Hiking is the BREAD AND BUTTER of Banff! Choosing which trails to hike on your first trip to Banff can be extremely overwhelming, as there are thousands of GREAT trails to choose from. You could read 10 different blogs about the “best hikes in Banff” and each of them would say something different. These 7 hikes are Banff Staples including a mix of lakes, mountains, canyons, and waterfalls. If it’s your first time to Banff, this is a great place to start. You will leave with a good array of what Banff has to offer!
Check out: Ten Essentials to Always Pack on a Day Hike
Cory Pass
8.0 mile loop
3,730 ft elevation gain
FAIR WARNING- This is a long and tough day hike close to the center of Banff. The hike up to the pass is steep and rocky, offering little relieve in the grade. Once you go over the pass, you will descend into Gargoyle Valley, one of the most epic valley landscape’s I have ever seen! The entire valley is flanked by massive mountain peaks, giving you panoramic views on your entire descent! (trekking poles highly recommended).
After leaving the canyon, you will finish out the loop in a lush green gorgeous forest as you cruise back to your starting point.
Johnston Canyon Upper/Lower Falls to Ink Pots
7.3 miles out and back
2,000 ft elevation gain
Johnston canyon is one of the most popular attractions of the park. The gorgeous cascading waterfalls through steep limestone canyon walls create a good enough reason to bring in so many visitors. BUT The trail is also a human made staircase with guardrails, making it very accessible for all! The combination of these two things makes for a chaotic amount of visitors each day. I would highly suggest getting there EARLY to avoids the crowds!
The trail to lower falls is a little over half a mile. There is a short little tunnel you can go through to get a close-up viewpoint of the falls!
To continue to Upper Falls will be about a mile more. The upper falls gives you a nice vantage point of the falls spilling into a pool below.
From upper falls you can continue to the ink pots! They are a little less than 2 miles past the falls. Most people do not do this portion of the hike, so the trail will be much less crowded.
Lake Agnes Tea House/Big Beehive
6.8 miles (from Lake Louise)
2545 ft elevation gain
The Lake Agnes tea house hike is AMAZING, and it begins right at the bottom of Lake Louise! It’s a steep hike that brings you to a little tea house parallel to Lake Agnes. The tea house offers hot tea and coffee as well as small bites to purchase. The staff members hike up fresh food each day from the bottom of the lake. It’s a really cool experience and the food is yummy!
After enjoying a snack break at the tea house, you are going to have to put in a little more work! Big Beehive continues past the tea house and circles around the backside of Lake Agnes before climbing a series of switchbacks to get to the top! The views are astounding and worth the effort!
Sentinel Pass via Larch Valley
7.0 miles out and back
2600 ft elevation gain
THIS IS BY FAR MY FAVORITE HIKE! Starting at Moraine Lake, you will hike up through the Larch Valley towards Sentinel Pass. The entire hike you are surrounded by the towering peaks of Moraine Lake. Once you get to the pass, you will have an incredible panoramic view of the mountains. If you are capable (fitness wise), make sure to do this hike!
Peyto Lake (Bow summit lookout)
4.1 miles out and back
900 ft elevation gain
This gorgeous glacier fed lake is often put on the backburner because of its close proximity to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. I’d say this wolf shaped lake easily competes with them though. It has some of the richest turquoise water I have ever seen! Pro tip: go PAST the viewpoint (where most people will stop), the trail will continue upwards towards a large clearing with spectacular views of the lake!
Bourgeau Lake and Harvey Pass
12.0 miles out and back
3,149 ft elevation gain
An incredible hike that begins with a steep climb via multiple switchbacks. The trail will eventually spit you out at Bourgeau Lake, which is the perfect spot for a snack break! After a quick break, continue towards Harvey Pass. You will pass multiple small alpine lakes on your climb and once at the top you will be rewarded with sweeping views of the mountains!
Moraine Lake Viewpoint
0.5 mile out and back
30 ft elevation gain
This is easily Banff’s most popular area AND FOR GOOD REASON! Moraine Lake is the face of the Canadian Rockies. The wild jagged mountain peaks framing the perfect turquoise lake is just as incredible as everyone says it is. The key to visiting Moraine Lake is to get there before the sun rises! By the time the sun crests the horizon, the parking lot will be completely full, and you will be out of luck. Plus… sunrise at Moraine… you CAN’T beat it!
What to Pack for Banff Hiking
Shoes: We LOVE these Salomon’s in women’s and men’s!
Pack: A good day pack makes ALL the difference! We both use this 30L Ortovox pack. It’s the perfect size for day hiking and we love that it unzips all of the way down the front!
Sun protection: a brimmer hat and sun hoodie (women’s and men’s) are essentials in the sun!
Cooler: Keep a few snacks and drinks cool in the car with this affordable soft sided cooler! It’s a game changer on a hot day!
Water: Be sure to bring a water bladder for your daypack. Plus this packable water cube and a reusable water bottle are great to keep in the car!
Snacks: Make sure to pack some trail snacks too! We love these meal replacement bars (although we use them as a snack not a meal!)
First aid kit: Just this standard first aid kit should suffice if anything were to happen on the trail!
Light: A headlamp and extra batteries are important to carry in case you are out hiking later than you suspect.
Bear spray: carry bear spray and KNOW HOW TO USE IT. There are grizzly and black bears in the Canadian Rockies. Know what to do if you encounter a bear because it’s very likely that you will.
OF COURSE you should always carry the 10 essentials as appropriate to your hike & environment! 🙂
