Tunnel Mtn Hoodoos Trail (8.9 km, Moderate) – Banff National Park

Overview

About Tunnel Mtn Hoodoos Trail

This is an 8.8 km (5.5 mi) out-and-back from Surprise Corner to the Hoodoos Viewpoint and back. The stored line follows the physical 4.5 km one-way corridor; allow about 3 hours round trip. Parks Canada lists 115 m of elevation gain and 90 m of loss on the one-way route.

Why go

Official route follows the Bow River below Tunnel Mountain
Big Bow Valley and Mount Rundle views near the Hoodoos Viewpoint
Accessible parking and outhouses at the Hoodoos day-use area

Heads up

Exposed roots, steps, and a few steep climbs and descents
The full out-and-back is 8.8 km from Surprise Corner

Map & elevation

The route

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Full map

Elevation1,355–1,441 m

TrailheadSurprise Corner51.16762, -115.55983

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Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Start at the limited paved parking and bike rack at Surprise Corner, at the end of Buffalo Street. The alternate Hoodoos Viewpoint and Day-use Area has limited paved parking, three accessible stalls, and four accessible gender-neutral outhouses. Park only in designated areas.

Safety

Expect exposed roots, steps, and a few steep climbs and descents. Keep dogs on leash and under physical control. Winter snow and ice can require traction; mountain weather changes quickly. Keep to the signed trail and avoid using Tunnel Mountain Road as a walking substitute.

8 active Banff alerts

ClosureRed Deer River valley bottom closed for ceremonial bison harvestThe Red Deer River valley bottom is closed to the public during an Indigenous ceremonial bison harvest taking place through November.Official details
ClosureLake Minnewanka and Aylmer area closureLake Minnewanka Trail, Aylmer Pass Trail, and campgrounds Lm8, Lm9, Lm11, Lm20, Lm22 and Lm31 are closed to all users because black bears are displaying food-seeking behaviour.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 Mtn Hoodoos 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

Banff Hoodoos Viewpoint and a Photo Tip

Listen

“You're coming up on the stop for the Banff Hoodoos, those thin rock pillars rising from the hillside. They were formed over centuries as a cap of hard rock protected the softer stone underneath from eroding away.”

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

Hiking Tunnel Mtn Hoodoos Trail

What you’ll seeThe trail passes below Tunnel Mountain’s steep cliffs and meanders through forest beside the…

The trail passes below Tunnel Mountain’s steep cliffs and meanders through forest beside the Bow River. Near the end, the path climbs and opens to Mount Rundle and Bow Valley views. The hoodoos are the payoff: eroded pillars capped by harder rock, with signed viewpoints and interpretive panels nearby. Expect exposed roots, some steps, and a few steep climbs and descents.

Start and accessStart at Surprise Corner at the end of Buffalo Street, southeast of downtown Banff.

Start at Surprise Corner at the end of Buffalo Street, southeast of downtown Banff. Parking is limited but paved, and there’s a bike rack. The Hoodoos Viewpoint and Day-use Area is the alternate start, with limited paved parking, three accessible stalls, and four accessible gender-neutral outhouses. If you start at Surprise Corner, Roam route 2 offers a summer return option from near Tunnel Mountain Campground; otherwise return on the same trail.

Practical notesDogs must stay on leash and under physical control.

Dogs must stay on leash and under physical control. Keep to the signed trail and park only in designated areas. Winter snow and ice can require traction. For the best photo, save time at the Hoodoos Viewpoint and frame the pillars with the Bow Valley or Mount Rundle behind them.

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 Mtn Hoodoos Trail