Parking
Park at the Bow Falls Day-use Area near Banff Springs. Cross the bridge, follow Golf Course Road to the Spray River East kiosk, then take the uphill branch to the Mount Rundle turnoff. Use designated parking and do not park on the roadside.
Overview
About Mount Rundle
Mount Rundle’s classic Banff-side route climbs to the West Peak (Rundle 1), not the longer traverse to the massif’s true summit. It is an out-and-back of about 9.1 miles (14.7 km) total, with a mapped corridor of roughly 7.3 km one way from the Bow Falls access. The route gains about 5,175 ft / 1,577 m and typically takes 8–10 hours. This is a full-day Rockies scramble for strong hikers and scramblers.
Why go
- Direct route to the Banff-side West Peak with enormous Bow Valley views
- Classic progression from forested switchbacks to limestone scrambling and loose scree
Heads up
- A long, steep full-day outing with about 1,577 m / 5,175 ft of gain
- Unmaintained upper terrain combines loose rock, exposure, slippery slabs, and consequential route-finding
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,362–2,926 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Banff alerts
- 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
- ClosureLake Minnewanka and Aylmer area closureLake Minnewanka Trail, Aylmer Pass Trail, and campgrounds Lm8, Lm9, Lm11, Lm20, Lm22 and Lm31 are closed to all users because black bears are displaying food-seeking behaviour.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Mount Rundle, 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
Bow Falls, Surprise Corner, and the WaldhausListen
“The area you're entering has a few popular spots all close together, centered on Bow Falls.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel: Castle in the Rockies
- Banff Centre: Arts, Views, and Elk
- Valleyview Picnic Area: An Eastbound-Only Stop
- Tunnel Mountain's Lower Trailhead
- 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 Mount Rundle
The route, in plain termsStart at the Bow Falls Day-use Area, cross the bridge, and follow Golf Course Road to the Spray…
Start at the Bow Falls Day-use Area, cross the bridge, and follow Golf Course Road to the Spray River East kiosk. Take the uphill branch—not the riverside trail—and follow it to the Mount Rundle turnoff. The lower route climbs through forested switchbacks, rocky cliff bands, and two ravines before ending at the Central Gully. Cross the gully on the marked route, work up the forested ridge, then follow the loose, exposed Dragon’s Back and scree to the West Peak high point.
What it feels likeThe lower mountain is a steep, strenuous hike on a recognizable trail.
The lower mountain is a steep, strenuous hike on a recognizable trail. Above the Central Gully the route becomes an unmaintained scramble over slippery limestone, loose gravel, and exposed ridge terrain. Views open across Banff, the Bow Valley, Sulphur Mountain, and the surrounding peaks, but the upper route demands careful footing and reliable route-finding. The descent is slower and more serious than the climb for many parties.
Planning and safetyTreat this as a summer objective only when the route is snow-free; snow or ice on the slabs and…
Treat this as a summer objective only when the route is snow-free; snow or ice on the slabs and ridge can make the line unsafe. Do not climb or descend the Central Gully: cross it and use the established route to the forested ridge. Retrace the marked route on the way down and do not shortcut the cliff bands or either gully. Stay well back from any cornice, carry bear spray, and allow a generous weather margin. A valid Banff National Park pass is required, and the route is not accessible or suitable for casual hiking.
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.
