Spray River East Trail (11.2 km, Moderate) – Banff National Park

Overview

About Spray River East Trail

Why go

Wide, mostly firm doubletrack follows the river through forest.
Good longer walk without a summit climb.

Heads up

No high viewpoint; the payoff is the valley and river corridor.
Loose rocks and roots; the first stretch can be muddy when wet.

Map & elevation

The route

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Full map

Elevation1,370–1,430 m

TrailheadSpray River East trailhead, Golf Course Road51.16496, -115.55312

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Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Start at the Spray River East trailhead on Golf Course Road, about 2.5 km southeast of downtown Banff. A designated lot or parking capacity was not confirmed. In summer, Roam Route 4 to Bow Falls is about an 8-minute, 600 m walk from the trailhead.

Safety

Expect uneven footing at the rock field in a stream about 890 m from the start, as well as on loose-rock and root patches. The first 250 m can be muddy when wet. Yield to cyclists and horseback riders; keep dogs leashed.

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

See all 8 alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Banff Tour Guide

Your drive to Spray River East 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

Recorded for this area

Bow Falls: A Wide River Cascade

0:00 / 0:24

“You're coming up on Bow Falls, a broad, roaring cascade close to town. I'd stop here for fifteen or twenty minutes if you want a good look at the river without a long walk.”

Plays on the road 0.2 km from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.

Hiking Spray River East Trail

The walk in briefSpray River East is a 5.

Spray River East is a 5.6 km one-way multi-use doubletrack from the East trailhead on Golf Course Road to the Spray River bridge. Walking out and back makes it 11.2 km (7.0 miles); allow 3–4 hours. Choose it for a longer river-valley walk through forest, rather than a summit or a high viewpoint. The route rolls gently overall, with short steeper pitches.

Follow the east bankThe track follows the east side of the Spray River through the valley bottom.

The track follows the east side of the Spray River through the valley bottom. About 890 m from the start, the first significant obstacle is a rock field in a stream, so watch your footing there. The bridge is the turnaround; retrace the same trail to finish the out-and-back. The East and West trails can be linked into a different loop, but that is a separate outing.

Footing and shared useMost of the tread is firm or hard soil with gravel, though loose rocks and roots interrupt it.

Most of the tread is firm or hard soil with gravel, though loose rocks and roots interrupt it. The typical grade is gentle, with short sections reaching 17%. The first 250 m can be muddy when wet. Hikers share the broad track with cyclists and horseback riders, so yield to others; dogs are allowed on leash.

Access and servicesThe trailhead is 2.5 km southeast of downtown Banff on Golf Course Road.

The trailhead is 2.5 km southeast of downtown Banff on Golf Course Road. In summer, Roam Route 4 to Bow Falls leaves an 8-minute, 600 m walk to the start. Parking, food, drinking water and toilets were not confirmed for the trailhead or route, so plan those before setting out.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Banff

All Banff wildlife maps

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 map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Banff. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.

Spray River East Trail