Hike Alberta
Bow LakeBow Glacier Falls 1 km N
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Bow Glacier Falls

Banff National Park

Moderate · Out and back · Official trail

Bow Lake below Bow Glacier, seen from the lakeshore near the trailhead
Bow Lake below Bow Glacier, seen from the lakeshore near the trailhead. Photo by Carlos Delgado, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trail score 90 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

Bow LakeBow Glacier Falls 1 km Open the map

About this trail

Bow Glacier Falls is a 9.1 km out and back trail in Banff National Park. It runs 4.5 km each way. The route gains 187 m in total and tops out at 2,074 m. Hike Alberta rates it moderate, and Parks Canada rates it moderate. Allow about 2 hours 45 minutes of moving time. It meets Jimmy Junior Route at 1.1 km, and passes 11 other mapped junctions. Three side branches with the same name split off the route, at 2.1 km, 2.7 km and 4.4 km. The distance and climb above follow this route only, not its branches. Along the way you pass Bow Lake, a viewpoint and a stream crossing. Also used for trail running and horseback riding.

Length
9.1km
4.5 km each way
Elevation gain
187m
Estimated time
2h45min
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
2,074m
Lowest point
1,937m

Elevation profile

1,937 m to 2,074 m
2,0741,937 0 km4.6 km

Highest point 2,074 m, lowest 1,937 m, 187 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 32% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 8% of route

8% LTE · 0% 5G

Longest modelled gap
4.2 km
Model
2024 · Natural Resources Canada

Predicted coverage is not guaranteed. It varies by carrier, terrain, weather, device and network load, and it does not guarantee emergency service.

Along the way

  1. 0.1 kmViewpointsAt 0.1 and 3.5 km
  2. 0.1 kmBow LakeLake
  3. 2.8 kmStream crossing
  4. 4.5 kmBow Glacier FallsViewpoint

Good for

  • Hiking, Trail running, Horseback riding
  • Dog friendly (on leash)
  • Lake, Waterfall, Views, Glacier

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 51.6789° N, 116.4648° W.

Driving directions

Banff National Park admission

National park admission required

Buy day or annual pass

Pass details

Visitors spending time in a national park need valid daily admission or a Parks Canada Discovery Pass. Admission is separate from camping, reservations, parking and other service fees.

Information checked October 21, 2026.

Official details

Before you go

Carry an offline map and plan for no service in backcountry areas. Trails close for wildlife, fire, weather and construction. Check the official sources:

Nearby trails

All 588 trails in Banff National Park

Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
Parks Canada trail data, Open Government Licence Canada
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30