While it may be surprising, there are several easy hikes in Banff National Park that deliver the most impressive views. In many cases, they even get you away from the crowds. In this guide we’ve rounded up the best easy hikes in Banff so you can get the most bang for your buck!
The undisputed hub of adventure in the Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park is just as renowned for its epic hikes as it is for its jaw-dropping natural beauty.
If you’re specifically looking for easy hikes in Banff, though, you’re in luck. You don’t have to embark on thigh-burning backcountry treks to get the best views.
With over 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) of trails, Canada’s oldest national park has plenty of hikes for everyone.
Whether you’re looking for bucket list-worthy views of those iconic glacial lakes, prefer rocky mountain trails, or you want something short and sweet near town, these easy Banff hikes have you covered.
Banff Hiking Guide
We’ve included some extra info for planning your hiking trip to Banff National Park. Jump to the following sections (or just keep scrolling to see it all!).
1. Rockpile
- Distance: 0.8 kilometers/0.5 miles out and back
- Elevation gain: 10 meters/32 feet
- Difficulty rating: Easy
- View the trail notes
Aptly-named, the Rockpile trail takes you up a small, rocky “summit” to a breathtaking view of one of Banff’s most famous lakes. You’ve likely seen many photos taken from this very spot!
Moraine Lake sits right underneath the iconic Ten Peaks, and this easy Banff hike offers a unique perspective, overlooking it from the far end. Rockpile is a very easy, short trail—you’ll be done in less than 10 minutes, yet it involves a bridge and climbing a few flights of stairs.
Note that as of 2023, visitors can no longer drive themselves to Moraine Lake. When the lake is open, between late May and mid-October, you can take the Parks Canada shuttle, book a private shuttle or guided tour, or hike or bike in.
Psst! If you are a newbie to hiking and not sure where to start. Our friend Parker helped us put together a list of beginner hiking tips and essential info that has everything you need to know to feel comfortable hitting the trails!
2. Moraine Lake Shoreline
- Distance: 3.7 kilometers/2.3 miles out and back
- Elevation gain: 96 meters/314 feet
- Difficulty rating: Easy
- View the trail notes
A leisurely stroll, the Moraine Lake Shoreline trail is one of the best easy hikes in Banff. As its name suggests, the trail hugs the lakeshore the entire way, offering close-up views of the famous Gatorade blue water.
During larch season, look up to see pops of gold larches on the mountains. And in the summer, you can complement this pleasant hike by renting a canoe and paddling around the lake.
Since it’s so short, be sure to walk up the Rockpile trail while you’re here!
3. Johnston Canyon hike to Lower Falls
- Distance: 2.25 kilometers/1.4 miles out and back
- Elevation gain: 143 meters/469 feet
- Difficulty rating: Easy
- View the trail guide
The first leg of a longer 3.4-mile trail to the Johnston Canyon Upper Falls, this short hike packs an impressive punch. It’s no surprise that it’s one of the most popular easy hikes in Banff!
This section is almost entirely flat and includes a series of catwalks hugging the canyon wall, right above the creek. At the end, there’s a picturesque bridge and a small cave/tunnel where you can get so close to the waterfall that you’ll likely get wet.
Unlike many Banff hikes, Johnston Canyon is doable all year…and may be even more impressive in the winter, with frozen waterfalls.
4. Lake Louise Lakeshore
- Distance: 4.5 kilometers/2.8 miles out and back
- Elevation gain: 37 meters/121 feet
- Difficulty rating: Easy
- View the trail notes
Like the Moraine Lake Shoreline, the Lake Louise Lakeshore trail follows the north bank. You’ll have beautiful views of the uber-famous lake the entire way and as a huge bonus, it’s accessible all year.
In the winter, consider snowshoeing the trail. You can also walk out onto the lake once it’s frozen solid.
Hikers up for a bigger challenge can continue on to the Plain of Six Glaciers trail.
While parking isn’t as much of an issue as Moraine Lake, it’s problematic in the summer. We highly recommend taking the Lake Louise Shuttle, reservable as early as April 2024, or a Roam Transit bus from Banff town.
5. Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station
- Distance: 1.13 kilometers/0.7 miles out and back
- Elevation gain: 36 meters/118 feet
- Difficulty rating: Easy
- View the trail notes
From the top of Sulphur Mountain, you get gorgeous, panoramic views over Banff town and the surrounding mountains.
