Parking
Start at the Cave and Basin National Historic Site parking lot at the end of Cave Avenue.
Overview
About Marsh Loop
Why go
- Hot-spring-fed wetland and Bow Valley mountain views
- A short, easy circuit with little elevation
Heads up
- Horse use leaves the uneven track muddy and messy after rain
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,380–1,405 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
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 Marsh Loop, 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
Cave and Basin: Springs and Stories0:00 / 0:34
“Cave and Basin National Historic Site is coming up, with a small cave, warm mineral springs and short boardwalks. I'd allow two to three hours for the exhibits and walks, rather than just ducking into the cave.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Historian Who Designed Locomotives
- Banff Park Museum and the Gardens
- Vermilion Lakes: Docks and Wetlands
- The Muskrat’s Winter Breathing Hole
- 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 Marsh Loop
The loopMarsh Loop is an easy 2.
Marsh Loop is an easy 2.8 km circuit around a wetland fed by hot springs from Sulphur Mountain’s lower slopes. Allow about an hour; the route has little elevation gain and returns to Cave and Basin National Historic Site.
Track and accessExpect an uneven dirt track shared with horses.
Expect an uneven dirt track shared with horses. Heavy use makes it muddy after rain, and visitors regularly mention manure and odor on the shared stretches. Dogs are allowed on leash, so keep them close around horses.
Wetland and viewsSmall fish are sometimes visible in the warm flowing water, and birds may be around, though…
Small fish are sometimes visible in the warm flowing water, and birds may be around, though sightings are not guaranteed. The loop borders the Bow River corridor and opens to mountain views. Visitors report that the clearest marsh views are near the Cave and Basin side rather than along every part of the circuit; that marsh-and-mountain view is the route’s best photo opportunity.
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.
