Owen Creek Tail
Near Saskatchewan River Crossing · Banff National Park
Trail score 63 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality
About this trail
Owen Creek Tail is a 23.4 km out and back trail near Saskatchewan River Crossing in Banff National Park. It runs 11.7 km each way. The route gains 1,272 m in total and tops out at 2,481 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 9 hours 45 minutes of moving time. It passes four mapped trail junctions. Along the way you pass Owen Creek Pullout and Unnamed. Much of the route follows Owen Creek. Also used for backpacking.
- Length
- 23.4km
- 11.7 km each way
- Elevation gain
- 1,272m
- Estimated time
- 9h45min
- Moving time
- Route
- Out and back
- Highest point
- 2,481m
- Lowest point
- 1,393m
Elevation profile
1,393 m to 2,481 mHighest point 2,481 m, lowest 1,393 m, 1,272 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 46% over 100 m.
Predicted coverage: 0% of route
0% LTE · 0% 5G
- Longest modelled gap
- 11.7 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 kmOwen Creek PulloutViewpoint
- 0.6 kmUnnamedWaterfall
Good for
- Hiking, Backpacking
- Dog friendly (on leash)
- Waterfall, Views, River or creek, Alpine
Rankings
Trailhead
The trail starts at 52.0009° N, 116.6730° 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
- Thompson Creek TrailHard · 7.4 km · 805 m gain · 2.7 km away
- Mount Cline RouteHard · 22.2 km · 2,085 m gain · 3.3 km away
- Thompson Creek ViewpointEasy · 1.7 km · 84 m gain · 3.4 km away
- Thompson Creek TrailEasy · 4.8 km · 153 m gain · 3.4 km away
- Dasent Peak RouteHard · 21.7 km · 2,227 m gain · 3.5 km away
- HIdden Quartzite TrailEasy · 3.3 km · 143 m gain · 4.3 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