Best backpacking trails in Banff National Park
The 15 best backpacking trails in Banff National Park, out of 77 that we map, ranked by trail score.
How we rank trails Ranked by trail score, highest first.
- All hikes
- Easy 81
- Moderate 164
- Hard 256
- Under 5 km 195
- Kid friendly 71
- Waterfalls 26
- Lakes 138
- Summits 150
- Views 349
- Glaciers 75
- Loops 17
- Wheelchair friendly 7
The list
Sorted by rank- 1Johnston 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
- 2Caldron 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
- 3Paradise 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
- 4Deception PassNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkHard · 19.9 km · 731 m gain · 7 hLake · Views · Camping · Hut or tea house · Passes Halfway Hut and Ptarmigan Lake80score
- 5Burstall Pass TrailNear Fortress Mountain Resort · Banff National ParkHard · 25.0 km · 1,036 m gain · 9 hLake · Views · River or creek · Alpine · Passes Mud Lake and Burstall Pass80score
- 6Citadel Pass TrNear Banff · Banff National ParkHard · 18.1 km · 679 m gain · 6 h 15 minLake · Views · Camping · Alpine · Passes Mad Trapper's Smokehouse and Howard Douglas Lake78score
- 7Arnica LakeNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 15.0 km · 1,091 m gain · 7 h 45 minLake · Views · Camping · Alpine · Passes Vista Lake and Arnica Lake77score
- 8Sunset PassBanff National ParkHard · 26.8 km · 1,325 m gain · 10 h 30 minLake · Waterfall · Views · Camping · Passes Norman Creek Falls and Sunset Pass77score
- 9Cascade ValleyNear Anthracite · Banff National ParkModerate · 118.2 km · 2,481 m gain · 36 h 15 minLake · Waterfall · Views · River or creek · Passes Wigmore Lake76score
- 10Glacier LakeNear Saskatchewan River Crossing · Banff National ParkHard · 14.9 km · 587 m gain · 5 h 15 minLake · Views · Glacier · Camping · Passes Viewpoing and Glacier Lake76score
- 11Palliser PassNear Kananaskis Village · Banff National ParkHard · 37.8 km · 726 m gain · 11 h 30 minLake · Views · River or creek · Camping · Passes Spray Lakes Reservoir and Belgium Lake76score
- 12Healy PassNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 23.6 km · 1,086 m gain · 8 h 45 minViews · River or creek · Camping · Hut or tea house · Passes Creekside Lodge and Healy Pass (Trail Junction)74score
- 13Whistling ValleyNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 17.2 km · 811 m gain · 6 h 30 minLake · Views · Camping · Hut or tea house · Passes Haiduk Lake and Egypt Lake Shelter72score
- 14Johnston CreekNear The Ink Pots · Banff National ParkHard · 51.0 km · 1,876 m gain · 17 h 45 minViews · River or creek · Camping · Alpine · Passes Pulsatilla Pass71score
- 15Mount Amery RouteBanff National ParkHard · 23.9 km · 2,039 m gain · 13 h 45 minSummit · Views · Glacier · Alpine · Passes Mount Amery69score