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.
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 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. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Trail | Fair. | 13-05-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Icy sections; Cleats recommended; Slushy sections ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Mountain Summit Trail | Good. | 13-05-2024: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
 Easy |
Banff Legacy Trail: Banff–Banff East Gate | Good. | 13-05-2024: Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed ; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Banff Legacy Trail: Vermilion Lakes–Bow Valley Parkway | Good. | 13-05-2024: Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed ; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Marsh Loop | Fair. | 13-05-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Frequent Horse Use; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Fenland Loop | Good. | 13-05-2024: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sundance Canyon Trail | Spring conditions | 13-05-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed ; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River East Trail | Spring conditions | 13-05-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed ; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Spray River West Trail | Spring conditions | 13-05-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed ; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Healy Creek Trail | Spring conditions | 13-05-2024: Icy sections; Slushy sections ; Wet and muddy sections; Biking excluding e-bikes is allowed; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sulphur Mountain Westside Trail | Variable conditions. | 13-05-2024: Icy sections; Wet and muddy sections; Cleats recommended; Biking excluding e-bikes is allowed; Risk of post-holing; Sections of deep snow; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Tunnel Campground Loop | Good. | 13-05-2024: Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed ; Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Surprise Corner to Hoodoos Trail | Good. | 11-05-2024: Mainly dry; Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Bench Loop: Coastline Trail | Good. | 11-05-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Watch for ticks; Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Bench Loop: Teddy Bear's Picnic Trail | Good. | 11-05-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Watch for ticks; Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Bench Loop: The Spine Trail | Good. | 11-05-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Watch for ticks; Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Technical Trails: Return of the Jedi Trail | Good. | 11-05-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Watch for ticks; Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Tunnel Technical Trails: Star Wars Trail | Good. | 11-05-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Watch for ticks; Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed ; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Goat Creek Trail | Spring conditions | 11-05-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Snow covered sections; Icy sections; Biking excluding e-bikes is allowed; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Cascade Amphitheatre Trail | Not recommended. | 11-05-2024: Avalanche terrain; Snowbound; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Upper Stoney Trail | Spring conditions | 11-05-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Icy sections; Cleats recommended; Biking excluding e-bikes is allowed; | Trail details |
 Difficult |
Topp Notch Trail | Fair. | 11-05-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Biking excluding e-bikes is allowed; | Trail details |
Lake Minnewanka Area
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
C-Level Cirque Trail | Not recommended. | 11-05-2024: Avalanche terrain; Snowbound at higher elevation; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Stewart Canyon Trail | Spring conditions | 11-05-2024: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Cascade Ponds Loop | Good. | 11-05-2024: Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed ; Mainly dry; | |
| Easy |
Johnson Lake Loop | Good. | 08-05-2024: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lake Minnewanka Trail: Stewart Canyon–Aylmer Pass Junction | Spring conditions. | 08-05-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Deadfall on trail; Watch for ticks; Biking excluding e-bikes is allowed; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Lake Minnewanka Trail: Aylmer Pass Junction–Devil's Gap | Spring conditions. | 08-05-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Deadfall on trail; Watch for ticks; Biking excluding e-bikes is allowed; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Aylmer Lookout Trail | Spring conditions | 08-05-2024: Deadfall on trail; Cleats recommended; Icy sections; Adhere to all posted warnings and closures along trails; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Aylmer Pass Trail | Not recommended. | 08-05-2024: Avalanche terrain; Snow at high elevation ; Deadfall on trail; | 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 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-bow-valley-parkway for more information.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Johnston Canyon Trail | Good. | 08-05-2024: Mainly dry; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Ink Pots Trail | Spring conditions | 08-05-2024: Wet and muddy sections; Icy sections; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Boom Lake Trail | Not recommended. | 08-05-2024: Avalanche terrain; Snowbound; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Healy Pass Trail | Not recommended. | 08-05-2024: Avalanche terrain; Snowbound; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Bourgeau Lake Trail: Trailhead–Bourgeau Lake | Not recommended. | 08-05-2024: Avalanche terrain; Snowbound; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Bourgeau Lake Trail: Bourgeau Lake–Harvey Pass | Not recommended. | 08-05-2024: Avalanche terrain; Snowbound; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Redearth Creek Trail | Not recommended. | 08-05-2024: Avalanche terrain; Biking including pedal-assist e-bikes is allowed ; Snowbound; Studded tires recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Rockbound Lake Trail | Not recommended. | 08-05-2024: Avalanche terrain; Snowbound; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Castle Lookout Trail | Good. | 12-05-2024: Mainly dry; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Trailhead–Vista Lake | Not recommended. | 08-05-2024: Avalanche terrain; Snowbound; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Vista Lake–Arnica Lake | Not recommended. | 08-05-2024: Avalanche terrain; Snowbound; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Vista Lake / Arnica Lake / Twin Lakes Trail: Arnica Lake–Twin Lakes | Not recommended. | 08-05-2024: Avalanche terrain; Snowbound; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Cory Pass Loop | Not recommended. | 08-05-2024: Potential stream crossings; Parking lot closed.; Avalanche terrain; Snowbound at higher elevation; | Trail details |
Lake Louise Area
Snow covering all trails. Depth of snow varies with trail aspect and elevation. Hazards such as treefall, slippery sections, difficult route-finding and avalanche exposure are all possible due to snow coverage.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Tramline Trail | Caution. | 12-05-2024: Snow covered; Slippery sections; Icy sections; Slushy sections ; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Taylor Lake Trail | Caution. | 12-05-2024: Snow covered; Icy sections; Cleats recommended; Risk of post-holing; Avalanche danger beyond reaching the lake; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Bow River Loop | Snow covered with wet, muddy and slippery sections. | 12-05-2024: Slippery sections; Slushy sections ; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Louise Creek Trail | Caution. | 12-05-2024: Snow covered; Icy sections; Slushy sections ; Risk of post-holing; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Fairview Lookout Trail | Caution. | 12-05-2024: Snow covered; Slippery sections; Icy sections; Slushy sections ; Cleats recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Great Divide Trail | Snow covered with icy sections. | 12-05-2024: Slushy sections ; Snow covered; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
"Highline" trail to Paradise Creek | Caution. | 12-05-2024: Snow covered; Icy sections; Slushy sections ; Deadfall on trail; Risk of post-holing; | |
| Moderate |
Lake Agnes Trail | Not recommended. | 12-05-2024: Snow covered; Slippery sections; Cleats recommended; Avalanche terrain; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Ross Lake Trail | Not recommended. | 12-05-2024: Snow covered; Avalanche terrain; Risk of post-holing; Deadfall on trail; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Big Beehive Trail | Hazardous conditions. | 12-05-2024: Avalanche danger; Snowbound; Not recommended; Switchbacks from Lake Agnes to Big Beehive are steep, snowy and hazardous. Not recommended.; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Little Beehive Trail | Not recommended. | 12-05-2024: Avalanche danger; Snow covered; Risk of post-holing; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Mirror Lake Highline Trail | Not recommended. | 12-05-2024: Avalanche terrain; Snowbound; Risk of post-holing; | |
| Moderate |
Big Beehive to Plain of Six Glaciers Trail | Hazardous conditions. | 12-05-2024: Avalanche danger; Snowbound; Not recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Plain of Six Glaciers Trail | Hazardous conditions. | 12-05-2024: Avalanche danger; Snowbound; Not recommended; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Fairview Mountain Trail | Hazardous conditions. | 12-05-2024: Avalanche danger; Snowbound; Not recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Saddleback Trail | Hazardous conditions. | 12-05-2024: Avalanche danger; Snowbound; Not recommended; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sheol/Paradise Connector Trail | Hazardous conditions. | 12-05-2024: Avalanche danger; Snowbound; Not recommended; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Pipestone Trail | Snow covered with wet, muddy and slippery sections. | 12-05-2024: Slushy sections ; Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail | Caution. | 12-05-2024: Snow covered; Icy sections; Slushy sections ; | 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. Snowy conditions on all trails.