Parking
Limited unlined gravel parking at the end of Spray Avenue beyond the Banff Springs Hotel. From downtown, the trailhead is about a 2.2 km walk; Roam Route 2 to the hotel leaves about 500 m to walk.
Overview
About Spray River West Trail
Why go
- Wide, mostly firm gravel track with a modest overall climb.
- Covered bench at the 5.7 km turnaround.
Heads up
- The full return is 11.4 km.
- Parking at the trailhead is limited.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,394–1,453 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 West 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 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 West Trail
The west-bank walkSpray River West Trail is an 11.
Spray River West Trail is an 11.4 km out-and-back along a forested doubletrack beside the west bank of the Spray River, from the end of Spray Avenue to the Spray River bridge and back. The bridge is 5.7 km from the start. Allow 3 to 4 hours for the return and about 130 m of climbing. This is a valley walk with rolling terrain, not a summit climb.
A shared, mostly gravel trackThe surface is mostly firm gravel, with some hard soil and patches of loose rock and exposed…
The surface is mostly firm gravel, with some hard soil and patches of loose rock and exposed roots. The trail is wide, averaging about 3.3 m, though some short sections reach a 17% grade. Hikers share this corridor with cyclists and horseback riders, so stay aware around bends. Dogs are allowed on leash no longer than 3 m.
Start and turnaroundThe trailhead is at the end of Spray Avenue past the Banff Springs Hotel.
The trailhead is at the end of Spray Avenue past the Banff Springs Hotel. Parking is limited to an unlined gravel area. From downtown Banff it is about a 2.2 km walk; the Route 2 bus to the hotel leaves about 500 m to walk. A covered bench sits at the bridge, a useful place to pause before retracing the west-bank route.
The larger Spray River outingThe east- and west-bank trails are linked by two small bridges and can be combined as a…
The east- and west-bank trails are linked by two small bridges and can be combined as a separate Spray River circuit. The distance and time above describe the west trail out and back, not that larger loop.
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.
