10 + Best Backpacking Trips in Banff National Park

Banff National Park is a dream destination for backpackers – and one of my favourite places to visit. It offers some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the Canadian Rockies with numerous turquoise alpine lakes, stunning mountain peaks, first-rate wildflower displays in summer and breathtaking larches in fall. These 10 plus backpacking trips in Banff National Park will suit everyone from seasoned hikers to those of you new to multi-day trekking. Not only will you enjoy magnificent mountain scenery, but also an unforgettable connection with nature.

This guide covers over 10 of the best backpacking trips in Banff, ranging from short overnights to challenging multi-day expeditions. You’ll find everything from the iconic Skoki Loop to lesser-known trails like Sunset Pass. Included is everything you need to know to get started from number of days needed, trail difficulty, backcountry campsite options (and their short forms used for booking) and the experience itself. Get ready to lace up your boots and immerse yourself in the wild beauty of Banff National Park.

A few of the backpacking trips will be suitable for kids as well, especially if they’re used to hiking.

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Backpacking trips in Banff National Park summary

Permits: You will need a national park pass to stop in Banff National Park. They can be purchased at the gate, in the town of Banff, at the entrance to the Icefields Parkway and online.

Banff backcountry camping permits: Reservations open for backcountry camping permits on Monday, January 27, 2025 at 8:00 am MT. Reserve online or call: 1-877-737-3783 or 1-519-826-5391 (outside North America.)

Dogs: Permitted on backpacking trips in Banff on a leash unless otherwise noted.

Trail conditions: Check the Parks Canada website for trail updates for backpacking trips in Banff. Campsites do get closed periodically if there is bear activity in the area. 

Fires: Some campsites permit fires in fire rings while others do not. Know before you go.

Bears: Carry a can of bear spray that is accessible on all backpacking trips in Banff. Keep it in abear spray holster– so you don’t set it off accidentally. You can also rent bear spray in Lake Louise at Wilson Mountain Sports in the Samson Mall. Be prepared to fork out between $40 and $50 a can if you buy it. You can’t take it on planes.

Porcupines: Be prepared to see porcupines at some of the backcountry campgrounds, particularly Baker Lake and Fish Lakes. Put your hiking poles and your boots in the tent or risk having them chewed up.

Recommended reading: Camping for Beginners – What You Need to Know .

Location map (approximate) of best backpacking trips in Banff National Park

Best time to go backpacking in Banff National Park

Prime time to go backpacking in Banff National Park is from late June to early September. Ideally, you want the trails to be snow-free and the weather to have warmed up.

Backpacking trips you should be able to do in June include Glacier Lake and Lake Minnewanka. And July, while popular, can be buggy in places (Egypt Lake!) but wildflowers are often at their peak. August is prime time with fewer bugs and generally stable weather.

Late September is also a great time for backpacking in Banff, as larch trees turn golden, creating spectacular scenery. With plummeting temperatures and possible early snow, you do need to go prepared with warm clothes and a good tent. Top backpacking trips in Banff in late September include Taylor Lake, Baker Lake, Paradise Valley and the hike up via Citadel Pass to the Mount Assiniboine area.

1. Glacier Lake – one of the best early season trails in Banff

Distance: 9 km (5.6 miles) one way. 

Elevation gain: 475 m or 1,558 feet

Difficulty: Easy.

Best time to go: Mid-late June till late September or whenever the snow flies.

Dogs allowed: Yes, on a leash.

Backcountry campground: Site G19 with 5 tent pads in a mature forest near Glacier Lake. Plan to hang your food.

Map:Gem Trek Bow Lake and Saskatchewan Crossing

Experience: Backpacking to Glacier Lake in Banff National Park can be done earlier than most other trips described below. It’s one of the easier ones too, so it’s a great warm-up for more difficult outings in the summer.

There’s plenty to enjoy along the trail too – the North Saskatchewan River, red chair moments at the Howse River Overlook, and beautiful Glacier Lake itself.

2. Baker Lake backpacking trip

Distance: 13.2 km one way to the Baker Lake campground.

Elevation gain: Approximately 700 m or 2,297 feet.

Level of difficulty: Moderate.

Time needed: 3.5 – 5 hours one way. Can be done as a one night trip or add on a stay at Red Deer Lakes. It’s also possible to add the Skoki Loop. (See #9 below.)

Trailhead: Fish Creek trailhead near the Lake Louise ski area.

