Where to ride in Banff
This is our backyard. Whether you're here for a family cruise along the Bow Valley Parkway or you want to get worked on Topp Notch, we've mapped out the rides worth doing — straight from the people who live and ride here.
The Best Places to Ride Near Banff (For Every Level)
By the team at Bear Street Outfitters · 203A Bear Street, Banff
We spend a lot of time on these trails — before work, after work, and whenever Parks Canada will let us get away with it. So when customers come into the shop and ask where they should ride, we don't have to think very hard. Here's our honest, local guide to the best places to ride near Banff, broken down by what kind of day you're after.
🟢 For Beginners & Families
Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A)
Distance: 17 km one way (car-free section) to 50 km to Lake Louise | Type: Paved road | Trailhead: Fireside Day Use Area or Banff Train Station parking lot
This one is special — and if you're here during the right window, don't miss it. Parks Canada runs a seasonal vehicle closure on the eastern 17 km of the Bow Valley Parkway (from the Trans-Canada junction near Banff out to Johnston Canyon), turning one of the most scenic roads in Canada into a car-free cycling route. The closures run from May 1 to June 25, and again from August 28 to October 2 each year.
Riding it during those windows is genuinely unlike anything else in the Rockies. The road winds through montane forest with views of the peaks, past meadows full of wildflowers, and through some of the best wildlife habitat in the park — wolves, elk, bears, and bighorn sheep are all regulars along this corridor. Because it's a road rather than singletrack, it suits all bike types: hybrids, road bikes, e-bikes, and even families with kids in trailers.
Parks Canada encourages cyclists to start from the Banff Train Station parking lot, where there's free parking. From there you can connect to the parkway via Vermilion Lakes Road. The round trip to Johnston Canyon and back is around 3–4 hours at a relaxed pace — longer if you stop to walk into the canyon itself (lock your bike at the trailhead, bikes aren't permitted inside).
Outside the closure dates the road is still very rideable — it has a wide shoulder and a 60 km/h speed limit — but the car-free experience is the one to chase.
Note: During the spring closure, travel on the 17 km section is also restricted overnight between 8PM and 8AM to protect wildlife during the critical spring period. Plan accordingly.
Banff Legacy Trail
Distance: 29 km one way | Type: Paved multi-use path | Trailheads: Multiple along Banff Ave
If you've never ridden in the Rockies before, start here. The Legacy Trail is a fully paved, mostly flat route connecting Banff to Canmore through some genuinely jaw-dropping scenery — think Vermilion Lakes, Cascade Ponds, and wide open views of the mountain range. There's no technical skill required, just legs and a willingness to stop every ten minutes for photos. It's also a great intro for kids. Pick up the trail from multiple points in town and ride as little or as much as you like.
Best time to ride: May through October. This one dries out early and stays rideable late in the season.
Spray River Loop (East & West)
Distance: ~22 km loop | Type: Gravel double-track | Trailhead: Golf Course Road or behind Fairmont Banff Springs
A rolling gravel loop along the Spray River with enough scenery to keep any non-rider interested. You'll pass through forest, along the river, and catch glimpses of the Fairmont Banff Springs perched above the valley. It's popular with hikers and horse riders, so keep your speed sensible and yield when needed. Great for a half-day with a picnic at the river bridge.
Note: Watch for horses and bears. This trail earns its wildlife tick boxes.
Lake Minnewanka Loop
Distance: 15.5 km loop | Type: Paved road/shared path | Trailhead: Cascade Ponds day-use area
A classic half-day ride from Banff. The loop takes you up to Lake Minnewanka and Two Jack Lake on smooth, paved road — perfect for road bikes, hybrids, or e-bikes. Bighorn sheep are basically a guarantee. Grizzly bears are less guaranteed but very much possible, so carry bear spray (we sell it in the shop). Rideable in either direction; counterclockwise gives you the lakes on your right side, which most people prefer.
🟡 For Intermediate Riders
Tunnel Mountain Trails
Distance: 7.9 km network | Type: Singletrack | Trailhead: Hoodoos Viewpoint or Tunnel Mountain Campground
This is where Banff's singletrack scene really starts. The Tunnel Mountain network has something for most skill levels — rolling intermediate loops, technical rocky sections, and views of Mount Rundle and the Bow Valley that make the climbs worth every pedal stroke. The trails can be ridden in any direction and linked in different combinations, so you can dial the challenge up or down depending on how your legs are feeling. Try the Wolf Scat Alley side trail if you want to add a bit of spice.
Local tip: Go early. These trails sit close to town and get busy with hikers by mid-morning.
Goat Creek Trail
Distance: ~18 km one way | Type: Wide singletrack/double-track | Trailhead: Smith-Dorrien Road, Canmore
One of the most popular rides in the area, and for good reason. The Goat Creek Trail drops gently from the Canmore side down to the Spray River Trailhead in Banff — mostly downhill, mostly fun, and full of river views. It's a classic shuttle ride: get a friend to drop you at the top, ride down to Banff, and meet them at the Fairmont. Or book a shuttle through one of the local outfitters. Connect it to the Spray River West trail and make a longer day of it.
Skill note: A few steeper sections and some rocky stretches, but nothing that'll scare a confident intermediate.
🔴 For Advanced & Technical Riders
Stoney Lookout
Distance: 4.8 km loop | Type: Technical singletrack | Trailhead: Mount Norquay Ski Area parking lot
Short, sharp, and humbling. Stoney Lookout starts at the Norquay parking lot and climbs hard through rooted, rocky forest to a viewpoint above the Banff townsite. The descent is loose, twisting, and does not forgive impatience. If you can clean the whole loop without dabbing, you've earned your coffee. The views of Cascade Mountain and the Bow Valley from the top are exceptional — if you make it.
Bonus loop: Combine with Lower Stoney for a longer, more complete session at Norquay.
Topp Notch
Distance: ~3.2 km | Type: Technical singletrack | Rating: Banff's most technical | Trailhead: Tunnel Mountain area
If you're looking for Banff's answer to a bike park trail, this is it. Berms, drops, a wall ride, and a genuine "squirrel catcher" entry section that will sort riders out quickly. It's short and fast — most people lap it. The flow is real when you're carrying speed, and the features are committing enough to keep your focus sharp. Check trail conditions on Trailforks before heading out, as this one can get chunky after rain.
Before You Go: A Few Things Worth Knowing
Bear spray is mandatory — not optional, not a suggestion. We stock and rent it at the shop if you don't have your own.
A Parks Canada pass is required to enter Banff National Park. You can pick one up at the east gate or purchase online.
Seasonal closures apply to some trails. Always check the Parks Canada website or pop into the shop before heading out — conditions in Banff change fast, and the last thing you want is to show up at a trailhead to a closed gate.
E-bikes are permitted on most designated trails in Banff. Ask us in the shop and we can point you to the current approved list.
Trail conditions on Trailforks are updated by the local community and are worth checking before any ride. The Bow Valley Mountain Bike Alliance (BVMBA) also does great work maintaining and advocating for trails in the area.
Need a Bike?
We rent full-suspension and hardtail mountain bikes right here at 203A Bear Street, with everything included — helmet, lock, trail advice from people who actually ride these trails. We also do same-day tune-ups, repairs, and can set your suspension up for the terrain before you head out.
Open every day, 9AM – 8PM. Call us at +1 877 447 1934 or book online.
Ride safe out there — and we'll see you on the trails.
