Bow Falls & Hoodoos Trail

You do not need a car or a ticket to see some of Banff's best scenery. Starting from downtown, the Bow River runs past the town to Bow Falls, a broad, low cascade framed by forest just below the Fairmont Banff Springs, where the Spray River joins the Bow. Across the river, the Surprise Corner viewpoint at the east end of Buffalo Street offers the classic frame of the Banff Springs rising from the trees with the mountains behind, and from there the Hoodoos Trail runs 4.8 kilometres one way along the river to the hoodoos — tall, eroded pillars of glacial sediment capped by harder rock, standing on a bench above the valley with views of Mount Rundle. Banff and Lake Louise Tourism rates the trail moderate, with about 115 metres of elevation gain, and notes that it is open year-round, with traction devices recommended in winter because it can be icy. The trailhead is about 1.2 kilometres from downtown, and parking at Surprise Corner is extremely limited, so walking from town is the easiest approach. You can return the same way or loop back along Tunnel Mountain Road. For a shorter outing, simply walk the riverside path from the Bow River bridge to the falls and back, or drive up to the hoodoos viewpoint from Tunnel Mountain Road. This is the walk to do on arrival day, on a rest day between ski days, or whenever the high country is socked in.

The geography of Banff makes sense from these trails. The Bow River flows out of the mountains past the town, drops over Bow Falls and continues east down the valley toward Canmore, while Tunnel Mountain and Mount Rundle stand on either side. The falls are not tall, but they are wide and powerful, especially in early summer when snowmelt swells the river; in winter, ice builds along the edges and the spray freezes onto the rocks. A riverside path on the south side leads from the bridge to a viewing area near the falls, and the area beside the Banff Springs golf course road is popular with walkers and photographers.

The Hoodoos Trail. From Surprise Corner, the trail drops through forest to the river, follows it east beneath the cliffs of Tunnel Mountain and then climbs to the hoodoos viewpoint. Along the way there are views of the river, the Fairmont Banff Springs and the golf course, and it is common to see elk in the meadows. The hoodoos themselves are formed when harder caprocks protect softer sediment from erosion, leaving pillars standing while the surrounding material washes away. Allow one to three hours depending on whether you walk one way and return by road, or go out and back.

Practical tips. Wear proper footwear and, in winter, microspikes or similar traction. Be bear aware in spring, summer and fall, carry bear spray, and keep dogs on leash. Parking at Surprise Corner and Bow Falls is limited, so walk from downtown; the whole outing starts at your hotel door. Combine the walk with a coffee on Banff Avenue, a visit to the Whyte Museum or the Cave and Basin, and an evening soak at the Upper Hot Springs for an easy, car-free day.