One of the fun things about exploring Banff National Park is that even the simple stops can turn into memorable moments. The Banff red chairs are a perfect example. Parks Canada placed these bright red chairs in scenic locations throughout the park to encourage visitors to slow down, take in the views and connect with the landscape around them.
As locals, we love that the red chairs give people a reason to explore beyond the most obvious stops, while still keeping the focus on some of the best viewpoints in Banff. Some are easy to reach from parking areas, some are found at popular Banff Picnic Areas, and a few require a hike or a longer scenic drive.
While we don’t think you need any extra incentive to visit the many scenic viewpoints in Banff, it’s still fun to seek out the red chairs and snap a picture along the way. It also makes for a simple, family-friendly challenge if you’re looking for one of the best free things to do in Banff.
In this guide, we’ll show you where to find all 11 sets of red chairs in Banff, which ones are easiest to visit, and which ones are best combined with a picnic, short hike or scenic drive.
You can share your pictures with Parks Canada using the hashtag #ShareTheChair. If you post your Banff red chair photos on Instagram, give us a tag too: @travelbanffcanada.
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Locations of the Banff Red Chairs
Here’s where you can find the Banff National Park red chairs:
Cascade Ponds Picnic Area
Cascade Ponds is one of the best picnic areas in Banff. You’ll find everything you need here to have a fun day with family, including shelters, picnic tables, toilets and even fire pits.
In summer, this is a great place to hang out, cool off and relax. You can even take a dip in the ponds if you feel so inclined!
You’ll find the Cascade Ponds red chairs across the bridge, but you may have to wait your turn on a busy weekend.
Lake Minnewanka Picnic Area
There are so many things to do at Lake Minnewanka, and finding the red chairs on the beach is just one of them. The red chairs are perfectly located to enjoy the lake views, which is the perfect thing to do after the Lake Minnewanka Cruise, or one of the many hikes around Lake Minnewanka.
In addition to the Banff red chairs, there are many excellent attractions along the Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive, including the Bankhead Ghost Town. This fun easy hike is one of the best things to do in Banff with kids.
Two Jack Lake Picnic Area
The Two Jack Lake red chairs are in an the ideal spot to take in that stunning mountain reflection! Mount Rundle looms in the distance and, on a calm day, is perfectly reflected in the waters of Two Jack Lake.
Two Jack Lake has a nice picnic area, but snag the red chairs if you have a chance!
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Tunnel Mountain Summit
You’ll need to hike to the top of Tunnel Mountain to have a seat on the Tunnel Mountain red chairs, and why not? The Tunnel Mountain hike is one of the best hikes from the Banff townsite, rewarding visitors with incredible views over Banff!
This hike is popular enough that you’ll likely need to wait your turn to sit in the red chairs. But on a sunny day, it’s worth it to spend a little more time at the top.
Learn more about this popular Banff hike in our post on the Tunnel Mountain trail, or you can watch our Tunnel Mountain hike video on YouTube.
Valleyview Picnic Area
The red chairs at the Valleyview Picnic Area are a little out of the way and they are easy to miss unless you are cycling the Legacy Trail between Banff and Canmore. Finding the red chairs at Valleyview Picnic Area is a great excuse to take a break and enjoy the mountain scenery during a long bike ride.
Sulphur Mountain Summit
Whether you’ve taken the Banff Gondola up or hiked Sulphur Mountain, take a walk along the Sulphur Mountain boardwalk to the end to find the red chairs.
The boardwalks can get busy, but if you hike up Sulphur Mountain early, you might just have them almost to yourself.
Hoodoos Viewpoint
When you visit the Banff red chairs at the Hoodoos Viewpoint, you get a close look at the hoodoos plus an incredible view over the valley. It’s exactly the kind of place where you’ll want to slow down and take in the mountain scenery.
You can park right at the Hoodoos Viewpoint or you can enjoy a nice easy hike from Surprise Corner along the Hoodoos Trail to the viewpoint. This also makes an excellent winter hike in Banff.
Muleshoe Picnic Area
The Muleshoe red chairs are in Muleshoe Picnic Area along the Bow Valley Parkway, one of the best scenic drives in Banff National Park. If you’re looking for a shady spot in the summer, you’ll find it here with the aspen trees surrounding the picnic area.
The Muleshoe Picnic Area is found around 12 km east along the Bow Valley Parkway from Johnston Canyon. This would make a great stop before or after the popular Johnston Canyon hike.
CP trains pass near the picnic area on the other side of Muleshoe Lake, which is fun for kids who love trains. The Banff red chairs at Muleshoe are an ideal spot to sit and take in the scenery.
We recently saw a black bear here by the Banff red chairs. You can see it in our YouTube video on cycling the Bow Valley Parkway.
Cave and Basin National Historic Site
The Cave and Basin National Historic Site in Banff is the birthplace of Canada’s national parks. There are plenty of reasons why the Cave and Basin should be part of your itinerary. The boardwalks and interpretive signs on this easy Banff walk are full of interesting facts about the area and its history.
For more easy walks in Banff, check out our list of the best easy hikes in Banff.
It’s a fitting place to sit in the red chairs, think about what you learned along the boardwalks and soak up the scenery.
Silverhorn Creek Campground
Silverhorn Creek Campground is located on the Icefields Parkway, one of the most scenic drives in the world. The campground is suited to large RVs and trailers. While it may not be the most private campground around, you can seek out the Banff red chairs here.
You’ll also find plenty of other beautiful hikes in the area, including an easy one to visit Peyto Lake. After a day of hiking, take some time to relax in the red chairs back at the campground.
Glacier Lake Trail
The Glacier Lake Trail is also found on the Icefields Parkway. While the hike to Glacier Lake is 8.9 km each way, you won’t have to complete the full distance to find the red chairs here. This trail becomes snow-free early in the season, making a good option when you want to hike before the rest of the trails are ready.
You only need to hike 4.3 km return to the Howse River Viewpoint to reach the Banff red chairs here.
While you are in the area, don’t miss the Columbia Icefields Adventure, your chance to walk on a glacier in the Canadian Rockies!
What are the Banff Red Chairs all about?
The idea behind the red chairs in Banff is to give people a place to relax, reflect and connect with nature. In our experience they are very popular and you’ll often come across them already occupied!
Where are the red chairs in Banff?
If you’ve already found a few sets and want a quick list of the Banff red chair locations, here it is:
- Valleyview Picnic Area
- Cascade Ponds
- Lake Minnewanka
- Two Jack Lake
- Tunnel Mountain
- Cave and Basin National Historic Site
- Sulphur Mountain Summit
- Hoodoos Viewpoint
- Muleshoe Picnic Area
- Silverhorn Creek Campground
- Glacier Lake Trail
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Celine Brewer, a local Canmore resident, is the co-owner of Travel Banff Canada. She has a passion for being out in the mountains any time of year. In the summer, you'll often find her hiking or mountain biking. In the winter, she enjoys cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and winter hiking the most.
As much as she loves the mountains, she also loves travel! When she's not playing outdoors at home, she's either traveling the world with her husband and two kids or working on their other two travel sites: Family Can Travel and Baby Can Travel.