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Banff National Park, AB

Lake Louise Tramline Trail

Forested historic tramway route from Lake Louise village to the lakeshore

Length
9.7km
Time
2.5hr
Elev. change
191m
Difficulty
Easy
  • Dogs allowed
  • High point 1,738 m
DirectionsMap

Hear the audio tour

The Station Restaurant and Bow River Loop Trail

Overview

About Lake Louise Tramline Trail

This forested, multi-use route follows the historic Tramline, part of the former 1912–1930 tramway, from the Lake Louise community to the Lake Louise Lakeshore. Start at the Bow River parking lot opposite the Lake Louise train station, cross the Bow River bridge, and follow the Bow River Trail to the Tramline junction before climbing through conifer forest to the lakeshore. The route crosses Louise Creek and Lake Louise Drive and has a steady grade rather than technical scrambling. Parks Canada publishes 4.3 km one way; the verified route line measures about 4.86 km one way, so plan for roughly 6.0 miles total out and back. Hikers can walk up and use transit back when available; cyclists also use this corridor, and the trail connects the community with the lakeshore.

Why go

  • Avoids driving and limited lakeshore parking
  • Historic route through conifer forest with a steady, manageable grade
  • Useful one-way connection when paired with transit

Heads up

  • The full out-and-back is about 6.0 miles
  • Lower section has an annual May 15–October 15 closure and route changes
  • Shared-use corridor can be busy with cyclists and other visitors

Map & elevation

The route

Loading the Banff map
Full map
Elevation1,547–1,738 m
TrailheadBow River parking lot (opposite Lake Louise train station)51.42864, -116.18887
Keep this map with you offline in the Parkwolf app

Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Park at the Bow River parking lot opposite the Lake Louise train station (Station Restaurant) on Sentinel Road. Cross the Bow River bridge and follow the signed Bow River Trail connection to the Tramline. Lake Louise Lakeshore parking is an alternate endpoint access but is limited and paid during the operating season; one-way hikers can return by available Parks Canada or Roam transit.

Safety

This is bear country: carry bear spray, make noise, and follow Parks Canada wildlife guidance. Expect a sustained but generally moderate ascent, bridges and road crossings, and shared use with bikes. The lower Tramline section is closed annually from May 15 through October 15; follow signed Bow River Trail and the current Parks Canada route around the closure. Check official access and transit information before setting out.

8 active Banff alerts

  • ClosureLake Louise area trails and access areas closed for wildlifeMentions Lake Louise, referenced in this guideThe Bow River Trail, Louise Creek Trail, lower Tramline Trail, and Great Divide Trail parking area are closed because the closure prevents wildlife from being displaced from an essential travel…Official details
  • 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
See all 8 alerts
A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone
Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Banff Tour Guide

Your drive to Lake Louise Tramline 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 area

The Station Restaurant and Bow River Loop Trail
Listen
“This area near the village has a couple of great options for avoiding the main crowds. For a unique meal, The Station Restaurant is inside the original railway station from 1910.”

Plays near this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.

More stories near here in the app

  • Lake Louise Village: Your Base for Adventure
  • Lake Louise Petro-Canada: A Key Fuel Stop
  • Gateway to the Icefields Parkway
  • Paradise Lodge: Walk-In Access to Lake Louise
  • 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.”
tesja22App Store review
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Wildlife

Wildlife in Banff

All Banff wildlife maps
Grizzly Bear122 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapBrown Bear150 sightingsBrown BearMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapGray Wolf44 sightingsGray WolfMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapRiver Otter12 sightingsRiver OtterMost seen around 8 PMSighting mapMoose67 sightingsMooseMost seen around 8 PMSighting mapBlack Bear465 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 9 PMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Banff. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.

Keep exploring

Near Lake Louise Tramline Trail

See it all on the map

Trails that start nearby

EasyBow River Loop (Lake Louise)7 km · 2 hr · At the trailheadFlat, scenic riverside loop steps from Lake Louise village.EasyTramline Trail9.8 km · 2.5 hr · At the trailheadHistoric forested route from Lake Louise village to the lakeshoreEasyLouise Creek Trail5.6 km · 1.5 hr · 0.8 km awayA shady creekside climb from Lake Louise Village to the lake areaEasyGreat Divide Trail (Lake Louise)20 km · 4.5 hr · 1.5 km awayGentle old Highway 1A corridor to the Great Divide ArchModerateBig Beehive Trail10.5 km · 5 hr · 2.2 km awayClassic Lake Louise climb to the Big Beehive via Lake Agnes and Mirror LakeChallengingMount Niblock14.8 km · 7 hr · 2.2 km awayDemanding Mount Niblock scramble from Lake Louise via Lake AgnesEasyFairview Lookout2.4 km · 1 hr · 2.2 km awayShort climb to a classic Lake Louise postcard viewModerateMount St. Piran12.6 km · 5.6 hr · 2.2 km awayA demanding, non-technical summit hike from Lake Louise to wide-open Bow Valley views

Places near the trailhead

Restaurant · 0.1 km awayThe Station RestaurantHistoric rail‑station eatery with a garden patio and train viewsLodging · 0.4 km awayHI Lake Louise Alpine CenterSocial, budget base with an on-site cafe near Lake LouiseLodging · 0.6 km awayThe Post Hotel & SpaRelais and Chateaux hideaway with a standout cellar and spaVisitor center · 0.7 km awayLake Louise Visitor CentreYour planning hub for permits, tips, and geology exhibitsStore · 0.8 km awaySamson MallLake Louise’s one-stop hub for food, gear, and infoGas station · 0.8 km awayShellLake Louise’s go-to fuel stop with diesel and propaneGas station · 1 km awayPetro-CanadaEssential Lake Louise fuel stop with long hours and a c‑storeLodging · 1.5 km awayParadise Lodge and BungalowsCharming heritage cabins a 15-minute walk from Lake Louise

Parkwolf’s Banff ranking

Top-rated trails in Banff

All 177 trails
  1. 1Moraine Lake RockpileEasy · 0.8 km
  2. 2Larch Valley and Sentinel PassChallenging · 11.1 km
  3. 3Sentinel PassChallenging · 11.3 km
  4. 4Parker Ridge TrailEasy · 5.5 km
  5. 5Big Beehive TrailModerate · 10.5 km
  6. 6Sunshine Meadows LoopModerate · 11.9 km

Take Parkwolf to Banff.

The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.

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