Kid-Friendly Hikes in Banff: A Local Family’s Top 25 Picks

Banff National Park might just be the perfect outdoor playground for active families. With so many things to do in Banff with kids, you’ll have trouble fitting it all in. If your Banff itinerary allows it, we recommend adding in some of these amazing kid-friendly hikes in Banff.

We’ve been hiking with kids in Banff for over a decade. We’ve experienced it all, from hiking with an 8-week-old to hiking with toddlers, school-aged children and pre-teens. With so many family hikes in the Canadian Rockies under our belts, we know all the best kid-friendly hikes in Banff.

In addition to all the hiking in Banff with kids, we’ve also been hiking around the world with our two kids. We share that so you know this list comes from a local family with lots of experience hiking with kids. We’ve gotten pretty good at figuring out which hikes our kids will love and which ones they won’t.

This post contains compensated links.

How We Chose These Kid-Friendly Banff Hikes

We started hiking with our kids in Banff when our daughter was just a few months old. Our kids are now 10 and 12, and we’ve done a lot of amazing family hiking in Banff during this time. We’ve learned that kid-friendly hikes in Banff are not necessarily the shortest, or easiest hikes, but have something special or unique to offer kids.

What our kids love are hikes with something of interest. That “something of interest” can be one of many things:

• Bridges to cross
• Benches to stop at
• A creek or lake to throw rocks into
• A hike that ends at a beach they can play at
• Rocks to climb
• Boardwalks
• Plenty of bugs, mushrooms or anything else similar
• Spotting wildlife in Banff

Each of these kid-friendly Banff hikes was chosen because it has an interesting component for kids.

Best Easy Kid-Friendly Hikes in Banff

You’ll find that many of these easy Banff hikes with kids also appear in our list of the best easy Banff hikes. What makes this list unique is that we focus on what makes each hike good for families, as opposed to just focusing on the difficulty level.

Johnston Canyon

Distance: 5.0 km out & back to the Upper Falls

Elevation Gain: 120 m

What kids love about this hike: Kids love the elevated platforms that wind through Johnston Canyon. They’ll also love venturing into the cave at the Lower Falls and being sprayed by the waterfall.

Johnston Canyon shows up on our nearly all of our lists of the best Banff hiking trails because it’s one of the best hiking trails in Banff, period. We’ve hiked Johnston Canyon with our kids so many times we’ve lost count, but it never gets old. It’s also one of the best free things to do in Banff.

The Johnston Canyon trail barely feels like a hike because much of it follows elevated walkways with very little elevation gain. Those walkways are the highlight, giving kids an exciting, close-up view of the canyon below. They hover above the rushing water and give you a unique vantage point to one of Banff’s most beautiful locations.

Dan always talks of his vivid memories of hiking along these elevated walkways as a kid. I hope that my kids will carry these special memories of hiking Johnston Canyon too.

Families can hike to the Lower Falls at Johnston Canyon which is only 2.4 km out-and-back. To complete the hike to the Upper Falls, the total round trip hiking distance of Johnston Canyon is 5 km. There are no steep parts to the Lower Falls and only a few short steep parts to the Upper Falls.

For those families who are extra ambitious, you can hike to the Ink Pots via Johnston Canyon for a total of 11.4 km return. The Ink Pots are natural springs which have beautiful colours on a sunny day in Banff.

Johnston Canyon Info For Families

Johnston Canyon is one of the most popular attractions in Banff National Park, so for the best experience, we recommend going as early as possible.

A visit to Johnston Canyon can sometimes be a little tricky with seasonal road closures on the Bow Valley Parkway scenic drive.

One of the most fun places to stay in Banff with kids is right at Johnston Canyon. If you’d like more details, check out our review of the Johnston Canyon Lodge & Bungalows.

Read our full guide to the Johnston Canyon hike for trail details, parking tips, and what to expect.

Lower Bankhead Ghost Town

Distance: 1.1 km loop

Elevation Gain: 35 m

What kids love about this hike: Kids will love exploring the ruins of this old coal mining ghost town.

