Norquay Green Spot

This small grassy viewpoint sits on Mount Norquay Road, looking across Banff and the Bow Valley toward Mount Rundle. It is a brief roadside stop rather than a hike: pull in beside the stone retaining wall and walk onto the slope for the open panorama. The ski area is farther uphill, so this is a separate stop on the approach.

Follow Mount Norquay Road from Banff toward the ski area and watch for the rock wall; the Green Spot is about half a kilometre before the ski-area lots. If you reach the lots, you have passed it. Cyclists should expect a serious climb: the road is about 6.1 km one way, with 12 switchbacks and 327 m of elevation gain.

From the grass, Banff’s rooftops sit below the steep mountain skyline, with the Bow River tracing the valley. The open slope makes a useful foreground for a wide photograph; you can get the defining view with only a short walk from the roadside pull-off.

Bighorn sheep are reported on the meadow, though a sighting is a bonus rather than a sure thing. The town-and-mountain view is the dependable reason to stop.