Parking
Use the Fenland day-use area as the main parking option. Parks Canada notes limited parking near First Vermilion Lake; park only in designated spaces and do not rely on roadside stopping along the drive.
Overview
About Vermilion Lakes Trail
Why go
- Big Mount Rundle reflections and wetland views with almost no climbing
- Easy to reach from Banff, with a paved Fenland access connector
Heads up
- The road is shared with vehicles and cyclists, so it is not secluded
- Limited lakeside parking and no services along most of the drive
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,384–1,396 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
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
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Vermilion Lakes 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 Welcome Sign and Fenland TrailListen
“The area you're entering near the train station has a couple of key stops. You'll find the iconic Banff sign here, the classic photo spot with large wooden letters and Mount Norquay in the background.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Banff Train Station: Parking and Transit Hub
- Banff Canoe Club: Easy Downtown Paddling
- Vermilion Lakes: Mountain Reflections and Methane Bubbles
- Warner Stables: Banff Horseback and Sleigh Rides
- 178 audio storiesacross Banff’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Brown Bear, Gray Wolf, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 177 trails, 236 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 Vermilion Lakes Trail
Is this the right walk?This is an easy out-and-back of about 5.3 miles (8.
This is an easy out-and-back of about 5.3 miles (8.6 km) from the Fenland day-use area to the western end of Vermilion Lakes Drive and back. Allow around 2.5 hours if you want time at the lakes. The stored line follows the physical drive once from its paved Fenland-side junction, so the map shows one corridor rather than a doubled return track.
Follow the lakesThe mostly flat route runs beside three shallow lakes and broad wetlands, with open views…
The mostly flat route runs beside three shallow lakes and broad wetlands, with open views toward Mount Rundle. The scenery changes more than the effort does: look for marsh channels, calm water, and birdlife along the shoreline. For photos, wait for a still stretch of water and include Mount Rundle in the reflection rather than filling the frame with road.
Start at FenlandUse the Fenland day-use area as your practical trailhead, then take the paved access path to…
Use the Fenland day-use area as your practical trailhead, then take the paved access path to Vermilion Lakes Drive. Parks Canada also notes limited parking near First Vermilion Lake, but those spaces fill quickly. The Fenland area has picnic tables, while the drive itself has no dependable services, so bring what you need before setting out.
Share the roadThe route is paved and friendly to walkers and bikes, but it is a public drive, not a separated…
The route is paved and friendly to walkers and bikes, but it is a public drive, not a separated wilderness path. Expect occasional vehicles, cyclists, and limited roadside stopping. Keep wildlife at a respectful distance, and take extra care when the surface is icy or packed with snow in winter. I’d choose this for easy scenery and reflections, not solitude or a strenuous hike.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Banff
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 mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Banff. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
