-2019: Hike in a group and make noise; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sentinel Pass - Paradise Valley Trail | Wet and muddy sections. | 24-08-2019: Hike in a group and make noise; | Trail details |
Moraine Lake Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Consolation Lakes Trail | Good. | 31-07-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Moraine Lakeshore | Good. | 31-07-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Rockpile Viewpoint | Good. | 31-07-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Eiffel Lake | Good. | 31-07-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Larch Valley/Minnestimma Lake | Good. | 31-07-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sentinel Pass Trail | Good. | 31-07-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Wenkchemna Pass | Good. | 31-07-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Moraine Lake Highline | Water on trail in some sections. | 24-08-2019: Hike in a group and make noise; | Trail details |
Skoki Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Baker Lake Trail | Wet and muddy sections. | 24-08-2019: Stay on trail; | |
| Difficult |
Hidden Lake | Wet and muddy sections. | 24-08-2019: Stay on trail; | |
| Difficult |
Boulder Pass | Wet and muddy sections. | 24-08-2019: Stay on trail; | |
 Route |
Skoki Loop | Wet and muddy sections. | 24-08-2019: Stay on trail; | |
| Difficult |
Deception Pass Trail | Wet and muddy sections. | 24-08-2019: Stay on trail; |
Icefields Parkway Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Bow Summit Lookout | Mainly Dry. | 31-07-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Bow Glacier Falls Trail | Fair. | 31-07-2019: Flooded sections; Potential stream crossings; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Peyto Lake Viewpoint | Muddy sections at lower elevations. | 31-07-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Cirque Lake Trail | Fair. | 31-07-2019: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sunset Lookout Trail | Good. | 31-07-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Helen Lake | Mainly Dry. | 31-07-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Nigel Pass | Not recommended. | 24-08-2019: Bridge(s) out; Impassable due to high water; Not recommended; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Glacier Lake | Mainly Dry. | 31-07-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Molar Pass | Fair. | 31-07-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
North Molar Pass Trail | Mainly Dry. | 31-07-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sarbach Lookout | Fair. | 31-07-2019: Deadfall on trail; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sunset Pass Trail | Mainly Dry. | 31-07-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Mosquito Creek | Good. | 31-07-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Howse River Lookout Trail | Dry. | 31-07-2019: Stay on designated trails and viewpoints; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Mistaya Canyon | Good. | 31-07-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Chephren LakeTrail | Fair. | 31-07-2019: Stay on trail; | Trail details |