Tunnel Mountain Route Guide
Table of contents
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 0.4 km (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.
If you’d prefer to let someone else handle the planning, you can also join one of the guided hiking tours in Banff offered by 10Adventures.
What to Expect on the Tunnel Mountain Hike in 2026
In 2026, Tunnel Mountain remains one of the most accessible summit hikes in Banff, offering wide views over the Bow Valley with relatively modest effort. Expect a well-maintained trail, steady use during the summer months, and changing conditions in shoulder seasons. This hike is popular year-round, but winter and early spring may require traction and extra care.
Based in the townsite? Find more hikes around Banff.
Insider Hints for Tunnel Mountain
- 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.
Getting to the Tunnel Mountain Trailhead
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.Route Information for Tunnel Mountain
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 Forecast
Check Area WeatherReviews for Tunnel Mountain
It’s harder than it looks, but still see lots of younger children.
- Technical Difficulty
- Physical Difficulty
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!
- Trip Length
- 02:12
- Technical Difficulty
- Physical Difficulty
We felt so immersed in nature during the hike. Great feeling.
- Trip Length
- 02:30
- Technical Difficulty
- Physical Difficulty
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!
- Technical Difficulty
- Physical Difficulty
The weather was awful, but I still appreciate the scenery.
- Technical Difficulty
- Physical Difficulty
Decent incline with amazing viewpoint on the top. Superb beauty.
- Technical Difficulty
- Physical Difficulty
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.
- Technical Difficulty
- Physical Difficulty
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.
- Trip Length
- 02:30
- Technical Difficulty
- Physical Difficulty
Amazing hike with few switchbacks. It had slight elevations but nothing too major.
- Technical Difficulty
- Physical Difficulty
Got there early and luckily there was still plenty of parking. This one will take your breathe away, literally and figuratively.
- Technical Difficulty
- Physical Difficulty
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