Tunnel Mountain Banff: Canadian Rockies Hikes

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It’s no secret that the town of Banff in the Canadian Rockies is a beautiful place. And with that, you sometimes have to work a little harder to get the very best views. Sure, there are mountains at every turn and gorgeous blue lakes all around. The town itself is not too shabby to look at either. But as you can imagine, the best views are if you get higher up and are able to really appreciate the stunning jewel of Banff National Park. That’s what I did on a recent trip there. I took to one of the town’s most popular hikes, the Tunnel Mountain Banff trail, to really get to see the town at its finest.

Tunnel Mountain Banff hike stats

• Difficulty level: Easy to Moderate
• Trail length: 4.3 km (2.7 miles)
• Time needed: 1-1.5 hours
• Elevation: 270 meters (885 feet)
• Trail type: Out and back
• Technical aspects: Mostly uphill on the way there, a number of steeper sections and a decent number of switchbacks. But otherwise, a very well maintained trail with plenty of room to pass those coming the other way

But how easy is the Tunnel Mountain Banff hike really?

The trail is one of the most popular in Banff, so it can’t be that bad, right? Overall the hike is quite pleasant. It’s relatively short and can be done in an hour or just over depending on fitness and how distracted you get by the views. That’s why it can be classed as easy. But it does start with a rather steep incline and the whole way there is mostly uphill which is why I categorize it closer to moderate.

I took plenty of rest stops to give myself a chance to slow my breathing. And of course to drink plenty of water while admiring the scenery. It took me about 50 minutes to get to the top with a number of breaks. There are some level areas of the trail that give you a chance to catch your breath again, and the upside to this steep incline is that the return journey is all downhill and can be done in half the time.

Who can do this trail?

We saw pretty much every age doing the Tunnel Mountain Banff trail from small children to seniors. As long as you pace yourself the trail is not difficult. The path is even enough with the exception of a few rocky surfaces closer to the top. And naturally the views make it well worth the trip. Because of the length of the trail and the fact it doesn’t take all day means that it is more popular. Everyone from locals who use it as a work out to tourists seeking picture-perfect moments will be on the trail.

How to get to Tunnel Mountain Banff trail head

That’s the great thing about this one, you don’t even need a car to get there. The trail head is easily accessible a short distance from the town of Banff. If you take Wolf Street from Banff Avenue and walk East, continue until you hit Grizzly Street (yes, really). Turn right and keep left on St. Julien Drive when the road forks. You’ll pass two streets on the right, the second one being Wolverine Street. Keep going a little further and you’ll see the start of the trail next to the parking lot on the left. You can drive and park there, but we walked from the town and it only took about 5 or 10 minutes extra.

When should I go?

Think about the time of year you will be visiting. If it’s winter then the Tunnel Mountain Banff trail will be icy, snowy and slippery. Check trail conditions and wear appropriate footwear. At any other time of year be aware that the weather in the Rockies changes very quickly. You can be starting the hike on a hot summer day only to have rain and wind come in very quickly. Be prepared. No matter what time of year you go my number one piece of advice is to go early. The trail is very popular and usually busy, so it might be a little quieter if you get there before 9 am. We did this in August and already the trail was rather busy at 9 am.

Rockies hiking: What should I bring with me?

It’s not an epic adventure and is a relatively short hike, but the weather changes quickly and the altitude means temperatures vary. While most people won’t have many issues with the hike, you might find the steep gradient could warrant trekking poles if you have knee problems or just for a little assist. We did it without them but saw others with them. Here are a few things to remember:

• Bring plenty of water – the hike is short but it is steep in places and you might need to hydrate more often
• Healthy energy snacks – nuts, fruit, seeds, a granola bar and some juice for a little sugar hit
• Camera – the views of the Bow River and surrounding area are incredible, don’t forget to charge the battery ahead of time. I used my phone as well as my DSLR camera with zoom and regular lens
• Hat and sunglasses – it can get hot, especially in summer and the closer you get to the top the less shade there is. Cover up well!
• Sunblock and bug spray – the sunblock might be necessary, the bug spray will be. There are always a few mosquitoes around that I found bug spray to be essential on all our Rockies hikes
• Layers of clothes – we hiked in longer pants as it was earlier in the day but shorts work fine as long as you know it’ll get cooler. Bring a sweater and a light jacket just in case of rain
• Comfortable shoes – trail shoes work perfectly, so do hiking boots. Running shoes/sneakers are fine if there’s a good tread on them. Invest in comfier shoes for all the hikes you’ll likely want to do in the Rockies. I got my trail shoes for $70 and they were amazing

Remember to take a reusable water bottle with you on your travels, like this one from FastTech

Doing the Tunnel Mountain hike

The trail is a workout, there’s no denying that. But there is a great payoff as there are spectacular views, so don’t forget your camera. We started in the parking lot at the lower trail head and the incline was steep from the get go. There’s a moment of reprieve as you cross the road to the start of the upper trail head. From this point on the path continues to ascend at a decent rate, and there are a number of switch backs. Because of this there are points where the trail levels off for a few moments so you can catch your breath. Don’t feel bad about stopping to rest, just remember it’s busy and keep to the side to let others pass.

Towards the middle of the hike you start to see some of the views on the right hand side of the trail. The Fairmont Banff Springs in the distance (which is where I was lucky enough to be staying), and the town of Banff and the Bow river below. The trail starts to get a little rockier and it’s a little ways after the start of this that you’ll come across an opening on the other side of the mountain for views of the valley below, including the mountains, river and the greener than green Fairmont Banff golf course. Take a break, take your pictures, and don’t celebrate just yet as there’s still a little bit of incline to go.

Once you get to the top you’ll see a couple of the famous National Parks Canada red wooden lounger chairs overlooking what is arguably one of the best views of the town of Banff. Take a breather and enjoy a snack that you hopefully brought with you. You likely spot squirrels and chipmunks vying for your attention (and your food). A few steps over to the right of this spot is another lookout area with a couple of information boards. The hike to the top took us about 50 minutes with some stops. Then we took about 30 minutes with photo stops to get back down the same route.

Is the Tunnel Mountain hike worth the view?

It is. The trail is busy, no doubt. The trail is also at times a bit monotonous and of course it does get steep quite fast. But it’s not a difficult or technical trail. If you have a spare hour or two I would recommend it as a fun family activity. Or a workout for your legs. That will make it even more satisfying to be able to go back into the town of Banff and enjoy an ice cold beer at the Banff Ave Brewing or food in one of their amazing restaurants.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Have you done the Tunnel Mountain Banff hike? Or any other good hikes in the area? What are your thoughts on the hike?