Trail conditions

Banff National Park

Important information

Be extra cautious when engaging in any activities to avoid injury and/or getting lost to help minimize the demands placed on emergency response, search and rescue teams, and on the health care system.

CAUTION! Avalanche danger

You are responsible for your own safety. Check the Avalanche Bulletin for the latest conditions.


Vehicle parking is limited to designated areas only. Roadside parking is prohibited. Signage and monitoring will be used throughout the park to inform the public of parking restrictions and encourage compliance.


Dogs are not allowed on some of the groomed ski trails. Refer to the information below for restrictions. Keep dogs on leash and under physical control at all times. Keep dogs on leash and under physical control at all times.

 

Wildlife and you

Although bears are denning during the winter, they can awaken at any time for short periods. Cougars, wolves and other wildlife remain active throughout the year. Travel in groups, make noise, carry bear spray and know how to use it.

Know before you go!

Closures and restrictions

For a complete list of ongoing closures and restrictions, please visit our Important Bulletins page.

For more information, please contact us:

 Banff: 403-762-1550

 Lake Louise: 403-522-3833

Share your trail pictures

Have you been hiking in the last few days? Share a few pictures with us as well as your impressions. This will help us keep this report accurate for other hikers.

 Banff Visitor Centre

 Lake Louise Visitor Centre

Banff Area Cross-Country Ski Trails

Early winter conditions. Tracksetting has not yet begun.

Rating Trail Condition Comment Links
Easy Spray River Winter: West Trail Packed. 25-11-2023: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Trail details
Easy Spray River Winter: East Trail Packed. 25-11-2023: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Trail details
Easy Tunnel Mountain Winter Trails Early season conditions. 25-11-2023: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; Fresh snow; Trail details
Easy Cascade Valley Winter Trail: Lake Minnewanka parking lot to Upper Bankhead Packed. 25-11-2023: minimal snow depth; Trail details
Easy Cascade Valley Winter Trail: Lake Minnewanka parking lot to Cascade River bridge Packed. 25-11-2023: minimal snow depth; Trail details
Easy Cascade Valley Winter Trail: Cascade River bridge to Stoney Creek Packed. 25-11-2023: minimal snow depth; Trail details
Easy Healy Creek Winter Trail Packed. 25-11-2023: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Trail details
Moderate Brewster Creek Winter Trail Early season conditions. 25-11-2023: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; Fresh snow; Trail details
Easy Sundance Winter Trail Packed. 25-11-2023: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Trail details
Moderate Goat Creek Winter Trail Early season conditions. 25-11-2023: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; Fresh snow; Trail details
Moderate Redearth Creek Winter Trail Early season conditions. 25-11-2023: Tracksetting has not yet begun; Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; Fresh snow; Trail details

Banff Area Winter Walking Trails

Rating Trail Condition Comment Links
Easy Marsh Winter Loop Snow covered with icy sections. 25-11-2023: Icy sections; Cleats recommended; Compact snow; Fresh snow; Trail details
Easy Fenland Winter Trail Snow covered with icy sections. 25-11-2023: Icy sections; Cleats recommended; Compact snow; Fresh snow; Trail details
Easy Stewart Canyon Winter Trail Snow covered with icy sections. 25-11-2023: Icy sections; Cleats recommended; Compact snow; Fresh snow; Trail details
Easy Spray Winter Connector Snow covered with icy sections. 25-11-2023: Icy sections; Cleats recommended; Compact snow; Fresh snow; Trail details
Easy Johnston Canyon Winter Trail Snow covered with icy sections. 25-11-2023: Icy sections; Cleats recommended; Compact snow; Fresh snow; Trail details
Moderate Tunnel Mountain Summit Winter Trail Snow covered with icy sections. 25-11-2023: Icy sections; Cleats recommended; Compact snow; Fresh snow; Trail details
Moderate Sulphur Mountain Winter Trail Snow covered with icy sections. 25-11-2023: Icy sections; Cleats recommended; Compact snow; Fresh snow; Trail details
Moderate Sundance Canyon Winter Trail Snow covered with icy sections. 25-11-2023: Icy sections; Cleats recommended; Compact snow; Fresh snow; Trail details

