Backcountry Trails in Banff
On this page you’ll find everything you need to know about the backcountry hikes in Banff including trail guides for hikes I’ve done, gear lists, booking information, maps, and more.
If you’re looking for day hiking guides and Banff travel resources, visit this page
More helpful Banff resources
I keep this page updated regularly with my latest backcountry gear setup.
How to Book Backcountry Trails in Banff
First things first – in order to hike the Banff’s backcountry trails you must book the campsites in advance. Here’s everything you need to know about booking Banff’s backcountry campsites:
- Reservations must be made in advance on the Parks Canada website
- Reservation day (when the sites become available to book for the year) typically happens in January, but the exact date varies year-by-year
- Popular campsites fill up within minutes of reservations opening, so it’s highly recommended you plan your backcountry trips in advance and book everything in January
- If you can’t get the site you want, sign up for cancellation notifications. I use this site for cancellations and have been able to book Banff’s popular backcountry trails like Egypt Lake after reservation day
Advanced reservations are highly recommended for Banff’s front country campsites too.
How to Find Backcountry Trails in Banff
My Banff Map
I’ve marked 100+ named and unnamed hiking trails, every backcountry campground, and every trailhead in Banff on this map.
Each pin comes loaded with my own personal photos, trail stats, booking links, and information from external guides.
I designed the map to help you plan your trip to Banff and make finding information about the backcountry easier.
The map also has all Banff’s activities, viewpoints, restaurants and hotels, parking spots, public bathrooms, important transit hubs + marked
In addition to using my map to find backcountry trails in Banff you can also use Alltrails. Alltrails is a popular platform in North America for finding and logging hikes. It’s free to use, but purchasing their membership allows you to download offline maps and track your location via satellite. I purchase this membership every year.
When to Hike Banff’s Backcountry Trails
Banff’s summer season is short. As a result, the best time of year to go backcountry camping in Banff is in July and August.
It’s possible to go backcountry camping in Banff outside this period, however weather varies greatly year to year in the shoulder seasons. Lower elevation trails like Lake Minnewanka may be ready as early as late May, whereas higher elevation backcountry trails like Egypt Lake may not be snow free until the end of July/early August. Depending on how late the snow falls, you may be able to continue backcountry camping in Banff until early October.
Some of Banff’s backcountry sites are open year round for winter camping, but this requires totally different gear and training. I’ve personally only backcountry camped in Banff during the summer months. Even in late spring or early fall temperatures steadily drop below zero overnight.
My Banff Backcountry Trail Guides
- Backpacking Lake Minnewanka to Ghost Lakes & Aylmer Lookout/Pass
- Banff Skoki Loop: 3 Day Banff Backpacking Trail Guide
- What to Wear Hiking in Banff & the Canadian Rockies
- What to Pack for Backcountry Camping in Banff & the Canadian Rockies
- Glacier Lake Backpacking Trail – Banff National Park
Safety & Wildlife in Banff’s Backcountry
If you’re planning a backcountry camping trip in Banff you should be aware of basic safety tips.
Communication Device: always bring a satellite device in Banff’s backcountry – I never hit the trail without my Garmin Inreach Mini 2. Having a satellite device when an unexpected injury or wildlife encounter occurs can literally save lives when your days away from the nearest trailhead.
Wildlife: bears, cougars, and plenty of other species call Banff home. Always carry bear spray and travel in groups of 4+ when possible. At each backcountry campground in Banff there’s a tent area and a cook area with lockers or a bear hang. Never bring food or scented items to the tent area – keep everything in the lockers or bear hangs when you’re not around.
Temperature & Weather: changes on a dime in Banff’s backcountry. Always bring extra layers and rain gear. Don’t be surprised if it snows throughout all months of the year (even summer).
Bring the right gear: I keep this page up-to-date with my current backcountry setup. Backcountry setups for Banff’s cold temperatures & higher elevations may look different than those in warmer areas.
