8 Kid-Friendly Bike Trails Near Banff

The Canadian Rockies are a great place to create lasting memories with your kids. There are so many kid-friendly things to do in Banff and Kananaskis among the rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Many families come to Banff for some easy hiking, but there are also many kid-friendly bike trails in Banff and Kananaskis.

Below we share our eight favourite kid-friendly bike trails in Banff and Kananaskis. You’ll find a wide variety of biking trails, trail surfaces and scenery. As a bonus, many of these easy Banff and Kananaskis bike trails have an option to add an easy hike to your family outing.

To help you find the right kid-friendly bike trail for your family, we’ve split this post into two main sections. We start with shorter kid-friendly bike paths in Banff and Kananaskis, followed by some longer bike paths for families with older kids.

This post contains compensated links.

Short Kid-Friendly Bike Trails in Banff and Kananaskis

1. Sundance Canyon Bike & Hike – Banff

Sundance Canyon is a fun Banff family bike ride with a little bit of everything. It begins at the Cave & Basin national historic site with a 4 km easy bike ride on a paved trail through the forest and alongside the beautiful Bow River. The mountain views across the water are spectacular in all directions.

Lock up your bikes at the Sundance Canyon trailhead and begin your 2.3 km hike. Almost immediately, the raging waterfalls of the Sundance Creek will have jaws dropping. Your kids will love crossing the bridges at the bottom and the top of this magnificent Banff waterfall.

Past the waterfall, the hiking trail continues through a magical forest carpeted with dense emerald moss deeper into the Sundance Canyon. After 0.7 km of hiking you’ll have the option to turn back and follow the Sundance Creek back or continue the loop into the forest.

Although the forest isn’t nearly as showy as the Sundance Canyon, it’s still very beautiful with lots of emerald moss and Rocky Mountain wildflowers.

On the bike ride back to the Cave & Basin, we recommend taking the Marsh Loop Trail. This is a groomed dirt trail that can get muddy and may have some horse manure, but it’s worth the minor challenges.

The Marsh Loop Trail bike ride continues along the banks of the Bow River, allowing bike riders to enjoy the incredible scenery just a little longer. The Marsh Trail conveniently ends at the Cave & Basin parking lot, one of the free parking lots in Banff.

Distance of the Sundance Canyon Bike and Hike Trail

The distance of the Sundance Canyon bike ride is 8 km total (4 km each way), with a 2.3 km hiking loop. (The bike ride is 0.5 km longer if you take the Marsh Trail).

Location of the Sundance Canyon Bike and Hike Trail

This kid-friendly Banff bike ride leaves from the historic Cave and Basin, the birthplace of Banff National Park.

How Hard is the Sundance Canyon Bike Ride?

The 4 km Banff bike ride is along a paved trail and should be doable by kids of all ages. It begins from the Cave and Basin as a fun & fast extended downhill, but the final approach to the Sundance Canyon hiking trailhead is a slow, but steady incline.

Our 6-year-old daughter was able to ride up on her multi-gear bike, but our 4-year old son had to get pushes from us and/or walk his single gear bike up the hill.

The Sundance Canyon hiking trail is a bit steep in spots, but it’s short so if you are in good enough shape to get to the trailhead, you’ll be able to complete the hiking portion as well.

Taking the Marsh Loop Trail back to the parking lot is much flatter than taking the second half of the paved trail back to the parking lot.

Facilities at the Cave and Basin National Historic Site

The Cave and Basin is a National Historic Site and is worth a visit while in Banff with kids. The walking trails above the Cave and Basin are especially fun for kids. If you’d like to teach your kids about the birthplace of Canada’s national park system, check out our post on the Cave and Basin National Historic Site.

There are picnic tables and washrooms at the Cave and Basin site and at the Sundance Canyon trailhead.

There is a water tap with fresh, drinkable mountain water to fill your water bladders just behind the Cave & Basin building near the Sundance Canyon trailhead.

