Parking
Use designated parking at Hoodoos Viewpoint and Day Use Area or Tunnel Mountain Campground. Roadside parking is prohibited; parking capacity and facilities at the trail entrances were not confirmed.
Overview
About Tunnel Bench Loop
Why go
- Modest climbing for a long loop
- Cascade Mountain and Bow River valley views
Heads up
- Exposed edges above the highway
- Shared singletrack with cyclists and horses
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,383–1,482 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Banff alerts
- ClosureJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area closedMentions Day Use Area, referenced in this guideJohnston 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 Tunnel Bench 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
Hoodoos Viewpoint: Pillars above the Bow0:00 / 0:29
“You're nearing Hoodoos Viewpoint on Tunnel Mountain Road, where pale pillars stand above a bend in the Bow River.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Feathers That Help an Owl Hear
- Tunnel Mountain’s Unbuilt Tunnel
- Tunnel Mountain Village II and Trailer Court
- The Rattle Before the Splash
- 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 Tunnel Bench Loop
The loopTunnel Bench Loop is a 9.7 km (6 mi) shared-use mountain-bike loop on singletrack above Banff.
Tunnel Bench Loop is a 9.7 km (6 mi) shared-use mountain-bike loop on singletrack above Banff. The Spine, Coastline, Teddy Bear’s Picnic, and Don’s Bypass form a winding circuit with modest climbing. Most riders follow it clockwise. Allow about 1.5–2 hours by bike and longer on foot.
Exposure and footingThe campground side is mostly rolling, then the route reaches open bench above the Trans-Canada…
The campground side is mostly rolling, then the route reaches open bench above the Trans-Canada Highway. A few edges have significant vertical exposure. If the drop feels uncomfortable, walk your bike through those sections.
Navigation and shared useFollow the marked loop through its connected paths.
Follow the marked loop through its connected paths. At the junction where the more demanding Toe Trail continues straight, turn right toward the Hoodoos to remain on Tunnel Bench Loop. Hikers, cyclists, horses, and vehicles share the trail network; stay alert and keep dogs leashed. Carry bear spray and know how to use it. The usual biking season runs from May through October.
Views across the valleyThe open bench looks across the Cascade River valley toward Cascade Mountain.
The open bench looks across the Cascade River valley toward Cascade Mountain. Other stretches frame Mount Rundle and the Fairholme Range, and the approach to the Hoodoos opens toward the Bow River valley.
AccessStart from Hoodoos Viewpoint and Day Use Area or Tunnel Mountain Campground.
Start from Hoodoos Viewpoint and Day Use Area or Tunnel Mountain Campground. Park only in designated areas; roadside parking is prohibited. Check current trail conditions before setting out.
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.
