Bow River Loop

C lassic Bike E v en t s
in t he Park

11

7.1 km loop
STARTING POINTS: Lake Louise Campground
or Bow River Bridge opposite Lake Louise train station
This beautiful riverside trail is a short, easy ride that follows both
sides of the Bow River. The Bow River Loop is ideal for families
or beginner riders and can be shortened by cutting across any of
the bridges along the way.

Bike Fest
June
Five hundred cyclists from
Western Canada and the US will
participate in five competitive
events and two family-friendly
races. Youd be hard pressed to find
a more spectacular setting!

Ross Lake

7.3 km one way

STARTING POINT: Behind the
Chateau Lake Louise staff residences

RBC GranFondo Banff

August
RBC GranFondo Banff will see
cyclists of all skill levels follow a
beautifully scenic 142 km route
around Canadas iconic Rocky
Mountains, starting and finishing
in the picturesque town of Banff.

10

Beginning in Lake Louise or Castle Junction, the Bow Valley

Parkway winds its way through forest with open views of
the Bow River and impressive peaks such as Mount Temple.
This active wildlife corridor offers many interpretive exhibits,
trailheads for hiking and picnic areas. Amenities are available
at Castle Junction, Baker Creek, and in Lake Louise.

To Golden

VILLAGE
OF LAKE
LOUISE 11
CHATEAU
LAKE
LOUISE
Loui
se
12
ke
La
D

Icefields Parkway

LAKE
LOUISE

13

Moraine Lake Road

15 km one way
STARTING POINT: Moraine Lake Road
off Lake Louise Drive

Icefields
Parkway
13

Bow Valley
Parkway
10

r iv
e
14

To Castle
Junction
& Banff

15

14

Climb your way up to Moraine Lake via Moraine Lake Road,

which offers superb views of the famous Valley of the Ten
Peaks. This road is best cycled early or late in the day when car
traffic is lower.

ai
ne
L

Roa d
ke

30 km Lake Louise to Castle Junction

STARTING POINTS:
Castle Junction or Lake Louise

93

or
M

Bow Valley Parkway

To Bow
Summit

12

Rated one of the worlds great scenic highways by National

Geographic, the Icefields Parkway is a journey through
expansive mountain wilderness, ancient glaciers, sweeping
valleys and mountain lakes of every shade of blue. Popular
stops include Crowfoot Glacier, Bow Lake and Peyto Lake
near Bow Summit. Multi-day options include continuing
north towards the Columbia Icefield and Jasper. Amenities
are available at historic Num-Ti-Jah Lodge.

L A K E L OU ISE A R E A

BIKING CLASSICS

This singletrack trail begins near Lake Louise and takes you
through sub-alpine forest to Ross Lake, a small lake nestled
against an impressive rock wall in Yoho National Park. It is
primarily an intermediate trail with a few short advanced
sections, and can be ridden out and back again or as a loop when
connected with the Great Divide.

48 km, Lake Louise to Bow Summit

STARTING POINT:
Lake Louise Visitor Info Centre

Visit BanffLakeLouise.com for more information

on these and other events.

L A K E L OU ISE A R E A

Moraine Lake Highline

9.3 km one way

STARTING POINT: Small parking area
on right, 2.5 km up Moraine Lake Road

15

Considered the best trail in the Lake Louise area, the Moraine
Lake Highline is posed to test the skills of advanced riders.
Though the trail begins with a demanding uphill climb, riders
are later rewarded with incredible views of the Valley of the
Ten Peaks and Moraine Lake.
Important Note: The upper section of this trail is closed to all users
in mid to late summer when buffalo berries (an important food
source for bears) are ripe. Check in with the Lake Louise Visitor
Centre for closure dates and important information.

The Toe
Banff National Park features some of Canadas most scenic
roadways and trails, making it an exciting destination to
explore on two wheels. The Biking CLASSICS featured in this
guide will take you through beautiful sub-alpine forest, next to
sparkling waters of glacier-fed lakes and under iconic peaks.
While there are seemingly limitless options to enjoy, these
rides are considered classics and not to be missed. Cyclists
of all kinds, from those content to pedal along scenic roads
to mountain enthusiasts eager to tackle a rocky, root-laden
singletrack, will surely be inspired. Go out for a quick spin or
pack up your panniers for a longer tour; theres a perfect bike
ride awaiting you in Canadas flagship national park.

For More Information

Additional information on biking, bike rentals and

other activities in Banff National Park can be found at
BanffLakeLouise.com. For up to the minute road and trail
conditions, visit our Visitor Information Centres in Banff
or Lake Louise.

7.9 km
STARTING POINTS: Hoodoos Parking Lot
or Tunnel Mountain Campground

The Toe is a winding, narrow single-track that features

exceptional views and an exhilarating mix of challenging and
exposed technical terrain for intermediate and advanced riders.
It offers a great extension to the Tunnel Bench Loop and can
be ridden in any direction.

