Best hikes near Banff

We ranked the 353 hiking trails within 30 km of Banff by trail score, which weighs scenery, trail quality and how often each trail is photographed and visited. 105 are easy, 110 moderate and 138 hard. The closest is Rec Grounds Trails, 1 km away.

How we rank trails Ranked by trail score and distance from Banff, so the score is one of two inputs.

Top 25

Sorted by rank

1Bow Falls TrailNear Banff · Banff National ParkEasy · 2.4 km · 54 m gain · 45 min · 1 km from BanffWaterfall · Views · River or creek · Passes Bow falls viewpoint and Bow Falls93score
2Sulphur MountainNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 9.7 km · 670 m gain · 4 h 45 min · 3 km from BanffWaterfall · Summit · Views · Alpine · Passes 224092score
3Tunnel Mountain SummitNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 4.4 km · 286 m gain · 2 h · 1 km from BanffSummit · Views · Passes Tunnel Mountain and King's Lookout89score
4Vermilion Lakes RoadNear Banff · Banff National ParkEasy · 8.5 km · 58 m gain · 2 h 15 min · 4 km from BanffLake · Views · River or creek · Passes 3rd Vermilion Lake and Vermilion Lake Viewpoint91score
5Cascade PondsNear Anthracite · Banff National ParkEasy · 2.1 km · 31 m gain · 35 min · 5 km from BanffLake · Waterfall · Passes Cascade Ponds87score
6Bow River TrailNear Banff · Banff National ParkEasy · 3.7 km · 27 m gain · 60 min · 1 km from BanffViews · River or creek · Historic site · Hut or tea house · Passes Banff Pedestrian Bridge82score
7Upper StoneyNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 4.4 km · 239 m gain · 1 h 45 min · 4 km from BanffSummit · Views · Passes Stoney Lookout Mountain82score
8Lake MinnewankaNear Anthracite · Banff National ParkModerate · 3.5 km · 78 m gain · 1 h · 10 km from BanffLake · Views · River or creek · Passes Lake Minnewanka and Lake Minnewanka Cruise87score
9Marsh LoopNear Banff · Banff National ParkEasy · 2.7 km · 33 m gain · 45 min · 1 km from BanffViews · River or creek78score
10Surprise Corner to HoodoosNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 7.0 km · 191 m gain · 2 h 15 min · 1 km from BanffViews · River or creek · Passes Surprise Corner78score
11Mount Rundle SummitNear Banff · Banff National ParkExpert · 12.3 km · 1,604 m gain · 12 h 30 min · 2 km from BanffSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Rundle 178score
12Sulphur Mountain WestsideNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 10.8 km · 848 m gain · 5 h 45 min · 4 km from BanffSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes 226079score
13Johnston CanyonNear Moose Meadows · Banff National ParkEasy · 5.7 km · 218 m gain · 2 h · 20 km from BanffWaterfall · Views · River or creek · Canyon · Passes Johnston Creek Valley and Lower Falls97score
14Lower Loop RouteNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 7.7 km · 55 m gain · 2 h · 1 km from BanffCave · Historic site · Hut or tea house73score
15Sanson Peak BoardwalkNear Banff · Banff National ParkEasy · 1.3 km · 53 m gain · 30 min · 3 km from BanffSummit · Views · Historic site · Alpine · Passes 2240 and 226075score
16Cave & Basin TrailNear Banff · Banff National ParkEasy · 1.8 km · 16 m gain · 30 min · 1 km from BanffCave · Historic site · Hut or tea house72score
17Grassi LakesNear Canmore · Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial ParkEasy · 3.0 km · 150 m gain · 1 h 15 min · 16 km from BanffLake · Waterfall · Views · Passes Lower Grassi Lake88score
18Sharon'sNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 5.0 km · 161 m gain · 1 h 45 min · 1 km from BanffViews · Passes Banff Gondola Interpretive Gazebo72score
19Mount Norquay RouteNear Banff · Banff National ParkHard · 6.8 km · 1,062 m gain · 6 h 30 min · 4 km from BanffSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Mount Norquay74score
20Mount Girouard RouteNear Anthracite · Banff National ParkHard · 18.0 km · 1,655 m gain · 11 h · 7 km from BanffLake · Summit · Views · Alpine · Passes Johnson Lake and Mount Girouard76score
21Two Jack LakesideNear Anthracite · Banff National ParkEasy · 3.2 km · 61 m gain · 60 min · 8 km from BanffLake · River or creek · Passes Two Jack Lake76score
22Johnston Canyon TrailNear Moose Meadows · Banff National ParkHard · 15.1 km · 556 m gain · 5 h 15 min · 20 km from BanffWaterfall · Views · River or creek · Canyon · Passes Johnston Creek Valley and Lower Falls90score
23Cascade ValleyNear Anthracite · Banff National ParkModerate · 118.2 km · 2,481 m gain · 36 h 15 min · 9 km from BanffLake · Waterfall · Views · River or creek · Passes Wigmore Lake76score
24Bow Falls/ Banff Springs TrailsNear Banff · Banff National ParkEasy · 0.9 km · 43 m gain · 20 min · 2 km from BanffWaterfall · River or creek69score
25Water TowerNear Anthracite · Banff National ParkEasy · 7.9 km · 172 m gain · 2 h 30 min · 5 km from BanffLake · Passes Cascade Ponds and Johnson Lake72score

Questions

What is the best hike near Banff?: Bow Falls Trail ranks first: a 2.4 km out and back trail with 54 m of elevation gain, rated easy.
What is the best waterfall hike near Banff?: Bow Falls Trail, 2.4 km with 54 m of climbing.
What is the best lake hike near Banff?: Vermilion Lakes Road, 8.5 km with 58 m of climbing.
What is the hardest hike near Banff?: By elevation gain, Cascade Valley: 2,481 m over 118.2 km.
How many hiking trails are near Banff?: Hike Alberta maps 353 hiking trails near Banff, counting trails that start within 30 km.

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