Trail conditions
General conditions
Winter conditions.
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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 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.
Banff Area Cross-Country Ski Trails
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Easy |
Spray River West Winter Trail | Poor. | 03-12-2019: Not yet maintained; Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Tunnel Mountain Winter Trails (Cross-country ski) | Poor. | 03-12-2019: Not yet maintained; Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Healy Creek Winter Trail | Poor. | 03-12-2019: Not yet maintained; Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; | Trail details |
 Moderate |
Goat Creek Winter Trail | Poor. | 03-12-2019: Not yet maintained; Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Cascade Valley Winter Trail | Poor. | 03-12-2019: Not yet maintained; Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Brewster Creek Winter Trail | Poor. | 03-12-2019: Not yet maintained; Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Redearth Creek Winter Trail | Poor. | 03-12-2019: Not yet maintained; Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; | Trail details |
Banff Area Winter Walking Trails
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Marsh Winter Loop | Snow covered with icy sections. | 03-12-2019: Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Fenland Winter Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 03-12-2019: Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Stewart Canyon Winter Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 03-12-2019: Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray Winter Connector | Snow covered with icy sections. | 03-12-2019: Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Mountain Summit Winter Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 03-12-2019: Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Johnston Canyon Winter Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 03-12-2019: Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sundance Canyon Winter Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 03-12-2019: Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Winter Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 03-12-2019: Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
Banff Area Snowshoeing Trails
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Tunnel Mountain Drive - Winter | Snow covered with icy sections. | 03-12-2019: Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Surprise Corner to Hoodoos Viewpoint Winter Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 03-12-2019: Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Upper Stoney Squaw Winter Loop | Snow covered with icy sections. | 03-12-2019: Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Ink Pots Winter Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 03-12-2019: Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Westside Winter Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 03-12-2019: Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
Banff Area Fat Biking Trails
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Spray River East Winter Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 03-12-2019: Studded tires recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Tunnel Mountain Winter Trails (Multi-use) | Snow covered with icy sections. | 03-12-2019: Studded tires recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Banff Avenue Winter Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 03-12-2019: Studded tires recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Sundance Winter Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 03-12-2019: Studded tires recommended; | Trail details |
Cross-Country Ski Trails on the Bow Valley Parkway
GENERAL CONDITIONS: Poor. Thin snow coverage. Tracksetting has not yet begun for the season. Construction work in area.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Baker Creek to Protection Mountain Campground | Not recommended. | 30-11-2019: Not yet maintained; Construction work in progress; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Protection Mountain Campground to Castle Mountain Lookout | Not recommended. | 30-11-2019: Not yet maintained; Construction work in progress; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Castle Junction Cross-country Ski Trails: Trail #1 - Castle Junction to Castle Mountain Lookout | Not recommended. | 30-11-2019: Not yet maintained; Construction work in progress; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Castle Junction Cross-country Ski Trails: Trail #2 | Not recommended. | 30-11-2019: Not yet maintained; Construction work in progress; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Castle Junction Cross-country Ski Trails: Trail #3 | Not recommended. | 30-11-2019: Not yet maintained; Construction work in progress; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | Trail details |
Lake Louise Area Cross-Country Ski Trails (Banff National Park of Canada)
GENERAL CONDITIONS: 10-20 cms of fresh snowfall. Pipestone trails closed due to construction work. RECENT GROOMING: DEC. 5 : FAIRVIEW - Double trackset classic; MORAINE LAKE RD - Double track set classic and skate. DEC. 3 : CAMPGROUND LOOP - Double track set & skate. DEC. 2 : GREAT DIVIDE - Double track set classic and skate; UPPER & LOWER TRAMLINE - Single track set classic. NOV 25 : BOW RIVER LOOP - Single trackset classic; TOWNSITE - Single trackset classic
