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 | Bad. | 17-09-2021: Frequent Horse Use; Wet and muddy sections; Flooded sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Fenland Trail | Fair. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Healy Creek Trail | Fair. | 17-09-2021: Frequent Horse Use; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Tunnel Campground Loop | Good. | 17-09-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Banff Legacy Trail: Banff–Banff East Gate | Good. | 17-09-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Banff Legacy Trail: Vermilion Lakes–Bow Valley Parkway | Good. | 17-09-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River West Trail | Good. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River East Trail | Good. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
 Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Trail | Good. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Goat Creek Trail | Good. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Mountain Summit Trail | Good. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Westside Trail | Closed. | 17-09-2021: Closed until further notice; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sundance Canyon Trail | Good. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Surprise Corner to Hoodoos Trail | Good. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Cascade Amphitheatre Trail | Good. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Upper Stoney Trail | Good. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
Lake Minnewanka Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Legacy Trail to Cascade Ponds | Good. | 17-09-2021: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Johnson Lake Loop | Good. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Cascade Ponds Loop | Good. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | |
| Easy |
Water Tower Trail | Good. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Lower Bankhead Interpretive Trail | Good. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | |
| Easy |
Stewart Canyon Trail | Good. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
C-Level Cirque Trail | Good. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lake Minnewanka Trail: Stewart Canyon–Aylmer Pass Junction | Good. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lake Minnewanka Trail: Aylmer Pass Junction–Devil's Gap | Good. | 17-09-2021: Numerous trees down on trail; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
 Difficult |
Aylmer Lookout Trail | Good. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Aylmer Pass Trail | Good. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
Cascade/Sawback Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Cascade Valley Trail: Trailhead–Cascade River bridge | Good. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Cascade Valley Trail: Cascade River bridge–Stoney Creek | Good. | 17-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Edith Pass Trail | Fair. | 17-09-2021: Bridge(s) out; Numerous trees down on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Elk Lake Trail | Fair. | 18-09-2021: Bridge(s) out; Wet and muddy sections; | |
| Moderate |
Forty Mile Creek Trail | Fair. | 18-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | |
| Moderate |
Ink Pots–Luellen Lake | Fair. | 18-09-2021: Trail washed out in sections; Deadfall on trail; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
Bow Valley/Castle Junction Area
The Bow Valley Parkway is open to vehicle traffic.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Difficult |
Cory Pass Loop | Fair. | 18-09-2021: Bridge(s) out; Hazardous trees; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Bourgeau Lake Trail: Trailhead–Bourgeau Lake | Fair. | 18-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Bourgeau Lake Trail: Bourgeau Lake–Harvey Pass | Fair. | 18-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Boom Lake Trail | Water on trail in some sections. | 18-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Johnston Canyon Trail | Good. | 18-09-2021: Respect all posted notices and signs; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Ink Pots Trail | Good. | 18-09-2021: Respect all posted notices and signs; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Silverton Falls Trail | Caution | 18-09-2021: Use caution; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Rockbound Lake Trail | Fair. | 18-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Trailhead–Vista Lake | Fair. | 18-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Vista Lake–Arnica Lake | Fair. | 18-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Arnica Lake–Twin Lakes | Fair. | 18-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Castle Lookout | Fair. | 18-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Smith Lake Trail | Fair. | 18-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | |
| Moderate |
Twin Lakes Trail | Wet and muddy sections. | 18-09-2021: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
Lake Louise Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Louise Creek | Good. | 15-09-2021: Attention: It's berry season. Bear encounters are possible; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Bow River Loop | Good. | 15-09-2021: Bears frequenting the area; Respect all posted notices and signs; Attention: It's berry season. Bear encounters are possible; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Lake Louise Lakeshore | Good. | 15-09-2021: Attention: It's berry season. Bear encounters are possible; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Tramline Trail | Good. | 15-09-2021: Attention: It's berry season. Bear encounters are possible; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Great Divide | Good. | 15-09-2021: Attention: It's berry season. Bear encounters are possible; Wet and muddy sections; | |
| Moderate |
Lake Agnes | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Big Beehive Lookout | Caution | 15-09-2021: Extensive trail erosion; Stay on designated trails and viewpoints; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Little Beehive | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Mirror Lake Highline | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | |
| Moderate |
Big Beehive to Plain of Six Glacier Trail | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Plain of Six Glaciers Trail | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Fairview Mountain | Fair. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Highline/Plain of Six Glaciers Connector | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Fairview Lookout | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Saddleback trail | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sheol/Paradise Connector | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Ross Lake Trail | Caution | 15-09-2021: Be careful fording rivers and streams; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Taylor Lake | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Pipestone | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
Paradise Valley Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Lake Annette | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sentinel Pass - Paradise Valley Trail | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Paradise Valley and Giant Steps | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
Moraine Lake Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Consolation Lakes Trail | Fair. | 15-09-2021: Extensive trail erosion; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Moraine Lake Highline | Fair. | 15-09-2021: Extensive trail erosion; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Moraine Lakeshore | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on designated trails and viewpoints; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Rockpile Viewpoint | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on designated trails and viewpoints; Wet and muddy sections; | |
| Moderate |
Eiffel Lake | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Larch Valley/Minnestimma Lake | Fair. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sentinel Pass Trail | Fair. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Wenkchemna Pass | Fair. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
Skoki Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Baker Lake Trail | Fair. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Hidden Lake | Fair. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Boulder Pass | Fair. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
 Route |
Skoki Loop | Fair. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Deception Pass Trail | Fair. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
Icefields Parkway Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Mosquito Creek | Fair. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | |
| Difficult |
Molar Pass | Fair. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
North Molar Pass Trail | Fair. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Helen Lake | Caution | 15-09-2021: Stream crossings; Stay on designated trails and viewpoints; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Bow Glacier Falls Trail | Fair. | 15-09-2021: Extensive trail erosion; Stay on designated trails and viewpoints; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Peyto Lake Trail | Closed. | 05-09-2021: 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. | 05-09-2021: Construction work in progress; Respect all posted notices and signs; No parking on roadways, highways or trail heads; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Chephren LakeTrail | Fair. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Cirque Lake Trail | Fair. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Glacier Lake | Fair. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Mistaya Canyon | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; | |
| Difficult |
Sarbach Lookout | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Howse River Lookout Trail | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | |
| Moderate |
Sunset Lookout Trail | Good. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sunset Pass Trail | Fair. | 15-09-2021: Route finding skills essential; Trail overgrown with vegetation; Attention: It's berry season. Bear encounters are possible; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Nigel Pass | Caution | 15-09-2021: Stream crossings; Deadfall on trail; Attention: It's berry season. Bear encounters are possible; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Parker Ridge | Fair. | 15-09-2021: Stay on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |