DAY HIKES IN BANFF NATIONAL PARK

BANFF, LAKE MINNEWANKA AND

BOW VALLEY AREAS

parkscanada.gc.ca

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Two Jack Lake

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Johnson Lake

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Stoney SquawMountain1868 m6129’

Mount Rundle2949 m9675’

TunnelMountain1650 m5410’

Sanson Peak2256 m7402’

SulphurMountain2451 m8042’

CascadeMountain2998 m9836’

Minnewanka

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Plan Ahead and Be Prepared

Remember, you are responsible for your own safety• GetadvicefromParksCanadaInformationCentrestaff.

• Studytraildescriptionsandmapsbeforestarting.

• Checktheweatherforecastandcurrenttrailconditions.

• Chooseatrailsuitablefortheleastexperiencedmember

inyourgroup.

• Packadequatefood,water,clothing,mapsandgear.

• Carryafirstaidkitandbearspray.

• Tellsomebodywhereyouaregoing,whenyouwillbeback,

andwhotocallifyoudonotreturn.

• Travelwithafriendorgroup.

• Bepreparedforemergenciesandchangesinweather.

Stay on maintained trailsTopreventdamagetovegetationstayonthetrailand

avoidshortcuts.

Leave what you find, and take what you bring• Packoutallgarbage,includingfoodwaste.

• Disposeofhumanwasteatleast100mfromanywater

source.Burysolidhumanwasteinahole15cmdeep.Pack

outyourtoiletpaper.

• Naturalandculturalresourcessuchasrocks,fossils,

artifacts,horns,antlers,wildflowersandnestsareprotected

bylawandmustbeleftundisturbedforotherstodiscover

andenjoy.

BackcountryAbackcountrycampingpermitisrequiredforanyovernight

trip.Reservationscanbemadeuptothreemonthsin

advancebycalling403-762-1556.

Random campingNon-designatedorrandomcampingmaybepermitted.Ask

ParksCanadaInformationCentrestafffordetails.

CyclingMountainbikingisonlyallowedontrailsdesignated

forcycling.PickupacyclingguideatParksCanada’s

InformationCentre.

FishingANationalParkfishinglicenceisrequiredwhichmaybe

purchasedatParksCanadaInformationCentresandat

participatingstores.

Banff Area

Johnson Lake3 km loop; no elevation gain; 1 hour round trip

Trailhead: Johnson Lake picnic area.

CirclethislakewhichisnestledamongstsomeoftheoldestDouglasfirtreesinAlbertaandexperiencetherichestecoregioninourpark–themontanezone.TakeinuniqueviewsofMountRundleandCascadeMountain.

Fenland Trail2.1 km loop; no elevation gain; 1 hour round trip

Trailhead: Fenland Trail parking lot.

Travelunderacanopyofold-growthsprucetreesonthispeacefulinterpretivetrail.

Bow River / Hoodoos4.2 km one way; 60 m elevation gain; 3 hour round trip

Trailhead: Surprise Corner parking lot on Buffalo Street.

ThoughitisclosetotheBanfftownsite,youwillfeellikeyouarefarawayasyouexplorethisforestandmeadowtrail.Keepaneyeoutforelkandbirdsofpreyasyouclimbfromtheriver’sedgetotheHoodoosviewpoint.

Spray River Loop11.4 km round trip; 65 m elevation gain; 3 - 4 hour round trip

Trailhead: Spray River loop parking lot behind the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.

ThisforestedloopispopularwithcyclistsandhorseusersandoffersrollingterrainonatributaryoftheBowRiver.Tocompletetheloop,crossthebridgeatkm7andcomebackdowntotheGolfCourseRoad.

Sundance Canyon4.3 km to end of pavement, plus 1.2 km loop through canyon; 145 m elevation gain; 3 hour round trip

Trailhead: Cave and Basin parking lot.

Takeapeacefulstrollthroughthewoodsonthismostlypavedtrailbeforeyoureachaninvitingcreekandcanyon.

C-Level Cirque 4.2 km one way; 455 m elevation gain; 3 hour round trip

Trailhead: The Upper Bankhead day-use area is 3.5 km from the Trans-Canada Highway on the Lake Minnewanka road.

HikebackintimeasyouwalkpastoldcoalmineshaftsbeforereachingadramaticbasinonCascadeMountain.

Tunnel Mountain2.4 km one way; 260 m elevation gain; 2 hour round trip

Trailhead: Located on St. Julien Road near The Banff Centre.

ClimbtothesummitofamountainintheheartoftheBanfftownsite!Althoughlessdauntingthanthesurroundingpeaks,TunnelMountainstillprovidesbreathtakingviewsoftheBowValleyviaaseriesofwell-gradedswitchbacks.Thistrailcanbeicyinspringandfall.

Upper Hot Springs1.1 km one way; 170 m elevation gain; 1 hour one way

Trailhead: Spray River Loop parking lot behind the Banff Springs.

ClimbthroughaspaciouslodgepolepineforestonyourwayforasoakattheBanffUpperHotSprings,arideontheBanffGondolaorforfurtherhikingupSulphurMountain.

Sulphur Mountain5.5 km to top of gondola, plus 0.5 km to Sanson Peak; 655 m elevation gain; 3 - 4 hour round trip

Trailhead: Banff Upper Hot Springs parking lot at the end of Mountain Avenue.

TheswitchbacksontheslopesofSulphurMountainprovideasteadygradeforthehiketoasummitrenownedforitsbreathtakingmountainviews.Takea1kmsidetripontheboardwalktrailthatdepartsfromtheObservationDeckandyouwillfindmoregreatviews,remnantsoftheCosmicRayStation,andtheSansonPeakWeatherObservatory.

Stoney Squaw Mountain 2.1 km one way; 190 m elevation gain; 2 hour round trip

Trailhead: Mount Norquay ski area parking lot.

HikethroughadenseforestofpineandspruceforauniqueviewofCascadeMountainandthepeaksoftheFairholmeRange.Thistrailisalsopopularwithmountainbikers.

Cascade Amphitheatre7.7 km one way; 640 m elevation gain; 6 hour round trip

Trailhead: Mt. Norquay ski area parking lot.

BeyondthedownhillskirunsofMountNorquayyouwillhikeacrossamagicallyforestedvalleybeforeenteringamassivenaturalamphitheatre.

Easy Moderate Difficult

BANFF AREA

Interpretation on Johnson Lake trail

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Hiking Trail

Highway

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Park Boundary

Park Information Centre

Backcountry Campground

Campground

Warden Office

RCMP

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Parking

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Hot Springs

Horse Stables

Train and Bus Station

Hospital

Gondola

Banff Park Museum

Cave and Basin

Sulphur Mountain Gondola

Lake Minnewanka

Cascade Ponds

Vermilion Lakes

Hoodoos Viewpoint

Bow Falls

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Castle Mountain2766 m9076’

Mount Ishbel2908 m9541’

Copper Mountain2795 m9170’

Pilot Mountain2935 m9630’

Mount Bourgeau2930 m9613’

Mount Cory2800 m9186’

CockscombMountain2777 m9111’

Mount Norquay2522 m8275’

StormMountain3100 m1071’

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Mount Girouard2995 m9827’

Mount Astley

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More Information

Safety

• BanffInformationCentre:403-760-1550• Website:www.pc.gc.ca/banff• BanffTrailConditionsReport:www.pc.gc.ca/banfftrails• Weather:www.weatheroffice.gc.ca• AvalancheReports,InformationandTraining: www.avalanche.ca• MapsandGuideBooks:FriendsofBanffNationalParkat 403-762-8911orwww.friendsofbanff.com

Emergency

Call 911or,ifusingasatellitephone,calltheparkdispatchoffice403-762-4506.Cell phone reception is unreliable.

Keep wildlife wild, and yourself safer

• Travelingroupsandmakenoisetoavoid surpriseencounters.• Donotfeed,touch,orapproachwildlife.Stayatleast 30to50metresawayfrommostanimals,and100metres awayfrombears.• Carrybearsprayandknowhowtouseit.• Petsmustbeonaleashatalltimes. Avalanches

Therightcombinationofsnowcoverandslopeanglecanproduceavalanches.Becarefulwhencrossingsnowslopesorwhenexposedtoavalanchepaths.

Également offert en français

Bear Warnings, Closures and other hiker restrictions commonly occur in the Lake Minnewanka area. Obtain

up-to-date information by contacting a Parks Canada visitor centre.

The front ranges of the Canadian Rockies are sandwiched between foothills and the continental divide. Here, mountains have thrust themselves sideways leaving overhanging precipices on one side and gentle slopes on the other; some peaks are so folded and compressed it’s as though they’ve been squeezed like an accordion into an overstuffed closet. The valleys here are home to an assortment of wildlife – elk, deer, sheep, black bears and grizzly bears. Areas around the town of Banff offer a variety of shorter hikes as well as challenging trails that will reward the seasoned hiker.

Easy Moderate Difficult

Lake Minnewanka Area

Stewart Canyon 1.5 km to junction east of bridge; no elevation gain, 1 hour round trip

Trailhead: The Lake Minnewanka parking lot is located 5.5 km off the Trans-Canada Highway on the Lake Minnewanka road.

HikealongLakeMinnewankabeforeturningleftalonganunusualsmooth-walledcanyonoftheCascadeRiver–themainsourceofBanffNationalPark’slargestlake.

Aylmer Lookout11.8 km one way; 560 m elevation gain; 7 - 8 hour round trip

Trailhead: The Lake Minnewanka parking lot is located 5.5 km off the Trans-Canada Highway on the Lake Minnewanka road.

LessstrenuousthanAylmerPass,thistrailfollowstheshoresofLakeMinnewankaonthesameapproachastheAylmerPasstrail.Thetrailoffersapanoramicviewfromthesiteofanoldfirelookoutandisoneofthefirsthighelevationtrailstobesnowfreeintheearlysummer.

Aylmer Pass13.0 km one way; 810 m elevation gain; 8 - 9 hour round trip

Trailhead: The Lake Minnewanka parking lot is located 5.5 km off the Trans-Canada Highway on the Lake Minnewanka road.

HikeabovethebluewaterofLakeMinnewankabeforeclimbinghighintothefrontrangesoftheRockiestoastunning2285malpinepass.Itispossibletomountainbikethefirst8kmofthistrail.

Done with this brochure?Please return for re-use to a park facility or share it with others.

How was your trip?Please send us your comments at banff.vrc@pc.gc.ca and report trails problems to park staff.

Silverton Falls1.0 km one way; 60 m elevation gain; 1 hour round trip

Trailhead: Rockbound Lake parking lot, 0.2 km east of Castle Junction on the Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A).

OftenovershadowedbyJohnstonCanyon,thisshortexploratoryhikeisalocalsecretandtakesyourightuptoaseriesofelegantwaterfalls.

Johnston Canyon Lower FallsLower Falls - 1.2 km one way; 30 m elevation gain; 1 hour round trip

Trailhead: 22 km west of Banff on the Bow Valley Parkway (1A Highway).

BanffNationalPark’smostpopularhikingdestinationtakesyouintothedepthsofacanyonalongcatwalksandamongstspectacularwaterfalls.Seetheimpressivelowerfallsandwalkthroughatunneltogetanevencloserlookatthepowerfuleffectsofwater.Anearlymorningstartmayhelpyouavoidthecrowds.

Johnston Canyon Upper FallsUpper Falls - 2.4 km one way (from parking lot); 120 m elevation gain; 2 hour round trip

Trailhead: 22 km west of Banff on the Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A).

OnthecompleteJohnstonCanyontripyouwillseeevenmorewaterfalls,themostimpressiveofwhichisthe30mhighUpperFalls.

Ink Pots5.4 km one way (from parking lot), 215 m elevation gain; 4 hour round trip

Trailhead: 22km west of Banff on the Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A).

AfterexperiencingthewaterfallsalongtheJohnstonCanyontrail,continuebeyonditsUpperFallstoreachasetofbrilliantlycolouredpools.

Healy Pass 9.0 km one way; 655 m elevation gain, 6 - 7 hour round trip

Trailhead: Sunshine Village parking lot, 9 km from the Trans-Canada highway.

FromthefarendoftheSunshineVillageparkinglotyouwillfollowHealyCreekasitleadstowardsthecontinentaldivide.Thisclassichikeprovidesexpansiveviews,vastalpinemeadowsandlarchtrees.

Bourgeau Lake7.2 km one way; 725 m elevation gain; 6 hour round trip

Trailhead: South side of the Trans-Canada Highway, 13 km west of the Mt. Norquay Interchange.

RisethroughthedarkmossyforestsoftheBowValleytoarock-rimmedalpinelake.TheclifffaceofMt.Bourgeauprovidesadramaticbackdrop,makingitapicture-perfectspotforlunch.

Rockbound Lake7.7 km to Tower Lake, 8.4 km to Rockbound Lake; 760 m elevation gain; 6 - 7 hour round trip

Trailhead: Rockbound Lake parking lot, 0.2 km east of Castle Junction on the Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A).

Along,steadyclimbthroughthewoodstakesyoutoCastleMountain’s“otherside”whereyouwillbetreatedtoapairofbeautifullakesyouwillnotsoonforget.

Bow Valley Area

Harvey Pass9.5 km one way; 1035 m elevation gain; 7 - 8 hour round trip

Trailhead: South side of the Trans-Canada Highway, 13 km west of the Mt. Norquay Interchange.

ThehikebeginswithaclimbtoBourgeauLakeandcontinuesbeyonditalongasteeproutethatfollowsafaint,unmarkedtrailtothepass.AlpineviewsacrosstheLostHorseridgesandthecontinentaldividearespectacular.

Cory Pass Loop 12.3 km loop; 915 m elevation gain; 6 hour round trip

Trailhead: The Fireside Picnic Area at the eastern end of the Bow Valley Parkway.

ThisisthemoststrenuousdayhikeintheBanffarea,buttheviewsofthelimestonemonolithofMountLouisareworththeeffort.CompletetheloopbyhikingaroundMountEdithanddescendingtheEdithPasstrail.Thistrailisbestdoneinmid-seasonwhenthesnowisgone.Thereisnowateralongthetrailandroutefindingcanbechallenging.

BOW VALLEY AREA

LAKE MINNEWANKA

AREA

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada Catalogue No: R64-408/2011E ISBN: 978-1-10018371-8

Photo: Lake Minnewanka trail

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Bighorn sheep on Sulphur Mountain