Parking
Use the Cave and Basin National Historic Site lot at 311 Cave Ave. The Lower Boardwalk entrance is below the visitor building; Roam Route 4 also serves the site.
Overview
About Cave and Basin Trail: Lower Boardwalk
Why go
- A quick boardwalk reaches the wetland edge
- Very little elevation gain
Heads up
- A short out-and-back with limited hiking distance
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,380–1,389 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 Cave and Basin Trail: Lower Boardwalk, 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
Cave and Basin: Springs and Stories0:00 / 0:34
“Cave and Basin National Historic Site is coming up, with a small cave, warm mineral springs and short boardwalks. I'd allow two to three hours for the exhibits and walks, rather than just ducking into the cave.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Historian Who Designed Locomotives
- Banff Park Museum and the Gardens
- Vermilion Lakes: Docks and Wetlands
- Banff Visitor Centre and Grizzly House
- 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 Cave and Basin Trail: Lower Boardwalk
The walkThis 0.5 km (0.
This 0.5 km (0.31 mi) out-and-back follows a short paved approach below the visitor building, then a wooden boardwalk into the wetland before returning the same way. The route is nearly level, and the walk usually takes about 20 minutes. It is a quick natural-history stop rather than a longer hike.
Wetland edgeThe boardwalk reaches a viewing area among the reeds, with the wetland opening toward the…
The boardwalk reaches a viewing area among the reeds, with the wetland opening toward the surrounding trees and mountain slope. Look for fish and birds in the marsh. Warm spring water and a long human history have shaped the wider landscape here, so the boardwalk offers a close look at a small, unusual ecosystem.
Before you goThe mapped access includes several short flights of steps, so do not assume the entire route is…
The mapped access includes several short flights of steps, so do not assume the entire route is step-free. The visitor site has parking and restrooms, and Roam Route 4 serves the site. Pets are not permitted on the boardwalks; service animals are excepted.
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.
