10 Best Hikes in Banff National Park

To know me is to know how much I absolutely love Banff National Park, and the Kananaskis Valley. I've lead three groups for the public there, and I've personally traveled to the area five times. It's my absolute favorite, for so many reasons, but I want to point out my 10 favorite hikes in the Banff/Canmore area for all you hikers heading to the Canadian Rockies sometime soon.

Check out my complete Banff Guide here - it’s only $15 through this week!

1. Lake Agnes Tea House (4.6 miles, Est. 2h49m, but plan for longer if you want to grab tea or lunch at the top!)

Easily one of the best hikes in Banff National Park, Lake Agnes is gorgeous. And yes, you'll be hiking to an actual, working tea house restaurant! When you arrive at Lake Louise, you'll pass the Fairmont (which will be on your right from the parking lot), as if you were going to walk along the Lakeshore path of Lake Louise. Eventually, you'll come to a separate trail that goes up a hill (also to your right). This is the Lake Agnes trailhead, and it is clearly marked for you. This is a moderate hike, and it's definitely got some incline. The amazing part about this hike is that you'll pass so many different landscapes on your way to the tea house. First, you'll come upon Mirror Lake. It'll give you a good view of the Beehives, as well. From there, you'll see a few waterfalls, and then end up at Lake Agnes. My only regret in the past has been not leaving enough time to really enjoy Lake Agnes. All of the tea blends have been carefully crafted with ingredients found in the Canadian Rockies, and ingredients for their pastries and sandwiches are packed in and hiked up every. single. day. The staff are absolute rockstars. If you get there around lunch time, just be aware that the line could be long and finding a seat actually IN the tea house may be next to impossible. Be sure to bring cash for this one if you choose to purchase something from the teahouse. They do take cards, but the reception is usually pretty spotty, and they can’t guarantee their card readers will work 100% of the time. 

Oh, and do them a favor and carry down a small trash bag to lighten their load - you'll even get the title of Trail Angel for your hard work!

BONUS: You can opt to do the Teahouse Challenge, where you also hike to the Plain of Six Glaciers teahouse from Lake Agnes. So, instead of going back down toward the Fairmont at Lake Louise, back the way you came to get to Lake Agnes, you can actually continue on to the Plain of Six Glaciers once you’re at Lake Agnes - your second teahouse of the day. It’s rated a moderate hike, and on average, if you want to start from the Fairmont, the entire trek - to Lake Agnes and onto the Plain of Six Glaciers - is 6.4 miles round trip. It’ll end up being a large loop that takes you along the lakeshore of Lake Louise. 

2. Johnston Canyon to the Ink Pots (7.2 miles, estimated time: 3h 53m)

So, most people hike Johnston Canyon's lower and upper falls and stop there. Which would be a fantastic hike, and you'd enjoy yourself and the pristine blue, rushing water. But, if you're willing to go farther, the Johnston Canyon trail will actually take you to the infamous Ink Pots. These are glacier-fed, ice-cold pools of water with incredible coloring to them. The views of the surrounding Canadian Rockies are absolutely stunning. This is also a great place to eat a picnic lunch on one of the benches, just remember to pack out whatever you pack in. The Ink Pots are more than worth it, and if you can handle a 7.2 moderate, half-day hike, we highly recommend making the trek.

3. Peyto Lake (0.8 miles, Est. 45m to give you time to take pictures & enjoy)

Peyto Lake is the infamous lake that looks like a wolf or a fox. It recently underwent construction and what used to be a somewhat slick trail when it rained is now a beautifully paved trail with a redesigned viewpoint. It is one of the most beautiful views, but try to get here as early as you possibly can to avoid crowds. Keep in mind, you'll need to pass a Jasper National Park checkpoint to get to Peyto Lake, so you'll want that park pass visible. This also means it's farther north than most other trails in Banff, and will take more than an hour to get to from Canmore, if you decide to stay there instead of Banff.

4. Tunnel Mountain (2.7mi, Est. 1h41m)

Nestled in the heart of downtown Banff, this moderate summit hike gives you incredible views of the city. But, on the opposite side once you get to the top, you'll also get amazing views of Mount Rundle - one of the most beautiful, rugged mountains in Banff. If you want to feel accomplished and summit something on your trip but don't want to get too crazy, Tunnel Mountain is perfect. It looks like a baby next to its surrounding mountains, but the views are spectacular. They even have two Adirondack chairs at the very top so you can stop, sit, and enjoy.

