Photo: John Vetterli from Toronto, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
📍 Banff Moderate
9.5 km
Distance
+190 m
Elevation gain
3 h
Time
Moderate
Difficulty
✓
Dogs on leash
From Cave and Basin, a paved path runs through the forest for about 1 km, opens to a mountain view across the Bow River, then climbs gently to the start of a hiking-only loop.
The loop is the adventurous part: a steep, narrow trail up and around a water-filled canyon, with natural rock steps near the start. There's a bike rack where the pavement ends, so you can cycle the first section.
Start at the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, at the end of Cave Avenue. It's a short drive, bike ride or walk from downtown Banff.
📍 Cave and Basin National Historic Site, Banff National Park
Late spring to fall, once the canyon loop is free of snow and ice. Mornings are the quietest time.
Elk and deer often graze near Cave and Basin and along the river. Keep at least 30 m from them, and 100 m from bears, wolves, cougars and coyotes.
User experiences, not official information. Always check the official status before you go.
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