How We Ranked These
Best is subjective in Banff because the park has hundreds of trails and the "greatest" one depends on what you want, alpine basins, glacier views, larch meadows, or quick summits. This list is the 12 hikes that consistently get cited as the best day hikes in Banff, ranked by a combination of scenery, accessibility, and time-to-payoff. None are technical; all are doable by a fit hiker with proper gear.
Pair these with our 5-day Banff & Icefields Parkway itinerary for a complete trip, or pick 2–3 day hikes per visit if you're only in the park for a long weekend.
Plain of Six Glaciers (The Classic)
- Distance: 6.5 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 1,200 ft
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: Lake Louise lakeshore
Walk along the famous turquoise shoreline of Lake Louise, then climb through avalanche slopes and rock gardens to a teahouse below six hanging glaciers. The historic Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse serves tea, soup, and pie from June to early October. If you only do one hike in Banff, this is it.
Sentinel Pass via Larch Valley
- Distance: 7 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 2,400 ft
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Trailhead: Moraine Lake (shuttle required)
The single most photographed hike in the Canadian Rockies during larch season (mid-September to early October). Climb through golden larch meadows to a high pass between the Ten Peaks. Above 8,000 feet at the pass. Shuttle reservation to Moraine Lake required, book at reservation.pc.gc.ca as soon as your dates are firm.
Cory Pass
- Distance: 8 miles loop
- Elevation gain: 3,200 ft
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Trailhead: Fireside Picnic Area
The hardest day hike in this list. Steep, exposed, and rewarded with a knife-edge pass between Mount Edith and Mount Louis. Best done as a loop returning via Edith Pass. Snow lingers into July; do this in August or September only.
Sulphur Mountain
- Distance: 6.8 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 2,300 ft
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: Banff Gondola lower terminal
Switchbacks through pine forest to the summit ridge with 360-degree views over Banff townsite and the Bow Valley. The cheat: take the gondola up and hike down, saving the climb but keeping the views. Boardwalk at the summit connects to Sanson Peak.
Healy Pass
- Distance: 11 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 2,150 ft
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Trailhead: Sunshine Ski Area parking lot
Wildflower meadows, alpine ponds, and views into the Egypt Lake basin from the pass. Less crowded than the Moraine Lake-area hikes because it requires a longer drive. Larch season here is exceptional and slightly earlier than at Larch Valley.
Johnston Canyon & Ink Pots
- Distance: 7 miles round trip (to Ink Pots)
- Elevation gain: 700 ft
- Difficulty: Easy-moderate
- Trailhead: Johnston Canyon parking
The catwalks through Johnston Canyon to the Lower and Upper Falls are the most popular short hike in Banff, expect crowds. Continue past Upper Falls to the Ink Pots: bubbling cold-water springs in an open meadow. Most day visitors turn around at the falls; you'll have the meadow nearly to yourself.
Tunnel Mountain
- Distance: 2.8 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 1,000 ft
- Difficulty: Easy-moderate
- Trailhead: St. Julien Road, Banff townsite
The quick-payoff hike right out of Banff townsite. Switchbacks to a viewpoint over the Bow River and Mount Rundle. The smallest summit in the park but the easiest to reach. Good first-day acclimatization.
Lake Agnes Teahouse
- Distance: 4.5 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 1,300 ft
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: Lake Louise lakeshore
A second teahouse alternative to Plain of Six Glaciers, quieter, with views of Mirror Lake and the dramatic ridge above Lake Agnes. Many hikers combine Agnes and Plain of Six Glaciers into a single 8-mile day via the Big Beehive connector.
Bourgeau Lake & Harvey Pass
- Distance: 9.5 miles round trip (to Harvey Pass)
- Elevation gain: 2,400 ft
- Difficulty: Strenuous
- Trailhead: Highway 1, 12 km west of Banff
Steady climb to a teardrop alpine lake with the option to continue another 1.5 miles and 800 ft up to Harvey Pass for views into the Egypt Lake area. Wildflowers in July are the best on this list.
Castle Lookout
- Distance: 4.3 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 1,800 ft
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: Bow Valley Parkway near Castle Junction
Switchbacks to the site of an old fire lookout with sweeping views of Castle Mountain and the Bow Valley. Steep but short. Best at sunset when the light hits the towers of Castle Mountain.
Boom Lake
- Distance: 6.2 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 600 ft
- Difficulty: Easy
- Trailhead: Vermilion Pass on Hwy 93 South
An easy walk through forest to a large turquoise lake ringed by glaciers. Less iconic than the Lake Louise-area lakes but you'll have it nearly to yourself.
Wilcox Pass
- Distance: 5 miles round trip
- Elevation gain: 1,200 ft
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trailhead: Wilcox Creek campground on Icefields Parkway
Above-tree-line views of the Columbia Icefield from the eastern side of the parkway. Better elevated view of the icefield than the Athabasca Glacier walk on the ice itself. Often combined with a day at the Columbia Icefield Centre.
When to Hike Each One
- Mid-July to mid-August: peak wildflowers, all trails open. Crowds at peak.
- Late August to mid-September: stable weather, fewer bugs, fewer crowds, light starts to soften.
- Mid-September to early October: larch season at higher elevations. Sentinel Pass and Healy Pass are at their best.
- Late October to May: most high alpine hikes are snowed in. Stick to lower trails (Tunnel Mountain, Johnston Canyon).
Common Mistakes
- Trying to drive to Moraine Lake. Private vehicles are banned. Shuttle reservation only. Book at reservation.pc.gc.ca.
- Doing Sentinel Pass without checking trail status. Snow lingers until mid-July. Check Parks Canada trail reports the morning of your hike.
- Bear-spray on a side pocket. Bear spray needs to be on a hip holster, accessible in 2 seconds. Inside a pack pocket is useless.
- Skipping bug spray in July. Mosquitoes are brutal at the alpine lakes through early August.
- Pushing for Cory Pass in shoulder season. The pass is exposed, knife-edge, and dangerous in snow. Wait for August.