Map: Gem TrekBanff and Mt. Assiniboine

Backcountry campground options:

• Hidden Lake (SK5) with 10 campsites is 7.2 km one way from the trailhead. It’s a good choice if you want to shorten the first day’s hike.
• Baker Lake (SK11) at 13.2 km has 10 campsites. You’ll have to hang your food so don’t forget a waterproof bag and a carabiner. Lots of porcupines around too, so put boots and hiking poles in the tent or they’ll eat them.
• Red Deer Lakes (Sk19) has 10 campsites and is a further 5.5 km from Baker Lake. Fires are allowed here but you’ll have to hang your food.

Bugs: The Baker Lake area has a reputation for more deer flies and biting insects than almost any other backcountry campsite in the park. Takebug sprayand ahead netif you’re visiting in July.

Experience: There are many ways to do a backpacking trip to Baker Lake in Banff National Park. The simplest one as described below is simply an out and back to Baker Lake via Boulder Pass.

From the parking lot, there’s a 3.8 km hike up Temple Road that isn’t very interesting. Look for a sign pointing to Skoki Lodge and continue through the forest for a further 2.5 km to reach subalpine meadows. The views improve dramatically from here. At 7.1 km reach Halfway Hut and shortly thereafter the trail to Hidden Lake. Reach Boulder Pass at 8.5 km and the superlative views of Ptarmigan Lake, Redoubt Mountain and Mount Temple.

From Boulder Pass it’s 4.5 km of beautiful backpacking to Baker Lake in Banff National Park. The campground is at the far end of the lake. I think the campground needs a lot of work – but I do think Baker Lake itself is a beauty and a worthy destination.

3. Egypt Lake

Distance: 24.8 km round trip.

Elevation gain: 990 m.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Time needed: 2 – 3 days.

Map:Gem Trek Banff and Mt. Assiniboine

Backcountry campground options:

• Twin Lakes Trail – hike 8.4 km from the Twin Lakes trail to the Twin Lake Campground (Tw7) where you’ll find five tent pads and poles for hanging food. Meet the trail to Gibbons Pass and eventually Egypt Lake. It’s 0.7 km longer than the hike described in this Egypt Lake backpacking blog.
• Redearth and Pharaoh Creek – 39.6 km as an out and back hike. The Lost Horse Creek campground (Re6) with five campsites and bear lockers is 6.9 km from the trailhead. It’s a further 7.8 km to reach the Pharaoh Campground (Re16) with five campsites and bear lockers. It’s a further 4.0 km to reach Egypt Lake Campground (E13) with 15 campsites and bear lockers.
• Honeymoon Pass Trail (starts on Highway 93 near Vermilion River Crossing) – Approximately 21.4 km to Egypt Lake and then 12.2 km to Sunshine Village but there are unbridged creek crossing after the Verdant Creek campground in Kootenay National Park. It doesn’t sound like a great route.
• Hawk Creek Trail (starts on Highway 93 across from the Floe Lake trailhead) – 14.4 km to the campsite at Ball Pass Junction and then a further 11.4 km to Egypt Lake. The first campground

Experience: The simplest way to enjoy Egypt Lake is as an out and back hike over Healy Pass. As it’s 12.4 km one way, it is doable as a weekend trip. The best part of the hike is in the Healy Pass area. On the return, you could mix it up and take the Simpson Pass trail to the Sunshine Village gondola. It will take you back to the parking lot, but you’ll need to pay to use it.

4. Fish Lakes and North Molar Pass backpacking trip in Banff

Distance: 29.6 km round trip

Elevation gain: 762 m (2,500 feet) to North Molar Pass and1,128 m (3,701 feet) to Fish Lakes

Difficulty: Moderate.

Time needed: Two days as and out and back trip and up to four days if you visit the Devon Lakes as an add-on.

Map needed: Hector Lake 82N/9.

Backcountry campground options: Mosquito Creek campground (Mo5) has just five campsites and you’ll need to hang your food. Fish Lakes (Mo18) also has only five campsites and again you’ll have to hang your food.

Experience: The North Molar Pass – Fish Lakes hike feels more remote than some in Banff National Park. The hike starts off easily for the first 5.5 km as it climbs very gradually to the Mosquito Creek campground where you could spend the night if you had a late start.