Pedal-assist e-bikes are permitted on the paved section.

Not sure what to bring? Check out our recommended gear for hiking in Banff.

2. Bow Valley Provincial Park Bike Path – Kananaskis

Kids of all ages will enjoy this easy Kananaskis bike trail through the Bow Valley Provincial Park. This paved family-friendly bike trail winds its way through a dense mixed forest with several open meadows and plenty of beautiful Rocky Mountain wildflowers. Keep an eye out for the brilliant orange wood lily, which often grows on open hillsides like this.

A highlight of this easy Kananaskis bike ride is a stop at a bench at the top of a ridge with sweeping views of the Bow Valley mountains, including Mount Yamnuska and the Three Sisters in Canmore. This is a fun activity for anyone staying near the Bow Valley Campground while camping in Kananaskis.

Distance of the Bow Valley Provincial Park Bike Path

This family-friendly bike ride in Kananaskis is 8.8 km total (4.4 km each way)

Location of the Bow Valley Provincial Park Bike Path

The Bow Valley Provincial Park bike path is a there-and-back bike trail. It begins from the parking lot of the Bow Valley Provincial Park Visitors Centre. The far end of the trail is at the Bow Valley Campground offices.

How Hard is the Bow Valley Provincial Park Bike Path

Our 4 and 6-year old kids were able to bike the full distance of this easy bike trail in 1 hour and 22 minutes. This bike trail features a few short, steep hills which required our kids to get off and walk their bikes up, but in general the hills are very gradual and easy to bike up.

Facilities in the Bow Valley Provincial Park

Washrooms are found in the Bow Valley PP Visitors Centre parking lot.

There are picnic tables on both ends of the trail.

The campground office has a convenience store.

There are several benches along the path for a break.

Pedal-assist e-bikes are permitted.

3. Bill Milne Summer Bike Path (Evan-Thomas) – Kananaskis

The Bill Milne Summer Bike Path is one of our favourite kid-friendly biking trails in Kananaskis. The Bill Milne bike trail is paved the entire length and runs through a wide variety of scenic terrain.

As you begin the Bill Milne bike path, you’ll enjoy wide open meadows featuring tons of Rocky Mountain wildflowers along with unhindered views of the majestic Kananaskis mountains, including one of my favourites, Mt. Kidd.

Large sections of deep, lush forest add variety to this kid-friendly Kananaskis bike trail. The mountain streams and deep green moss blanketing the forest floor creates a magical atmosphere.

Evan-Thomas Bike Path?

There is some lingering confusion about the name of this Kananaskis bike path. According to Alberta Parks, the bike path from Kananaskis Village to Wedge Pond is known as the Bill Milne Bike Path.

The segment of this trail which runs from Kovach Pond to Wedge Pond is also known as the Evan-Thomas Bike Path.

They are essentially the same bike path. If you begin at Kananaskis Village, it’s called Bill Milne. If you begin at Kovach Pond, it can be called the Evan-Thomas Bike Path.

Distance of the Bill Milne Summer Bike Path

From Kananaskis Village to Wedge Pond, the full round-trip distance is 19.4 km total (9.7 km each way). You can save approximately 4 km total if you begin from Kovach Pond instead of Kananaskis Village.

Location of the Bill Milne Summer Bike Path

The Bill Milne bike path is a there-and-back bike trail. It can begin from either the Kananaskis Village or Kovach Pond. You can get trail maps and trailhead locations from the AllTrails app.

Bill Milne Bike Path Map (from Kananaskis Village)

Evan-Thomas Bike Path (from Kovach Pond)

How Hard is the Bill Milne Summer Bike Path

Our kids were able to bike the full distance of this kid-friendly bike ride themselves in 2 hours and 30 minutes. There were a few hills which required our kids to get off and walk their bikes up, but in general the hills are very gradual and easy to bike up.

Bill Milne Safety Notes

Cycling the Bill Milne bike path all the way to Wedge Pond involves crossing Highway 40 a single time. This is a major highway with a speed limit of 90 km/h, so keep your kids close.