Another one of the best hikes in Banff with kids is the Lower Bankhead Ghost Town. Bankhead was a coal mining town near Banff in the early 1900s, and the remnants of this old mining town are still here today. As you walk the easy 1.1 km loop, you’ll pass the ruins of old buildings and read interpretive signs that help tell the story of what life was like here.

This is one of the best kid-friendly hikes in Banff because it’s a ghost town!! Instead of just walking to a viewpoint or lake, kids get to explore a real ghost town and imagine what it would have been like when families lived and worked here. My kids love this one because there’s so much to look at, climb on and explore. I never struggle to keep them engaged on this family hike in Banff.

If you’re looking for an easy family hike in Banff that has a bit of history mixed in, this is such a fun option. It’s short, interesting, and works especially well for families who want something beyond the usual lake walk or forest trail.

Bankhead Ghost Town Info For Families

The Lower Bankhead ghost town walk is found on the Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive, one of the most scenic drives in Banff.

One of the top things to do in Banff with kids is a short drive way from the ghost town. The Lake Minnewanka Cruise is a fun one-hour boat ride along one of Banff’s most beautiful locations. (TICKETS)

Want the full breakdown of the Bankhead Ghost Town Hike? Read our detailed post before you go.

Sunshine Meadows

Distance: 3.3 km loop

Elevation Gain: n/a

What kids will love about this hike: Kids will love the gondola ride to Sunshine Village, followed by a ride on the Standish Quad chairlift. If you time it right, kids will love the wildflowers growing along the trail. They’ll also love the viewing decks and that this easy trail is mostly downhill.

Sunshine Meadows is home to some of the most incredible mountain scenery within Banff National Park. We’ve lived here for years and are still blown away by the scenery hiking at Sunshine Meadows. For many reasons, we consider this one of the best Banff hikes with kids.

This spectacular Banff hike is located within the Sunshine Village Ski Resort. To get there, you’ll need to buy lift tickets for the enjoyable & scenic 4.3 km gondola ride to the ski resort. Once at the top, you take the Standish Express Quad chairlift to the beginning of the easy downhill hike back to the upper gondola building.

There are several hiking trails to choose from within Sunshine Meadows. The easiest scenic route at Sunshine Meadows for kids is Trail 2 (Standish Viewing Deck Loop) to Trail 3 (Rock Isle Junction) to Trail 1 (Rock Isle Road). This incredibly scenic kid-friendly hike in Banff is almost all downhill!!

See our complete guide to hiking at Sunshine Meadows, including our favorite trails in the area.

Johnson Lake

Distance: 3.0 km loop

Elevation Gain: 70 m

What kids will love about this hike: Kids will love the beach, picnic area and the old hermit’s cabin. The hike is short, easy and fun along the lake.

Hiking around Johnson Lake is one of the best hikes in Banff National Park with kids. This is the hike we’ve probably done most often with our kids, and it’s easy to see why. You can make a visit to Johnson Lake a full day activity with a picnic, beach time, this fun family hike.

The Johnson Lake hike can be done as a full loop around the lake, with part of the trail following a forested path. Alternatively, you can hike out and back for nice views almost the entire time. There’s also the option to hike a little higher along the ridge or stay lower down closer to the lake, which adds some variety.

This is one of our go-to family hikes in Banff because it’s easy, flexible and really scenic. My kids have always loved the mix of lake views, little places to stop along the shore, and the chance to make it more than just a hike.

Johnson Lake Info For Families

Johnson Lake is one of the most fun places to visit in Banff with kids. For all the details, see all the things to do at Johnson Lake.

This beautiful Banff lake is along the Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive, so it can be easily paired up with other kid-friendly hikes in the area, such as the Bankhead Ghost Town trail.

See our complete guide to the Johnson Lake Trail, including tips for families, trail info, and the location of the hidden hermit’s cabin.

Fenland Loop Trail

Distance: 2.1 km loop

Elevation Gain: n/a

What kids will love about this hike: Kids will love running over the bridges and stopping along the creek to play.

