The Tunnel Mountain Trail is a popular and easily accessible hike in Banff offering panoramic views of the surrounding valleys and mountains, ideal for all skill levels.
If you are looking for an easy summit hike near the Banff townsite, the Tunnel Mountain hike is for you.
Tunnel Mountain isn’t exactly a towering peak, but it still gives you that satisfying summit feeling, and your friends back home don’t need to know the difference. At 1,684 meters above sea level, it’s much shorter than the surrounding peaks, such as Cascade Mountain which is over 3,000 m above sea level.
That said, Tunnel Mountain is a nice, big hill which offers excellent views of the Banff Townsite, the Banff Springs Hotel, the Bow Valley and the surrounding mountains.
Keep reading to watch a short video of the Tunnel Mountain hike.
Tunnel Mountain Hike Stats
Distance: 4.8 km / 3 miles out & back.
Elevation Gain: 260 m / 850 ft.
Estimated Time: 1 to 2 hours return.
Important Things to Know:
Parking is free at the Tunnel Mountain trailhead.
There are no washroom facilities at Tunnel Mountain.
On-leash dogs are allowed on the Tunnel Mountain trail.
There is a bike rack at the trailhead, but bikes are not allowed on the Tunnel Mountain trail.
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What to Expect on the Tunnel Mountain Hike
One of the best hikes in Banff, the Tunnel Mountain hike leads hikers up the eastern slope of the mountain to the summit. You’ll enter the forest almost immediately, then climb a steady series of switchbacks. Along the way, breaks in the trees give you several chances to enjoy the views.
On your way up, you’ll enjoy views of the historic Banff Springs Hotel and the mountains surrounding the Bow Valley to the north.
As you near the Tunnel Mountain summit, the hiking trail turns north and you follow a ridgeline to the top. Being on the ridge means you will enjoy views of the scenery in both directions.
There are safety rails alongside the west side of the mountain, protecting you from a fatal drop down a cliff. These safety rails also offer an excellent opportunity to enjoy the mountain views to the west, including the Bow River valley and the Banff Springs Golf Course.
Near the top you will come to a Tunnel Mountain viewpoint where Parks Canada has placed two of the iconic bright Banff red chairs.
This is one of the best Banff viewpoints and a great stop for photos.
A few steps beyond this is the official summit of Tunnel Mountain. There’s a large clearing here where you can sit and enjoy the amazing views of the Banff townsite, the Vermilion Lakes and some notable mountains of Banff National Park including Sulphur Mountain, Mt. Bourgeau, Pilot Mountain, Mount Cory, Mt. Norquay and Stoney Lookout.
The mountains always look incredible, but they look even better when you’ve earned your view!
The Tunnel Mountain trail is always wide enough for 2 – 3 people to walk side-by-side. This isn’t always the case on Banff hiking trails, which makes Tunnel Mountain a great option for families or larger groups who want to chat along the way.
Tunnel Mountain Trail Stats
How Long is the Tunnel Mountain Hike?
The one-way distance from the Tunnel Mountain parking lot to the Tunnel Mountain summit is 2.4 km (1.5 miles).
How Hard is the Tunnel Mountain Hike?
Despite being primarily uphill the entire way to the summit, we rate the Tunnel Mountain hike as an “easy Banff hiking trail”.
The first stretch of the Tunnel Mountain hike is quite steep, but soon it levels off to a moderate incline with switchbacks the entire way to the top. Most active visitors should be able to reach the summit, but the steady uphill climb can still feel like work if you’re not used to hiking.
We’ve included the Tunnel Mountain trail in our list of the best easy hikes in Banff National Park. But you should be aware that Parks Canada rates this popular Banff hike as “moderate”.
How Long Does the Tunnel Mountain Hike Take?
It should take a typical adult about 1 to 2 hours to hike the full there-and-back distance of the Tunnel Mountain summit trail, depending on your level of fitness.
Without kids, we often complete the Tunnel Mountain hike in an hour, but it take us much linger to hike Tunnel Mountain with our kids. At times, it has taken us 2 hours to complete the full distance with them.
Read more: Looking for more hikes to do with kids while in Banff? Don’t miss these 25 Best Banff Day Hikes with Kids!
Tunnel Mountain Hike Video
Want to see what the Tunnel Mountain hike looks like? This short video gives you a clear look at what to expect on this easy hike near the Banff townsite.
After watching our video, keep reading for more tips on hiking Tunnel Mountain, including the trail map, safety and logistics.
We’re slowly adding more travel videos and podcasts to our Banff Travel Planning YouTube channel, so feel free to subscribe if you’d like to follow along.
Where Is the Tunnel Mountain Trailhead?
One of the most popular hikes in the Town of Banff, the Tunnel Mountain trailhead is located on the eastern edge of the Banff Townsite. It’s so close to town that you have several easy options to get there:
Driving and Parking at Tunnel Mountain
It’s a 3-minute drive from the Banff town centre. There’s a decent sized free parking lot at the trailhead, but this is one of the most popular Banff hikes, so it can fill up fast on weekends and holidays.
Downtown Banff has paid parking, but parking at the Tunnel Mountain trailhead is separate from the downtown pay zone and is currently free.
For more information, check out our post on finding free parking in Banff.
Walking from Downtown Banff
It’s about 1 km to walk to the trailhead from downtown Banff. This should take you roughly 15 minutes.
Walking to Tunnel Mountain extends the total distance of the hike from 4.8 km to 6.8 km. It’s a good option if you want a little extra exercise, as the Tunnel Mountain hike isn’t really that long.