After crossing Highway 40, there are a few steep hills and it’s difficult to see other cyclists coming from the other direction. We recommend taking these hills and turns very slowly (you’ll see signs in this area telling you to slow down).

Facilities Along the Bill Milne Paved Bike Trail in Kananaskis

Washrooms are found in the parking lots at both Kovach Pond and Wedge Pond.

There are picnic tables at both ends of this kid-friendly biking trail.

There are benches with scenic views of the Canadian Rockies found along the biking trail.

The biking trail goes right through Mt. Kidd RV Park which has tons of facilities including washrooms, a convenience store (with ice cream!) and picnic tables.

Pedal assist e-Bikes are permitted.

4. Watridge Lake / Karst Spring Hike & Bike – Kananaskis

Karst Spring is one of our favourite easy hikes in Kananaskis, but most of it can also be done as a family-friendly bike ride.

The first 4 km of the Karst Spring hike is along a reasonably flat, dirt road to Watridge Lake. This trail is excellent for a family bike ride as it’s wide enough for everyone to ride side-by-side, a rarity while bike riding in the Canadian Rockies.

Another benefit of this wide-open biking trail is you get to enjoy beautiful mountain views all around.

After the 4 km easy bike ride to Watridge Lake, you have the option to lock up your bikes and hike the final 1.1 km up to see the incredible Karst Spring. The raging waterfall created by a huge natural spring is one of the most spectacular natural attractions in Kananaskis and we highly recommend it.

Full details can be found in our Hiking Karst Spring post.

Distance of the Watridge Lake Bike Ride

The bike ride to Watridge Lake is 8 km total (4 km each way). The hiking portion adds another 1.1 km each way (2.2 km total)

Location of the Watridge Lake Bike Ride

The Watridge Lake to Karst Spring trailhead leaves from the Mt. Shark Day Use area in the Spray Valley Provincial Park part of Kananaskis Country.

How Hard is the Watridge Lake Bike Ride

The kid-friendly biking trail to Watridge Lake is surprisingly flat, with only a few small hills which may require small kids to get off and push. This trail is not paved, but is hard packed dirt, gravel and grass. Kids who are not used to riding their bike on dirt may have a short adjustment period but should have no difficulties.

Facilities at Mount Shark Trailhead in Kananaskis

Washrooms are found in the Mt. Shark parking lot.

There are picnic tables at the trailhead.

There are benches with scenic views found along the trail.

Pedal-assist e-Bikes are permitted on the Watridge Lake Trail.

5. Peter Lougheed Paved Trail – Kananaskis

Deep in Kananaskis, Peter Lougheed Provincial Park has more than 12 km of paved trails. The Peter Lougheed Paved Trail passes through several of the Kananaskis campgrounds in this area: Canyon, Elkwood, Boulton and Lower Lake. This is the ideal family bike ride for anyone camping in Kananaskis.

While there are certainly some hills to climb and some very fast downhills, kids on bikes with gears should be able to manage this easily.

We did the full distance of the Peter Lougheed bike trails with our 6 and 8 year old kids. They managed almost all the hills and walked the odd one. The varying mountain views, meadows of wildflowers and sections through campgrounds kept them interested the entire time.

Distance of the Peter Lougheed Paved Pathways

If you ride the full distance of the Peter Lougheed paved pathways it’s 24.2 km total (12.1 km each way)

Location of the Peter Lougheed Paved Pathways

The Peter Lougheed Paved trail begins at the Peter Lougheed Park Discovery & Information Centre and ends at the Mt. Sarrail Campground.

How Hard are the Peter Lougheed Paved Pathways

Our kids were able to bike the full distance of this kid-friendly Kananaskis bike ride themselves in 3 hours and 20 minutes, including our breaks and stop for lunch. There are a few steep hills which required our kids to get off and walk their bikes up, but in general the hills are very gradual and easy to bike up.

