Spring time in Banff is a great time to visit if you want the park to be less crowded. The lakes (Louise & Moraine) haven’t thawed yet and won’t until mid-June. Some trails will be closed due to snow cover, so I created a list of the best spring time hikes in Banff National Park.
Tunnel Mountain
Our first hike in Banff National Park was Tunnel Mountain. This is a great introduction hike to Banff, boasting great views of downtown Banff and the surrounding mountains. This is a fairly easy and short hike, with switchbacks leading you to the top of the mountain. This trail comes in at just under 3 miles there & back, with an elevation gain of 873 feet.
Sulphur Mountain
Most people take the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, but we decided to earn our dinner. This hike is a bit tougher and longer, with switchbacks leading you all the way up the mountain. At the end of May, there was still some snow and ice on the trail towards the top of the mountain, so be careful. This trail is a tad over 6 miles there & back, with an elevation gain of 2,440 feet. If you are only taking the trail one way like we did, it will only be about 3 miles. We took the gondola back down, free after 7pm.
Johnston Canyon
If you would like to see some waterfalls, Johnston Canyon is the place to go. Get there early because parking will fill up fast! You can take the trail there & back to the Lower Falls, Upper Falls or all the way to the Ink Pots. We hiked all the way to the Ink Pots, which is a total of 7.27 miles, with an elevation gain of almost 2,000 feet. Bring lunch or snacks to enjoy at the Ink Pots, small pools of blue-green water. They are naturally occurring springs and minerals give them their vibrant color. The trail past the Upper Falls got a bit muddy in a few places, so be ready to slip and slide a little.
Minnewanka Lakeside
Lake Minnewanka was fully thawed when we were there at the end of May, they even have a boat cruise you can go on. If a boat cruise isn’t your thing, you can rent a kayak. The Minnewanka Lakeside Trail is about 10 miles there & back, but you can go as far as you want and turn back around. The elevation gain is 1716 feet. If you want to take pictures, walk this trail in the afternoon for better lighting.
Lake Louise Lakeshore
Lake Louise was not fully thawed when we were there at the end of May, but thawing had begun. The trail is just under 3 miles there & back, with an elevation gain of 331 feet. Even being early in the season, there were still a lot of people here. I suggest going early or taking the ROAM bus. I really wanted to do the Lake Agnes Tea House Trail, but the tea house did not open until early June.
We had two longer, off the beaten path hikes that were suggested to us by a local we met at a brewery. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to do them. The first was Wasootch Ridge, which is 15km. The second was Prairie View via Jewel Pass, which is 19km. If you want some longer hikes, with fewer people, I would consider these.
Check the Parks Canada website for trail conditions and closures.
If you liked this blog post, check out What the Inca Trail is Really Like! Don’t forget to book your trip with your favorite travel planner, yours truly.
