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Banff, Alberta

Looking for the best hiking in Banff? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Banff. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Banff

  • Improvement District No. 9, Alberta

    Devil's Thumb Scramble

    7.09 mi / 2575 ft gain
    Park in the visitor parking lot at the Chateau Lake Louise parking lot in time for sunrise at Lake Louise...not to be missed! Then follow the pathway to the right around the lake to the Lake Agnes turnoff (well marked, with a small bronze statue at the intersection.) The waterfall is just befor...
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  • Lake Louise, Alberta

    Hike to the Devils Thumb

    5.0
    Park in the main Lake Louise parking lot. Be sure to have purchased your Park Pass. These can be purchased as you enter Banff National Park, or at the Banff and Lake Louise Information Centers. Follow the paved path along the lake shore in front of the Hotel, Chateau Lake Louise. At 0.8 km you wi...
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  • Lake Louise, Alberta

    Exploring Lake Louise

    4.6
    Lake Louise is one of the most photographed lakes in Canada, with reason. Many tourist walk the paved path round and head home. They miss out though. Hiking to the various tea houses surrounding the lake is a must. An easy 2 mile hike from the lake lies a tea house perched on a hill in a tight ci...
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  • Improvement District No. 9, Alberta

    Scramble up Mount Niblock

    5.0
    9.3 mi / 4068.2 ft gain
    Thousands of tourists flock to Lake Louise and Lake Agnes every year (maybe even every month) and by scrambling Mount Niblock you'll see the same magnificent sites while leaving the crowd behind and seeing so much more!Mount Niblock offers a bit of a challenge in that there are some rock ribs tha...
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  • Improvement District No. 9, Alberta

    Drive the Icefields Parkway

    5.0
    145.45 mi / 6293 ft gain
    The Icefields Parkway has been named One of the World's Most Scenic Drives by National Geographic and with all the scenic hikes, stops, and viewpoints, it's easy to see why. Starting at Lake Louise, a friend and I decided to drive up the Icefields Parkway which goes through Banff National Park i...
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  • Kananaskis, Alberta

    Hike Alberta's Grizzly Peak

    4.0
    The trailhead is located on the north side of Ripple Creek, the first creek you come across after passing the Grizzly Creek turnoff. There is an easy pull-off on the east side of the highway. You should be able to see the trailhead from the road, which follows the southern slope of the mountain f...
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  • Field, British Columbia

    Explore Lake O'Hara

    4.8
    Hidden deep in the Canadian Rockies is Lake O'Hara, a diamond among the rough peaks. Ten minutes drive east of a small town called Field in British Columbia, or sixty minutes west of Banff, Alberta; is a small parking lot where the adventure begins. A $25 return, 30 minute bus ride from there tak...
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  • Field, British Columbia

    Hike to the Opabin Prospect

    5.0
    2.5 mi / 820 ft gain
    Located in Yoho National Park, Lake O'Hara is said to be the crown jewel of the Canadian Rockies (rightly so!). Callum Snape has described a bit of the process on what it takes to gain access to Lake O'Hara at this post here. Once you arrive at Lake O'Hara, either at the lodge or at the neighbori...
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  • Field, British Columbia

    Backpack to Alberta's Abbot Pass Hut

    3.0
    16.2 mi / 1500 ft gain
    Built in 1922 with the stones from the pass, the Abbot Pass Hut and has served both as a base for mountaineers and as a destination for strong hikers ever since. Sitting at 2,926 meters' elevation, it is second only to the Neil Colgan Hut on the list of highest permanent structures in Canada. The...
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  • Field, British Columbia

    Hike the Yuckness Ledges in Yoho National Park

    5.5 mi / 0 ft gain
    The Lake O’Hara Alpine Circuit is short loop - but it's not for the faint-hearted. We walked Yuckness Ledges, which is a trail under a large cliff with incredible views over Lake O'Hara and the rest of Yoho National Park. The trail starts from the Lake O’Hara outlet bridge across from the Le Rela...
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  • Field, British Columbia

    Scramble the North Summit of Mount Yukness

    6.5 mi / 2690.3 ft gain
    Beginning at Lake O'Hara, head counter-clockwise around the lake - you'll get distracted by the reflections in the water if the water is calm enough, that's ok. You'll want to take the Opabin East route, but Opabin West will work too. Just remember to get on the east side at some point in time!Th...
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  • Field, British Columbia

    Snowshoe to Wiwaxy Gap

    1.0
    3.7 mi / 1310 ft gain
    Views in the Lake O'Hara area are unique from the “sea of mountains” look that defines many excellent weekend hikes in the Rockies. With Odoray, Yukness, Huber, Wiwaxy, Schaffer, Biddle, and Lefroy in such close proximity to each other, it is easy to imagine you are in Pakistan, Nepal, or Argenti...
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  • Field, British Columbia

    Scramble Little Odaray

    6.2 mi / 3116.8 ft gain
    First things first: prior to August 15, there are only 4 groups of people allowed in this area per day, and after August 15, only 2 groups are allowed in. Start early!Starting at Lake O'Hara, head towards the Elizabeth Parker ACC Hut. Continue past the hut and meander through meadows and forests....
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  • Clearwater County, Alberta

    Hike Maze Peak

    4.0
    5.3 mi / 2624.7 ft gain
    There's not much of a trailhead for Maze Peak - in fact there isn't a trailhead at all. Bring up the start location from this post and pull over on the side of the dirt road once you get to it! The hardest part about this trail is just kind of finding it, really. The good news is that you're goin...
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  • Kananaskis, Alberta

    Ice Climb at King Creek

    4.0
    Follow the defined path trailing roughly along the creek bed, a 20 minute hike from the car park. King Creek lies at the bottom of a gorge with steep rock walls on either side and a cascade of fat ice being forced out of the rocks. It's a gorgeous spot, showcasing the true beauty of Kananaskis.It...
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  • Field, British Columbia

    Ski Tour/Snowshoe Mt. Paget

    6.8 mi / 8399 ft gain
    Trailhead:  Approximately 5.5km West of the Alberta/British Columbia border sits the Great Divide Lodge. Towards the back left of the main building is the trailhead.  Route:  The trail is clear from the trailhead and for most of the way to the summit of Mt. Paget. Be aware on your descent if you ...
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