The walk along the 2.1 km Fenland Trail loop is a nice escape from the busy Town of Banff. It’s an easy, kid-friendly Banff hike through the wooded marshland along the banks of the Forty Mile Creek. This easy hiking trail in the Town of Banff can be accessed right off Mt. Norquay Road.

There’s also a Banff town sign nearby at the Banff Train Station, which is a perfect spot for a family picture. From there you can also connect up to the Bow River Trail which is a paved path that will take you to Central Park (0.9 km) or further to Surprise Corner (1.4 km).

Alternatively, you can access Vermilion Lakes Drive from the Fenland loop and extend your walk past the stunning Vermilion Lakes.

You can find the trailhead location and a map for the Fenland Trail on AllTrails.

Peyto Lake Viewpoint

Distance: 0.7 km out & back

Elevation Gain: 80 m

What kids will love about this hike: Who wouldn’t be excited to see the impressive Peyto Lake!

Many of the lakes within Banff National Park have incredible turquoise coloured water. The lake which is most famous for its incredible water colour in Banff is Peyto Lake.

Visitors to Peyto Lakes can enjoy a short, easy walk on a paved path to an elevated viewpoint. From here you’ll get one of the most scenic vistas in all of Banff National Park.

Peyto Lake is the furthest of our easy Banff hikes with kids away from the Town of Banff. It’s a 35-minute drive past Lake Louise, but it is on the way to the Athabasca Glacier. If you are on your way to the Columbia Icefield Adventure, Peyto Lake is an excellent place to stop and stretch your legs on this short kid-friendly hike in Banff.

For more information on this very popular easy Banff hike, check out our post on the Peyto Lake Viewpoint.

Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station

Distance: 1 km out & back

Elevation Gain: n/a

What kids will love about this hike: A gondola ride and boardwalks? This one will be a winner!

The best thing about this kid-friendly Banff hike is that you get to take a gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain first! After an exciting 8-minute gondola ride to the top, you’ll be treated to incredible views of the Banff townsite and the surrounding majesty of Banff National Park in all directions.

After enjoying the state-of-the-art summit building and interpretive centre at the top of the Banff Gondola, you can take a short walk along the long wooden boardwalks on the top of the mountain. This elevated wooden trail follows a ridgeline along the top of Sulphur Mountain, offering amazing views in all directions. There are some stairs along the way, but there are plenty of benches to stop, rest and enjoys the view if required.

In addition to the spectacular views, you’ll be rewarded with a visit to a National Historic Site of Canada at the end of the Sulphur Mountain boardwalk trail. The Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station was a station for scientists to study cosmic rays and space particles until 1978. To be honest, there’s not much to see here, but it’s still a fun way to end one of the best Banff hikes with kids.

Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station Info For Families

The Banff Gondola is one of the top tourist attractions in Banff National Park. If you are interested, we have a full blog post about visiting the Banff Gondola. (TICKETS)

The Banff Gondola shares a parking lot with the Banff Upper Hot Springs, another of Banff’s top attractions. Parking is very difficult to find, and if you do, it’s expensive. Do yourself a favor and take the Roam public bus here instead. Details in our post on How to Get Around Banff Without a Car.

If your kids are up for a more challenging family hike, you can save a lot of money by skipping the Banff Gondola and hike up Sulphur Mountain instead.

Lake Louise Shoreline

Distance: 4 km out & back

Elevation Gain: n/a

What kids will love about this hike: Even kids can appreciate the beauty of Lake Louise!

No trip to Banff National Park is complete without a visit to Lake Louise. You will be in awe as you stand in front of the Chateau Lake Louise hotel looking out at the turquoise-blue waters of Lake Louise surrounded by many jagged 2,500m peaks.

One of the must-do hikes in Banff with kids is this enjoyable walk along the northern shore of Lake Louise. The Lake Louise Lakeshore trail is as flat as you can get in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, with virtually no noticeable elevation gain to contend with. There are no trees to obscure the views of beautiful Lake Louise and its surrounding mountain peaks.

