Parking
Flint’s Park backcountry campground is the start; there is no road-access parking. Reaching the campground takes a multi-day backcountry approach. Arrange the appropriate overnight reservations and permits before setting out.
Overview
About North Fork Pass Trail
Why go
- The pass opens over the upper Panther River valley.
Heads up
- Three fords can leave your boots wet.
- Flint’s Park requires a multi-day backcountry approach.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,854–2,437 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 North Fork Pass 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 tour- 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 North Fork Pass Trail
A full day from Flint’s ParkNorth Fork Pass is a remote out-and-back from Flint’s Park backcountry campground to a 2,425 m…
North Fork Pass is a remote out-and-back from Flint’s Park backcountry campground to a 2,425 m (7,956 ft) pass: about 11.9 mi (19.2 km) round trip, with roughly 2,000 ft (610 m) of climbing. Allow most of a day, around 8–9 hours for the hike. That distance starts at the campground; reaching Flint’s Park takes a separate multi-day backcountry approach, so this is not a roadside day hike.
Follow the North ForkThe route heads north along the creek toward the pass.
The route heads north along the creek toward the pass. It’s a lightly used backcountry tread, and reports describe it as mostly followable. The mapped line is approximate for about 1.1 km, where two older path traces diverge; carry a detailed topo map and GPS, and treat the app line as a corridor rather than turn-by-turn navigation. This out-and-back turns around at the pass; it doesn’t continue the multi-day route into Panther Valley.
Three creek crossingsExpect three fords; hikers have reported trouble keeping boots dry.
Expect three fords; hikers have reported trouble keeping boots dry. Water levels are usually highest in June and July, when crossings can be more demanding. High passes may remain snowbound into late June, and snow can return at elevation in summer.
Look into Panther ValleyAt North Fork Pass, the view drops into the upper Panther River valley.
At North Fork Pass, the view drops into the upper Panther River valley. The rocky saddle makes a useful foreground for a photo looking north into the layered peaks and valley; stay back from the steep edge.
Reaching the startFlint’s Park is a backcountry campground, not a road-access trailhead.
Flint’s Park is a backcountry campground, not a road-access trailhead. Reaching it takes a multi-day hike, so plan the approach and check the required backcountry campground reservations and permits separately. Dogs are allowed on Banff trails under the usual rules; keep them leashed and check for any trail-specific restriction before you go.
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.