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Campground Loop | Construction is occurring in the area. Please respect all posted notices and signs. | 03-12-2019: Construction work in progress; Dogs on leash permitted; Double trackset classic and skate; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Townsite | Construction is occurring in the area. Please respect all posted notices and signs. | 28-11-2019: Single trackset classic; Dogs on leash permitted; Please walk or snowshoe beside tracks set, not on tracks; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Upper Tramline | Good. | 02-12-2019: Single trackset classic; Please walk, snowshoe or fat bike beside tracks set, not on tracks; Dogs not allowed; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Lower Tramline | Good. | 02-12-2019: Single trackset classic; Please walk, snowshoe or fat bike beside tracks set, not on tracks; Dogs not allowed; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Fairview Loop | Fair. | 05-12-2019: Double tracket classic; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Please walk or snowshoe beside tracks set, not on tracks; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Moraine Lake Road | Good. | 05-12-2019: Double trackset classic and skate; Dogs not allowed; Please walk, snowshoe or fat bike beside tracks set, not on tracks; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lake Louise Loop | Safety hazards | 23-11-2019: Not recommended; Not yet maintained; Ice is thin, unpredictable and may give away unexpectedly; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; | Trail details |
 Difficult |
Upper Telemark | Safety hazards | 23-11-2019: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Skier tracked; Not yet maintained; Use caution; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Great Divide | Good. | 02-12-2019: Double trackset classic and skate; Dogs not allowed; Please walk, snowshoe or fat bike beside tracks set, not on tracks; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Peyto | Safety hazards | 23-11-2019: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Skier tracked; Not yet maintained; Use caution; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Lower Telemark | Packed. | 19-11-2019: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Bow River Loop | Construction is occurring in the area. Please respect all posted notices and signs. | 28-11-2019: Single trackset classic; Please walk, snowshoe or fat bike beside tracks set, not on tracks; Dogs on leash permitted; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Pipestone Loop | Closed. | 05-11-2019: Construction work in progress; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Hector | Closed. | 05-11-2019: Construction work in progress; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Drummond | Closed. | 05-11-2019: Construction work in progress; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Merlin | Closed. | 05-11-2019: Construction work in progress; | Trail details |
Lake Louise Area Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking Trails (Banff National Park of Canada)
Avalanche risk! When travelling beyond marked winter trails, or past an avalanche danger sign, assume you are in avalanche country-your group should be prepared with the appropriate knowledge, skills and equipment.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Lake Louise Lakeshore | Icy sections, cleats recommended. | 14-11-2019: Dogs on leash permitted; Snowshoes or ice cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Fairview Lookout | Snowshoe packed | 14-11-2019: Dogs on leash permitted; Snowshoes or ice cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Louise Creek | Snowshoe packed | 14-11-2019: Dogs on leash permitted; Snowshoes or ice cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
"Highline" trail to Paradise Creek | Trees blown down. | 14-11-2019: Avalanche Risk rated as Simple Class 1 terrain - at km 1, the trail crosses the runout zone of an avalanche path which rarely runs; Dogs on leash permitted; Snowshoes recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Mirror Lake, via Lake Agnes Trail | Snowshoe packed | 14-11-2019: Dogs on leash permitted; Snowshoes or ice cleats recommended; Avalanche risk: beyond Mirror Lake, the trail is rated as Challenging Class 2 terrain and travel requires appropriate avalanche training and equipment; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Taylor Lake | Snow covered. | 14-11-2019: Dogs on leash permitted; Snowshoes recommended; Avalanche danger beyond reaching the lake; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Laggan's Loop | Snow covered. | 19-11-2019: Dogs on leash permitted; Snowshoes recommended; | Trail details |
Bow Summit Area on Icefields Parkway (Banff National Park of Canada)
Peyto Lake road, upper parking area, trail and viewing platform are CLOSED for construction. Lower parking lot and day-use area OPEN.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Peyto Lake Viewpoint | Closed for the season. | 05-11-2019: Construction work in progress; Respect all posted notices and signs; | Trail details |