If your kids are a little older and capable hikers, you can continue hiking beyond the end of Lake Louise to the Plain of Six Glaciers hike, which we feel is one of the very best hikes in Lake Louise.

Lake Louise Lakeshore Info For Families

Lake Louise parking is near impossible to find and also very expensive. If you are considering coming here with your kids, we strongly encourage you to read about how to get to Lake Louise. We highly recommend booking a Lake Louise shuttle to make your visit easy and stress-free.

You can find the trailhead location and a map for the Lake Louise Shoreline trail on AllTrails.

Marsh Loop

Distance: 2.8 km loop

Elevation Gain: n/a

What kids will love about this hike: Kids will love spotting wildlife on this trail.

The Marsh Loop is an easy kid-friendly hike in Banff that leaves right from the Cave and Basin National Historic Site.

This short, mostly flat trail follows boardwalks and paths through marshland with beautiful mountain views and a good chance of spotting birds and other wildlife. The Marsh Loop is a great choice for families because it feels interesting the whole way without much effort. Pairing it with a visit to Cave and Basin makes it an easy and fun half-day outing in Banff.

The Marsh Loop is a fun way to end a hike-and-bike to Sundance Canyon with kids. Not only that but this trail also has some impressive river and mountain views.   

You can find the trailhead location and a map for the Marsh Loop trail on AllTrails.

Cascade Ponds

Distance: 1.5 km loop

Elevation Gain: n/a

What kids will love about this hike: Kids will love Cascade Ponds. It’s the perfect place to stop in Banff for kids where they can enjoy playing near the water, running over the bridges, and having a picnic.

With plenty of parking, restrooms, and an easy family-friendly walk, Cascade Ponds is one of the best picnic spots in Banff. At the base of Cascade Mountain, it has exceptional views, plus fire pits and picnic tables for a relaxed outing.

The reason we include Cascade Ponds in this list of kid-friendly Banff hikes is the 1.5 km loop over footbridges and between the ponds. Kids love to cross fun moon-shaped bridges like this and it’s a genuinely fun experience for the whole family.

Cascade Ponds is reached along Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive and it also makes a good starting point for biking the Legacy Trail with kids; a paved cycling trail between the Town of Banff and Canmore.

You can find the trailhead location and a map for the Cascade Ponds Loop trail on AllTrails.

Consolation Lakes

Distance: 5.8 km out & back

Elevation Gain: 65 m

What kids will love about this hike: Kids will also enjoy playing on the large boulders at the end of the hike. With any luck, kids will also get to spot a hoary marmot sitting on the boulders.

One of the best hikes in Moraine Lake, this kid-friendly hike is a great alternative if you want to avoid the massive crowds swarming for pictures of Moraine Lake from the Rockpile.

The beginning of this hike has a bit of an uphill climb through a rock slide at the base of majestic Tower of Babel. You may need to step over an uneven rock or two in this section, but most people shouldn’t struggle with this. After this initial climb, the Consolation Lakes trail is reasonably level, with only minor hills to contend with.

The Consolation Lakes hike leads hikers through a dense mountain forest and ends at very scenic spot along the shores of Babel Creek. Hikers who wish to reach the shoreline of the Consolation Lakes will need to do some minor scrambling for approximately 100 m over some medium-sized boulders. The boulders are a good spot to see a rare marmot; please keep them wild by not feeding them.

If you don’t wish to navigate the rocks, don’t worry as there are lots of spots to stop along the spot where Consolation Lake flows into Babel Creek. The views of the Consolation Lakes and its surrounding mountains are pretty special.

Consolation Lakes Info For Families

As with visiting Lake Louise, visiting Moraine Lake also takes some advance planning. This is even more important as you cannot drive to Moraine Lake; a shuttle or a tour are the only ways to get there.

If Moraine Lake is on your Banff wish list, we strongly encourage your to read how to get to Moraine Lake. We also highly recommend booking a Moraine Lake shuttle to make your visit easy and stress-free.

Want the full breakdown of the Consolation Lakes Hike? Read our detailed post before you go.

