Banff Bow River to Bow Falls to Banff Springs

Route Description for Banff Bow River to Bow Falls to Banff Springs

This hike is the best and easiest way to see Banff on foot and makes an excellent walk after dinner or for a lazy day. You can start anywhere in Banff, though the map for this hike starts at the wonderful Banff Springs Hotel.

The crux of this walk is actually finding the path down to the Bow River from the Banff Springs Hotel. Ask for directions to Waldhaus, a wonderful German restaurant and pub. You’ll know you’re on the right path when you will find a public set of wooden stairs that lead down to the Bow River and Waldhaus. On the way down you can look across the Spray River and you will see the Banff Springs Golf course, a world-renowned fairway.

Pass the Waldhaus, and continue down to the Spray River. DO NOT CROSS the bridge towards the golf course, but continue on the left-hand side of the Bow River. You may be lucky to see some river rafts launching from here for a trip down the Bow, a great idea for hot days. From here, you’ll quickly reach Bow Falls.

From Bow Falls, the best path is a series of stairs that hugs the river. These stairs are very difficult with a stroller. This path gives great views of Bow Falls and eventually lets you walk along the Bow River through a lovely grove of trees. You can cross the Bow either on the pedestrian bridge or later across the main road bridge, which leads onto Banff Avenue.

We recommend walking down Banff Avenue and doing a little window shopping or picking up a coffee or a slice of pizza at Aardvark Pizza on Caribou Street. Walk all the way down to Wolf Street and then turn left and follow the street as it bends towards the left. You soon come back towards a tranquil section of the Bow River. Pass through the large Banff Central Park (which occasionally has live bands at the bandstand) and cross over the bridge for your return journey back through the forest to the Banff Springs hotel.