Trail conditions
Important information
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 not allowed on some of the groomed ski trails. Refer to the information below for restrictions. Keep dogs on leash and under physical control at all times.
Wildlife and you
Although bears are denning during the winter, they can awaken at any time for short periods. Cougars, wolves and other wildlife remain active throughout the year. Travel in groups, 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.
Banff Area Winter Walking Trails
Trails are in variable conditions including snow covered, icy, slushy, wet & muddy and dry. Trails at higher elevations are snowbound and may have avalanche risk.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Easy |
Marsh Winter Loop | Icy conditions | 26-11-2022: Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Fenland Winter Trail | Icy conditions | 26-11-2022: Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Stewart Canyon Winter Trail | Icy conditions | 26-11-2022: Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray Winter Connector | Icy conditions | 26-11-2022: Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Johnston Canyon Winter Trail | See comment section | 26-11-2022: Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Icy sections.; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
 Moderate |
Tunnel Mountain Summit Winter Trail | Icy conditions | 26-11-2022: Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Winter Trail | Icy conditions | 26-11-2022: Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sundance Canyon Winter Trail | Icy conditions | 26-11-2022: Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
Banff Area Snowshoeing Trails
Not enough snow for snowshoeing.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Westside Winter Trail | Closed. | 26-11-2022: Check the important bulletins for more information; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Tunnel Mountain Drive - Winter | Icy conditions | 26-11-2022: minimal snow depth; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Surprise Corner to Hoodoos Winter Trail | Icy conditions | 26-11-2022: minimal snow depth; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Johnson Lake Winter Trail | Icy conditions | 26-11-2022: minimal snow depth; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Upper Stoney Winter Loop | Icy conditions | 26-11-2022: minimal snow depth; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Ink Pots Winter Trail | Icy conditions | 26-11-2022: minimal snow depth; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
Banff Area Fat Biking Trails
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Tunnel Mountain Multi-use Winter Trails | Icy conditions | 26-11-2022: Studded tires recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Banff Avenue Winter Trail | Icy conditions | 26-11-2022: Studded tires recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River East Winter Trail | Icy conditions | 26-11-2022: Studded tires recommended; Flat packed; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Sundance Winter Trail | Icy conditions | 26-11-2022: Studded tires recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lake Minnewanka Winter Trail | Icy conditions | 26-11-2022: Studded tires recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Bench Winter Loop | Icy conditions | 26-11-2022: Studded tires recommended; | Trail details |
Banff Area Cross-Country Ski Trails
Tracksetting has not yet begun for the winter season
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Spray River Winter: West Trail | Icy conditions | 26-11-2022: Flat packed; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Not recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River Winter: East Trail | Icy conditions | 26-11-2022: Flat packed; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Not recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Tunnel Mountain Winter Trails | Not recommended. | 26-11-2022: Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Cascade Valley Winter Trail: Lake Minnewanka Parking to Upper Bankhead | No snow. | 26-11-2022: Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Cascade Valley Winter Trail: Lake Minnewanka Parking to Cascade River Bridge | Hazardous conditions. | 26-11-2022: Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Cascade Valley Winter Trail: Cascade River Bridge to Stoney Creek | Hazardous conditions. | 26-11-2022: Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Healy Creek Winter Trail | Not recommended. | 26-11-2022: Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Sundance Winter Trail | Not recommended. | 26-11-2022: Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; | |
| Moderate |
Brewster Creek Winter Trail | Not recommended. | 26-11-2022: Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Goat Creek Winter Trail | See comment section | 26-11-2022: Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Trail is closed past the National Park Boundary, No access to Goat Greek trailhead in Spray Valley PP; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Flat packed; Icy sections.; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Redearth Creek Winter Trail | Variable conditions. | 26-11-2022: Flat packed; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Icy sections.; | Trail details |
Bow Valley Parkway Cross-Country Ski Trails
Tracksetting has not yet begun for the winter season.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Baker Creek to Protection Mountain Campground | Not recommended. | 25-11-2022: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Not yet maintained; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Castle Junction Cross-country Ski Trails: Trail #1 - Castle Junction to Castle Mountain Lookout | Not recommended. | 25-11-2022: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Not yet maintained; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Castle Junction Cross-country Ski Trails: Trail #2 | Not recommended. | 25-11-2022: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Not yet maintained; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Castle Junction Cross-country Ski Trails: Trail #3 | Not recommended. | 25-11-2022: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Not yet maintained; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Protection Mountain Campground to Castle Mountain Lookout | Not recommended. | 25-11-2022: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Not yet maintained; | Trail details |
