Trail conditions
ATTENTION: There are closures and restrictions in place to help limit the spread of COVID-19. Please review these changes before visiting the park.
Important information
Please be aware that your experience in Banff National Park will differ from previous years. Only places and activities where health and safety risks can be managed will be available for visitation. We are asking visitors to be cautious and conservative in their use of these places, to observe travel restrictions, respect closures, follow the guidance of public health experts, and to make every effort to keep one another safe.
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 allowed on all trails in the summer unless otherwise specified in trail restrictions and closures. Refer to the information below to find out about any special restrictions. Keep dogs on leash and under physical control at all times.
Wildlife and you
When you see wildlife, give them space for your safety and their survival. If you’re out on the trails, travel in tight groups, 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
Share your trail pictures
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.
Town of Banff Area
While on the trails, please behave responsibly and practice physical distancing. Safety is a shared responsibility. Let’s work together to keep Banff National Park safe.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Easy |
Marsh Loop | Good. | 28-07-2021: Wet and muddy sections; Frequent Horse Use; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Fenland Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Healy Creek Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Tunnel Campground Loop | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Banff Legacy Trail: Banff–Banff East Gate | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Banff Legacy Trail: Vermilion Lakes–Bow Valley Parkway | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River West Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River East Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
 Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Goat Creek Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Mountain Summit Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Westside Trail | Closed. | 28-07-2021: Closed until further notice; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sundance Canyon Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Surprise Corner to Hoodoos Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Cascade Amphitheatre Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Upper Stoney Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
Lake Minnewanka Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Legacy Trail to Cascade Ponds | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Minnewanka Road | Good. | 28-07-2021: Wildlife corridor; No parking on roadways, or highways; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Johnson Lake Loop | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Cascade Ponds Loop | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | |
| Easy |
Water Tower Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Lower Bankhead Interpretive Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | |
| Easy |
Stewart Canyon Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
C-Level Cirque Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lake Minnewanka Trail: Stewart Canyon–Aylmer Pass Junction | Travel restriction. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; Respect all posted notices and signs; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lake Minnewanka Trail: Aylmer Pass Junction–Devil's Gap | Travel restriction. | 28-07-2021: Numerous trees down on trail; Mainly dry; Respect all posted notices and signs; | Trail details |
 Difficult |
Aylmer Lookout Trail | Travel restriction. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; Respect all posted notices and signs; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Aylmer Pass Trail | Travel restriction. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; Respect all posted notices and signs; | Trail details |
Cascade/Sawback Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Cascade Valley Trail: Trailhead–Cascade River bridge | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Cascade Valley Trail: Cascade River bridge–Stoney Creek | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Edith Pass Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Bridge(s) out; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Elk Lake Trail | Fair. | 28-07-2021: Bridge(s) out; Wet and muddy sections; | |
| Moderate |
Forty Mile Creek Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Mainly dry; | |
| Moderate |
Ink Pots–Luellen Lake | Fair. | 28-07-2021: Trail washed out in sections; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
Bow Valley/Castle Junction Area
The Bow Valley Parkway will continue to limit vehicles on the 17 km section of the Bow Valley Parkway from Fireside Day Use area to Johnston Canyon for July and August, to enhance the road cycling experience. There is vehicle access to Johnston Canyon via Castle Junction. www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/cyclisme-biking/saisonintermediaire-shoulderseason
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Difficult |
Cory Pass Loop | Good. | 28-07-2021: Bridge(s) out; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Bow Valley Parkway (Eastern section of the road) | Good. | 28-07-2021: Walk or bike in access only, road closed to vehicles; Wildlife corridor; Respect all posted notices and signs; No parking on roadways, or highways; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Bourgeau Lake Trail: Trailhead–Bourgeau Lake | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Bourgeau Lake Trail: Bourgeau Lake–Harvey Pass | Good. | 28-07-2021: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Boom Lake Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Johnston Canyon Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Respect all posted notices and signs; Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Ink Pots Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Respect all posted notices and signs; Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Silverton Falls Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Rockbound Lake Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Trailhead–Vista Lake | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Vista Lake–Arnica Lake | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Arnica Lake–Twin Lakes | Fair. | 28-07-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Castle Lookout | Good. | 28-07-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Smith Lake Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | |
