Parking
The north approach is reported near the Highway 1/93 junction, just after the bridge, with parking by a gate or at a lower pullout about 200 m away. Current access and legal parking could not be confirmed; verify before setting out.
Overview
About Twin Lakes Trail from the Trans-Canada Highway
Why go
- A creek crossing and brief openings add variety to the long forest climb.
Heads up
- Long stretches of forest offer few views before the lake.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,443–2,051 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 Twin Lakes Trail from the Trans-Canada Highway, 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 area
Castle Junction Bridge Viewpoint0:00 / 0:17
“You're coming up on Castle Junction Bridge Viewpoint, a quick stop for the Bow River beneath Castle Mountain. Allow ten or fifteen minutes if you want a mountain view without a hike.”
Plays on the road 0.6 km from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Castle Cliffs Lookout: A Short Parkway Stop
- A Beak for Opening Cones
- Silverton Falls or Rockbound Lake
- The Ridge at the Glacier’s Edge
- 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 Twin Lakes Trail from the Trans-Canada Highway
The northern approachThis is an out-and-back from the Highway 1/93 junction to the Lower Twin Lake shore, about 17…
This is an out-and-back from the Highway 1/93 junction to the Lower Twin Lake shore, about 17 km (10.6 mi) round trip. Plan roughly 5.5 to 7 hours for a long forest climb of about 600 m. It is the north approach; the route from Vista Lake via Arnica Lake is a separate hike.
The climb and the lakesThe route leaves the highway access, crosses Altrude Creek on a bridge, and climbs through…
The route leaves the highway access, crosses Altrude Creek on a bridge, and climbs through forest to the lakes below Storm Mountain. Most of the ascent has limited views; the trees open only in places near the lakes, where Storm Mountain appears above the forest. The mapped line follows the Lower Twin Lake shore path and ends there; it does not include the separate Upper Twin Lake trail.
Access and planningThe reported north trailhead is near the highway junction, just after the bridge.
The reported north trailhead is near the highway junction, just after the bridge. Older directions describe parking by a gate or using a lower pullout roughly 200 m away, but current access and legal parking have not been confirmed; verify them before setting out. Snow can cover the tread and signs, making the wooded route harder to follow. Dogs must remain leashed in Banff where permitted, but this trail’s specific dog status was not established, so check before bringing one.
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.
