Bulletins

Banff National Park

Restricted Activity: Electric bicycles (e-bikes)

Issued: March 28, 2025

Pursuant to Section 7(1) of the National Parks General Regulations, of the Canada National Parks Act, the following activity is restricted or prohibited by order of the Superintendent:

The use of electric bicycles (e-bikes) is prohibited in Banff National Park except on paved roads and highways.

Exceptions: Pedal assist e-bikes* are permitted on trail segments, and networks listed below.

*Definition of pedal assist e-bikes

Parks Canada defines pedal assist e-bikes as follows:

  • Steered with handlebars and equipped with pedals,
  • Designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground,
  • Capable of being propelled by muscular power only,
  • Equipped with one or more electric motors which, singly or in combination:
    • have a total power output rating of 500 W or less,
    • immediately cease power assistance when the muscular power ceases, and
    • are incapable of providing further assistance when the bicycle attains a speed of 32 km/h on level ground.
  • Equipped with a safety mechanism that prevents the motor from being engaged before the bicycle attains a speed of 3 km/h

Trail segments and networks where pedal assist e-bikes* are permitted:

Permitted locations in the Town of Banff area – Maps A & B

1.  Banff Legacy Trail – Maps A & B
Paved trail that parallels the Trans Canada Highway from Banff East Gate, through the town of Banff and along Vermillion Lakes Drive, to the east end of the Bow Valley Parkway. Includes the connector trail to Cascade Ponds Day-use Area.
Note: Between the town of Canmore and the Banff East Gate, the trail is named the Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail.

2.  Brewster Creek Trail – Map A
From the junction with Healy Creek Trail to Sundance Lodge.

3.  Cascade Ponds-Bankhead Trail – Maps A & B
Maintained trail connecting Cascade Ponds and Lower Bankhead Interpretive Trail.

4.  Fenland Loop – Maps A & B
Loop and connectors located at the northwest end of town.

5.  Healy Creek Trail – Map A
From the Healy/Brewster parking lot to Brewster Creek Trail junction.
Note: Pedal assist e-bikes are not permitted on Healy Creek Trail between the junctions with Brewster Creek Trail and Sundance Trail.

6.  Redearth Creek Trail – Map A
From Redearth Creek trailhead to Shadow Lake Trail junction.
6x. Shadow Lake Trail: From December 15th to March 15th only, pedal assist e-bikes are permitted on Shadow Lake Trail from the junction with Redearth Creek Trail to Shadow Lake Lodge cabins.

7.  Sundance Trail – Maps A & B
Paved trail from the Cave and Basin National Historical Site to the Sundance Canyon Loop.
Pedal assist e-bikes are not permitted on the unpaved Marsh Loop.

8.  Tunnel Mountain Bench Area – Maps A & B
Network of maintained trails, located south of Banff Avenue, west of the Cascade River, north of the Bow River and east of the town of Banff.
All bicycles (electric and non-electric) are not permitted on these segments of the network:

  • Hoodoos Interpretive Trail
  • Tunnel Mountain Summit Trail
  • Corrals to Tunnel Mountain Campground
  • Corrals to Tunnel Mountain Road
Permitted locations in the Lake Louise area – Map C

9.  Bow River Trail
From the Lake Louise Campground or Bow River Bridge opposite of the historic Lake Louise train station (Station Restaurant).

10.  Tramline Trail
From the Bow River trail junction to the main parking lot at Lake Louise Lakeshore.

11.  Louise Creek Trail
From the Junction of the Great Divide Trail uphill to the Junction of the Tramline Trail only.

12.  Great Divide (Old 1A Hwy) Trail
From the trailhead at 3.6 km mark of Lake Louise Drive to the Lake O’Hara Road in Yoho National Park.

Trail maps

Select an image to expand in new window.

Map A
Map B
Map C

Penalty: Violators may be charged under the Canada National Parks Act: maximum penalty $25 000.

Start date: 2025-03-28
End date: Until further notice

For more information, call Banff Park Dispatch at 403.762.1470

Approved by:

Salman Rasheed
Superintendent, Banff Field Unit

François Masse
Superintendent, Lake Louise, Yoho, Kootenay Field Unit

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