| Moderate |
Twin Lakes Trail | Good. | 28-07-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
Lake Louise Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Louise Creek | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Bow River Loop | Partially Closed | 24-07-2021: Bears frequenting the area; Respect all posted notices and signs; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Lake Louise Lakeshore | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Tramline Trail | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Great Divide | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; | |
| Moderate |
Lake Agnes | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Big Beehive Lookout | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Little Beehive | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Mirror Lake Highline | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | |
| Moderate |
Big Beehive to Plain of Six Glacier Trail | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Plain of Six Glaciers Trail | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Fairview Mountain | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Highline/Plain of Six Glaciers Connector | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Fairview Lookout | Fair. | 24-07-2021: Deadfall on trail; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Saddleback trail | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sheol/Paradise Connector | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Ross Lake Trail | Caution | 24-07-2021: Be careful fording rivers and streams; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Taylor Lake | Fair. | 24-07-2021: Wet and muddy sections; Deadfall on trail; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Pipestone | Fair. | 24-07-2021: Deadfall on trail; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
Paradise Valley Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Lake Annette | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sentinel Pass - Paradise Valley Trail | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Route finding skills essential; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Paradise Valley and Giant Steps | Good. | 24-07-2021: Wet and muddy sections; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
Moraine Lake Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Consolation Lakes Trail | Fair. | 24-07-2021: Wet and muddy sections; Stay on designated trails and viewpoints; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Moraine Lake Highline | Fair. | 24-07-2021: Deadfall on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Moraine Lakeshore | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Rockpile Viewpoint | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | |
| Moderate |
Eiffel Lake | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Larch Valley/Minnestimma Lake | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sentinel Pass Trail | Fair. | 24-07-2021: Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Snow patches; Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Wenkchemna Pass | Fair. | 24-07-2021: Snow patches; Route finding skills essential; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
Skoki Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Baker Lake Trail | Good. | 24-07-2021: Wet and muddy sections; Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Hidden Lake | Good. | 24-07-2021: Wet and muddy sections; Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Boulder Pass | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
 Route |
Skoki Loop | Good. | 24-07-2021: Wet and muddy sections; Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Deception Pass Trail | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
Icefields Parkway Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Mosquito Creek | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; | |
| Difficult |
Molar Pass | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
North Molar Pass Trail | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Helen Lake | Caution | 24-07-2021: Stream crossings; Mainly dry; Stay on designated trails and viewpoints; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Bow Glacier Falls Trail | Good. | 24-07-2021: Extensive trail erosion; Mainly dry; Stay on designated trails and viewpoints; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Peyto Lake Trail | Closed. | 24-07-2021: Construction work in progress; Respect all posted notices and signs; No parking on roadways, highways or trail heads; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Bow Summit Lookout | Closed. | 24-07-2021: Construction work in progress; Respect all posted notices and signs; No parking on roadways, highways or trail heads; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Chephren LakeTrail | Good. | 24-07-2021: Wet and muddy sections; Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Cirque Lake Trail | Good. | 24-07-2021: Wet and muddy sections; Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Glacier Lake | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Mistaya Canyon | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | |
| Difficult |
Sarbach Lookout | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Howse River Lookout Trail | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on trail; | |
| Moderate |
Sunset Lookout Trail | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sunset Pass Trail | Fair. | 24-07-2021: Wet and muddy sections; Route finding may be necessary; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Nigel Pass | Caution | 24-07-2021: Stream crossings; Deadfall on trail; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Parker Ridge | Good. | 24-07-2021: Mainly dry; Stay on designated trails and viewpoints; | Trail details |