Peter Lougheed Paved Pathways Safety Note

This Kananaskis paved trail crosses the road a few times, so watch for fast-moving traffic before crossing.

Facilities along the Peter Lougheed Paved Pathways

The Peter Lougheed Visitor Centre has toilets. There are also toilets along the way in the Kananaskis campgrounds you pass through and at the end in the Mt. Sarrail Campground.

There are picnic tables along the pathway for quick stops for lunch or a snack.

Pedal-assist e-bikes are permitted on the Peter Lougheed Paved Trail.

6. Canmore Bike Path System

Canmore, our hometown, is a beautiful mountain town located at the doorstep of Banff National Park. Despite being a small mountain town, there are plenty of easy biking trails in Canmore which give you the feeling of being deep in nature.

Canmore’s pathway system makes it possible to ride through much of town; from the Three Sisters, through downtown to Larch Island. Many of these kid-friendly Canmore bike paths are paved, but some are non-technical dirt trails which should be doable by all ability levels.

Our Favourite Kid-Friendly Bike Trails in Canmore

Three Sisters Pathway: This is one of the most scenic Canmore bike trails. This highly enjoyable family bike ride alternates between hugging the shores of the Bow River and dense forest trails. Your kids will love passing the “Stinky River” on their way to the West Canmore Park Playground.

The 4 km stretch of bike trail shown in the attached Google Map is one of our favourite kid-friendly bike rides in Canmore. The trail surface is paved in some spots and dirt in others.

The West Canmore Park Playground to the Canmore Engine Bridge: An enjoyable 1.5 km paved easy bike ride from one of Canmore’s best playgrounds along the Bow River, through Riverside Park to Canmore’s landmark rail bridge (which used to serve Canmore’s coal mine).

Longer Family-Friendly Bike Trails in Banff and Kananaskis

1. Cycling Bow Valley Parkway to Johnston Canyon – Banff

The Bow Valley Parkway is one of the most scenic drives in Banff National Park. Lucky for families, Parks Canada seasonally closes a portion the Bow Valley Parkway to vehicle traffic. This rare road closure creates a special opportunity for a family-friendly bike ride for families visiting Banff.

As parking is no longer allowed at the entrance to the Bow Valley Parkway near the Fireside Day Use Area, cyclists must now begin their journey at the Banff Train Station parking lot.

Leg 1: Banff Train Station to the Fireside Day Use Area

Parking is no longer allowed at the Fireside Day Use Area, so if you want to bike the Bow Valley Parkway during the seasonal cycling closure, the main option is to start right from the Banff Train Station. This adds some distance before you even reach the vehicle-restricted section of the Bow Valley Parkway, but it can work well for families with stronger young riders who are comfortable riding for longer.

The trickiest part of this ride is getting through a small portion of town and over to Vermilion Lakes Road. You will need to pay attention to traffic, intersections and other people using the roads and pathways, especially during busy summer days. Once you reach Vermilion Lakes Road, the ride starts to feel much more relaxed, with beautiful lake views and plenty of places to stop along the way.

Beyond the Vermilion Lakes, you can continue toward the Banff Legacy Trail and ride west to Fireside Day-use Area. This section is still shared with other cyclists and pathway users, so it is not a place to let kids ride too far ahead, but it is a great way to turn the Bow Valley Parkway ride into a bigger family biking adventure.

For younger kids, I would only recommend this if they are confident riders and used to longer distances.

See Leg 1 on Google Maps

Leg 2: Fireside Day Use to Johnston Canyon

The bike ride from Fireside Day-use Area to Johnston Canyon is the main family-friendly option during the Bow Valley Parkway seasonal cycling closure. This section is about 17 km one way, so it is still a big ride for kids, but the huge benefit is that you get to ride the parkway with very limited vehicle traffic.

For our family, this is the best way to experience the Bow Valley Parkway by bike. You still need to watch for Parks Canada vehicles, emergency vehicles and other cyclists, but not having regular traffic makes the ride feel much more manageable with kids.

