Tunnel Mountain hike
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Tunnel Mountain hike
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The Tunnel Mountain hike gives you a short respite away from the crowded streets of Banff. The viewpoint from the top of the trail is beautiful, making you feel like you’re immersed in nature, despite the hordes shopping on Banff Ave just a kilometer away.
Getting there
This can be accessed on foot from Banff Avenue in the Banff town site. There is parking on St. Julien Road if you choose to go by car.
About
| When to do | All Year |
| Backcountry Campsites | No |
| Toilets | Downtown Banff |
| Family friendly | Yes |
| Route Signage | Average |
| Crowd Levels | High |
| Route Type | Out and back |
Tunnel Mountain
Elevation Graph
Weather
Route Description for Tunnel Mountain
After picking up your morning coffee and pastries (might we suggest Wild Flour Bakery), head out on Wolf Street to start your hike up Banff’s Tunnel Mountain.
When you get to the “T”, continue right along St. Julien Road. Walk for 0.2mi (approximately 6 minutes) until you see a grass-covered parking lot on your left-hand side. If you come to the Banff Centre, you’ve gone too far. The path to Tunnel Mountain is well marked and continues up from the left-hand side of the parking lot.
Cutting through the forest, you quickly cross over another road (Tunnel Mountain Drive, which has another car park, though it’s smaller). From here on up, the hike consists of moderate switchbacks to the top of Tunnel Mountain.
While walking, you get glimpses of the Banff town site and adjacent mountains. You will notice that the noise of the roads quickly disappears to be replaced by the sounds of scurrying chipmunks and squirrels darting in the trees as well as the gentle songs of the birds.
At your final switchback there will be a ledge on your right-hand side, with several areas that have a high degree of exposure. There are railings put up for protection, but be aware, and keep young children close by.
The final push to the top of Tunnel Mountain rewards you with a beautiful smooth rock viewing area. This is a great place to enjoy the sun, fine views and have a snack. There is an additional opportunity to explore past this point, with a 5-10 minute walk leading to a grassy meadow.
To descend from Tunnel Mountain, make sure you go back on the route you came up on.
2024 Hiking Tips to Tunnel Mountain
In 2024, Tunnel Mountain in Banff offers an accessible, family-friendly hike. Best visited from late May to October, the trail is expected to thaw early this year due to low snow levels. Essential hiking gear includes sturdy shoes, water, snacks, and bear spray.
Insider Hints
This is a busy hike; so starting early or late increases the possibility for tranquility and solitude. We recommend this as an after-dinner hike in summer, though ensure you start early enough to finish while the light is still good.
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andrea.hothi 4 years ago
It is quite steep, but views are great and it's fairly easy. We took over two hours because my husband's back was hurting and we enjoyed the views at the top for a bit. There is a second summit if you keep going another 5 minutes that's worth checking out!
RobCruz 4 years ago
We felt so immersed in nature during the hike. Great feeling.
kathkirz2 4 years ago
Not too hard, and you get a nice view of Banff up here. The trail was a bit busy on a warm Saturday, lots of families out!
Larry D. 4 years ago
The weather was awful, but I still appreciate the scenery.
JMC 4 years ago
Decent incline with amazing viewpoint on the top. Superb beauty.
Grant Ko. 4 years ago
I'm sure you'll gonna love this trail. The views along the way are just amazing. I can't take my eyes off this views.
MissGiggles 4 years ago
Great trail for first time hikers or anyone coming to Banff for the first time! This trail has a nice lookout of the whole town and it will make you work a bit but not so much that you'll be tired.
Calel P. 5 years ago
Great views and fun trail to hike. The crowded streets were not that bad either.
Alexander Ivanov 5 years ago
Amazing hike with few switchbacks. It had slight elevations but nothing too major.
Patrick Dumas 5 years ago
Got there early and luckily there was still plenty of parking. This one will take your breathe away, literally and figuratively.