Parking
Start at Central Park, where the Town lists a parking lot. Permitted street parking is also available near the Bow River; use the Central Park access for this out-and-back.
Overview
About Bow River Trail to Bow Falls
Why go
- A wooded river walk with Bow Falls at the end.
- The pedestrian bridge has a Cascade Mountain view.
Heads up
- Stair flights at the falls can ice over and rule out wheels.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,373–1,389 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
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 Trail to Bow Falls, 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
Banff Park Museum and the Gardens0:00 / 0:36
“You're coming up on Banff Park Museum, where more than five thousand vintage animal and plant specimens fill a timber building from nineteen oh three.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Banff Visitor Centre and Grizzly House
- Tunnel Mountain: A Summit Above Town
- Surprise Corner: The Hotel View
- The Historian Who Designed Locomotives
- 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 Trail to Bow Falls
A quick walk to the fallsThe Bow River Trail to Bow Falls is an easy 2.7 km (1.7 mi) out-and-back from Central Park.
The Bow River Trail to Bow Falls is an easy 2.7 km (1.7 mi) out-and-back from Central Park. Allow about an hour for the riverside walk and time at the falls. Much of the way is paved; the path narrows to compacted tread near the destination and ends with several flights of stairs. It’s a good choice when you want a waterfall walk without committing to a long mountain hike.
Cross the riverFrom Central Park, take the riverside path to the Muskrat Street pedestrian bridge, then follow…
From Central Park, take the riverside path to the Muskrat Street pedestrian bridge, then follow the wooded bank toward Bow Falls. Stop on the bridge for the view toward Cascade Mountain. Washrooms and water bottle fillers are at Central Park; coffee or ice cream is a separate downtown stop before or after the walk.
Stairs and winter footingThe last approach to Bow Falls uses multiple stair flights.
The last approach to Bow Falls uses multiple stair flights. They can be slippery or icy in winter, so ice cleats are useful then. Don’t count on this full route as wheelchair-accessible: the Bow Falls approach includes stairs, while the Town’s wheelchair-friendly note refers to a different northwest section of the broader trail. Dogs may come along but must be leashed and kept under control in Banff National Park.
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.