You can hike up, gaining nearly 2,500 feet in elevation over 3.4 miles. Or, you can take the Banff Gondola and shave off nearly ALL of that elevation gain and distance. Since this is a guide to easy hikes in Banff, we recommend the latter!
At the summit, follow a short trail of wooden boardwalks and stairs to the observation tower. When you’re done, pop into the building to check out the interpretive center or restaurants.
6. Johnson Lake
- Distance: 2.9-kilometer/1.8-mile loop
- Elevation gain: 54 meters/177 feet
- Difficulty rating: Easy
- View the trail notes
Not only is Johnson Lake one of the best easy hikes in Banff, but it’s also one of the most underrated.
To clarify, Johnson Lake is extremely popular, but as a day-use area, not a hike. In the summer, you’ll find families playing on the beach, paddling around the lake, and picnicking.
The pleasant loop trail circles the lake, going up and down some gentle slopes. There are a few trails here, so it’s a bit confusing at one point. From the day-use area, cross the bridge, then take a left at the picnic table to walk along the lakeshore.
7. Tunnel Mountain Hoodoos Lookout
- Distance: 4.18 kilometers/2.6 miles out and back
- Elevation gain: 77 meters/252 feet
- Difficulty rating: Easy
- View the trail notes
This interesting trail is super close to town. In fact, it starts in a parking lot! Locals refer to it as “Surprise Corner,” because it’s a surprisingly beautiful viewpoint. Look out at the iconic Banff Springs Hotel and try to spot the Banff gondola before heading out.
You’ll hike along the Bow River, going in and out of lush forest between its banks and Tunnel Mountain, enjoying fantastic views of Mount Rundle.
As you approach the hoodoos, look for several viewpoints and tiny spur trails. After a handful of them, the trail inexplicably ends. AllTrails will come in handy here!
8. Bankside
- Distance: 0.97-kilometer/0.6-mile loop
- Elevation gain: 23 meters/75 feet
- Difficulty rating: Easy
- View the trail notes
Of all the easy hikes in Banff, Bankside is arguably one of the most unique. It takes you through Bankhead, a former coal mining town that’s been abandoned for nearly a century.
The short trail is an easy stroll through a meadow, especially good for families and history buffs. Almost like an outdoor museum, several interpretive plaques offer up information about Bankhead’s history.
9. Fenland Trail
- Distance: 1.93-kilometer/1.2-mile loop
- Elevation gain: 49 meters/160 feet
- Difficulty rating: Easy
- View the trail notes
The Fenland Trail is a great option if you want a quick, easy hike close to downtown Banff. You can even walk to the trailhead in about 20 minutes!
You can simply walk the forested loop, following alongside Forty Mile Creek, or continue on just a bit further to Vermillion Lakes. In the winter, this is a perfect short trail for snowshoeing.
Keep your eyes and ears open, because wildlife, especially elk and bears, frequent Fenland Trail.
10. Mistaya Canyon
- Distance: 1.93-kilometer/1.2-mile loop
- Elevation gain: 83 meters/272 feet
- Difficulty rating: Moderate
- View the trail notes
Mistaya Canyon is a very popular stop along the Icefields Parkway, showing off steep canyon walls and the rushing water of the Mistaya River.
From the parking lot, it’s just a short walk through the forest and over a bridge. You’ll go downhill on the way in, then climb up coming out.
Most people consider it an easy hike overall, but it is a bit steep and gets extremely slippery in the winter and spring. While it’s accessible year-round, micro-spikes are necessary when ice or snow is present.
11. Peyto Lake Panorama View
- Distance: 2.4-kilometer/1.5-mile loop
- Elevation gain: 93 meters/305 feet
- Difficulty rating: Moderate
- View the trail notes
Peyto Lake is one of the most beautiful in the Canadian Rockies—right up there with Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. Amazingly, reaching this incredible viewpoint takes very little effort!
While the trail climbs some elevation, it’s nothing technical or unmanageable.
A paved path from the parking lot leads to the first lookout, and understandably, it’s usually extremely crowded in the summer. Continue to the second one, which is almost never crowded.
12. Fairview Lookout
- Distance: 2.25 kilometers/1.4 miles out and back
- Elevation gain: 156 meters/511 feet
- Difficulty rating: Moderate
- View the trail notes
AllTrails calls this “a great introduction to Lake Louise hiking,” and we agree. Starting on the Paradise Valley Trail, it’s short but just steep enough to get your heart pounding, and offers a fantastic view of the lake and iconic Fairmont Chateau.
