Parking
Park in the Sunshine Village base area and take the seasonal gondola to the upper village. The trail begins by the main gondola building; the ride takes about 25 minutes when operating.
Overview
About Simpson Pass Trail
Why go
- Open alpine meadows along a quieter route to the Alberta–B.C. boundary saddle
- A longer alternative to the short lift-access meadow viewpoints
Heads up
- A five-hour, undulating outing with a subtle pass rather than a dramatic lake viewpoint
- Access depends on seasonal upper-village transportation
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation2,117–2,348 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 Simpson 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 tourMore stories near here in the app
- Sunshine Village: Lifts to the Meadows
- The Grouse That Grows a Bigger Gut
- Two Ways to Ice a Branch
- The Rectangular Holes in the Tree
- 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 Simpson Pass Trail
The walk to Simpson PassThis is a 10.5 km (6.
This is a 10.5 km (6.5 mi) out-and-back from the upper Sunshine Village through open meadows to a grassy saddle on the Alberta–British Columbia boundary. Allow about five hours. The trail climbs and drops along the way, reaching 2,348 m before descending toward the pass. I’d choose it for a quieter, longer day beyond the main meadow viewpoints; the saddle is a subtle finish, while Healy Pass is a separate, longer continuation.
Start at Sunshine VillagePark at the Sunshine base area and take the seasonal gondola to the upper village; the ride…
Park at the Sunshine base area and take the seasonal gondola to the upper village; the ride takes about 25 minutes. The hike starts by the main gondola building, not in the base lot. Follow marked meadow paths to join the Simpson Pass trail, then return the same way from the saddle. Continuing toward Healy Pass or Egypt Lake is a different, longer trip. Check current operating dates and trail conditions before setting out.
Footing, weather and dogsExpect uneven, rocky and rooty footing, which can be wet or muddy after rain.
Expect uneven, rocky and rooty footing, which can be wet or muddy after rain. Weather changes quickly above treeline, and the alpine ground is fragile, so stay on signed paths. Dogs are allowed on summer trails unless a local restriction is posted; keep them leashed 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.