Bow Falls Hoodoos Trail

4.3 km one way

STARTING POINTS: Hoodoos Parking Lot
or Surprise Corner Parking Lot

Important Note: Due to wildlife activity, bikes are not permitted

on this trail between July 10 and September 15

13.1 km loop
STARTING POINTS: Cascade Ponds, Lake
Minnewanka Day-use Area, or the Banff Legacy Trail

B anff A R E A
Easy

Moderate
Challenging

10.7 km loop
STARTING POINT: Central Park Parking
Lot, west end of Buffalo Street

Trail

Tunnel Mountain Drive is an intermediate road biking option that

contours the Sleeping Buffalo of Tunnel Mountain and offers
great views due to its elevation. This ride can be accessed right from
Buffalo Street in Banff before it begins to climb around the backside
of Tunnel Mountain. To extend this outstanding ride further,
connect with the Banff Legacy Trail or Lake Minnewanka Road.

oa d

ew
nn

Road

e
Dr iv

Bow Valley
Parkway
9

To Lake
Louise

s
ake
L
n
ilio
TOWN
Verm

Legacy
Trail West

OF BANFF

Lake
Minnewanka

LAKE
LOUISE

Map not to scale and for general location only.

Please visit our Visitor Information Centre
for detailed maps and information.

Moraine
Lake

Va

yP

rk

ay

Lake
Minnewanka

Castle
Junction

93

To Radium
Hot Springs

TRANSCANANDA
HIGHWAY

Tunnel
Mountain

BANFF

Two Jack
Lake

Johnson
Lake Road

Hoodoos

iv e 4
n ff
tain D r
Ba
Le Moun
3
nel
8 Tu n

Tunnel
Mountain

Though some roads open up for cyclists earlier in the year,

the road and mountain biking season in Banff National
Park typically spans from May to October. Weather in the
mountains is unpredictable even in summer, so be prepared
with extra layers. Trail conditions can change at a moments
notice due to snowfall, snowmelt and mud.

Vegetation and Wildlife

The beauty of the trails and roads featured in this guide is due
to the fact that they are located in a national park. Please be
respectful of the local inhabitants by keeping your distance
from wildlife and avoiding riding over sensitive vegetation off
the trail.

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Mt Norquay

To Golden

Biking Season

Mi

Tunnel Mountain Drive

M A P OF R EGION

To Calgary

If youre up for panoramic views and some fun hills, the Lake
Minnewanka Road is a great option. This two-lane road is the
gateway to many popular attractions, including Cascade Ponds,
Bankhead, Two Jack Lake, Johnson Lake and, of course, Lake
Minnewanka. Connect this ride with Tunnel Mountain Drive
for a truly exhilarating route.

For incredible views of Mount Rundle and the Bow River,

take the Bow Falls Hoodoo Trail, which offers riders some
challenging climbing and descending. This short singletrack
can be ridden in both directions, but is best ridden from North
to South. Connect this trail with the Tunnel Bench Loop for a
longer ride.

ank
a

Lake Minnewanka Road

ke

C L A SSIC BIK ING IN

B A N F F NAT IONA L PA R K

One of Banff s most popular rides, the Tunnel Bench Loop

contours the top of Tunnel Mountain and offers fantastic views
of Mount Rundle and Cascade Mountain. Great for all levels,
this entry-level singletrack can be ridden in either direction.
Some vertical exposure provides a bit of excitement, which is
easily averted by walking your bike. Extend your ride by linking
this trail with The Toe or the Bow Falls Hoodoos Trail.

Beginning in Banff, the Bow Valley Parkway winds its

way through forest with open views of the Bow River and
impressive peaks such as Castle Mountain. This active wildlife
corridor offers many interpretive exhibits, trailheads for
hiking, picnic areas and campgrounds. Amenities are available
at Castle Junction, located mid-point between Lake Louise
and Banff. The entire Bow Valley Parkway makes for an
outstanding roundtrip from Banff.

La

5.7 km
STARTING POINTS: Hoodoos Lookout
Parking Lot or Tunnel Mountain Campground

A local favourite, the Lake Minnewanka Trail skirts along the

scenic shoreline of Banff National Parks largest lake. This narrow
singletrack is punctuated by some technical sections that are sure
to get your heart pumping.

To Jasper

Tunnel Bench Loop

31 km Banff to Castle Junction

STARTING POINTS: Trans-Canada Highway,
5.5 km west of the Mt. Norquay overpass and Banff
Legacy Trail (West), or mid-point from Castle Junction

93

ll e

From the Town of Banff, the Banff Legacy Trail provides

cyclists with two options: heading East toward the Banff
National Park gates, a route which parallels the TransCanada
Highway and spectacular Mount Rundle, or heading West
along Vermilion Lakes to link up with the Bow Valley Parkway.

24.9 km one way

STARTING POINT: Lake Minnewanka
Day-use Area, kiosk at far end of Picnic Area

ow

With 26 kilometres of paved trails and roadways, breathtaking

views and picnic areas along the way, the Banff Legacy Trail is a
superb option for families and cyclists of all levels of experience.

Bow Valley Parkway

ast

STARTING POINTS: Valleyview Picnic Area, Cascade

Ponds, Vermilion Lakes, East end of Banff Avenue

Lake Minnewanka Trail

lE

Av
e
cy

Banff National Park Pass

Johnson
Lake

ga

Banff Legacy Trail

(East/West) 26 km

Visitors are required to purchase a Park Pass for travel inside

Banff National Park. Entry and service fees are charged at
most National Parks and National Historic Sites in Canada
and are use to support visitor services and facilities. Park
Passes can be purchased at any of the park entry gates, Visitor
Information Centres or online at parkpass.banfflakelouise.com

To
Calgary

BanffLakeLouise.com