If you have just a short amount of time or energy, and want a great hike, this is for you. It begins just on the edge of town, but very quickly feels like wilderness. It is extremely popular but on the day we went, a Friday afternoon in October, it still felt peaceful. You climb through the woods on a comfortably steep trail, to gorgeous views of the mountains surrounding the town of Banff, and the valley below. Apparently this trail has been famous throughout the past 100+ years and many celebrities have climbed here as well. Well worth the effort. It took only about an hour and a half, including view stops.
This is one of the hikes that gives you good pay off for a "relatively" small effort. You might have seen Banff many times but this hike gives you a completely different perspective of the town! The view is almost 360 degree and needless to say, its breath taking. I found it a little difficult to get to this trail but realized that it's actually pretty straight forward when coming back. Don't let the small hiking distance fool you. The elevation gain and the switch backs make it a moderate trail. Having said that, even if you are a slow hiker and take your own sweet time, you should not take more than 1 to 1 1/4 hours to make it to the peak and it is totally worth it!
A beautiful hike with wonderful views of Banff, the Bow River, and surrounding mountain throughout the hike. You can begin the hike at the lower trailhead or 400 metres higher at the upper trailhead. If you walk to the trailheads from downtown Banff, account for the extra (uphill) distance. Please note: several reviewers have described this trail as easy or even "the easiest hike" in Banff. The trail is officially rated moderate difficulty due increase in elevation on the switchbacks. Not really a problem if you're in good shape. Those who aren't used to walking uphill or aren't used to breathing thinner air at higher elevations (the Banff townsite is over 1400 metres above sea level) should count on taking breaks on the way up.
Well maintained, well travelled trail. Switch backs take you through the forest with glimpses of views and then it opens up and the whole valley is spread out below you! About 900 feet total gain in elevation. Bring water
For a very short drive from Banff and a moderate hike (800 feet in 1.5 miles) the views are spectacular. You can see the Banff Spings hotel with Mount Rundle in the background AND the city of Banff. You will NOT be disappointed on this hike. It took us about 2 hours to do this (we are 50ish and in OK physical shape) with spending some time at the top enjoying the view. You should make this a must see if you are in the Banff area.
This trail is a series of uphill switchbacks and if you are a little unfit will need to take your time, however it is well worth the effort as once you get to the top of the mountain the view 360 degrees around is just breathtaking. You have views of the rockies, Banff town and the golf course and rivers flowing through. Just breathtaking and well worth taking a packed lunch and sitting awhile. Truly beautiful.
Fairly easy walk/hike for all ages. Plenty of places to stop along the way, I went up in December after it had snowed so it can be slippery on the walk up and if it's windy cold at the top. On the summit you're rewarded with beautiful views of the town and surrounding mountains. Definitely a must if you have a couple of spare hours. Remember to take a drink with you.
Accessible on foot from Banff centre, or from a car park nearer the trailhead, Tunnel Mountain is a lovely hill walk, which takes about 2 hours. The views from the top include Lake Minnewanka, the Bow River valley, Banff, and the golf course. There is a regular herd of wild elk which wanders across the golf course bordering the Bow River. We took the opportunity to drive to the course in the early evening to get a close up view of the animals- magnificent.
This hike to the top of Tunnel Mountain is very easy to get to starting just outside of the downtown area. The trails were well marked and very obvious, BUT while this may be an easy hike for an experienced hiker, parts of it may be strenuous for a novice. The view from the top is spectacular and worth the time / effort.
Tunnel mountain offers great views. The trail winds back and forth so it is very easy going. It is icy in winter so you will need to hire some crampons if you don't have some already.