Parking
Use the Sunset Pass parking lot on the Icefields Parkway, 16.5 km north of Saskatchewan Crossing. Parks Canada lists the trailhead as summer-only.
Overview
About Sunset Lookout Trail
Why go
- The old lookout opens over the North Saskatchewan–Alexandra confluence.
- Norman Creek Falls viewpoints add interest to the shared approach.
Heads up
- A steep forest climb comes before the lookout view.
Sunset Lookout Trail is a 5.6-mile out-and-back from Sunset Pass parking, following the Sunset Pass Trail to its lookout spur. Parks Canada lists the route as 4.5 km one way, with 615 m of climbing, 90 m of descent and a 3–4 hour round trip. The reward is a cliffside view over the braided North Saskatchewan and Alexandra river valleys. It’s a steep climb with most of the big view held until the end, though Norman Creek Falls gives the shared approach a couple of worthwhile stops.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs this the hike for you?Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,448–2,076 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
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 Sunset Lookout 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
Sunset Pass Trailhead: Lookout or Meadows0:00 / 0:28
“You're coming up on the Sunset Pass trailhead, where both hikes begin with a steep forest climb.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Squirrel Beneath the Cone Pile
- The Hare’s Built-In Snowshoes
- Rampart Creek: A Riverside Night on the Parkway
- Bison by Helicopter
- 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 Sunset Lookout Trail
The climb and turnoffThe route starts on the Sunset Pass Trail and climbs through mostly open pine forest.
The route starts on the Sunset Pass Trail and climbs through mostly open pine forest. Around the first kilometre, short side paths lead to views of the multi-step Norman Creek Falls; another opening looks down the river valley. The main trail steepens through forest and switchbacks before the signed Sunset Lookout spur, about 2.9 km from the parking lot. The spur climbs again, then drops to the former lookout site. Its 1.6 km distance is only the branch; the approach from the road is part of the 4.5 km one-way total. The Sunset Pass Trail continues toward Sunset Pass and Norman Lake, separate longer outings.
At the old lookoutThe lookout operated from 1944 to 1977, when helicopter patrols made the station obsolete.
The lookout operated from 1944 to 1977, when helicopter patrols made the station obsolete. Concrete footings and cables remain at the site. From the cliff, the North Saskatchewan and Alexandra meet in a web of braided channels, with Mount Saskatchewan rising behind the valley. Include some of the rocky ledge in a photo to show the height of the viewpoint. Take care near the edge.
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.
