Trail conditions
Important information
Please be aware that your experience in Banff National Park will differ from years previous. 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.
Vehicle parking is limited to designated areas only. Signage and monitoring will be used throughout the park to inform the public of parking restrictions and encourage compliance.
Roadside parking is prohibited.
Wildlife
Bears are out of hibernation. If you’re out on the trails, make sure to stay alert, make noise and carry bear spray.
Closures and restrictions
Some secondary roads remain closed including the east section of the Bow Valley Parkway.
For a complete list of ongoing closures and restrictions, please visit our Important Bulletins page.
Town of Banff Area
While on the trails, please behave responsibly and practice physical distancing. Where possible, create two metres distance between you and other people by stepping to the side and not following directly behind the person or group in front of you. Safety is a shared responsibility. Let’s work together to keep Banff National Park safe.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Easy |
Marsh Loop | Good. | 12-07-2020: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Fenland Trail | Mainly Dry. | 12-07-2020: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Healy Creek Trail | Good. | 11-07-2020: Mainly dry; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Tunnel Campground Loop | Good. | 11-07-2020: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Banff Legacy Trail: Banff–Banff East Gate | Good. | 05-07-2020: No parking on roadways, or highways.; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Banff Legacy Trail: Vermilion Lakes–Bow Valley Parkway | Good. | 05-07-2020: No parking on roadways, or highways.; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River West Trail | Good. | 05-07-2020: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River East Trail | Good. | 05-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
 Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Trail | Mainly Dry. | 10-07-2020: Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Goat Creek Trail | Good. | 10-07-2020: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Westside Trail | Good. | 10-07-2020: Not yet maintained; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sundance Canyon Trail | Good. | 11-07-2020: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Mountain Summit Trail | Good. | 11-07-2020: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Surprise Corner to Hoodoos Viewpoint Trail | Good. | 10-07-2020: Respect all posted notices and signs; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Banff Avenue Trail | Good. | 10-07-2020: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Cascade Amphitheatre Trail | Good. | 05-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Upper Stoney Trail | Good. | 05-07-2020: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
Lake Minnewanka Area
Once safety measures are in place, one lane of the Lake Minnewanka Loop will be set aside for cyclists, and vehicles will be limited to driving one-way (counter clockwise). Practice physical distancing by keeping a healthy space of two metres between you and others.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Legacy Trail to Cascade Ponds | Good. | 11-07-2020: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Johnson Lake Loop | Good. | 11-07-2020: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Water Tower Trail | Good. | 05-07-2020: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Cascade Ponds Loop | Good. | 05-07-2020: Mainly dry; | |
| Easy |
Lower Bankhead Interpretive Trail | Good. | 05-07-2020: Mainly dry; | |
| Easy |
Stewart Canyon Trail | Good. | 10-07-2020: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
C-Level Cirque Trail | Good. | 10-07-2020: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Stewart Canyon–Aylmer Pass Junction | Good. | 10-07-2020: Trail is in good condition; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | Trail details |
 Difficult |
Aylmer Lookout Trail | Good. | 10-07-2020: Trail is in good condition; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Bears frequenting the area; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Aylmer Pass Trail | Fair. | 10-07-2020: Snow at high elevation ; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Bears frequenting the area; | Trail details |
Bow Valley/Castle Junction Area
The Bow Valley Parkway east of Castle Junction remains closed to vehicle access.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Boom Lake Trail | Wet. | 05-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Trailhead–Vista Lake | Fair. | 05-07-2020: Not yet maintained; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Silverton Falls Trail | Road access closed | 05-07-2020: No vehicle access; No parking on roadways, highways or trail heads; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Johnston Canyon Trail | Road access closed | 05-07-2020: No vehicle access; No parking on roadways, highways or trail heads; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Walk or bike in access only, road closed to vehicles; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Ink Pots Trail | Road access closed | 05-07-2020: No vehicle access; No parking on roadways, highways or trail heads; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Walk or bike in access only, road closed to vehicles; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Rockbound Lake Trail | Road access closed | 05-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; Walk or bike in access only, road closed to vehicles; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Castle Lookout | Good. | 05-07-2020: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Trailhead–Bourgeau Lake | Fair. | 05-07-2020: Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Cory Pass Loop | Closed. | 11-07-2020: Construction work in progress; Trail work in progress; Respect all posted notices and signs; | Trail details |
Egypt Lake Area
Hiking trails in the Sunshine Meadows are accessible via the Healy Pass Trail and temporary washroom facilities are now available in the ski area parking lot. However, please be aware that Sunshine Village Ski Resort facilities are closed to the public for the summer season, including the gondola and standish chair lifts.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Healy Pass Trail | Fair. | 11-07-2020: Snow at high elevation ; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Warning; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Redearth Creek Trail | Good. | 11-07-2020: Mainly dry; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | Trail details |
Cascade/Sawback Area
The Bow Valley Parkway east of Castle Junction remains closed to vehicle access.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Cascade Valley Trail: Trailhead–Cascade River bridge | Good. | 05-07-2020: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Cascade Valley Trail: Cascade River bridge–Stoney Creek | Good. | 05-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Cascade Valley Trail: Stoney Creek–Flint's Park Trail | Not Maintained | 05-07-2020: High water levels at stream crossings; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Edith Pass Trail | Closed. | 05-07-2020: Parking lot and trailhead closed for construction; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Elk Lake Trail | Good. | 05-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Elk Pass Trail | Good. | 05-07-2020: Dangerous fords; Water levels are high; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Forty Mile Creek Trail | Good. | 05-07-2020: Stay on trail; | Trail details |
