Banff is one of the best places in Canada, with its huge mountains and bright blue lakes, and it has so much to do! Although you can enjoy the breathtaking views in Banff without hiking, I highly recommend adding at least one hike to your itinerary. Banff has everything from easy to strenuous trails, allowing you to pick which type of adventure you want to go on.

When we visited Banff, we hiked every single day, and we loved that Banff had many easy trails with gorgeous views! Some of the best hikes, in my opinion, are short and easy trails, so trust me, you will want to add one of these hikes to your bucket list.

I created this guide to have everything you need to know about the easy hikes in Banff for the entire family to enjoy. Get your cameras and hiking boots ready!

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Tips for Hiking in Banff

Start your day early. Banff has over 4 million visitors each year, and it is always busy, especially in the summer. We arrived at some trailheads in the late morning that were full by 8 AM! I recommend starting your day early so you can find a parking spot and allow you to enjoy your hike with fewer crowds. Trust me, some of these easy hikes are incredibly crowded midday, so you will want to hike them in the morning.
Purchase a park pass ahead of time. Most hikes I talk about here are in Banff National Park, so you need a park pass. I recommend purchasing the park pass in advance to avoid entrance lines. Because we bought ours ahead of time, we were able to skip the lines and go right into the park.
Be prepared with the appropriate hiking gear. Although these hikes are easy, mountain weather can be unpredictable, making it crucial to pack the right gear and layers for the season you visit. You should have hiking boots, moisture-wicking clothes, a hiking backpack with food and plenty of water, and a rain jacket or insulated jacket.
Be aware of bears. Banff has many grizzly bears, making it crucial to keep an eye out for them. I recommend packing bear spray, making noise when you hike, and hiking in groups. If you have questions or concerns, I recommend speaking with a local park ranger!
Always remember to leave no trace. It’s crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash. Many of these trailheads have trash bins, so you can easily throw your trash away when you finish the hike. If they don’t have trash bins, you can throw your trash away at a nearby gas station or convenience store.

Best Time to Hike in Banff

Banff is a beautiful four-season town that offers trails to hike year-round! Here are some things to consider in each season:

Summer is one of the best times to visit Banff because the weather is beautiful, and most trails no longer have snow. Because it is a great time to hike, summer is one of the busiest times to visit Banff. When we visited in August, the trailheads were full before 8 AM, so I recommend arriving at them early in the morning to secure a parking spot and avoid most crowds. Late summer can bring wildfires, which are unpredictable and difficult to plan around. We visited right after the wildfires began, making it extremely difficult to hike.
Fall is a busy time in Banff because of the stunning foliage.. I recommend arriving at trailheads early in the morning to secure a parking spot and enjoy the trails with fewer crowds. Late fall can also bring winter conditions, especially in the higher elevations. I always recommend reading trail conditions and watching the weather, so you can understand what to pack for gear.
Winter is an underrated time to visit and hike in Banff, and it is one of the least visited seasons. Winters in Banff are cold and snowy, making it crucial to pack warm layers and appropriate winter hiking gear. Some roads and trailheads are not accessible and are prone to avalanches in the winter, so I encourage you to check the Parks Canada website for more information.
Spring will have lingering winter conditions, and the trails can be icy, slushy, and muddy. I recommend reading recent trail reviews to understand what you need to pack. Late spring brings beautiful conditions once the snow melts and is a great time to hike in Banff!

The Best Easy Hikes in Banff

One of my favorite things about Banff is it has beautiful trails for everyone to enjoy. Although it has plenty of strenuous trails, it has many easy hikes that offer breathtaking views. Some of my favorite hikes in Banff were easy trails, so I know you will love hiking these!

Johnston Canyon

Trail: Johnston Canyon Trail

Length: 3.5 miles

Elevation Gain: 900 feet

Johnston Canyon is one of my favorite easy hikes in Banff because its easy-to-follow trail follows along Johnston Creek through a beautiful canyon and past many waterfalls.

The two main attractions are Lower Falls and Upper Falls, but the entire trail has waterfalls along it. I recommend stopping at every viewpoint even if it is not of the two main waterfalls because the views are beautiful.

Lower Falls is the first waterfall on the Johnston Canyon Trail and has a beautiful viewpoint across from it. We skipped the main viewpoint because the line was incredibly long to take a photo there.

You can turn around at Lower Falls or continue for a more moderate hike to Upper Falls. If you are up for it, I highly recommend going to Upper Falls because it was one of my favorite waterfalls along the hike!

Upper Falls is further on the trail and requires a little more effort but pays off once you reach it! There are two viewpoints where you can view Upper Falls, one from the bottom and one from the top. I recommend going to both because it is cool to get different perspectives of it.

Want to extend your hike? If you want to hike further and do not mind adding a little difficulty, I recommend hiking to the Ink Pots, green-colored mineral springs. This portion of the trail is less trafficked, so it is more peaceful than the busy Johnston Canyon Trail.

Moraine Lake Shoreline Trail

Trail: Moraine Lake Shoreline Trail

Length: 2.4 miles

Elevation Gain: 600 feet

Moraine Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in Banff and is one of the best sunrise spots. Most people only explore Moraine Lake from the first viewpoint near the parking lot, but I recommend hiking Moraine Lake Shoreline Trail.

The Shoreline Trail only follows along the right side of the lake but offers stunning views of Moraine Lake and the Valley of Ten Peaks. Since most people skip this trail, it is a great way to escape the crowds.

One of the best times to hike the Moraine Lake Shoreline Trail is during sunrise or sunset, but honestly, it’s a breathtaking trail no matter when you hike it.

