Trail conditions
Banff National Park
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.
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 of 4 or more, 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
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Easy |
Marsh Loop | Fair. | 17-09-2023: Frequent Horse Use; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Fenland Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River West Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River East Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
 Moderate |
Goat Creek Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Healy Creek Trail | Fair. | 17-09-2023: Frequent Horse Use; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sundance Canyon Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Westside Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Tunnel Campground Loop | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Surprise Corner to Hoodoos Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Mountain Summit Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Cascade Amphitheatre Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Upper Stoney Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
Lake Minnewanka Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Cascade Ponds Loop | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | |
| Easy |
Johnson Lake Loop | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
C-Level Cirque Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Stewart Canyon Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lake Minnewanka Trail: Stewart Canyon–Aylmer Pass Junction | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lake Minnewanka Trail: Aylmer Pass Junction–Devil's Gap | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
 Difficult |
Aylmer Lookout Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Aylmer Pass Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
Banff Area Biking Trails
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Banff Legacy Trail: Banff–Banff East Gate | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Banff Legacy Trail: Vermilion Lakes–Bow Valley Parkway | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Return of the Jedi Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Topp Notch Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Star Wars Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Bench Loop: Coastline | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Bench Loop: Teddy Bear's Picnic | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Bench Loop: The Spine | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
Bow Valley/Castle Junction Area
From September 1st to October 2nd, the Bow Valley Parkway Cycling Experience restricts public vehicles on the parkway's 17 km eastern end, from the TransCanada-Highway junction to Johnston Canyon. Vehicle access to the popular Johnston Canyon Trail and campground will remain open during the pilot via Castle Junction (the intersection of Highway 93 and the Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A), and the west end of the Bow Valley Parkway. Visit parks.canada.ca/Banff-cycling-BVP for more information.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Difficult |
Cory Pass Loop | Good. | 17-09-2023: No parking on roadways, or highways; Stream crossings; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Bourgeau Lake Trail: Trailhead–Bourgeau Lake | Good. | 17-09-2023: Stream crossings; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; No parking on roadways, or highways; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Bourgeau Lake Trail: Bourgeau Lake–Harvey Pass | Good. | 17-09-2023: Stream crossings; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; No parking on roadways, or highways; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Healy Pass Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Off Trail Use is Prohibited; Stay on trail; Check the important bulletins for more information; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Redearth Creek Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Johnston Canyon Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Off Trail Use is Prohibited; Stay on trail; Check the important bulletins for more information; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Ink Pots Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Rockbound Lake Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Trailhead–Vista Lake | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Vista Lake–Arnica Lake | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Arnica Lake–Twin Lakes | Fair. | 17-09-2023: Wet and muddy sections; Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Boom Lake Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Castle Lookout Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
Lake Louise Area
Paid parking is in effect at the Lake Louise Lakeshore from 7:00 to 19:00 daily, May 19 - October 9. Parking is limited and frequently full. Access to Lake Louise by public bus or shuttle is recommended. For information, please see: parks.canada.ca/banff-transit
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Tramline Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Taylor Lake Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Bow River Loop | Partially Closed | 17-09-2023: Trail sections along the west side of Bow River CLOSED from May 15 to October 15; Mainly dry; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Attention: It's berry season. Bear encounters are possible; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Louise Creek Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Fairview Lookout Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Great Divide Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
"Highline" trail to Paradise Creek | Good. | 17-09-2023: Attention: It's berry season. Bear encounters are possible; | |
| Moderate |
Lake Agnes Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Ross Lake Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Big Beehive Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Little Beehive Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Mirror Lake Highline Trail | Good. | 15-09-2023: Mainly dry; | |
| Moderate |
Big Beehive to Plain of Six Glaciers Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Plain of Six Glaciers Trail | Good. | 15-09-2023: Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Fairview Mountain Trail | Good. | 15-09-2023: Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Trail is narrow and steep. ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Saddleback Trail | Good. | 15-09-2023: Trail is narrow and steep. ; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Trail is in good condition; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sheol/Paradise Connector Trail | Good. | 12-09-2023: Attention: It's berry season. Bear encounters are possible; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Pipestone Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
Paradise Valley Area
Moraine Lake Road is open to bus and shuttle transportation only. For more information regarding access to Paradise Valley trailhead, please see the FAQs on "Visiting Lake Louise and Moraine Lake" : parks.canada.ca/banff-transit
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Lake Annette Trail | Good. | 12-09-2023: Mainly dry; Attention: It's berry season. Bear encounters are possible; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sentinel Pass - Paradise Valley Connector Trail | Good. | 12-09-2023: Attention: It's berry season. Bear encounters are possible; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Paradise Valley and Giant Steps Trail | Good. | 12-09-2023: Attention: It's berry season. Bear encounters are possible; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
Moraine Lake Area
Moraine Lake Road is open to bus and shuttle transportation only. For transit information, please see: parks.canada.ca/Banff-transit
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Consolation Lakes Trail | Good. | 15-09-2023: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Rockpile Trail | Please respect all posted notices and signs. | 15-09-2023: Mainly dry; Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Moraine Lake Highline Trail | Good. | 15-09-2023: Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Bears frequenting the area; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Moraine Lakeshore Trail | Good. | 15-09-2023: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Eiffel Lake Trail | Good. | 15-09-2023: Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Larch Valley/Minnestimma Lakes Trail | Good. | 15-09-2023: Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; Mainly dry; Attention: It's berry season. Bear encounters are possible; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sentinel Pass Trail | Good. | 15-09-2023: Trail is narrow and steep. ; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Wenkchemna Pass Trail | Good. | 15-09-2023: Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Route finding may be necessary; | Trail details |
Icefields Parkway Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Mosquito Creek Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; | |
| Difficult |
Molar Pass Trail | Fair. | 17-09-2023: Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
North Molar Pass Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Helen Lake Trail | Fair. | 17-09-2023: Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; Wet and muddy sections; Dogs on leash permitted; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Dolomite Pass Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Bow Glacier Falls Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail washed out in sections; Extensive trail erosion; Mainly dry; Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Peyto Lake Viewpoint Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Bow Summit Lookout Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Chephren Lake Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Cirque Lake Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Glacier Lake Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Mistaya Canyon Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sarbach Lookout Trail | Fair. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; Numerous trees down on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sunset Lookout Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sunset Pass Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Nigel Pass Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Parker Ridge Trail | Good. | 17-09-2023: Trail washed out in sections; Extensive trail erosion; Mainly dry; Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; | Trail details |
Skoki Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Difficult |
Hidden Lake Trail | Construction is occurring in the area. Please respect all posted notices and signs. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Boulder Pass Trail | Construction is occurring in the area. Please respect all posted notices and signs. | 17-09-2023: Mainly dry; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | Trail details |
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