Banff Area Snowshoeing Trails

Rating Trail Condition Comment Links
Moderate Sulphur Mountain Westside Winter Trail Thin snow cover. 23-11-2023: Icy sections; Cleats recommended; Fresh snow; Trail details
Easy Tunnel Mountain Drive - Winter Thin snow cover. 23-11-2023: Icy sections; Cleats recommended; Fresh snow; Trail details
Moderate Surprise Corner to Hoodoos Winter Trail Thin snow cover. 23-11-2023: Icy sections; Cleats recommended; Fresh snow; Trail details
Easy Johnson Lake Winter Trail Thin snow cover. 23-11-2023: Icy sections; Cleats recommended; Fresh snow; Trail details
Moderate Upper Stoney Winter Loop Thin snow cover. 23-11-2023: Icy sections; Cleats recommended; Fresh snow; Trail details
Moderate Ink Pots Winter Trail Thin snow cover. 23-11-2023: Icy sections; Cleats recommended; Fresh snow; Trail details

Banff Area Fat Biking Trails

Rating Trail Condition Comment Links
Easy Tunnel Mountain Multi-use Winter Trails Early season conditions. 25-11-2023: Studded tires recommended; Icy sections; Fresh snow; Trail details
Easy Spray River East Winter Trail Early season conditions. 25-11-2023: Studded tires recommended; Icy sections; Fresh snow; Trail details
Easy Sundance Winter Trail Early season conditions. 25-11-2023: Studded tires recommended; Icy sections; Fresh snow; Trail details
Moderate Tunnel Bench Winter Loop Early season conditions. 25-11-2023: Studded tires recommended; Icy sections; Fresh snow; Trail details
Moderate Banff Avenue Winter Trail Early season conditions. 25-11-2023: Studded tires recommended; Icy sections; Fresh snow; Trail details
Moderate Lake Minnewanka Winter Trail Early season conditions. 25-11-2023: Studded tires recommended; Icy sections; Fresh snow; Trail details

Bow Valley Parkway Cross-Country Ski Trails

Rating Trail Condition Comment Links
Easy Baker Creek to Protection Mountain Campground Thin snow cover. 30-10-2023: Not yet maintained; Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; Trail details
Easy Castle Junction Cross-country Ski Trails: Trail #1 - Castle Junction to Castle Mountain Lookout Thin snow cover. 30-10-2023: Not yet maintained; Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; Trail details
Easy Castle Junction Cross-country Ski Trails: Trail #2 Thin snow cover. 30-10-2023: Not yet maintained; Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; Trail details
Easy Castle Junction Cross-country Ski Trails: Trail #3 Thin snow cover. 30-10-2023: Not yet maintained; Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; Trail details
Moderate Protection Mountain Campground to Castle Mountain Lookout Thin snow cover. 30-10-2023: Not yet maintained; Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; Trail details

Lake Louise Area Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking Trails

Winter conditions. Avalanche risk! When travelling beyond the marked trails, or past an avalanche danger sign, assume that you are in avalanche country - your group should be prepared with the appropriate knowledge, skills and equipment. For more information on winter travel and how to stay safe in the mountains, visit Parks Canada - Mountain Safety

Rating Trail Condition Comment Links
Easy Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail Snow covered with icy sections. 25-11-2023: Slippery sections; Cleats recommended; Lake surface not recommended; Open water and thin ice on the lake; Trail details
Easy Fairview Lookout Trail Snow covered with icy sections. 10-11-2023: Slippery sections; Cleats recommended; Trail details
Easy Lake Louise Creek Snow covered with icy sections. 10-11-2023: Slippery sections; Cleats recommended; Trail details
Easy Taylor Lake Trail Snow covered. 03-11-2023: Avalanche danger beyond reaching the lake; Sections of deep snow; Trail details
Easy “Highline” trail to Paradise Creek Snow covered. 30-10-2023: Avalanche Risk rated as Simple Class 1 terrain - at km 1, the trail crosses the runout zone of an avalanche path which rarely runs; Trail details
Moderate Mirror Lake, via Lake Agnes Trail Snow covered. 30-10-2023: Avalanche risk: Sections of this trail cross avalanche terrain. Beyond Mirror Lake, the trail is rated as Challenging Class 2 for avalanche exposure and travel requires appropriate avalanche training and equipment; Snow covered; Slippery sections; Cleats recommended; Trail details
Easy Laggan's Loop Snow covered. 30-10-2023: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Trail details