We recommend bringing plenty of snacks, water and layers, then planning for a good break once you reach Johnston Canyon. If you still have energy, the Johnston Canyon Trail is one of the most enjoyable kid-friendly hikes in Banff.

Distance of the Bow Valley Parkway Bike Ride

The bike ride from the Banff Train Station to the Fireside Day Use Area is 7.4 km one-way. Once you are on the Bow Valley Parkway, the one-way distance to Johnston Canyon is another 17 km.

This means the full ride from the Banff Train Station to Johnston Canyon and back is about 49 km, so don’t underestimate the distance.

One option families may wish to consider is for one parent to drop everyone and their bikes off at the Fireside Day Use Area. The driving parent can then go to the Banff Train Station and cycle to Fireside to meet everyone.

Location of the Bow Valley Parkway Bike Ride

As discussed, the Bow Valley Parkway bike ride officially begins at the Fireside Day Use Area, but there is no public parking. There is a drop-off area if one parent wants to drop everyone off.

Official parking for the Bow Valley Parkway bike ride is at the Banff Train Station, one of the biggest free parking lots in Banff.

How Hard is the Bow Valley Parkway Bike Ride

This is best for older kids as it is a more difficult ride with plenty of hills. This is not a bike ride I would choose for very young kids unless they are in a bike trailer or on a tag-along, but it is a great option for older kids who are comfortable riding longer distances.

You can also make this ride shorter by turning around whenever your family has had enough. You don’t need to make it all the way to Johnston Canyon for it to be worth it. Even riding partway along the Bow Valley Parkway gives you beautiful forest and mountain views, and it can still feel like a really special Banff biking experience.

Safety Tips for Biking the Bow Valley Parkway with Kids

Banff’s wildlife is loving the reduced number of visitors and are roaming areas they would typically shy away from. Even with vehicle traffic, the Bow Valley Parkway is one of the best spots in Banff to view wildlife. Without vehicle traffic, the wildlife is more comfortable near the highway. We had a black bear cross the highway during our first visit.

The Bow Valley Parkway is not completely vehicle-free during this time. Parks Canada vehicles and road construction trucks may occasionally pass by. Vehicles are not common, but be aware of your kids’ location at all times.

Facilities along the Bow Valley Parkway

Washrooms are found at the Banff Train Station, along the Vermilion Lakes Road and in the Johnston Canyon parking lot.

A restaurant is open at the Johnston Canyon Bungalows. They offer coffee, snacks and more to treat the kids for their good effort getting there. This is a super-fun place to stay with kids on a family trip to Banff. You can read our Johnston Canyon Bungalows review for more information.

2. Banff Legacy Trail

Cycling the Banff Legacy Trail is an incredibly fun and scenic kid-friendly bike ride between Canmore and Banff. Built to honour Banff National Park’s 125^th anniversary, the Banff Legacy Trail is one of our favourite things to do in Banff and/or Canmore with kids.

Along the way on this family-friendly bike ride you’ll glide through dense forests speckled with beautiful wildflowers, pass beaver dammed mountain streams and maybe see a deer or an Osprey. You’ll also parallel the Trans-Canada highway for much of it, but the Canadian Rockies scenery is so spectacular, you’ll barely notice the traffic.

The Banff Legacy Trail links up with a few additional kid-friendly bike trails to become the Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail, for a full one-way length of 26.8 km. This distance may be too long for small kids on single gear bikes, but there are plenty of entry points which allow for shorter distances.

Distance of the Banff Legacy Trail

The Banff Legacy Trail is officially 22.3 km long (one-way), but it can be extended to 26.8 km if you ride the full Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail.

