Tunnel Mountain Summit Trail (4.5 km, Easy) – Banff National Park

Overview

About Tunnel Mountain Summit Trail

Why go

Short, steady climb with panoramic views of Banff, the Bow Valley, and Mount Rundle
Walkable from downtown, with lower and upper trailhead access
Well-maintained route with viewpoints near the low summit

Heads up

Limited parking at both trailheads; use designated spaces only
Moderate uphill grade with rock, roots, and steeper sections
Snow and ice can make the trail slippery in winter

Tunnel Mountain Summit Trail is a short, steady switchback climb from Banff to a low summit with broad views of the town, Bow Valley, and Mount Rundle. The out-and-back is about 2.8 miles (4.6 km) total, with roughly 275 m of elevation gain and an estimated 2 hours round trip.

Parkwolf’s verdictWhy hike it

Map & elevation

The route

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Full map

Elevation1,419–1,685 m

TrailheadTunnel Mountain Summit Trail – Lower Parking Area (St. Julien Road)51.17535, -115.56187

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Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Primary access is the lower parking area on St. Julien Road, with limited unlined gravel parking and a bike rack; it is about a 15-minute or 1 km walk east of downtown Banff. The upper parking lot on Tunnel Mountain Drive is an alternate access point, and road parking is illegal and unsafe. Current local tourism information says paid parking is required at the Tunnel Mountain trailhead; use designated spaces and check posted rates.

Best time to go

The climb is popular and can be icy when snow-covered; bring traction such as microspikes or crampons in winter. Keep dogs leashed and under control, stay on the designated path, and check Parks Canada warnings before setting out. Wildlife, weather, and trail conditions can change quickly in the mountains.

Safety

Moderate uphill trail with rock and root patches, a few steps, and steep sections. The route is popular; snow and ice can make it slippery, so use traction in winter. Keep dogs leashed and under control, stay on the designated trail, and check Parks Canada warnings before hiking.

8 active Banff alerts

ClosureRed Deer River valley closed during ceremonial bison harvestThe Red Deer River valley bottom is closed to the public during an Indigenous ceremonial bison hunt taking place through November, for public safety during the harvest.Official details
ClosureJohnston Canyon closed for constructionJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area, including the washrooms and P1 parking lot, are closed to all traffic and travel through December 11, 2026, for construction work to ensure public and worker…Official details

See all 8 alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Banff Tour Guide

Your drive to Tunnel Mountain Summit 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.

Recorded for this trailhead

Tunnel Mountain's Lower Trailhead

Listen

“You're passing the lower trailhead for Tunnel Mountain. People sometimes call this the local's favorite 'after-work' hike, because it delivers a fantastic summit view over Banff without eating up your entire day.”

Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.

Hiking Tunnel Mountain Summit Trail

What to expect on the trailThe well-maintained path crosses mostly soft soil with rock and root patches and a few concrete…

The well-maintained path crosses mostly soft soil with rock and root patches and a few concrete steps at the lower and upper trailheads. It is a moderate climb with a typical grade around 12% and steeper sections up to 31%; the upper viewpoints open onto the surrounding Rockies.

Trailheads and accessThe primary visitor start is the lower parking area on St.

The primary visitor start is the lower parking area on St. Julien Road, about a 15-minute or 1 km walk east of downtown Banff, with limited unlined gravel parking and a bike rack. The route continues to the upper parking lot on Tunnel Mountain Drive, which is another access point; park only in designated spaces. Current local tourism information says paid parking is required at the Tunnel Mountain trailhead, so check posted rates before arriving.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Banff

All Banff wildlife maps

122 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

67 sightingsMooseMost seen around 8 PMSighting map

465 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 9 PMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Banff. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.

Tunnel Mountain Summit Trail