Parking
Use the Mount Norquay Ski Area parking lot; the kiosk is at its south end. Trailhead parking is limited and on unlined gravel.
Overview
About Upper Stoney Trail
Why go
- A short circuit with Cascade Mountain and Bow Valley views.
- The loop returns by the old ski runs.
Heads up
- Narrow, rocky tread with roots.
- A clearing junction can be easy to misread.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,688–1,883 m
TrailheadUpper Stoney Trail kiosk, south end of Mount Norquay Ski Area parking area51.20061, -115.59552
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 Upper Stoney 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.
See the Banff audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Mount Norquay: The Big Chair and Cliffhouse0:00 / 0:35
“Up ahead is Mount Norquay, where the seasonal sightseeing chairlift takes you above Banff in an open-air seat. Choose this if you'd like the mountain view without a summit climb.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Norquay Green Spot: Banff from Above
- The Lake Left by a Block of Ice
- The Muskrat’s Winter Breathing Hole
- Fenland: Lunch and an Old Spruce Forest
- 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 Upper Stoney Trail
The full circuitUpper Stoney is a 4.4 km (2.
Upper Stoney is a 4.4 km (2.7 mi) loop from the Mount Norquay ski-area parking to Stoney Lookout, then back above the day lodge on old ski runs. Allow about 1½ hours for the full circuit and expect around 210 m of climbing. It’s a moderate short hike for a proper mountain view, but the rocky, rooted tread is rougher than a stroll. A same-way return to the lookout is a different route option; this entry follows the loop.
The climb and junctionStart at the kiosk at the lot’s south end.
Start at the kiosk at the lot’s south end. The trail winds uphill through thick forest on narrow, twisty singletrack with rocks and root patches. A route description flags a clearing about 1.5 km in: the loop’s descent turns left and back downhill there, rather than continuing straight. Check your mapped route at that split before carrying on.
At Stoney LookoutThe trees open to Cascade Mountain and the Bow Valley. This is the main payoff for the climb.
The trees open to Cascade Mountain and the Bow Valley. This is the main payoff for the climb. Rocks and conifers frame the valley well; the viewpoint itself is the place to pause, rather than adding a side trip.
Back over the old ski runsThe loop returns north across old ski runs above the day lodge before reaching the parking area.
The loop returns north across old ski runs above the day lodge before reaching the parking area. That open descent contrasts with the shaded climb. Some return sections have been described as narrower and steeper, with drop-offs beside the tread, so take care on this stretch.
Access and dogsThe kiosk is at the south end of the Mount Norquay Ski Area parking lot.
The kiosk is at the south end of the Mount Norquay Ski Area parking lot. Parking by the trailhead is limited and unlined gravel. Dogs may use Banff hiking trails in summer unless a restriction is posted; keep them 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.