Bryant Creek Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Brewster Creek Trail: Brewster Creek Shortcut | Fair. | 05-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Brewster Creek Trail: Healy–Sundance | Fair. | 05-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Brewster Creek Trail: Sundance–Allenby Pass | Poor. | 05-07-2020: Not recommended; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Bryant Creek Trail | Good. | 05-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Burstall Pass Trail | Not Maintained | 05-07-2020: Not yet maintained; Snowbound at higher elevation; Flooded sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Leeman Lake Trail | Not Maintained | 05-07-2020: Not yet maintained; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Palliser Pass Trail: Burstall Pass Trail Junction–Bryant Creek Trail Junction | Not Maintained | 05-07-2020: Not yet maintained; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Palliser Pass Trail: Burstall Pass Trail Junction–Palliser Pass | Not Maintained | 05-07-2020: Not yet maintained; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
Lake Louise Area
Snow at higher elevation. Lake Louise parking lot fills up early in the morning. Plan ahead. Please visit https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/parksnow for parking situation.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Bow River Loop | Good. | 12-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Fairview Lookout | Good. | 12-07-2020: Mainly dry; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Louise Creek | Good. | 12-07-2020: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Little Beehive | Fair. | 12-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Tramline Trail | Good. | 12-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Lake Louise Lakeshore | Good. | 12-07-2020: Mainly dry; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Great Divide | Good. | 12-07-2020: Mainly dry; Bears frequenting the area; | |
| Moderate |
Lake Agnes | Fair. | 12-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Big Beehive Lookout | Fair. | 12-07-2020: Snow patches; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Mirror Lake Highline | Fair. | 07-07-2020: Deadfall on trail; Snow covered sections; Wet and muddy sections; | |
| Difficult |
Taylor Lake | Fair. | 12-07-2020: Snow covered sections; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Big Beehive to Plain of Six Glacier Trail | Snow at higher elevations. | 12-07-2020: Snow covered sections; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Plain of Six Glaciers Trail | Fair. | 12-07-2020: Snow patches; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Fairview Mountain | Poor. | 12-07-2020: Steep snow slopes ; Sections of deep snow; Risk of post-holing; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Highline/Plain of Six Glaciers Connector | Fair. | 12-07-2020: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Saddleback trail | Poor. | 12-07-2020: Steep snow slopes ; Sections of deep snow; Risk of post-holing; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Ross Lake Trail | Fair. | 12-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; Stream crossings; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sheol/Paradise Connector | Poor. | 12-07-2020: Sections of deep snow; Not yet maintained; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Pipestone | Closed for the season. | 12-07-2020: Construction work in progress; | Trail details |
Moraine Lake Area
Moraine Lake parking lot fills up early in the morning. Plan ahead. Please visit https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/parksnow for parking situation.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Consolation Lakes Trail | Fair. | 12-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Moraine Lakeshore | Good. | 12-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Rockpile Viewpoint | Good. | 12-07-2020: Mainly dry; | |
| Moderate |
Eiffel Lake | Mud and snow at higher elevations. | 12-07-2020: Sections of deep snow; Compact snow; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Larch Valley/Minnestimma Lake | Snow at higher elevations. | 12-07-2020: Snow covered sections; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sentinel Pass Trail | Not recommended. | 12-07-2020: Snow at high elevation ; Steep snow slopes ; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Wenkchemna Pass | Snow covered with icy sections. | 12-07-2020: Sections of deep snow; Difficult route finding ; Risk of post-holing; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Moraine Lake Highline | Fair. | 12-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
Paradise Valley Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Lake Annette | Fair. | 12-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sentinel Pass - Paradise Valley Trail | Not recommended. | 12-07-2020: Steep snow slopes ; Difficult route finding ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Paradise Valley and Giant Steps | Fair. | 12-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
Skoki Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Baker Lake Trail | Fair. | 05-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; Snow patches; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Hidden Lake | Fair. | 05-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Boulder Pass | Fair. | 05-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
 Route |
Skoki Loop | Poor. | 05-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; Snow covered sections; Difficult route finding ; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Deception Pass Trail | Fair. | 05-07-2020: Snow patches; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
Icefields Parkway Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Bow Summit Lookout | Closed for the season. | 28-06-2020: Construction work in progress; Respect all posted notices and signs; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Bow Glacier Falls Trail | Fair. | 03-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Cirque Lake Trail | Very wet and muddy. | 07-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sunset Lookout Trail | Fair. | 07-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Helen Lake | Fair. | 08-07-2020: Snow patches; Wet and muddy sections; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Glacier Lake | Fair. | 03-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Molar Pass | Poor. | 03-07-2020: Snow at high elevation ; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
North Molar Pass Trail | Poor. | 03-07-2020: Snow at high elevation ; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Parker Ridge | Snow at higher elevations. | 03-07-2020: Snow covered sections; Wet and muddy sections; Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sarbach Lookout | Fair. | 03-07-2020: Snow covered sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Peyto Lake Trail | Closed. | 03-07-2020: Closed until further notice.; Construction work in progress; Respect all posted notices and signs; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sunset Pass Trail | Very wet and muddy. | 07-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; Trail overgrown with vegetation; Difficult route finding ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Mosquito Creek | Good. | 03-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; | |
| Easy |
Howse River Lookout Trail | Mainly Dry. | 03-07-2020: Mainly dry; | |
| Moderate |
Mistaya Canyon | Good. | 03-07-2020: Mainly dry; | |
| Moderate |
Chephren LakeTrail | Very wet and muddy. | 07-07-2020: Wet and muddy sections; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Nigel Pass | Wet and muddy sections. | 03-07-2020: Bridge(s) out; Stream crossings; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |