Parking
Use Pipestone Parking on Slate Road, off the Trans-Canada Highway about 1.5 km west of Lake Louise. Allow a short walk from the lot to the mapped line.
Overview
About Pipestone Trail
Why go
- Well-defined gravel-and-dirt tread
- A short optional spur reaches Mud Lake
Heads up
- The Mud Lake spur can be muddy
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,566–1,677 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 Pipestone 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 area
The Bird That Spirals Up a Tree0:00 / 0:29
“On a forest walk, watch for a tiny patch of bark that seems to move. It could be a brown creeper, a bird whose mottled back blends into the trunk.”
Plays on the road 0.9 km from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Lake Louise Village: Advice, Lunch and the Old Tram Route
- Moraine Lake Shuttles at the Park and Ride
- Lake Louise Campgrounds: Choose the Right Section
- Ice Beneath the Boulders
- 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 Pipestone Trail
The routeThis trail follows a well-defined gravel-and-dirt path north along Pipestone River into…
This trail follows a well-defined gravel-and-dirt path north along Pipestone River into Pipestone Valley. This entry maps a 4 km one-way core as an 8 km (about 5 mi) out-and-back; allow roughly 3 hours for the return at an easy pace.
Distance and accessPublished descriptions disagree about how far the bicycle route continues: one places the…
Published descriptions disagree about how far the bicycle route continues: one places the turnaround at 4 km, a separate 2025 bulletin includes a designated extension to 6.5 km with Mud Lake, and another local route listing says 7 km. The saved line stops at 4 km. Hiking access beyond that point was not confirmed, so check current signs and access rules before continuing farther. This lower summer outing is separate from the longer winter ski loop.
Mud Lake and shared trailA separate 0.
A separate 0.7 km spur leads to Mud Lake and can be muddy; it is not included in the mapped line or distance. Expect horse traffic and bears along the route. Dogs are allowed on leash and under control.
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.