Lake Louise Area Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking Trails
Winter conditions. Avalanche risk! When travelling beyond the marked trails, or past an avalanche danger sign, assume that you are in avalanche country - your group should be prepared with the appropriate knowledge, skills and equipment. For more information on winter travel and how to stay safe in the mountains, visit parksmountainsafety.ca
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
"Highline" trail to Paradise Creek | Winter conditions. | 25-11-2022: Avalanche Risk rated as Simple Class 1 terrain - at km 1, the trail crosses the runout zone of an avalanche path which rarely runs; Snow covered; Snowshoes recommended; Deadfall on trail; Dogs on leash permitted; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail | Winter conditions. | 25-11-2022: Snow covered; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Fairview Lookout Trail | Winter conditions. | 25-11-2022: Snow covered; Snowshoes or ice cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Louise Creek Trail | Winter conditions. | 25-11-2022: Snow covered; Snowshoes or ice cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Laggan's Loop | Not recommended. | 25-11-2022: Not yet maintained; Route unmarked; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Mirror Lake, via Lake Agnes Trail | Winter conditions. | 25-11-2022: Avalanche risk: Sections of this trail cross avalanche terrain. Beyond Mirror Lake, the trail is rated as Challenging Class 2 for avalanche exposure and travel requires appropriate avalanche training and equipment; Snowshoes or ice cleats recommended; | Trail details |
 Difficult |
Taylor Lake Trail | Winter conditions. | 25-11-2022: Snow covered; Snowshoes recommended; | Trail details |
Lake Louise Area Cross-Country Ski Trails
Early season conditions. Recent tracksetting: Nov. 26 - Moraine Lake Road (to viewpoint); Great Divide Trail. Nov. 24 - Campground Loop (single trackset only); Bow River Loop (groomed only). Nov 8 - Upper & Lower Tramline
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Moraine Lake Road | Good. | 26-11-2022: Double trackset classic and skate; Avalanche risk: Beyond the viewpoint the trail crosses large avalanche paths.; Please walk, snowshoe or fat bike beside tracks set, not on tracks; When trailhead parking is full, access Moraine Lake Road via Upper Tramline trail and park at Lake Louise parking lot.; No dogs allowed; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Fairview Loop | Early season conditions. | 11-11-2022: Not yet maintained; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Skier tracked; No dogs allowed; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Lower Tramline | Early season conditions. | 08-11-2022: Trail groomed; No dogs allowed; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Upper Tramline | Early season conditions. | 08-11-2022: Trail groomed; No dogs allowed; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lake Louise Loop | Early season conditions. | 13-11-2022: Lake Louise Loop is made up of two separately maintained trails: Lake Louise shoreline and Lake Surface ; Ice is thin, unpredictable and may give away unexpectedly; Lake Louise shoreline - poor; Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Upper Telemark | Early season conditions. | 11-11-2022: Not yet maintained; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; No dogs allowed; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Great Divide Trail | Good. | 26-11-2022: Double trackset classic and skate; No dogs allowed; Please walk, snowshoe or fat bike beside tracks set, not on tracks; | |
| Easy |
Peyto Trail | Early season conditions. | 11-11-2022: Not yet maintained; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; No dogs allowed; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Lower Telemark | Early season conditions. | 11-11-2022: Not yet maintained; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; No dogs allowed; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Bow River Loop | Early season conditions. | 24-11-2022: Trail groomed; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Campground Loop | Early season conditions. | 24-11-2022: Single trackset classic; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Pipestone Loop | Early season conditions. | 11-11-2022: Not yet maintained; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Townsite | Early season conditions. | 09-11-2022: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Packed and graded; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Hector | Early season conditions. | 11-11-2022: Not yet maintained; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Drummond | Early season conditions. | 11-11-2022: Not yet maintained; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Merlin | Early season conditions. | 11-11-2022: Not yet maintained; Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; | Trail details |
Bow Summit Area on Icefields Parkway
Winter conditions. Avalanche risk! When travelling beyond the marked trails, or past an avalanche danger sign, assume that you are in avalanche country - your group should be prepared with the appropriate knowledge, skills and equipment. For more information on winter travel and how to stay safe in the mountains, visit parksmountainsafety.ca
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Peyto Lake Viewpoint | Winter conditions. | 25-11-2022: Snowshoes or ice cleats recommended; | Trail details |