Parking
Large pullout off the Icefields Parkway near the top of Big Bend. Use the south/east end of the parking area for the Panther Falls trail sign; it is easy to miss.
Overview
About Lower Panther Falls
Why go
- Two-for-one stop: Panther Falls plus nearby Bridal Veil Falls from the same pullout
- Chance to get very close (even behind the falls) via a faint, steeper path when safe
Heads up
- Trailhead sign is easy to miss at the far south end of the lot
- Constant spray makes footing slick; icy in winter
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,731–1,799 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Banff alerts
- ClosureRed Deer River valley closed during ceremonial bison harvestThe Red Deer River valley bottom is closed to the public during an Indigenous ceremonial bison hunt taking place through November, for public safety during the harvest.Official details
- ClosureJohnston Canyon closed for constructionJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area, including the washrooms and P1 parking lot, are closed to all traffic and travel through December 11, 2026, for construction work to ensure public and worker…Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Lower Panther Falls, 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
Two Falls for One Stop: Bridal Veil and Panther FallsListen
“You're approaching a stop that's a classic two-for-one. From the parking area, you get a great view of the tall, elegant Bridal Veil Falls across the canyon. But the real secret here is Panther Falls.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Nigel Pass Trailhead: A Historic Backcountry Hike
- Why Banff's Lakes Are So Blue
- Icefields Parkway: From Pack Trail to Scenic Highway
- Parker Ridge: The Rockies 'Cheat Code' Hike
- 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 Lower Panther Falls
Decide if it fitsLower Panther Falls is a short out-and-back from the Panther Falls parking area.
Lower Panther Falls is a short out-and-back from the Panther Falls parking area. The mapped corridor is about 0.27 miles each way, so plan on 0.53 miles (roughly 0.8 km) total. The descent to the viewpoint and the climb back account for about 53 m (174 ft) of elevation change. Allow 15 to 30 minutes, including time to look around.
Follow the switchbacksStart at the far south/east corner of the pullout and follow the signed path into the trees.
Start at the far south/east corner of the pullout and follow the signed path into the trees. The route drops through several switchbacks over loose dirt and rock before reaching a viewpoint across from Panther Falls. Keep the route to the mapped viewpoint; a faint spur closer to or behind the falls is steeper, slicker, and not part of this visitor line.
Look for the detailsPanther Falls is fed by Nigel Creek and pours over a steep rock face, with spray keeping the…
Panther Falls is fed by Nigel Creek and pours over a steep rock face, with spray keeping the surrounding forest and cliffside mossy. The nearby Bridal Veil Falls viewpoint is visible from the same parking area, so this works well as a two-waterfall stop. At the viewpoint, include a little of the trail and a person in photos to give the falls and canyon some scale.
Make the short walk countThe pullout is on the Icefields Parkway near the top of Big Bend, and the trail sign is easy to…
The pullout is on the Icefields Parkway near the top of Big Bend, and the trail sign is easy to miss at the south/east end of the lot. Wear shoes with good grip: wet rock, loose footing, and spray can make the descent slippery. Winter ice makes traction especially useful. I’d keep this as a quick leg-stretcher rather than a destination-length hike.
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.
