Parking
No dedicated lot was identified at the Bow River Trail junction; use designated Lake Louise Village parking and walk to the junction.
Overview
About Louise Creek Trail
Why go
- Short wooded walk beside Louise Creek.
- Direct link between Bow River Trail and Tramline Trail.
Heads up
- You retrace the same path unless continuing on another trail.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,543–1,628 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
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 Louise 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
Lake Louise Village: Advice, Lunch and the Old Tram Route0:00 / 0:30
“You're nearing Lake Louise Village and the visitor centre beside Samson Mall. This is the place to sort out maps, trail advice and supplies before heading up to the lake.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Lake Louise Campgrounds: Choose the Right Section
- Ice Beneath the Boulders
- Walking on Water
- The Bird That Spirals Up a Tree
- 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 Louise Creek Trail
A short connectorLouise Creek Trail is a 2.4 km (1.5 mile) out-and-back, about 1.
Louise Creek Trail is a 2.4 km (1.5 mile) out-and-back, about 1.2 km each way, between the Bow River Trail and Tramline Trail junctions. It follows Louise Creek through a wooded corridor, with easy walking and a short climb. It works as a quick walk from Lake Louise Village or as a connector if you are continuing along another trail. The creek path itself does not reach Lake Louise’s shore.
Along the creekMost of the line is compacted footpath.
Most of the line is compacted footpath. It includes a short underpass, small footbridges and a handrailed wooden stair section with no ramp. The creek is the main attraction, flowing through the trees; at the far end, the trail meets Tramline. Retrace the same route to return unless you have planned a separate continuation.
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.
