Parking
Park at the Bow Falls parking area below the Fairmont Banff Springs for the shortest access to the viewpoints. Parking fills quickly; walking from downtown to the Banff Pedestrian Bridge is a practical alternative when lots are busy.
Overview
About Bow Falls Trail
This easy out-and-back follows the south shore of the Bow River from the south base of the Banff Pedestrian Bridge to the Bow Falls viewpoints. The river walk passes through forest and beside broad rapids before climbing on stairs to views above the falls, with Cascade Mountain and Mount Rundle adding the Rocky Mountain backdrop. The route is short and close to town, but the river and cliff edges are powerful natural hazards.
Why go
- Short scenic Bow River walk with broad Bow Falls viewpoints
- Easy access from Banff via the pedestrian bridge or Bow Falls parking area
- Cascade Mountain and Mount Rundle views add context to the riverside route
Heads up
- Crowded at midday and parking near the falls can fill quickly
- Stairs and uneven surfaces are not suitable for every mobility device
- The clifftop section closes in winter and bicycles are not permitted there
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,377–1,390 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Banff alerts
- ClosureRed Deer River valley bottom closed for ceremonial bison harvestThe Red Deer River valley bottom is closed to the public during an Indigenous ceremonial bison harvest taking place through November.Official details
- ClosureLake Minnewanka and Aylmer area closureLake Minnewanka Trail, Aylmer Pass Trail, and campgrounds Lm8, Lm9, Lm11, Lm20, Lm22 and Lm31 are closed to all users because black bears are displaying food-seeking behaviour.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Bow Falls Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Banff National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Banff's Bow River Bridge and Historic GardensListen
“You're approaching the area around the Bow River bridge at the end of Banff Avenue.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Whyte Museum, Central Park and Nancy Pauw Bridge
- Buffalo Nations Museum and Banff Recreation Grounds
- Banff Centre: Arts, Views, and Elk
- Downtown Banff: Restaurants, Shops, and Tips
- 178 audio storiesacross Banff’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Brown Bear, Gray Wolf, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 177 trails, 236 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“…Loved the commentary as you drove thru. I’m sure the app can do more than I know but the tips were very helpful. I’m gonna use it when we go to Banff next month.”
Trail guide
Hiking Bow Falls Trail
Route, distance, and difficultyThe Town of Banff lists 1.
The Town of Banff lists 1.2 km one way from the Bow River Bridge to Bow Falls; allow about 20–25 minutes each way. Parkwolf's visitor distance is about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) out and back, using the published route convention. The verified mapped corridor stored here runs about 0.92 km from the south base of the pedestrian bridge to the upper viewpoint; the difference reflects source measurement and the visitor-facing distance convention. Expect roughly 50 m of elevation gain on the walk to the falls. The trail is easy overall, but the stair climb and uneven surfaces make the full route unsuitable for some mobility devices.
What you’ll seeFollow the Bow River through light forest and riverside openings, then look down on the wide,…
Follow the Bow River through light forest and riverside openings, then look down on the wide, loud Bow Falls from the clifftop viewpoints. The Banff Pedestrian Bridge is itself a good place for river and Cascade Mountain views. The falls were also used as a setting in several classic 1950s films.
Access and parkingThe primary trailhead is the Banff Pedestrian Bridge, at the south base where the route begins.
The primary trailhead is the Banff Pedestrian Bridge, at the south base where the route begins. If you prefer a shorter visit, park at the Bow Falls parking area below the Fairmont Banff Springs and walk to the viewpoints. Parking fills quickly; walking from downtown is a practical alternative when the lots are busy.
Planning and safetyBicycles are not permitted on the clifftop section.
Bicycles are not permitted on the clifftop section. The clifftop section closes in winter, and stairs and paths can be slippery in snow or ice. Stay on marked trails and behind viewpoint barriers, keep dogs leashed, and do not approach the river or falls edge. Check the park and town access information before setting out because conditions and parking rules can change.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Banff
122 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
150 sightingsBrown BearMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
44 sightingsGray WolfMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
12 sightingsRiver OtterMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
67 sightingsMooseMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
465 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 9 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Banff. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
