Parking
Use the Cave and Basin National Historic Site parking area at the end of Cave Avenue (311 Cave Avenue). It is about a 2 km, 30-minute walk southwest of downtown Banff; Parks Canada lists Roam Route 4 for the site.
Overview
About Sundance Trail
Why go
- Bow River mountain views open within minutes.
- Paved path ends at a creekside picnic area.
Heads up
- The 7.4 km paved outing retraces the same route.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,379–1,463 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 Sundance 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
Cave and Basin: Springs and Stories0:00 / 0:34
“Cave and Basin National Historic Site is coming up, with a small cave, warm mineral springs and short boardwalks. I'd allow two to three hours for the exhibits and walks, rather than just ducking into the cave.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Historian Who Designed Locomotives
- Banff Park Museum and the Gardens
- Vermilion Lakes: Docks and Wetlands
- The Muskrat’s Winter Breathing Hole
- 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 Sundance Trail
An easy river walk, not the canyon loopSundance Trail is a paved path from Cave and Basin to the Sundance Canyon picnic area. It is 3.
Sundance Trail is a paved path from Cave and Basin to the Sundance Canyon picnic area. It is 3.7 km each way; return on the same route for 7.4 km round trip (4.6 miles). Allow about two hours with a break. Choose it for an easy walk and Bow River views without committing to the separate 1.6 km moderate canyon loop, which begins beyond the picnic area.
River first, then a forest climbThe path leaves the historic site and drops gently toward the Bow River.
The path leaves the historic site and drops gently toward the Bow River. A mountain panorama opens across the water within a few minutes. For a photo, include the river in the foreground and the peaks beyond; it gives the view the depth you see from the path. After a level stretch by the river, the path climbs steadily through forest for roughly its final kilometre to the creekside picnic area. The return follows the same pavement in reverse, with a short climb back toward Cave and Basin.
Make the creek your turnaroundThere is a picnic area by the creek, with tables and a shelter.
There is a picnic area by the creek, with tables and a shelter. The paved Sundance Trail ends here; the moderate, 1.6 km canyon loop continues on a separate hiking path. If the easier walk is what you came for, this is a good place to stop and head back rather than feeling obliged to add the loop.
A sobering stop near the startThe route passes the First World War Internment Exhibit beside Cave and Basin.
The route passes the First World War Internment Exhibit beside Cave and Basin. Banff's internment camp moved from Castle Mountain to Cave and Basin in November 1915 and closed in July 1917. It is an easy stop to miss if you head straight for the river, but it gives this walk a piece of history beyond the scenery.
Starting access and sharing the pathStart at Cave and Basin National Historic Site, at the end of Cave Avenue; it is about a 2 km,…
Start at Cave and Basin National Historic Site, at the end of Cave Avenue; it is about a 2 km, 30-minute walk southwest of downtown, and Roam Route 4 serves the site. The site has parking and restrooms. Cave and Basin charges admission; if you are coming only to hike, check whether site entry is needed to reach the path. Dogs are allowed on summer trails in Banff but must stay leashed and under control. Horses also use this path, so give them room when they pass.
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.