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Lake Annette Trail | Road access closed | 12-05-2024: No vehicle access; Not recommended; Snowbound; Risk of post-holing; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sentinel Pass - Paradise Valley Connector Trail | Road access closed | 12-05-2024: Avalanche terrain; No vehicle access; Not recommended; Snowbound; Dangerous snow conditions; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Paradise Valley and Giant Steps Trail | Road access closed | 12-05-2024: Avalanche terrain; No vehicle access; Not recommended; Snowbound; Dangerous snow conditions; | 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. Snowy conditions on all trails.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy |
Consolation Lakes Trail | Road access closed | 12-05-2024: No vehicle access; Not recommended; Snowbound; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Rockpile Trail | Road access closed | 12-05-2024: No vehicle access; Not recommended; Snowbound; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Moraine Lake Highline Trail | Road access closed | 12-05-2024: No vehicle access; Not recommended; Snowbound; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Moraine Lakeshore Trail | Road access closed | 12-05-2024: No vehicle access; Not recommended; Snowbound; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Eiffel Lake Trail | Road access closed | 12-05-2024: Avalanche terrain; No vehicle access; Not recommended; Snowbound; Dangerous snow conditions; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Larch Valley/Minnestimma Lakes Trail | Road access closed | 12-05-2024: Avalanche terrain; No vehicle access; Not recommended; Snowbound; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sentinel Pass Trail | Road access closed | 12-05-2024: Avalanche terrain; No vehicle access; Not recommended; Snowbound; Dangerous snow conditions; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Wenkchemna Pass Trail | Road access closed | 12-05-2024: Avalanche terrain; No vehicle access; Not recommended; Snowbound; Dangerous snow conditions; | Trail details |
Icefields Parkway Area
Snow covering all trails. Depth of snow varies with trail aspect and elevation. Hazards such as treefall, slippery sections, difficult route-finding and avalanche exposure are all possible due to snow coverage.
| Rating | Trail | Condition | Comment | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moderate |
Mosquito Creek Trail | Not recommended. | 12-05-2024: Snow covered; Sections of deep snow; | |
| Difficult |
Molar Pass Trail | Hazardous conditions. | 12-05-2024: Not recommended; Avalanche danger; Snowbound; Dangerous snow conditions; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
North Molar Pass Trail | Hazardous conditions. | 12-05-2024: Not recommended; Avalanche danger; Snowbound; Dangerous snow conditions; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Helen Lake Trail | Hazardous conditions. | 12-05-2024: Not recommended; Avalanche danger; Snowbound; Dangerous snow conditions; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Dolomite Pass Trail | Hazardous conditions. | 12-05-2024: Not recommended; Avalanche danger; Snowbound; Dangerous snow conditions; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Bow Glacier Falls Trail | Safety hazards | 12-05-2024: Not recommended; Avalanche terrain; Snow covered; Sections of deep snow; Risk of post-holing; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Peyto Lake Viewpoint Trail | Caution. | 12-05-2024: Snow covered; Slippery sections; Icy sections; Cleats recommended; Sturdy hiking boots and hiking poles recommended; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Bow Summit Lookout Trail | Not recommended. | 12-05-2024: Snowbound; Avalanche terrain; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Chephren Lake Trail | Not recommended. | 12-05-2024: Snow covered; Sections of deep snow; Risk of post-holing; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Cirque Lake Trail | Not recommended. | 12-05-2024: Snow covered; Sections of deep snow; Risk of post-holing; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Glacier Lake Trail | Not recommended. | 12-05-2024: Snow covered sections; Sections of deep snow; Wet and muddy sections; Deadfall on trail; | Trail details |
| Easy |
Mistaya Canyon Trail | Fair. | 12-05-2024: Wet and muddy sections; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Sarbach Lookout Trail | Not recommended. | 12-05-2024: Snowbound; Avalanche terrain; Risk of post-holing; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sunset Lookout Trail | Not recommended. | 12-05-2024: Snow at high elevation ; Risk of post-holing; Not yet maintained; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Sunset Pass Trail | Not recommended. | 12-05-2024: Snowbound; | Trail details |
| Moderate |
Nigel Pass Trail | Hazardous conditions. | 12-05-2024: Not recommended; Avalanche danger; Snowbound; Dangerous snow conditions; | Trail details |
| Difficult |
Parker Ridge Trail | Hazardous conditions. | 12-05-2024: Not recommended; Avalanche danger; Snowbound; Dangerous snow conditions; | Trail details |
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