Lake Louise Area Cross-Country Ski Trails

Early winter conditions. Snow conditions are variable and depend on current temperature and precipitation. Recent tracksetting : Nov 25 - Great Divide (skate lane only). Nov 20 - Great Divide (classic track only). Nov 19 - Upper Tramline; Lower Tramline. Nov 16 - Bow River Loop; Great Divide; Campground loop.

Rating Trail Condition Comment Links
Easy Moraine Lake Road Not recommended. 26-11-2023: CAUTION! Roadside vegetation clearing project on Moraine Lake Road has been extended. Track-setting will resume once project is completed. Heavy machinery in operation. ; No dogs allowed; Trail details
Moderate Fairview Loop Snow covered. 03-11-2023: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Tracksetting has not yet begun ; No dogs allowed; Trail details
Easy Lower Tramline Track-set 19-11-2023: Single trackset classic; No dogs allowed; Please walk, snowshoe or fat bike beside tracks set, not on tracks; Trail details
Easy Upper Tramline Track-set 19-11-2023: Single trackset classic; No dogs allowed; Please walk, snowshoe or fat bike beside tracks set, not on tracks; Trail details
Moderate Lake Louise Loop Not recommended. 27-11-2023: Lake Louise Loop is made up of two separately maintained trails: Lake Louise shoreline and Lake Surface ; Not yet maintained; Insufficient snow for tracksetting for cross-country skiing; Lake surface not recommended; Ice is thin, unpredictable and may give away unexpectedly; Trail details
Difficult Upper Telemark Snow covered. 03-11-2023: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Tracksetting has not yet begun ; No dogs allowed; Trail details
Easy Great Divide Trail Track-set 21-11-2023: Single trackset classic and skate; No dogs allowed; Please walk, snowshoe or fat bike beside tracks set, not on tracks; Great Divide trail CLOSED west of the archway due to fire fuel reduction project in effect Nov 20 - late March. Smoke from debris pile burning possible in area. ; Trail will not be maintained west of the Great Divide arch winter 2023/2024.; Trail details
Easy Peyto Trail Snow covered. 03-11-2023: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Tracksetting has not yet begun ; No dogs allowed; Trail details
Easy Lower Telemark Snow covered. 03-11-2023: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Tracksetting has not yet begun ; No dogs allowed; Trail details
Easy Campground Loop Track-set 16-11-2023: Double trackset classic and skate; Dogs on leash permitted; Please walk or snowshoe beside tracks set, not on tracks; Trail details
Easy Bow River Loop Track-set 16-11-2023: Single trackset classic; Dogs on leash permitted; Please walk, snowshoe or fat bike beside tracks set, not on tracks; Trail details
Easy Townsite Thin snow cover. 17-11-2023: Dogs on leash permitted; Trail groomed; Trail details
Moderate Pipestone Loop Thin snow cover. 17-11-2023: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Tracksetting has not yet begun ; Dogs on leash permitted; Trail details
Easy Drummond Thin snow cover. 17-11-2023: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Tracksetting has not yet begun ; Dogs on leash permitted; Trail details
Easy Hector Thin snow cover. 17-11-2023: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Tracksetting has not yet begun ; Dogs on leash permitted; Trail details
Easy Merlin Thin snow cover. 17-11-2023: Thin snow cover over uneven surface. More snow is needed to cover rocks, roots and creeks; Tracksetting has not yet begun ; Dogs on leash permitted; Trail details

Bow Summit Area on Icefields Parkway

Winter conditions. Avalanche risk! When travelling beyond the marked trails, or past an avalanche danger sign, assume that you are in avalanche country - your group should be prepared with the appropriate knowledge, skills and equipment. For more information on winter travel and how to stay safe in the mountains, visit parksmountainsafety.ca

Rating Trail Condition Comment Links
Easy Peyto Lake Viewpoint Snow covered. 17-11-2023: Slippery sections; Cleats recommended; Trail details
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