Note: Moraine Lake is closed to personal vehicles to help alleviate traffic and congestion at the spot. Instead, you have to use the public shuttle bus system. I recommend planning out how you will get to Moraine Lake in advance because bus tickets can sell out quickly.

Lake Louise Lakefront Trail

Trail: Plain of Six Glaciers Trail

Length: 3 miles

Elevation Gain: 350 feet

Lake Louise is another one of the best sunrise spots in Banff, and we loved visiting during sunrise. Similar to Moraine Lake, people will be lined up along the lake taking the infamous photo of Lake Louise. A great way to get away from most crowds is to hike the Lake Louise Lakefront Trail.

The Lake Louise Lakefront Trail has stunning views of Lake Louise and Victoria Glacier. The hike follows the shores of Lake Louise on the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail until it reaches the opposite side, where you will turn around and follow the same trail back. You will be in awe of the stunning views along the entire hike!

Cascade Ponds Loop

Trail: Cascade Ponds Trail

Length: 1 mile

Elevation Gain: 200 feet

The Cascade Ponds Loop is one of lesser-known easy hikes in Banff, but it does not lack beautiful views!

Cascade Ponds is near Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake, but many people overlook it. We actually stumbled across it accidentally but were so happy we did! The views from the pond are stunning.

Although you can enjoy the views from near the parking lot, I recommend walking around the ponds to enjoy an easy stroll with mountain views. One of my favorite spots is a bridge near the beginning of the trail that offers one of the best photo opportunities!

Peyto Lake Overlook

Trail: Peyto Lake Trail

Length: 2 miles

Elevation Gain: 300 feet

Peyto Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, with its iconic turquoise-colored waters! And yes, the waters are that blue! I was in shock when I saw the water.

To experience Peyto Lake, you have to hike an easy trail to get to the Peyto Lake Overlook. The trail begins in the Bow Summit parking lot and follows a mostly paved path to a wooden platform overlooking Peyto Lake. Although the main viewpoint is at the end of the trail, I recommend stopping at each overlook because they are all beautiful.

Since this is an iconic spot, you will not be alone when visiting. I recommend hiking to Peyto Lake in the early morning to avoid the midday crowds. Trust me, we hiked midday, and it was incredibly crowded, and we had difficulty finding parking.

Marble Canyon

Trail: Marble Canyon Trail

Length: 1 mile

Elevation Gain: 200 feet

Marble Canyon is one of the easiest hikes on this list and will quickly become one of your favorites! The Marble Canyon Trail brings you through a stunning canyon along the turquoise-colored Tukumm Creek, and it has multiple bridges over the rushing river with beautiful viewpoints of the canyon and surrounding mountains.

And the best part? Marble Canyon is much less crowded than other nearby hikes, so it is a great place to enjoy a more peaceful hike. The short hike to Marble Canyon will become one of your favorite easy hikes in Banff!

Two Jack Lake Trail

Trail: Two Jack Lake Trail

Length: 2.7 miles

Elevation Gain: 700 feet

Although Two Jack Lake is smaller than its neighbor Lake Minnewanka, it does not lack beauty! This beautiful blue lake covers 52 acres with a stunning view of Mount Rundle in the background.

Although you can enjoy the views along the lake’s shores, you can also enjoy a short and easy hike. We hiked the 2-mile trail that follows along the shores of Two Jack Lake, and we were in awe of the views! Most people skip this trail, so it was nice to enjoy a peaceful walk.

Johnson Lake

Trail: Johnston Lake Trail

Length: 2 miles

Elevation Gain: 250 feet

If you are looking for a beautiful hike around a lake, I have the perfect trail! The Johnson Lake Loop travels along the shores of Johnson Lake and the surrounding forest, providing views of Cascade Mountain and Mount Rundle. You can also see some of the oldest Douglas firs in Alberta along the trail!

And the best part? It’s an easy hike with a relatively flat trail, so you do not have to work too hard to enjoy the views. We loved breaking our day up with this beautiful hike, and it had fewer people, which was a nice change of pace.

Bow Falls Viewpoint

Trail: Bow Falls Trail

Length: 1.8 miles

Elevation Gain: 200 feet

Although Bow Falls is not the tallest waterfall in Banff, only standing at 30 feet tall, it does not lack beauty! And it is a quick walk from downtown to the trailhead.

The trail begins across the street from the Banff Park Museum and follows along the Bow River before crossing the beautiful Banff Pedestrian Bridge. The views on a clear day from the bridge are stunning! The trail continues to follow the Bow River until it reaches the final Bow Falls Viewpoint.

Although the main attraction on this easy hike is Bow Falls, there are many stunning views of the surrounding mountains along the entire trail (like the photo below). I recommend taking your time and stopping at each viewpoint.

Silverton Falls

Trail: Rockbound Lake Trail > Silverton Falls Trail

Length: 1.2 miles

Elevation Gain: 400 feet

One of my favorite waterfalls near Banff is Silverton Falls, a 164-foot waterfall. We actually did not have this on our itinerary and randomly stumbled upon it when we were looking for other things to do, and we were so happy to have found it.

The trailhead is on Bow Valley Parkway, which I highly recommend driving because it is stunning and has many beautiful overlooks. It was one of our favorite scenic drives in the area!

The trail begins on the Rockbound Lake Trail before turning onto the Silverton Falls Trail, which brings you to the waterfall. The Silverton Falls viewpoint is on a small cliff, so be careful when you walk on it as it has steep drop-offs on either side. From this viewpoint, you can take in the beautiful waterfall!

I hope this guide has added at least a few hikes to your Banff bucket list! We loved hiking through Banff when we visited, so I know you will love these easy hikes. Make sure to keep this guide handy when you are planning your trip so you remember to include some of these easy hikes in Banff on your itinerary.