Parking
Use the Spray River West Trailhead surface lot behind Fairmont Banff Springs at the end of Spray Avenue.
Overview
About Spray River Loop
Why go
- A covered bridge bench and riverbank make a good halfway break.
Heads up
- A long valley-bottom walk, with only occasional mountain views.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,379–1,440 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 Spray River Loop, 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 trailhead
Spray River West: A Valley Walk to the Bridge0:00 / 0:24
“You're nearing Spray River West trailhead, where a wide gravel track follows the forested river valley.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Fairmont Banff Springs: Architecture and Afternoon Tea
- Bow Falls: A Wide River Cascade
- Surprise Corner: The Hotel View
- The Historian Who Designed Locomotives
- 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 Spray River Loop
A full river circuitSpray River Loop is an 11.3 km loop from the Spray River West access behind Banff Springs.
Spray River Loop is an 11.3 km loop from the Spray River West access behind Banff Springs. It follows the river valley to the main bridge, crosses to the narrower east bank and turns back over a smaller bridge. Allow about four hours. The grade is mostly gentle and rolling; this is a half-day for river, forest and occasional Mount Rundle views, rather than a summit hike.
West bank to the bridgeThe west side is a winding gravel double track through trees beside the rushing Spray River.
The west side is a winding gravel double track through trees beside the rushing Spray River. The covered bench at the main bridge is a natural halfway break, with a riverbank picnic spot nearby. From the crossing, frame the river and Mount Rundle together to show the valley instead of filling the shot with trees.
The short loop backAfter crossing to the east side, follow the narrower track past the backcountry campground.
After crossing to the east side, follow the narrower track past the backcountry campground. About 4.7 km beyond the main bridge, take the right at the small bridge to reconnect with the start. Continuing straight heads toward Banff Springs Golf Course and makes a longer outing. Expect cyclists and horses on the shared corridor, especially on the narrower return.
Starting outUse the Spray River West Trailhead parking area behind Fairmont Banff Springs at the end of…
Use the Spray River West Trailhead parking area behind Fairmont Banff Springs at the end of Spray Avenue. Dogs are allowed on leash. Carry your own drinking water; no water stop is identified along the loop. The appeal is a long, wooded walk beside the river, with fewer open mountain views than Banff’s higher trails.
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.