Location of the Banff Legacy Trail

There are several access points to the Banff Legacy Trail bike ride:

• Travel Alberta Visitor Information Centre  (Canmore)
• Valleyview Day Use Area (Banff National Park – Hwy 1 Eastbound)
• Cascade Ponds (Banff National Park)
• Town of Banff (Parking at the Fenlands Recreation Centre or the Banff Train Station but plan to ride through town to reach the Banff Legacy Trail)

Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail / Banff Legacy Trail map on AllTrails

How Hard is the Banff Legacy Trail

Considering this bike trail is in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, it is surprisingly flat. Leaving from Canmore, you’ll only gain approximately 250 m of net elevation on your bike ride to Banff, most of which is over long, almost imperceptible uphill stretches. There are, of course, some short, steeper hills to contend with, but these are generally manageable.

With the elevation gain, the bike ride to Banff is the more difficult direction, especially if there is a wind coming from the west (as there often is).

The bike ride from Banff to Canmore, by comparison, is mostly a gentle downhill, making it quite easy, with only a few uphill sections to deal with.

Riding the Banff Legacy Trail One-Way

Given the Banff-to-Canmore direction is the easiest, one strategy we have used with our kids is to cycle the Banff Legacy Trail one-way. This involves some pre-planning with vehicles, etc, but it is very manageable.

If you are based in Canmore, take your bikes on the Roam Bus Route 3 from Canmore to Banff and enjoy the mostly downhill bike ride to Canmore.

If you are based in Banff, simply ride the Legacy Trail to Canmore and take Roam Route 3 back to Banff.

Please be aware that bike storage space on the Roam bus is limited to three bikes and shouldn’t be counted on. Read the Roam Bike Policy before heading out.

Roam Bus Route 3 schedule and route map

If you don’t want to count on the bus, or if one parent wants more exercise, one parent can ride both ways to pick up the car.

Kid-Friendly Sections of the Banff Legacy Trail

If you are looking for a smaller, kid-friendly section of the Banff Legacy Trail, try the following areas:

Starting from Canmore, the first 3 km of the Banff Legacy Trail is very flat and runs through a beautiful, dense forest.

The Valleyview Day Use area is a popular place for families to stop at one of Banff’s best picnic spots, then go for a short bike ride on the Banff Legacy Trail.

The section from the Cascade Ponds heading towards Canmore is also reasonably flat and runs alongside a nice mountain stream.

Facilities Along the Legacy Trail from Canmore to Banff

There is a large, dedicated parking lot for the Banff Legacy Trail at the Canmore Visitor Centre.

Parking is limited at the Valleyview Day Use area as well as the Cascade Ponds.

There are picnic tables and toilets at the Canmore Visitor Center, the Valleyview Day Use picnic area and Cascade Ponds.

E-bikes are permitted on the Banff Legacy Trail.

Family-Friendly Bike Rentals in Banff

If you are visiting Banff with kids and don’t have your own bikes, these bike rentals in Banff offer bikes for all ages:

• Ultimate Sports offers 20” and 24” bike rentals. They also have trail-a-bikes and chariots to rent.
  
• Snowtips Bactrax has bikes for kids of all sizes.

If you are considering a visit to Banff with kids or pets, check out our recommendations for family-friendly-hotels in Banff and pet-friendly hotels in Banff.

Family-Friendly Bike Rentals in Canmore

If you wish to rent bikes in Canmore, the following shops offer bike rentals for the whole family:

• Rebound Cycle offers 20” and 24” kid bike rentals as well as trail-a-bikes and chariots to rent.
  
• Gear Up Sports has 20” and 24” bike rentals along with chariots and trail-a-bikes to rent.
  
• Trail Sports has 20” and 26” kid bike rentals, along with Burley and tag-a-long trailers for rent

Don’t Forget Your Banff Park Pass & Kananaskis Conservation Pass

A Banff Park Pass, also known as the Parks Canada Discovery Pass, is required for exploring Banff National Park. You can pick it up as you enter at the Banff Park Gates.

For many of the areas around Canmore and Kananaskis you require a Kananaskis Conservation Pass. This includes the parking lots closest to Canmore like the Canmore Nordic Centre and Grassi Lakes.