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 |
Banff Legacy Trail: Banff–Banff East Gate | Good. | 22-09-2024: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Banff Legacy Trail: Vermilion Lakes–Bow Valley Parkway | Good. | 22-09-2024: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Fenland Loop | Good. | 22-09-2024: Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River East Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Biking excluding e-bikes is allowed; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Marsh Loop | Fair. | 22-09-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Frequent Horse Use; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River West Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Biking excluding e-bikes is allowed; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Tunnel Campground Loop | Good. | 22-09-2024: Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Healy Creek Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Biking excluding e-bikes is allowed; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
 Moderate |
Sundance Canyon Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Westside Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Biking excluding e-bikes is allowed; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Mountain Summit Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Surprise Corner to Hoodoos Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Upper Stoney Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Biking excluding e-bikes is allowed; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Cascade Amphitheatre Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Bench Loop: Coastline Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed; Deadfall on trail; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Bench Loop: Teddy Bear's Picnic Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed; Deadfall on trail; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Bench Loop: The Spine Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed; Deadfall on trail; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Technical Trails: Return of the Jedi Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Technical Trails: Star Wars Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Goat Creek Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Biking excluding e-bikes is allowed; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
 Difficult |
Topp Notch Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
Lake Minnewanka Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Cascade Ponds Loop | Good. | 22-09-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | |
| Easy |
Stewart Canyon Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Johnson Lake Loop | Good. | 22-09-2024: Construction. No access to Cascade Ponds via the Water Tower trail from September 15 to November 30, 2024.; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
C-Level Cirque Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lake Minnewanka Trail: Stewart Canyon–Aylmer Pass Junction | Good. | 22-09-2024: Deadfall on trail; Biking excluding e-bikes is allowed; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lake Minnewanka Trail: Aylmer Pass Junction–Devil's Gap | Good. | 22-09-2024: Deadfall on trail; Biking excluding e-bikes is allowed; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Aylmer Lookout Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Deadfall on trail; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Aylmer Pass Trail | Variable conditions. | 22-09-2024: Deadfall on trail; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
Bow Valley/Castle Junction Area
From May 1 to June 25 and August 30 to September 30, the Bow Valley Parkway Cycling Experience restricts public vehicles on the parkway's 17 km eastern end, from the Trans-Canada 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 South and the Bow Valley Parkway/ Highway 1A, and the west end of the Bow Valley Parkway. Visit parks.canada.ca/banff-bow-valley-parkway for more information.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Johnston Canyon Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Ink Pots Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Boom Lake Trail | Fair. | 22-09-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Numerous trees down on trail; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Trailhead–Vista Lake | Good. | 22-09-2024: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Vista Lake–Arnica Lake | Good. | 22-09-2024: Deadfall on trail; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Arnica Lake–Twin Lakes | Good. | 22-09-2024: Deadfall on trail; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Healy Pass Trail | Variable conditions. | 22-09-2024: Respect all posted notices and signs; Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Bourgeau Lake Trail: Trailhead–Bourgeau Lake | Good. | 22-09-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Be careful fording rivers and streams; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Bourgeau Lake Trail: Bourgeau Lake–Harvey Pass | Variable conditions. | 22-09-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Redearth Creek Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Rockbound Lake Trail | Variable conditions. | 22-09-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Castle Lookout Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Cory Pass Loop | Road access closed | 22-09-2024: Stream crossings; Trail is narrow and steep; Wet and muddy sections; No parking on roadways, or highways; Snow at high elevation ; | Trail details |
Lake Louise Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Tramline Trail | See comment section | 21-09-2024: Note: A trail advisory is in effect from May 15 until October 15 to help protect and improve important wildlife habitat. Hikers are asked to use alternative routes such as the Louise Creek Trail. Cycling is permitted on Tramline trail.; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Taylor Lake Trail | Fair. | 21-09-2024: Deadfall on trail; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Bow River Loop | Seasonal closure in effect | 21-09-2024: Trail sections along the west side of Bow River CLOSED from May 15 to October 15; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Louise Creek Trail | Good. | 21-09-2024: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Fairview Lookout Trail | Good. | 21-09-2024: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Great Divide Trail | See comment section | 21-09-2024: Parking lot closed.; Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
