Mount Bell Route
Banff National Park
Trail score 74 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality
About this trail
Mount Bell Route is a 7.6 km out and back trail in Banff National Park. It runs 3.8 km each way. The route gains 1,021 m in total and tops out at 2,874 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 6 hours 30 minutes of moving time. It meets Mount Bell NE Route at 2.0 km. Along the way you pass Boom Lake and the summit of Mount Bell.
- Length
- 7.6km
- 3.8 km each way
- Elevation gain
- 1,021m
- Estimated time
- 6h30min
- Moving time
- Route
- Out and back
- Highest point
- 2,874m
- Lowest point
- 1,895m
Elevation profile
1,895 m to 2,874 mHighest point 2,874 m, lowest 1,895 m, 1,021 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 58% 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
- 0.0 kmBoom LakeLake
- 3.7 kmMount BellSummit · 2,910 m
Good for
- Hiking
- Dog friendly (on leash)
- Lake, Summit, Views, Alpine
Trailhead
The trail starts at 51.2634° N, 116.0838° W.
Banff National Park admission
National park admission required
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.
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
- Mount Bell NE RouteHard · 6.1 km · 769 m gain · 2.6 km away
- Mount Bell East Ridge RouteHard · 7.6 km · 678 m gain · 2.7 km away
- O'Brien LakeModerate · 3.9 km · 125 m gain · 3.8 km away
- Panorama Ridge East RouteModerate · 5.9 km · 498 m gain · 3.9 km away
- Arnica LakeModerate · 15.0 km · 1,091 m gain · 4.2 km away
- Boom LakeEasy · 5.1 km · 241 m gain · 4.4 km away
All 588 trails in Banff National Park
Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30