Climb 575 m over 6 km to reach North Molar Pass. Snow can linger here well into July. From North Molar Pass, it’s 3.3 km to the Fish Lakes Campground. Enjoy expansive views as you descend steeply at times to reach wildflower filled meadows. Enjoy great views of the largest of the Fish Lakes 10 minutes before reaching the campground. There is the option to continue to Devon Lakes off trail – and no campsite reservations are needed for it.

5. Giant Steps and Paradise Valley backpacking trail

Distance: 20.4 km round trip

Elevation gain: 400 metres

Difficulty: Moderate.

Time needed: Two days as an out and back trip.

Backcountry campground: Paradise Valley (Pa10) has 10 campsites with bear lockers. A reservation comes with a seat on the shuttle bus up at the Park and Ride. Call either the Lake Louise Trails Office at 1-403-522-1264 or the Banff Backcountry Office at 1-403-762-1556. Leave a message with the date you want to do the hike and the number in your party. A real human will call you back. You can book 24 hours out so call at 9 AM the day before you want to go. You can no longer park at the Paradise Valley parking lot on Moraine Lake Road.

Map:Gem Trek Lake Louise and Yoho

Experience: Apart from the fact that you now must take a shuttle or one of the private transportation vehicles to the trailhead, the backpacking trip to the Paradise Valley campground via Lake Annette is a delight.

After you’ve cleared the forest at about the one-hour mark, most of the rest of the hike offers sweeping mountain views. A stop at Lake Annette for lunch is a good way to break up the hike.

The Paradise Valley campground is in a pretty location, but it’s buggy early in the season. If you can stand to camp when it’s colder, plan to go during larch season when it’s at its prettiest. Don’t miss a side trip to the Giant Steps.

6. Gibbon, Whistling and Healy Passes

Distance: 40.4 km (25.1 miles) with a shuttle starting at the Vista Lake trailhead and finishing at Sunshine Village.

Elevation gain: 1,730 m (5,670 feet) as you must cross Gibbon, Whistling and Healy Passes.

Difficulty: Moderate to hard, depending on your fitness level.

Time needed: Two to three days.

Map:Gem Trek Banff and Mt. Assiniboine

Backcountry campground options:

• Twin Lake (Tw7) – 7.2 km in from the Vista Lake trailhead so good for those that get a late start (5 tent sites and bear lockers)
• Shadow Lake (Re14) – 6.0 km from Gibbon Pass (5 tent sites and bear lockers)
• Ball Pass Junction (Re21) – 5.3 km past Shadow Lake Lodge (5 tent sites and bear lockers)
• Egypt Lake (E13) – approximately 10 km after the Ball Pass Junction campground (15 tent sites and bear lockers)
• Healy Creek (E5) – about 3.5 km east of Healy Pass (5 tent sites and bear lockers)

Experience: Over three days on the hike to Egypt Lake via the Vista Pass trailhead you are treated to spectacular mountain views and masses of wildflowers if you catch it right. Our first day was a long one – climbing up to Gibbon Pass and then continuing all the way to the Ball Pass Junction campsite.

On the second day the hike past Haiduk Lake and over Whistling Pass was superlative. Egypt Lake itself wasn’t as beautiful as I expected but the hike down to Sunshine Village over Healey Pass was spectacular with wildflowers in ever direction as far as the eye can see. This would also be a super hike to do towards the end of September if you were prepared for cold nights.

7. Lake Minnewanka backpacking trip in Banff

Distance: 15.6 km return to 59.0 km return.

Elevation gain: Negligible.

Difficulty: Easy, except for the campgrounds at some distance from the parking lot.

Time needed: 2 days to a week.

Map:Gem Trek Banff & Mount Assiniboine

Backcountry campgrounds: Bear lockers and fires allowed at all of the following campsites.

• Aylmer Pass Junction (LM8) with 10 campsites 7.8 km from the parking lot.
• Aylmer Canyon (LM9) with 5 campsites 9.7 km from the parking lot.
• Mount Inglismaldie (LM11) with 5 campsites 11.1 km from the parking lot.
• Mount Costigan (LM 20) with 5 campsites 18.8 km from the parking lot.
• The Narrows (LM22) with 5 campsites 20.6 km from the parking lot.
• Ghost Lakes (LM31) with 5 campsites 29.5 km from the parking lot.

Experience: There are loads of options for the Lake Minnewanka backpacking trip with easy access from the Banff townsite. You can simply do an out and back trip to the first campsite you reach along beautiful Lake Minnewanka. Or you can make it into an epic trip with a hike all the way to the Ghost Lakes.