Moraine Lake Rockpile

Distance: 0.8 km

Elevation Gain: 10 m

What kids will love about this hike: Kids love to climb, even if it’s steps.

The Rockpile Trail at Moraine Lake is one of the best short hikes in Banff with kids. It’s an easy walk with a few stairs and a huge payoff at the top, where you get that classic view of Moraine Lake and the Ten Peaks. This scene is so beautiful that it used to be featured on the Canadian $20 bill.

Because it’s so short, the Rockpile works well for families who want a big reward without a long hike.

You can expect the Rockpile area to busy as the views of Moraine Lake are exceptional. If you are visiting Moraine Lake at sunrise, this is the place where everyone comes to watch to sun slowly hit the Valley of the Ten Peaks.

You can find the trailhead location and a map for the Moraine Lake Rockpile trail on AllTrails.

Moraine Lake Shoreline

Distance: 3.0 km out & back

Elevation Gain: n/a

What kids will love about this hike: Kids will enjoy looking for waterfalls as the hiking trail follows a forested trail along the shores of Moraine Lake.

It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful place than Lake Louise, but Moraine Lake just might be the most scenic spot in Banff National Park.

The easy Moraine Lake hike begins to the left of the Moraine Lake Lodge and follows the tree-lined western shoreline of Moraine Lake. As you enjoy this easy hiking trail in Banff with kids, views of the incredibly blue Moraine Lake and its surrounding massive mountains will appear through the trees.

You’ll experience the sheer magnitude of Banff’s Rocky Mountains on this hike as the mountains hugging Moraine Lake are even taller than those wrapped around Lake Louise. With such an intimate amphitheater, you’ll feel humbled by their size.

You can find the trailhead location and a map for the Moraine Lake Lakeshore trail on AllTrails.

Two Jack Lake

Distance: 3.2 km out & back

Elevation Gain: 184 m

What kids will love about this hike: Kids will love a picnic on the shores of Two Jack Lake before or after this short hike.

The Two Jack Lakeside Trail is one of the nicest easy hikes in Banff with kids. This short and gentle walk follows the shoreline of Two Jack Lake, with beautiful mountain views and lots of places to stop by the water.

It’s a great family-friendly hike in Banff because it feels peaceful, scenic, and easy enough for younger kids. There’s more to do at Two Jake Lake than hiking; why not bring a picnic so you can also spend extra time by the lake.

You can find the trailhead location and a map for the Two Jack Lake trail on AllTrails.

Private Family-Friendly Nature Experiences

For families who prefer the comfort and safety of a guided hike in the mountains, we recommend the family-friendly experiences from Among the Trees. They offer family experiences which blend exploration, storytelling, and discovery in a hands-on, flexible format.

Among the Trees provides guided family hikes that introduce kids to the wonders of the mountain environment. Young explorers might learn how to identify animal tracks, discover interesting plants or even hear stories about wildlife that lives in the surrounding valleys. 

With flexible pacing and engaging storytelling these hikes are designed to be both educational and fun, helping families create meaningful outdoors memories while exploring Banff National Park.

Best Moderate Banff Hikes with Kids

The following moderate family-friendly hikes in Banff are harder than the easier options listed above. They’ll be more of a challenge for kids, but they are still very doable for many families, especially those with older kids. As you can see from the pictures, our kids have successfully completed each of the moderate Banff hikes in this section.

If your family is new to hiking, I recommend you try one of the easy Banff hikes above and get a feel for what everyone is capable of. Then, when you are comfortable, graduate to some of these fun, but slightly harder, family-friendly hikes in Banff.

Sundance Canyon

Distance: 3.7 km on paved path PLUS 1.6 km loop

Elevation Gain: 150 m

What kids will love about this hike: Combine this hike with a bike ride on the first 3.7 km section on the paved path. The trail through the canyon also starts with a fun bit of climbing that many kids will love.

The Sundance Canyon is reached by following the paved trail from the Cave and Basin. It’s 3.7 km one way from the trailhead to the start of the Sundance Canyon. There are some impressive mountain views as you hike or bike along the Bow River. Once at the Sundance Canyon, there’s a place to lock up your bikes before completing the 1.6 km loop on foot.