"Highline" trail to Paradise Creek | Fair. | 21-09-2024: Wet and muddy sections; | |
| Moderate |
Lake Agnes Trail | Good. | 21-09-2024: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Ross Lake Trail | See comment section | 21-09-2024: Stream crossings; Slippery sections; Use caution; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Big Beehive Trail | Caution. | 21-09-2024: Trail is narrow and steep; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Little Beehive Trail | Good. | 21-09-2024: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Mirror Lake Highline Trail | Good. | 21-09-2024: Mainly dry; | |
| Moderate |
Big Beehive to Plain of Six Glaciers Trail | Good. | 21-09-2024: Mainly dry; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Plain of Six Glaciers Trail | Good. | 21-09-2024: Mainly dry; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Fairview Mountain Trail | Good. | 21-09-2024: Trail is narrow and steep; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Saddleback Trail | Good. | 21-09-2024: Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sheol/Paradise Connector Trail | Good. | 21-09-2024: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Pipestone Trail | Good. | 21-09-2024: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail | Good. | 21-09-2024: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
Paradise Valley Area
Moraine Lake road is closed to personal vehicles year-round. Shuttle services to Moraine lake begin June 1st. See reservation.pc.gc.ca for Parks Canada shuttle bookings.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Lake Annette Trail | Good. | 21-09-2024: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sentinel Pass - Paradise Valley Connector Trail | Caution. | 21-09-2024: Stay on trail; Route finding skills essential; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Paradise Valley and Giant Steps Trail | Fair. | 21-09-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Stay on trail; | Trail details |
Moraine Lake Area
Moraine Lake road is closed to personal vehicles year-round. Shuttle services to Moraine lake begin June 1st. See reservation.pc.gc.ca for Parks Canada shuttle bookings.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Consolation Lakes Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Rockpile Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Moraine Lake Highline Trail | Fair. | 22-09-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Deadfall on trail; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Moraine Lakeshore Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Eiffel Lake Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Mainly dry; Stay on designated trails and viewpoints; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Larch Valley/Minnestimma Lakes Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Mainly dry; Stay on designated trails and viewpoints; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sentinel Pass Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Trail is narrow and steep; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Wenkchemna Pass Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Route finding skills essential; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
Skoki Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Difficult |
Hidden Lake Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Mainly dry; Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Boulder Pass Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Mainly dry; Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; | Trail details |
Icefields Parkway Area
Icefields Parkway is open with NO STOPPING north of the Icefield Centre.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Mosquito Creek Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Mainly dry; | |
| Difficult |
Molar Pass Trail | Fair. | 22-09-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
North Molar Pass Trail | Fair. | 22-09-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Helen Lake Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Stream crossings; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Dolomite Pass Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Bow Glacier Falls Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Extensive trail erosion; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Peyto Lake Viewpoint Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Stay on designated trails and viewpoints; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Bow Summit Lookout Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Stay on designated trails and viewpoints; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Chephren Lake Trail | Fair. | 22-09-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Deadfall on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Cirque Lake Trail | Fair. | 22-09-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Deadfall on trail; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Glacier Lake Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Deadfall on trail; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Mistaya Canyon Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Stay on designated trails and viewpoints; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sarbach Lookout Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Deadfall on trail; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sunset Lookout Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Stay on designated trails and viewpoints; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sunset Pass Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Nigel Pass Trail | Trail Closed. | 22-09-2024: Trail closed until further notice; Check the important bulletins for more information; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Parker Ridge Trail | Good. | 22-09-2024: Fragile alpine vegetation, stay on the trail; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
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