Best short hikes in Banff National Park
The 15 best short hikes in Banff National Park, out of 195 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
- Kid friendly 71
- Waterfalls 26
- Lakes 138
- Summits 150
- Views 349
- Glaciers 75
- Loops 17
- Backpacking 77
- Wheelchair friendly 7
The list
Sorted by rank- 1Bow 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
- 2Big 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
- 3Tunnel Mountain SummitNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 4.4 km · 286 m gain · 2 hSummit · Views · Passes Tunnel Mountain and King's Lookout89score
- 4Bow Summit ViewpointBanff National ParkModerate · 4.6 km · 202 m gain · 1 h 45 minSummit · Views · Alpine88score
- 5Lake Louise LakeshoreNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkModerate · 4.6 km · 75 m gain · 1 h 15 minLake · Views · Passes Lake Louise88score
- 6Lake MinnewankaNear Anthracite · Banff National ParkModerate · 3.5 km · 78 m gain · 1 hLake · Views · River or creek · Passes Lake Minnewanka and Lake Minnewanka Cruise87score
- 7Cascade PondsNear Anthracite · Banff National ParkEasy · 2.1 km · 31 m gain · 35 minLake · Waterfall · Passes Cascade Ponds87score
- 8Little BeehiveNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkModerate · 2.4 km · 153 m gain · 1 hSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes The Little Beehive and Little Beehive87score
- 9Peyto Lake LookoutBanff National ParkEasy · 1.5 km · 60 m gain · 35 minLake · Views · Alpine · Passes Peyto Lake · Viewpoint87score
- 10Mirror Lake HighlineNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkModerate · 1.8 km · 93 m gain · 45 minLake · Views83score
- 11Mount Niblock RouteNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkExpert · 4.8 km · 791 m gain · 6 hLake · Summit · Views · Glacier · Passes Lake Agnes and Mount Niblock83score
- 12Tower of Babel RouteNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkExpert · 2.1 km · 504 m gain · 3 h 45 minSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Tower of Babel83score
- 13Upper StoneyNear Banff · Banff National ParkModerate · 4.4 km · 239 m gain · 1 h 45 minSummit · Views · Passes Stoney Lookout Mountain82score
- 14Bow River TrailNear Banff · Banff National ParkEasy · 3.7 km · 27 m gain · 60 minViews · River or creek · Historic site · Hut or tea house · Passes Banff Pedestrian Bridge82score
- 15Devil's Thumb RouteNear Lake Louise · Banff National ParkHard · 2.0 km · 258 m gain · 1 h 45 minSummit · Views · Alpine · Passes Devil's Thumb82score