Hike Alberta
Cascade Ponds 250 m N
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Cascade Ponds

Near Anthracite · Banff National Park

Easy · Out and back · Official trail

Cascade Mountain above one of the Cascade Ponds
Cascade Mountain above one of the Cascade Ponds. Photo by davebloggs007 on Flickr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trail score 87 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

Cascade Ponds 250 m Open the map

About this trail

Cascade Ponds is a 2.1 km out and back trail near Anthracite in Banff National Park. It runs 1.0 km each way. It is close to flat, staying between 1,393 m and 1,413 m. Hike Alberta rates it easy, and Parks Canada rates it easy. Allow about 35 minutes of moving time. Five side branches with the same name split off the route, at 0.2 km, 0.4 km, 0.5 km and 0.8 km. The distance and climb above follow this route only, not its branches. Along the way you pass Cascade Ponds and Cascade Ponds Red Chairs. Also used for walking, trail running and mountain biking.

Length
2.1km
1.0 km each way
Elevation gain
31m
Estimated time
35min
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
1,413m
Lowest point
1,393m

Elevation profile

1,393 m to 1,413 m
1,4131,393 0 km1.0 km

Highest point 1,413 m, lowest 1,393 m, 31 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 7% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 100% of route

0% LTE · 100% 5G

Longest modelled gap
0.0 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. 0.0 kmCascade Ponds · Banff Legacy Trail TrailheadTrailhead
  2. 0.0 kmCascade PondsLake
  3. 0.1 kmCascade Ponds Water TapDrinking water
  4. 0.2 kmCascade Ponds Red ChairsRed chairs
  5. 0.3 kmCascade Ponds Water TapDrinking water

Good for

  • Hiking, Walking, Trail running, Mountain biking, Horseback riding
  • Dog friendly (on leash), Kid friendly
  • Lake, Waterfall

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 51.2105° N, 115.5328° 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