The Most Beautiful Trails in Banff
Banff was designed for walking, hiking and climbing. From the town itself to the most isolated corners of the national park, there are hundreds of trails worth exploring. Our local insider shares his tips on where to visit and how to stay safe.
Banff is home to a great variety of wildlife, therefore it is important to walk with bear spray, never litter and respect closures. In spring, be aware of ticks. Dogs must be kept on a leash. If you are planning a multiday camping trip, have a look at Parks Canada online, or head to the visitors’ centre in town.
1. Tunnel Mountain
Natural Feature
The smallest of all the distant mountains in Banff, Tunnel Mountain has no tunnel. The mountain frames the town and the trail is easy to find. Locals can jog to the top in less than 30 minutes, but count on an hour with the elevation factor. The views from the top are worth the effort and best of all, you can go home and tell people you summited a peak in the Canadian Rockies.
2. Legacy Trail
Natural Feature, Hiking Trail
The Legacy Trail, a paved 27km (16.8mi) route between Banff and Canmore, just outside the park gates, is extremely popular. Don’t be surprised if you meet people roller-skiing. The trail is a little too long for most people to walk, although fit locals have been known to jog the whole thing. Should you cycle one way, bus route 3 connects the two communities and takes bikes.
4. Lake Louise
Natural Feature, Park
5. Johnston Canyon
Natural Feature
Located on the old 1A highway, halfway between Banff and Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon is no longer a local secret, but the now-popular walk is still always beautiful with a path suspended in the canyon in certain sections. The Lower Falls can be reached in about 30 minutes and the Upper Falls are another half-hour walk with a little more elevation gain.
6. Lake Minnewanka
Natural Feature
The second-longest lake in the Canadian Mountain Park, Minnewanka is close to Banff, with public transport access. The obvious trail from the parking area is very popular, but long enough to escape the crowds. This route eventually leads to the Devil’s Gap Trail, part of the Ontario Trails network.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.