Though Sundance Canyon is a short Banff hike, there are some challenging spots climbing in the canyon where younger kids may need some help.

The entire excursion can be done by walking, but it makes for an excellent bike ride in Banff with kids. On the way back, you can go off the paved trail by finishing along the Marsh Loop (featured above in the best easy kid-friendly hikes in Banff).

See our complete guide to the Sundance Canyon Trail, including tips for families and trail info.

Tunnel Mountain

Distance: 4.6 km out and back

Elevation Gain: 266 m

What kids will love about this hike: Kids will be excited to summit their first mountain in Banff National Park!

Tunnel Mountain (also known as Sleeping Buffalo) is one of the most popular hiking trails in the Town of Banff.

Tunnel Mountain is a great family hike in Banff, especially if you’re looking to reach that first summit with your kids. The Tunnel Mountain trail is the easiest hike to a mountain summit in Banff National Park, which makes it such a good one for families.

It’s just challenging enough that kids will feel proud of themselves for climbing a mountain, while still being manageable for many active families. And once you reach the top, you’ll appreciate the views just as much as they do.

The Tunnel Mountain hike is a gradual uphill trail, so there is some moderate effort involved. You will be rewarded with excellent views of the Banff Townsite, the iconic Banff Springs Hotel and the surrounding mountain landscape of Banff National Park. There’s even a pair of the iconic Banff red chairs at the summit, which makes for a fun family photo.

See our complete guide to the Tunnel Mountain trail, including tips for families, trail info, and logistics.

Stewart Canyon

Distance: 7.6 km out & back

Elevation Gain: 277 m

What kids will love about this hike: With Lake Minnewanka at the start, a high bridge to cross and ending at a fun rocky creek, kids will enjoy hiking Stewart Canyon.

The Stewart Canyon trail winds through a lush, deep forest which runs parallel to the Stewart Canyon. Kids will love the opportunity to hike through the forest, as there are new discoveries and adventures around every corner. To keep this trail beautiful for everyone, please make sure they don’t pick flowers, walk off the trail, etc.

One of the things which makes the Stewart Canyon hike so beautiful is the elevated views of the Cascade River down below in the canyon.

There’s plenty of room to safely walk on the trail without issue, but be aware there are no safety rails to protect against falling into the canyon. Always keep kids close when hiking in Banff and especially in an area like this with potentially dangerous drop offs.

Want more help planning the Stewart Canyon Trail? Start with our complete guide.

Lake Agnes Tea House Hike

Distance: 7.7 km out & back

Elevation Gain: 502 m elevation gain

What kids will love about this hike: This hike is a little more challenging, but with two lakes to stop at, stairs to climb and a waterfall, there’s plenty to keep kids interested.

The Lake Louise Lakeshore trail is stunning, there’s no doubt about that, but if your family is up for more of a challenge you can’t beat the Lake Agnes Tea House hike.

Starting at Lake Louise, you’ll have plenty of opportunity for photo ops along the shore. From there you’ll start a consistent climb up a well-groomed trail.

Kids may grumble during the uphill climb, but there’s enough to distract them along the way plus plenty of rocks and logs to stop at for a break. The first lake you reach is Mirror Lake with the Big Beehive behind. It’s well worth a stop for a snack to take in the scenery.

From Mirror Lake, it’s not much further to Lake Agnes. Our kids love stairs, so finishing with a view of the waterfall followed by a long set of stairs before reaching this Lake Louise tea house kept them going even as they were getting tired. They also enjoyed seeing the horses tied up here from the people who took a ride up to the tea house.

At the Lake Agnes Tea House, plan for a stop for lunch or a snack. The rocks along the lake are the perfect place to relax before heading back down.

Read our full guide to the Lake Agnes hike for trail details, shuttle tips, and what to expect.

C-Level Cirque

Distance: 7.8 km out & back

Elevation Gain: 455 m

What kids will love about this hike: Seeing remnants of Bankhead coal mining buildings, spotting critters and having lunch on a giant boulder.