From the parking lot, it’s only a 25-30-minute walk to the bridge over the Cascade River. Turn right staying on the main trail and head towards Lake Minnewanka. Pass the high point at 2.5 km and then descend gradually parallel to the lake. Enjoy views of Mt. Rundle and Mt. Inglismaldie.

After some mostly level walking, cross Aylmer Creek, about two hours into the hike. If you head left you can hike up to Aylmer Lookout, a great side trip from a couple of the close-by campgrounds. Otherwise, keep walking parallel to the lake reaching the first campsite at LM8 very quickly. The further the campsite you choose, the fewer people you’ll see.

8. Sawback backpacking trip via Johnston Creek Valley, Pulsatilla Pass and Baker Lake

Distance: Approximately 54 km but 64 km if you do a 10 km side trip to Badger Pass.

Elevation gain: 2,254 m (7,396 feet)/-1,828 m (5,997 feet).

Difficulty: Hard.

Time needed: 4 days.

Map: Banff and Mt. Assiniboine.

Backcountry campground options: Distances are starting from the Johnston Creek trailhead.

• Larry’s Camp (Jo9) at 7.4 km. There are 10 tent sites, bear lockers, and fires are permitted.
• Johnston Creek (Jo18) at 15.9 km. There are 5 tent sites, bear lockers, and fires permitted.
• Luellen Lake (Jo19) at 16.9 km. There are 5 campsites, bear lockers, and fires are permitted.
• Badger Pass Junction (Jo29) at 29.6 km. There are 5 campsites, bear lockers, and fires are permitted.
• Wildflower Creek (Ba15) at 36.0 km. There are 5 campsites. You’ll have to hang your food, and fires are permitted.
• Baker Lake (Sk11) at 42.1 km. There are 10 campsites. You’ll have to hang your food and no fires are permitted.
• Hidden Lake (Sk5) at 4.0 km. There are 10 campsites. There are bear lockers but no campfires.

Experience: We did the hike with a shuttle, leaving one car at our finish at the Fish Creek – Skoki trailhead and another at Moose Meadows.

In my Sawback Trail blog I detail our route which includes nights at Luellen Lake (excellent), Badger Pass Junction (also lovely) and Baker Lake (showing signs of overuse.) I’m not going to lie. Some of it is tedious hiking through kilometres of trees, but there are enough highlights that make it a more than worthwhile backpacking trip in Banff.

The area around the Ink Pots is beautiful – and the side trip to desolate-feeling Badger Pass is wonderful. The hike from Badger Pass Junction to Pulsatilla Pass and down is fantastic.

Several hours of viewless hiking ensue before you reach the soggy Baker Creek trail, but the views improve considerably. And except for the final descent to the trailhead, the hike past Baker Lake and Boulder Pass is very pretty.

9. Skoki Loop (+ Merlin Meadows) backpacking trip in Banff

Distance: 31.4 km

Elevation gain: 1110 m or 3,640 feet.

Difficulty: Easy if you aren’t new to backpacking.

Time needed: 2 – 3 days.

Map:Gem Trek Lake Louise & Yoho

Backcountry campsites:

• Merlin Meadows (Sk18), 15.8 km from the trailhead. There are 10 campsites and you must hang your food. There are fire pits.
• Red Deer Lakes (Sk19) 5.1 km from Merlin Meadows. There are 10 campsites and you’ll must hang your food. There are fire pits.

You can also book a night or two in the summer at Skoki Lodge and use it as a base for exploring the area.

Experience: The hike to Boulder Pass is the same trail you use to get to Baker Lake. But go left for the Skoki Valley heading to Deception Pass at 11.0 km. Going north you’re now in the Skoki Valley. It’s possible to do a side trip to Zigadenus and Myosotis Lakes – the two lakes that are referred to as the Skoki Lakes.

Descend towards Skoki Lodge, 14.6 km from the trailhead. Continue northwest for 1.2 km to reach Merlin Meadows Campground. From the campground there is lots of exploring to do. Visit Merlin Lake as a day hike. Hike over Jones Pass and visit the Red Deer Lakes. Then head south to check out Baker Lake and either do a loop to include Deception Pass again or retrace you steps back to Merlin Meadows.