5. Sulphur Mountain

So, if you take the Banff Gondola, it'll take you to the top of Sulphur Mountain anyway. Once you're at the top, there's a restaurant, a little museum, a gift shop, and a coffee shop. There's also an interactive movie theater where you can learn more about the history behind the weather station that's located on the top, as well. There are 376 stairs to get to the weather station once you're at the top. The gondola ride takes approximately 8 minutes one-way.

Now, if you're looking for a real challenge and want to feel super accomplished, hike it up and take the gondola back down for FREE! It is usually $50 CAD per person to ride the gondola up and down. If you hike Sulphur's many switchbacks to the top, they've determined you deserve a free ride down. Bless them.

This hike is no joke. It's rated as moderate, but if you're not hiking mountains regularly, it will feel hard. The switchbacks are intense and it takes about 2 hours to get to the top. There is a lovely sign once you're there that says "Welcome Hikers."

6. Rockpile & Shoreline Trail at Moraine Lake (3.2 miles, Est. 1h51m)

The Shoreline Trail is one of my very favorite easier hikes in Banff National Park. It is absolutely gorgeous, and the color of the water from the silt and minerals from glacier run-off is unparalleled. It’s not too difficult, but gives you so many different vantage points of the lake and surrounding mountains that you won’t get anywhere else. I like to end at the Rockpile - it is exactly what it sounds like: a ginormous pile of rocks that you climb up to see some spectacular views of Moraine Lake. It’s a fun way to end the Shoreline trail. 

7. Trans-Canada Trail: Spur Line - Canmore Creek (4.8 miles, Est. 3h40m)

This is a very easy to follow trail, and follows the Trans-Canada Trail, which is our equivalent of the Pacific Crest or Appalachian Trails. So, if you’ve ever wanted to step foot on the Trans-Canada Trail, here is your chance. This one is an absolutely beautiful trail, with stunning views that will take your breath away. The elevation gain is only 869 feet, so it’s not too strenuous. A picnic lunch is a must with this one. We love stopping along the water halfway around the loop to eat our packed lunch before heading back to the car. 

8.  Vista Lake (1.7 miles, Est. 1h2m)

This one is nice and easy, but provides incredible views of Vista Lake. This one is near Lake Louise, so if you plan to do Lake Louise one day, and you’re already heading that way, Vista Lake would be a nice addition to your itinerary to give you another vantage point to seeing the mountains in this area. 

9. Maligne Canyon Loop (2.3 miles, Est. 1h7m)

This one is in Jasper National Park, and is one of the most popular canyon hikes in Jasper. In fact, though you could simply do the 2.3 mile loop and call it a day, you can actually add several different hikes to this one. For example, you could do the Sixth Bridge trail via the Maligne Canyon trail. That one is 4.2 miles in length, but often has wildlife sightings right on the trail. There’s also the Maligne Lake Viewpoint trail that gets you a little higher up. The elevation is much higher on this trek, and it clocks in at 4.3 miles. The estimated time it takes is 3 hours, 25 minutes, but the views are completely worth it.

10. Local’s Choice! 

Some of the best hikes I’ve been on don’t have names because they are ones that only the locals seem to know about. Go into any shop or restaurant (in Canmore, not Banff), and ask one of the employees what their favorite hike is. There are SO many. I was once in the Carter-Ryan art gallery, and I asked Bridget Ryan, the Creative Director, what her favorite hike was. She proceeded to draw me her very own map on a piece of graph paper she found under the register. It ended up bringing us to the back of a neighborhood, but provided some of the best views of the Three Sisters mountain peaks. They know best, so don’t hesitate to ask!

If you'd like more information on staying in Canmore and Banff, I've written a whole guide on the area. It's only $15, and it'll help you plan the perfect getaway. I've even included some coupons and discounts at local establishments that are worth more than the $15 investment, so be sure to snag one, and enjoy!

And if you go, let me know how it went. I'd love to hear about your favorite hikes if you tried any of these, or have another suggestion I haven't mentioned here.

Happy travels,

Britt xoxo