The C-Level Cirque hike one of the more challenging kid-friendly hikes in this list, both in distance and elevation gain. Our kids were 5 & 7 years old when they first hiked it and were easily able to manage it.

C-Level Cirque is named after both the C-Level Operation buildings left over from the Bankhead coal mining town and the bowl left over from a glacier (the “cirque” at the end of the hike).

It’s a steady climb up to that point, where most hikers stop and enjoy lunch in the sun. This is a fun place for kids to spot squirrels, hoary marmots and pikas in the surrounding rocks.

Though the C-Level Cirque hiking trail continues past the rockpile, we chose to end the hike here. The 7.8 km distance is up to this point and where we recommend stopping for a family lunch before heading back down.

Want more help planning the C-Level Cirque trail? Start with our complete guide.

Bow Summit Trail

Distance: 6.8 km out & back

Elevation Gain: 290 m

What kids will love about this hike: The opportunity to go on a real Banff hike beyond the easy Peyto Lake Viewpoint.

The vast majority of visitors to Peyto Lake walk on the paved trail to the elevated viewpoint and then return to the parking lot. But those in the know continue beyond the lookout to the Bow Summit Trail.

Unlike the paved trail to the Peyto Lake lookout, this is a real hiking trail with lots of rocks for the kids to climb on. The Bow Summit Trail is a short, reasonably easy uphill hike to another viewpoint, this time of the Bow Glacier and Bow Lake.

As a bonus, there’s a lesser known viewpoint of Peyto Lake on the way back.

For more information about this kid-friendly Banff hike, including the location of the alternate Peyto Lake viewpoint, check out our post on the Bow Summit Trail.

Healy Creek

Distance: 16 km out & back

Elevation Gain: 413 m

What kids will love about this hike: Kids love to stop at creek and throw rocks in.

We aren’t suggesting hiking the full 16 km with kids, unless they are up for this distance. This is an easy Banff hike with kids where you can hike as far as you feel like it then turn around. It’s a nice wide hike, making it easy for families to hike together.

The Healy Creek hike can also be done one way from the Cave and Basin National Historic Site in Banff to the Sunshine Village Access Road. For anyone up to the challenge, you can access Sundance Canyon from this direction as well.

This is a multi-use trail, so you can expect to run into horses and bikes along the trail as well.

You can get more trail information about the Healy Creek trail on AllTrails.

Hoodoos Trail

Distance: 9.3 km out & back

Elevation Gain: 357 m

What kids will love about this hike: The section down by the Bow River will be fun for kids as will the Hoodoo Viewpoint where they can read all about these impressive spires.

While the distance of the Banff Hoodoos trail is longer than most other Banff hikes for families in this list, but it’s a lot of fun for kids. The Hoodoo Trail starts at Surprise Corner, where you get an incredible view of the iconic Banff Springs Hotel, one of the best family-friendly hotels in Banff.

This easy hiking trail in Banff then meanders through the forest offering views of the Bow River and Mount Rundle. A short climb puts you up on the ridge along Tunnel Mountain Road. You’ll love the views over the valley!

If you don’t have time to hike to the Hoodoos, you can still see them by driving to the Hoodoos Viewpoint on Tunnel Mountain Road.

Want the full breakdown of the Banff Hoodoos trail? Read our detailed post before you go

Fairview Lookout

Distance: 2 km out & back

Elevation Gain: 100 m

What kids will love about this hike: Kids will love looking down at the Chateau Lake Louise, especially if you visit there first and they can see where they were.

We recommend making a full day of your family visit to Lake Louise. While the views of Lake Louise are impressive right from the start, we recommend walking the 4 km Lake Louise Shoreline trail first (described above in the easy Banff hikes section).

Then it’s time to see Lake Louise and the Chateau Lake Louise from a different perspective by climbing up to the Fairview Lookout trail. The Fairview Lookout is a steep climb but it’s only 1 km each way on an out-and-back trail.