Taking Roam Transit to Tunnel Mountain
Roam Route 2 stops near the trailhead, but you’ll still have a short walk from the bus stop. Once you factor in waiting for the bus, walking from downtown Banff may be just as easy.
Read More
Here are plenty of other Banff hikes by bus if you haven’t rented a car and don’t miss our post on Getting Around Banff Without a Car.
Tunnel Mountain Hike Map
The route for the Tunnel Mountain hike is very straightforward: start from the parking lot and follow the main trail to the summit.
If you’d still like a digital map of the hike and the ability to track your stats (distance, elevation gain, etc.), we personally use and recommend the AllTrails hiking app. To get the digital Tunnel Mountain trail map click here for the “Tunnel Mountain Trail”.
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A recent App of the Year winner, AllTrails is also one of our most recommended apps for visiting Banff. Enjoy map downloads and many more premium features with a 7-day free trial of AllTrails Plus!
Hiking Tunnel Mountain with Kids
Tunnel Mountain is one of the most popular Banff hikes and is one of the best things to do in Banff with kids. The trail is a bit challenging for smaller kids, but most kids who get a normal amount of activity should be able to make it to the top.
The first time our kids hiked to the summit of Tunnel Mountain themselves, they were only 3 & 5 years old and they made it without any difficulty.
Note that there are no toilets along the Tunnel Mountain hike. It’s a popular trail with very few private spots, so make sure everyone uses the washroom before you start.
If you are considering hiking Tunnel Mountain with a baby, we would not recommend a stroller. The Tunnel Mountain Trail is gravel with some larger stones protruding. There are occasional stairs to contend with as well. If possible, a baby carrier is a better option for hiking with a baby.
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Where to Stop for Lunch or a Break
There are no good spots to stop along the way for a break, so we recommend waiting until you get to the Tunnel Mountain viewpoints near the summit to have a break. The views from the top of Tunnel Mountain up there are so good, it’s an excellent spot to plop down your picnic blanket and soak up the views.
The Tunnel Mountain trail is close enough to the Banff Townsite, that you could easily do the hike in the morning and then go into town for a well-deserved lunch. Alternatively, you could hike it after lunch.
Wildlife Safety
When hiking in Banff National Park, you are responsible for your own safety. Before hitting the hiking trails, we highly recommend you read our Essential Banff Hiking Tips for information about bear safety, trail conditions, wildlife warnings and possible closures.
Hiking Tunnel Mountain in Spring
Due to its south-west facing exposure, the Tunnel Mountain trail gets a lot of sunshine in spring. This often results in it being an excellent choice for an early spring hike, even when other easy Banff hikes are still snow covered.
The snowpack conditions will vary from year-to-year, but you can often hike a snow-free Tunnel Mountain trail by early May. As a good example of this, our Tunnel Mountain YouTube video was shot on April 30th.
Two easy ways to check current Tunnel Mountain trail conditions are to check the Parks Canada trail report, or to read recent user reviews in AllTrails.
Hiking Tunnel Mountain in Winter
If you visit Banff in winter, you can still easily enjoy this hike. In fact, with the snow-capped Rocky Mountains, the winter scenery on Tunnel Mountain is arguably better than it is during the spring/summer hiking season.
The signs posted by Parks Canada at the trailhead recommend that winter hikers use winter traction devices such as cleats and hiking poles. While most winter hikers on the trail follow this advice, on our most recent winter ascent, we had our cleats in our day bags, but we found we didn’t need them.
Given the snow cover on the trail, the cleats would have probably made it a little easier, but we still made it up with little effort. Don’t be afraid to try this hike in the winter if you are visiting Banff without them.
More: Best Banff winter hiking trails.
In winter, the sun sits low in the sky and can disappear behind the mountains by mid-afternoon, making it feel dark and cold much earlier than expected.
When the sun goes away, the wind will pick up and the temperature will get noticeably colder immediately. If you hike Tunnel Mountain in the afternoon in the winter, be sure to dress warmer than you think you’ll need to.
Read More
If you are looking for a fun place to stay in Banff, check out the nearby Tunnel Mountain Resort, one of the best Banff Cabin Rentals.
What to Bring Hiking in Banff
Even though this is an easy Banff hike, you should bring along the basic hiking gear to ensure a safe and successful outing. Before hitting the Tunnel Mountain Trail, be sure to check out our recommended Banff hiking gear.
The Tunnel Mountain trail surface is hard packed gravel with some larger rocks protruding, making a slightly uneven surface. In dry summer conditions, most hikers will be fine in comfortable walking or hiking shoes. In winter or icy shoulder-season conditions, traction devices are a good idea.
Read More
If you plan to do lots of hiking around Banff during your visit, you’ll need a proper pair of hiking shoes. For more information, check out our post about how to dress for hiking in Banff.
Final Thoughts: Tunnel Mountain Hike
As you can see, the Tunnel Mountain hike offers a lot of scenery for relatively little effort. We highly recommend you hike Tunnel Mountain during your visit to Banff!
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Dan Brewer, a life-long Alberta resident, calls Canmore home along with his wife and two kids. He is the co-owner of Travel Banff Canada, where he gets to share his passion for the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Dan, along with his family, love being outdoors doing one of the many activities they enjoy in the mountains: hiking, mountain biking, paddleboarding, skiing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
When he's not in Canmore enjoying one of his favourite local hikes, you can find him hopping on a plane to explore a new country with his family or working on one of their other two travel sites: Family Can Travel and Baby Can Travel.