Hoodoos Interpretive Trail

Hoodoos Interpretive Trail is a short viewpoint walk above the Bow River, with two mapped path arms branching from the Hoodoos Viewpoint Day-use Area. Walk both arms and retrace to the lot for about 0.6 miles (1 km) total; allow 30 to 45 minutes for the paths and the views. A longer 0.9-mile distance also appears, but its extra route is not clear on the mapped viewpoint paths, so this description covers the two named arms and their returns.

Start at the day-use area on Tunnel Mountain Road. The western arm is the one to prioritize for the close hoodoo view. Return to the access point before following the eastern arm; this saved walk retraces both paths rather than making a circuit. If you only want the main overlook, the western out-and-back is the shorter choice. This is separate from the 4.4 km one-way Surprise Corner-to-Hoodoos Trail, which starts at Surprise Corner.

Pale hoodoo pillars rise beside the Bow River, with forested slopes and a broad mountain face beyond. Continue to the far end of the western viewpoint path for the clearer hoodoo angle; putting one formation in the foreground helps show its scale against the river bend.

The short viewpoint paths are easy, but visitors describe a steep, loose descent from the rim toward the formations. That drop is optional and not part of this mapped walk; climbing back up can be difficult. Dogs may accompany you on leash and under physical control, subject to any posted trail restriction.