In the summer, you can continue past the viewpoint down to the lake, walking back along the shore to form a loop. During the winter and spring, however, a section of the trail is in an avalanche zone, so you have to do it as an out-and-back hike.
13. Two Jack Lake
- Distance: 4.8 kilometers/3 miles out and back
- Elevation gain: 87 meters/285 feet
- Difficulty rating: Moderate
- View the trail notes
This gorgeous, easy trail runs between the western shore of Two Jack Lake and its popular campground. Take in unobstructed views of Mount Rundle, and look out for the pair of signature Parks Canada red chairs.
Two Jack Lake is accessible year-round, offering paddling and fishing in the summer and ice skating and snowshoeing in the winter.
It’s also on the Lake Minnewanka Loop, so you can check off some other nearby easy hikes in Banff, including Bankside and Johnson Lake.
14. Lake Agnes Tea House
- Distance: 7.4 kilometers/4.6 miles out and back
- Elevation gain: 384 meters/1,259 feet
- Difficulty rating: Moderate
- View the trail guide
There are only a few places in the entire world where you can hike to backcountry tea houses, and this is one of them.
Between that simple fact and the trailhead’s starting point at the iconic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, it’s no surprise that Lake Agnes Tea House is one of the most popular hikes in Banff (easy or not!). It’s also one of our personal favorites!
While the trail climbs uphill, its manageable distance and lack of any technical obstacles makes it totally family-friendly.
15. Johnston Canyon to Ink Pots
- Distance: 11.2 kilometers/7 miles out and back
- Elevation gain: 580 meters/1,899 feet
- Difficulty rating: Moderate
- View the trail notes
The full version of the Johnston Canyon hike we mentioned earlier, this trail takes you past several impressive waterfalls and to the Ink Pots, five colorful mineral pools. Considering it’s one of the longest easy hikes in Banff, you see a lot for relatively little effort.
After the lower falls, the trail gets noticeably steeper, but it’s still manageable even for newer hikers. You’ll also leave the crowds behind once you get past the lower falls.
While they look inviting, the pools are NOT suitable for swimming.
Best time to go hiking in Banff National Park
Between late-spring and early-fall is the best time for hiking in Banff National Park. During the summer months, the weather is warm and you’re likely to have sunny days and the best trail conditions.
However, the popularity of hiking in Banff has gone up since we first visited on our honeymoon back in 2013, and when we returned 10 years later we saw a lot more crowds. We’d recommend visiting during spring or fall if you want to avoid the crowds of peak season.
Insider tip: the park experiences heavy snow in winter and spring and major roads close seasonally. For the best (and safest!) access, visit between mid-June and early October.
What to pack for hiking in Banff National Park
There are a few items we take on every hike with us, no matter how far or challenging the trail we plan to tackle.
- Navigation: we recommend using Alltrails+ to download the offline trail map
- Get your first week of using Alltrails+ for FREE when you sign up using our link!
- Hiking backpack
- Hydration pack and/or water bottles
- Sun protection: sunscreen, sunglasses, hat
- Bug spray (we prefer the natural stuff)
- Camera/tripod (this one’s our favorite for hiking)
- Hiking shoes or Chacos if you prefer
- Comfortable hiking clothes (lots of layers!)
- Hiking snacks
Be sure to download our FREE hiking packing list before your next trip and never leave another essential behind again!
Round up of easy hikes in Banff
Here’s a roundup of all the best easy hikes in Banff so you can see everything in one place.
- Rockpile
- Moraine Lake Shoreline
- Johnston Canyon hike to Lower Falls
- Lake Louise Lakeshore
- Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station
- Johnson Lake
- Tunnel Mountain Hoodoos Lookout
- Bankside
- Fenland Trail
- Mistaya Canyon
- Peyto Lake Panorama View
- Fairview Lookout
- Two Jack Lakeside
- Lake Agnes Tea House
- Johnston Canyon to Ink Pots
You may also like…
- Epic Hikes at Banff National Park, Canada
- 10 Best National Parks in Canada
- Big Beehive Hike: Banff National Park Trail Guide
- Grassi Lakes Trail Guide: Alberta, Canada
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We want to hear from you!
Have you done any of these easy hikes in Banff National Park? What was your experience like? Do you have more questions about hiking in Baff? Comment below and let us know!