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Where the top 25 start

Best hikes in Banff National Park

588 hiking trails in Banff National Park, from 113 easy walks to 275 hard days. Every trail on one map with distance, elevation gain and difficulty. Ranked by trail score, which weighs scenery, trail quality and how often each trail is photographed and visited.

How we rank trails Ranked by trail score, highest first.

Trails
588
Total distance
5,310km
Easy
113
Moderate
200
Hard
246
Expert
29

Top 25

Sorted by rank
  1. 1Johnston CanyonNear Moose Meadows · Banff National ParkEasy · 5.7 km · 218 m gain · 2 hWaterfall · Views · River or creek · Canyon · Passes Johnston Creek Valley and Lower Falls97score
  2. 2Plain of Six GlaciersNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkModerate · 13.7 km · 692 m gain · 5 h 30 minLake · Views · Glacier · Alpine · Passes Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House and Lake Louise96score
  3. 3Lake AgnesNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkModerate · 6.6 km · 396 m gain · 3 hLake · Waterfall · Views · Alpine · Passes Lake Agnes Tea House and Lake Louise95score
  4. 4Larch ValleyNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkModerate · 8.9 km · 554 m gain · 4 hLake · Views · Hut or tea house · Alpine · Passes Moraine Lake and Minnestima Lakes94score
  5. 5Bow Falls TrailNear Banff · Banff National ParkEasy · 2.4 km · 54 m gain · 45 minWaterfall · Views · River or creek · Passes Bow falls viewpoint and Bow Falls93score
  6. 6Big BeehiveNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkModerate · 4.5 km · 387 m gain · 2 h 45 minLake · Waterfall · Views · Alpine · Passes Lake Agnes Tea House and Lake Agnes93score
  7. 7Caldron LakeBanff National ParkModerate · 13.9 km · 956 m gain · 6 h 45 minLake · Views · River or creek · Glacier · Passes Peyto Lake · Viewpoint and Caldron Lake92score
  8. 8Sulphur MountainNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 9.7 km · 670 m gain · 4 h 45 minWaterfall · Summit · Views · Alpine · Passes 224092score
  9. 9Vermilion Lakes RoadNear Banff · Banff National ParkEasy · 8.5 km · 58 m gain · 2 h 15 minLake · Views · River or creek · Passes 3rd Vermilion Lake and Vermilion Lake Viewpoint91score
  10. 10Bow Glacier FallsBanff National ParkModerate · 9.1 km · 187 m gain · 2 h 45 minLake · Waterfall · Views · Glacier · Passes Bow Lake and Bow Glacier Falls90score
  11. 11Johnston Canyon TrailNear Moose Meadows · Banff National ParkHard · 15.1 km · 556 m gain · 5 h 15 minWaterfall · Views · River or creek · Canyon · Passes Johnston Creek Valley and Lower Falls90score
  12. 12Tunnel Mountain SummitNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 4.4 km · 286 m gain · 2 hSummit · Views · Passes Tunnel Mountain and King's Lookout89score
  13. 13Consolation LakesNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkModerate · 7.5 km · 182 m gain · 2 h 15 minLake · Views · River or creek · Passes Moraine lake and Consolation Lakes89score
  14. 14Bow Summit ViewpointBanff National ParkModerate · 4.6 km · 202 m gain · 1 h 45 minSummit · Views · Alpine88score
  15. 15Lake Louise LakeshoreNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkModerate · 4.6 km · 75 m gain · 1 h 15 minLake · Views · Passes Lake Louise88score
  16. 16Moraine Lake HighlineNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkHard · 11.9 km · 387 m gain · 4 hLake · Views · Passes Moraine lake88score
  17. 17Lake MinnewankaNear Anthracite · Banff National ParkModerate · 3.5 km · 78 m gain · 1 hLake · Views · River or creek · Passes Lake Minnewanka and Lake Minnewanka Cruise87score
  18. 18Cascade PondsNear Anthracite · Banff National ParkEasy · 2.1 km · 31 m gain · 35 minLake · Waterfall · Passes Cascade Ponds87score
  19. 19Little BeehiveNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkModerate · 2.4 km · 153 m gain · 1 hSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes The Little Beehive and Little Beehive87score
  20. 20Peyto Lake LookoutBanff National ParkEasy · 1.5 km · 60 m gain · 35 minLake · Views · Alpine · Passes Peyto Lake · Viewpoint87score
  21. 21Caldron Peak TrailBanff National ParkHard · 20.1 km · 1,487 m gain · 10 h 30 minLake · Summit · Views · River or creek · Passes Peyto Lake · Viewpoint and Caldron Lake87score
  22. 22Panorama Ridge RouteNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkExpert · 16.9 km · 1,998 m gain · 16 hLake · Views · River or creek · Alpine · Passes Moraine lake and Consolation Lakes87score
  23. 23Paradise Valley TrailNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkHard · 23.8 km · 1,443 m gain · 10 h 45 minLake · Views · Alpine · Passes Lake Louise and Saddleback Pass86score
  24. 24Mirror Lake HighlineNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkModerate · 1.8 km · 93 m gain · 45 minLake · Views83score
  25. 25Mount Niblock RouteNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkExpert · 4.8 km · 791 m gain · 6 hLake · Summit · Views · Glacier · Passes Lake Agnes and Mount Niblock83score

More trails

Plus 87 shorter or connecting trails on the map.

Questions

What is the best hike in Banff National Park?
Johnston Canyon ranks first: a 5.7 km out and back trail with 218 m of elevation gain, rated easy.
What is the best waterfall hike in Banff National Park?
Johnston Canyon, 5.7 km with 218 m of climbing.
What is the best lake hike in Banff National Park?
Plain of Six Glaciers, 13.7 km with 692 m of climbing.
What is the hardest hike in Banff National Park?
By elevation gain, Cascade Valley: 2,481 m over 118.2 km.
How many hiking trails are in Banff National Park?
Hike Alberta maps 501 hiking trails in Banff National Park.

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