Parking
No designated lot. Walk, bike, or take Roam transit to the Hidden Ridge Resort stop, the suggested start; campground connectors also reach the circuit. The stop is about 2.5 km or 35 minutes on foot from downtown Banff.
Overview
About Tunnel Campground Loop
Why go
- Mostly firm gravel with mountain views.
- Several campground connectors offer flexible access to the circuit.
Heads up
- There is no designated trail parking or formal trailhead.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,440–1,480 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 Tunnel Campground 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
Tunnel Mountain Village II and Trailer Court0:00 / 0:30
“You're approaching Tunnel Mountain Village II and the nearby Trailer Court, two developed campgrounds close to Banff.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Time in Cascade Gardens
- A Cushion That Holds the Warmth
- Hoodoos Viewpoint: Pillars above the Bow
- Tunnel Mountain: A Summit Above Town
- 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 Campground Loop
The circuitThis 6.3 km (3.
This 6.3 km (3.9 mi) loop circles the Tunnel Mountain campgrounds through lightly forested paths, with mountain views. Allow about 1.5 hours for the full circuit. The path is mostly firm gravel, but some sections narrow and steep.
Tread and effortFirm aggregate or gravel makes up 93% of the mapped surface; the rest includes softer soil,…
Firm aggregate or gravel makes up 93% of the mapped surface; the rest includes softer soil, asphalt and vegetation. Average width is 1.73 m, with a 40 cm minimum. Typical grade is 4%, though measured grades reach 20% and cross-slope reaches 12%. The same corridor is also used for biking, so share the path attentively.
Starting pointsThere is no designated trail parking or formal trailhead.
There is no designated trail parking or formal trailhead. The suggested start is the Hidden Ridge Resort Roam stop, about 2.5 km or a 35-minute walk northeast of downtown Banff; campground connectors also reach the loop. Dogs are allowed under the usual park rules and must stay leashed and under physical control.
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.