10. Sunset Pass backpacking trip in the northern part of Banff National Park

Distance to Norman Lake Campground from the trailhead: 4.2 km one way

Distance from Norman Lake campground to Sunset Pass: 4.0 km (2.5 miles) one way plus an additional 3.2 km roundtrip (2.0 miles) if you include a side trip to Sunset Lookout.

Elevation gain: 725 m or 2,380 feet to Sunset Pass + 201 m or 659 feet to Sunset Lookout. Total elevation gain on both hikes is about 926 m or 3,038 feet.

Level of difficulty: Moderate.

Time to the Norman Lake Campground: Approximately 75 minutes.

Time to Sunset Pass from the Norman Lake Campground: The return hike to Sunset Pass from the Norman Lake campground took us about 2.5 hours with time spent wandering around the pass and refueling.

Backcountry campground: The Norman Lake campground (No5) has just five campsites. Fires are allowed but you’ll have to hang your food.

Map:Gem Trek Bow Lake and Saskatchewan Crossing

Experience: There are several permutations on the Sunset Pass backpacking trip. What we did was hike 35 sometimes steep switchbacks to reach the Norman Lake campground. Then we set up our tent and stored our food before continuing 4.0 km to Sunset Pass – a wild, desolate but beautiful part of Banff National Park.

On the hike out we made the detour to Sunset Lookout for superlative views up and down the Icefields Parkway.

11. Sunshine Meadows to the Mt. Assiniboine Area

Distance: 55 km as a circuit.

Elevation gain: 622 m

Difficulty: Moderate.

Time needed: 3 – 6 days, ideally 5 days.

Map:Gem Trek Banff and Mount Assiniboine

Backcountry camping: There are three campgrounds in Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park – Magog Lake with 40 tent pads, and Og Lake and Porcupine with 10 tent pads each. Reservations are required June 21 to September 30. Book reservations online.

Approaches to Lake Magog: There are two approaches – one via Sunshine Village and Citadel Pass and the other that starts at the Mt. Shark Trailhead with a hike up Bryant Creek and then either via Marvel Lake and Wonder Pass or via Assiniboine Pass.

Experience: Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park is in British Columbia but is accessed through Banff National Park. You will probably need to make backcountry reservations in both parks. On a five-day backpacking trip head to Sunshine Village and the up and over Citadel Pass to camp at Og Lake.

On the second day head for Magog Lake. After pitching your tent hike past Sunburst and Cerulean Lakes to either the Nublet or Nub Peak if you have the energy. On day three hike to the Wonder Pass viewpoint. Consider going to Windy Ridge via the Og Pass Trail on day four. On day five hike all the way out. If that’s too much nix Windy Ridge and hike to the Og Pass Campground before heading to Sunshine Meadows.

No matter what variation you do of the backpacking trip, you are bound to be wowed by the scenery in this area.

12. Taylor Lake – one of the best backpacking trips in Banff in late September for larches

Distance: 12.6 km return to Taylor Lake

Elevation gain: 595 m

Difficulty: Easy to moderate.

Time needed: 3 – 4 hours return

Backcountry campground: The Taylor Lake Campground (Ta6) has five campsites and bear lockers.

Map:Gem Trek Lake Louise and Yoho

Experience: The hike to Taylor Lake doesn’t off the scenic rewards that many hikes in Banff do. But once you reach the wildflower-filled meadow before the lake, you’ll be in for a treat.

Taylor Lake is one of the most accessible hanging valley lakes in Banff National Park. As a bonus there are two great side trips you can do – stunning O’Brien Lake which really shines in larch season and Panorama Ridge Meadows accessible from behind the Taylor Lake Campground is one of the top wildflower meadows in the Rockies.

What to take on backpacking trips in Banff National Park

Prepare for sudden weather changes on any one of these backpacking trips in Banff National Park. Go prepared for snow – even in summer but be hopeful for sunshine and clear weather. Always pack the 10 hiking essentials. Many of the items listed below will make for a more enjoyable trip.

Compression sacksfor your bulky items are hugely helpful. I always use them for my sleeping bag.

Compeed for blistersis way better for fast healing than anything else I’ve used.

Water purification tabletsor awater filterare important items to include.

For wildflower fans, you might enjoy a copy ofPopular Wildflowers of Alberta and the Canadian Rockies.

To make your night more comfortable, consider taking a lightweightcamp pillow. 

Should any of your gear break, you’ll be happy to have somegear-aid patcheswith you. 

Don’t forget to pack aheadlamp.

More backpacking trips you might enjoy

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