Hike Alberta
500 m N
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Bow Summit Viewpoint

Banff National Park

Moderate · Out and back · Official trail

Peyto Lake from the viewpoint on the way to Bow Summit
Peyto Lake from the viewpoint on the way to Bow Summit. Photo by Darren Kirby, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trail score 88 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

500 m Open the map

About this trail

Bow Summit Viewpoint is a 4.6 km out and back trail in Banff National Park. It runs 2.3 km each way. The route gains 202 m in total and tops out at 2,323 m. Hike Alberta rates it moderate, and Parks Canada rates it moderate. Allow about 1 hour 45 minutes of moving time. It passes four mapped trail junctions. At 0.2 km the trail forks. This route keeps left; the right fork is a 0.2 km side branch with the same name. The distance and climb above follow this route only, not its branches. Also used for trail running and horseback riding.

Length
4.6km
2.3 km each way
Elevation gain
202m
Estimated time
1h45min
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
2,323m
Lowest point
2,139m

Elevation profile

2,139 m to 2,323 m
2,3232,139 0 km2.3 km

Highest point 2,323 m, lowest 2,139 m, 202 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 18% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 0% of route

0% LTE · 0% 5G

Longest modelled gap
2.3 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.

Good for

  • Hiking, Trail running, Horseback riding
  • Dog friendly (on leash)
  • Summit, Views, Alpine

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 51.7159° N, 116.5071° 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

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