Once at the top, there’s a viewing platform which gives outstanding elevated views of Lake Louise. The water colour in incredible from this elevated vantage point!

Read our full guide to the Fairview Lookout for trail details, parking tips, and what to expect.

Stoney Lookout Loop

Distance: 4.6 km loop

Elevation Gain: 275 m

What kids will love about this hike: Kids will feel accomplished summiting this one!

The Stoney Lookout hike can be a challenging hike for kids as it’s a steady uphill hike, but it’s a short one. As long as you take some breaks, kids can easily manage it. The forest is full of mushrooms and fun things to explore.

There’s only a small viewpoint at the top of Upper Stoney Loop offering views of Cascade Mountain and the valley, but it’s impressive on a clear day and it feels like an accomplishment!

Though this isn’t technically a mountain, to kids it’s still like summiting a mountain. From the top it’s almost all downhill for the rest of the hike!

The Upper Stoney trail is also a mountain biking trail, so just watch for bikes.

The trail begins immediately to the left after making a right turn into the main Norquay parking lot. For a fun family experience after the hike, take a ride up the Norquay Sightseeing Chairlift and enjoy lunch at the Cliffhouse Bistro!

Get all the details on the Stoney Lookout trail, from the trail itself to practical planning tips.

Copper Lake and Smith Lake

Distance: 4.6 km out & back

Elevation Gain: 280 m

What kids will love about this hike: Not only is it a short, easy hike but there are two lakes for kids to play at. Kids love throwing rocks into lakes!

Kids will enjoy this easy, short hike to two Banff lakes. From the parking lot, take the first trail to Copper Lake. This is a flat, easy trail that is easy to follow. It’s a great starting point for the hike. While it won’t be the most enjoyable hike due to the traffic noise, it’s worth a short visit while you are here. The lake itself is still quite beautiful.

The total distance for Copper Lake is 1.4 km out and back. Once back at the trail marker sign, stay straight to reach the Smith Lake trail. The Smith Lake hiking trail has more incline and is more covered in roots, but it’s still easy.

After approximately 1.5 km, you’ll reach a ridge looking down onto the beautiful green-coloured Smith Lake. There’s a short but steep trail that will take you down to the shores of the lake. Enjoy this Banff lake without the crowds!

Want more help planning Copper Lake and Smith Lake? Start with our complete guide.

Tips for Hiking with Kids in Banff National Park

1. Make Sure the Whole Family is Wildlife Smart

• Never approach wildlife for a picture and always keep a safe distance.
• Travel in a group and make a lot of noise.
• Keep kids nearby while hiking in Banff.
• Bring bear spray and know how to use it. If you don’t own bear spray, rent or purchase bear spray in Banff.

2. Choose Hikes Within Your Kids’ Abilities

• There are different levels of hikes in Banff for kids. Choose ones your kids will enjoy the most.
• Know when to turn back. It’s better to turn around than to continue when you’re not prepared.

3. Be Prepared, Especially When Hiking With Kids

• Have a backup plan for your phone in case the battery dies. A portable charger is perfect for this.
• Know that many areas in Banff are too remote for cell service, so you can’t depend on it to call for help if you need it.
• Use an app like AllTrails to download trail maps before starting a new hike in Banff.

A recent App of the Year winner, AllTrails is also one of the best apps for visiting Banff! Enjoy map downloads and many more premium features with a 7-day free trial of AllTrails+!

4. Pack Hiking Essentials For The Day

• The weather can change quickly in the mountains. Always pack warm layers for everyone if heading out on a long hike.
• Bring plenty of water and hiking snacks with you.  
• Don’t forget the bear spray and carry it in an easy to reach place, like a holster.

5. Have the Right Hiking Gear

• While expensive gear isn’t necessary, having the right gear can make all the difference.
• Proper hiking footwear makes a big difference on harder and longer hikes.
• Have a good backpack to carry all your warm layers
• Don’t forget sun hats and sunscreen.
• Bring a baby carrier or a toddler carrier. Little legs can get tired and you’ll be able to see much more. Our preference was always for using a hiking backpack carrier.