Bow River Trail — Attraction in Banff

The Bow River Trail is exactly what you'd want from a Banff experience without the challenging hikes. This well-maintained path offers stunning mountain vistas and peaceful river views that make it ideal for families, casual walkers, and anyone looking to ease into the Rockies. What I loved most was the versatility - we saw joggers, cyclists, and families with strollers all enjoying the same route. The art installations along the way add unexpected cultural touches that complement the natural scenery beautifully. The trail connects nicely to downtown Banff, making it convenient to grab coffee before or after. The relatively flat terrain makes it accessible for most fitness levels while still delivering that quintessential Canadian Rockies experience. Would definitely recommend as either a gentle introduction to the area or a relaxing way to spend an hour or two along one of Canada's most...

If you're staying in Banff and want to combine exercise with sightseeing, this hike is perfect. The trail runs alongside the river and is popular year-round. At the end of the hike, you can connect to the Bow Falls Trail and continue to the stunning falls, where you can pause to take in the view.

No matter the season, this trail is always safe and enjoyable. In the summer, you'll find people kayaking, paddleboarding, and sunbathing along the way. There are several parking spots near the trailhead, with most offering two hours of free parking. However, finding an empty spot can be challenging on weekends. Keep in mind that after 8:00 pm, there are no time limits...

As a last minute stop in Banff we decided to walk this trail and we were very glad we did. The starting point for us was near the train station and we walk about 1.5 km to Bow Falls. The river at the start was very mirrorlike and as we proceed it became rapids and eventually plunged about 30 feet at the falls. The scenery was great the entire way. A couple of bonuses. They had an art display along the trail that had some very imaginative forms of nature art. The metal leaves pictured was one of my favorites as the leaf veins were made up of various calming words. We also saw several deer with impressive antlers near...