Parking
Bow River parking lot on Sentinel Road, across from the Lake Louise heritage train station and restaurant.
Overview
About Bow River Loop Trail at Lake Louise
Why go
- A gentle riverside circuit reaches a wooden bridge with clear river views.
Heads up
- A recurring wildlife closure interrupts the southern river link each year.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,522–1,547 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
8 active Banff alerts
- ClosureJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area closedJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area are closed to all traffic and travel through December 11, 2026, because construction work requires protecting public and workers’ safety.Official details
- ClosureBaker Lake and Hidden Lake campgrounds closed to campingCamping is prohibited at Baker Lake and Hidden Lake campgrounds through December 1, 2026, because a grizzly bear entered campsites and investigated tents and gear; the closures reduce risk to…Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Bow River Loop Trail at Lake Louise, 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.
See the Banff audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Lake Louise Village: Advice, Lunch and the Old Tram Route0:00 / 0:30
“You're nearing Lake Louise Village and the visitor centre beside Samson Mall. This is the place to sort out maps, trail advice and supplies before heading up to the lake.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Bird That Spirals Up a Tree
- Lake Louise Campgrounds: Choose the Right Section
- Ice Beneath the Boulders
- Lake Louise and the Lakeshore
- 185 audio storiesacross Banff’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Brown Bear, Gray Wolf, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 162 trails, 90 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 River Loop Trail at Lake Louise
An easy circuitBow River Loop Trail at Lake Louise is an easy 7.2 km (4.
Bow River Loop Trail at Lake Louise is an easy 7.2 km (4.47 mi) loop around the Bow River and Lake Louise campground. Start at Bow River parking lot, opposite the historic train station. The route follows fine-gravel river paths between the village and campground, returning on the opposite bank. Allow about two hours; the climb and descent are each roughly 35 m. The north end reuses a short section of the approach near the lot.
River and bridgeMost of the walk stays low beside the water, with forest and campground edges along the way.
Most of the walk stays low beside the water, with forest and campground edges along the way. At the south pedestrian bridge, the river runs beneath a wooden railing, with gravel bars and conifers framing the valley. The Bow flows northeast from Lake Louise and eventually reaches Hudson Bay, more than 2,500 km downstream.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Banff
123 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
69 sightingsMooseMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
466 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 9 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Banff. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
