Bow River Trail – Banff Legacy Trail loop from Banff

Bike touring routes & trails

Canada

Alberta

Bow River Trail – Banff Legacy Trail loop from Banff

Moderate

4.6

(34)

488

riders

Bow River Trail – Banff Legacy Trail loop from Banff

03:07

53.0km

300m

Cycling

Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 21, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 28.2 km for 102 m

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

617 m

Bow River Trail

Highlight • Trail

Along the Bow River, from the train tracks to almost the Surprise Corner or the Bow Falls, there is a beautiful trail, the Bow River Sidewalk. To pause there are benches here and there. Many locals picnicking or walking the dog. It is a beautiful walk and most of it is paved.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

4.01 km

View of Stony Lookout Mountain

Highlight • Viewpoint

Just east of Bend, the towering peak of Stony Lookout Mountain rises into the sky. A fantastic spot to take a picture and embrace the landscape.

Tip by

6.32 km

Banff Legacy Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

This partially paved trail follows parallel to the main road and leads between Canmore and Banff. Set in a valley of the Canadian Rockies, you are sure to have spectacular views in all directions all along the way!

Tip by

26.0 km

Bow River at Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park

Highlight • River

26.2 km

Pathway along the Bow River

Highlight • Trail

The Three Sisters Pathway runs along the mighty Bow River. This section is part of the the Trans Canada Trail.

Tip by

27.6 km

Policeman's Creek

Lake

28.8 km

Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail

Highlight • Cycleway

34.9 km

Banff Legacy Trail

Highlight • Cycleway

Created to mark the 125th anniversary of Banff National Park, the Banff Legacy Trail connects the communities of Canmore and Banff. Along the way, you will find several rest and picnic areas with fantastic panoramic views. This scenic area is a wonderful, environmentally friendly way to explore by bike. The best time of year for the tour is from mid-April to mid-October. Incidentally, the route is approved for e-bikes and can be started from Banff or Canmore.

Tip by

40.1 km

Red Chairs Viewpoint — Banff National Park

Highlight • Viewpoint

Take a seat in one of the rustic Adirondack chairs and enjoy the stunning panoramic view of the Rocky Mountains and the majestic Bow River.

Tip by

53.0 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

48.0 km

2.98 km

1.39 km

391 m

196 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

50.4 km

2.06 km

379 m

210 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (1,420 m)

Lowest point (1,310 m)

Weather

Today

Monday 5 October

19°C

4°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 15.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

August 10, 2025,Banff-Canmore Legacy Trail via Lake Minnewanka

Couple of steep bits up towards the lake but a beautiful ride otherwise

September 27, 2025,Canmore Trails (Nordic Centre and Lions Park) from Banff via Legacy Trail

Autumn in the Canadian Rockies is like coldcoldcoldHOTcoldHOTcoldHOTcoldcoldcolddamnwhyisitsocold. Lots of closed trails at Nordic Centre unfortunately. But what was open was fun... admittedly this is based on avoiding the scary black diamond routes and sticking to the chicken runs. The elevation profile appears to have adopted a Bat Signal silhouette, cool