Parking
Park at the Mount Norquay ski area. In summer the main lot may be barricaded—add ~500 m on foot and follow the ski road past the ranger cabin to the current Forty Mile Creek trailhead.
Overview
About Forty Mile Creek Trail
Why go
- Reliable early-season option when higher passes are still snowbound
- Abundant water sources let you carry light and refill often
- Easy basecamp strategy for day trips to seldom-visited lakes
Heads up
- Long, mostly forested valley with limited big views until the summit area
- Unsigned junctions and a rough connector can trip up navigation
- Can be muddy in shoulder seasons with lingering snow into June
If you’re chasing solitude and a classic Rockies backcountry feel, Forty Mile Creek delivers. Starting above Banff at the Mount Norquay area, the route drops into forest and follows the burbling creek upstream toward Mystic Junction, with occasional openings to the Sawback Range. It’s more about the journey than instant panoramas—think mossy forest, clear side streams, and that steady, meditative valley walk.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy goMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,630–1,851 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
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 Forty Mile 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.
Recorded for this trailhead
Forty Mile Creek Trailhead for Backcountry HikingListen
“You're nearing the trailhead for the Forty Mile Creek trail. This isn't a short, casual walk—it's a major access point for multi-day backcountry trips.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Clipping In at Mount Norquay: Banff’s Via Ferrata
- Mount Norquay's Roadside Viewpoints
- Vermilion Lakes: Reflections and Wildlife
- Banff Welcome Sign and Fenland Trail
- 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 Forty Mile Creek Trail
The experienceEarly on, the descent from Norquay can feel like a service road; then it settles into…
Early on, the descent from Norquay can feel like a service road; then it settles into singletrack that shadows the creek. Views peek through of Mount Norquay, Cascade Mountain, and rugged Sawback ridges. Water is everywhere—side streams and the main creek—so you can carry less and top up frequently (treat all water). Wildlife is active here; carry bear spray and know how to use it.
Continue beyond Mystic Pass Junction and you’ll reach Forty Mile Summit (about 2,150 m), a worthwhile extension for bigger scenery. From camps along the corridor, day trips to rarely visited lakes—Sawback, Rainbow, Mystic—offer alpine backdrops with real solitude. The short spur up to Rainbow Lake adds a bit of climbing but is often called a standout add‑on.
Route notesNavigation can be fussy near the start: multiple intersections around Norquay and at least one…
Navigation can be fussy near the start: multiple intersections around Norquay and at least one unsigned junction along the creek. A rough “connector” on the south bank (with past flood wear) leads to a bridge and the main horse trail; after that it’s straightforward. Keep a map/GPS handy. The main Norquay parking lot may be barricaded in summer—plan on an extra ~500 m walk to the current trailhead and follow the ski road past the ranger cabin to pick up the Forty Mile Creek route.
Camping and itinerariesBackcountry camping requires reservations; common options include Cockscomb (FM10) and FM19…
Backcountry camping requires reservations; common options include Cockscomb (FM10) and FM19 near Forty Mile Summit. Many hikers establish a basecamp off Forty Mile Creek and take lighter day trips to lakes and passes rather than hauling full packs over the entire Sawback system.
Good to knowIf you want faster payoff views with similar effort, you might be happier on a different…
If you want faster payoff views with similar effort, you might be happier on a different Banff-area day hike. But for a quiet approach to passes and lakes in the Sawbacks, this one is underrated.
- Water is plentiful; many hikers carry 0.5 L and refill often (treat it).
- Dogs are strongly discouraged here, especially for overnights, due to wildlife and backcountry logistics.
- Bring full backcountry kit: bear spray, rain layers, and Leave No Trace habits.
Why goExpect roughly 9 miles one way (about 14.5 km) from Norquay to Mystic Junction.
Expect roughly 9 miles one way (about 14.5 km) from Norquay to Mystic Junction. Grades are mostly gentle and the tread is often wide, so travel is quick for fit hikers, but the length and remoteness make it a moderate effort.
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.
