Parking
Use Healy/Brewster Trail Parking, on Sunshine Road about 1 km after its Highway 1 exit. Follow Healy Creek to Brewster Creek Junction; the named trail starts there.
Overview
About Brewster Creek Trail
Why go
- A steady creek-valley route reaches the backcountry Sundance Lodge.
Heads up
- The return is long, and the shared horse track can get very muddy when wet.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,388–1,587 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 Brewster Creek 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.
See the Banff audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Healy and Brewster Creek: The Walk to Sundance Lodge0:00 / 0:21
“You're nearing the Healy Creek and Brewster Creek trailhead on Sunshine Road. Choose Brewster Creek for a long creek-valley walk, about twenty kilometres return and six to seven hours.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- A Polar Bear in Central Park
- The Rectangular Holes in the Tree
- A Chick Riding on a Loon
- Glass Negatives in a Pacific Canoe
- 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 Brewster Creek Trail
The full walkThis is an out-and-back from Healy/Brewster Trail Parking to Sundance Lodge.
This is an out-and-back from Healy/Brewster Trail Parking to Sundance Lodge. Follow the Healy Creek Trail about 1.6 km to Brewster Creek Junction, then climb 8.5 km one way on the named Brewster Creek segment. That makes roughly 10 km each way, or about 20 km (12.5 miles) round trip. Allow around 6–7 hours for the day. The steady climb and return distance make this a proper outing, not a quick lodge stroll.
Sundance Lodge is the destination, but its services are for booked guests. Day hikers should plan to turn around there rather than count on lodge services.
From Healy Creek to the lodgeThe route starts with the Healy Creek connector from the parking lot to Brewster Creek…
The route starts with the Healy Creek connector from the parking lot to Brewster Creek Junction, where the named trail begins. From there, a double track climbs steadily up the Brewster Creek valley to Sundance Lodge. Retrace the same track for the return. Another approach from Cave and Basin follows the Sundance and Healy trails; it is not included in the distance above.
Horses, mud and dogsCommercial horse traffic uses Brewster Creek, so expect to share the track and yield to riders.
Commercial horse traffic uses Brewster Creek, so expect to share the track and yield to riders. The route can become very muddy in wet weather, especially in spring and fall; Parks Canada advises against using it when wet. Dogs are allowed on Banff trails in summer unless a restriction is posted, and must stay leashed and under physical control.
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.
