Cascade Amphitheatre Hike Guide – Banff
The Cascade Amphitheatre hike is often overlooked by those visiting Banff however it’s one of my favourite rainy day hikes in Banff. The forested trail to the rocky basin is very serene and offers hikers a chance to reconnect with nature. In this post I’ll tell you everything you need to know regarding the Cascade Amphitheatre trail.
The Cascade Amphitheatre hike is close to the town of Banff and has public shuttle access meaning you can hike it without a car. These are just a couple of the reasons you may want to add the Cascade Amphitheatre hike to your Banff bucket list.
ps – Cascade Amphitheatre is the “little sister” hike to the larger Cascade Mountain
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How to get to the Cascade Amphitheatre Trailhead
The Cascade Amphitheatre hike is located just 10 minutes (7kms) outside the town of Banff. From the Calgary International Airport the Cascade Amphitheatre hike is 1hr 30mins (147kms).
Luckily if you’re travelling Banff sans-vehicle there’s a free public shuttle bus to the Cascade Amphitheatre trailhead from downtown Banff. This means you can hike Cascade Amphitheatre without a car!
More hikes in Banff you can do without a car
The shuttle runs multiple times daily throughout the summer months. I recommend taking the first shuttle to ensure you have enough time to catch the last shuttle back. Otherwise you’ll need to call a taxi which costs $60+ one-way. There’s also limited cell service at Norquay.
If you want a bit more flexibility and think you’ll need more time to hike Cascade Amphitheatre than the window between the first and last shuttle you could always opt to rent a car.
Best Banff Car Rentals
Compare Rentals: I recommend using this site as it compares all the local rental shops to find you the best rate.
Poparide: peer-to-peer carpooling platform. Great for transportation between Banff-Calgary. Use my link to save $5 on your first trip.
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Taylor ♡
Where to Stay in Banff
From hostels to camping to luxury hotels – Banff has accommodations for everyone. Here are my top recommendations for where to lodge in Banff based on every budget.
I recommend giving this post a read as I’ve listed every Banff hotel worth staying at and organized them by category.
- Hostels – Samesun Banff (best location + bar/restaurant on-site), Banff International Hostel (second best), and HI Banff.
- Budget hotels – Bow View Lodge and High Country Inn.
- Mid-range stays – Banff Park Lodge, Mount Royal, Elk & Avenue, and the Banff Caribou & spa.
- Luxury stays – Fairmont Banff Springs and the Rimrock Resort.
- Cabin retreats: Johnston Canyon Bungalows, Baker Creek, and Castle Mountain Chalets.
- Camping – reservation information can be found here. Ensure you book campsites far in advance as they’re full during summer.
- For those on ski trips: lodge on-mountain at Sunshine Village, stay near Norquay, and see my Lake Louise suggestions below.
Lodging Options Near Banff
Enjoy the nature and activities of Banff National Park, but lodge away from the busy tourist town centre at any of the following:
- Lake Louise – Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (luxury), Paradise Lodge & Bungalows (500m from the lake), Lake Louise Inn (value stay), HI Lake Louise (hostel).
- Canmore – Malcolm Hotel (luxury), Stoneridge Mountain Resort (condo suites with fully equipped kitchens), Mountain View Inn (budget), Canmore Downtown Hostel & the Canmore Hostel (party hostel).
- Johnston Canyon – Johnston Canyon Lodge & Bungalows, Castle Mountain Chalets, and HI Castle Mountain Hostel.
- Yoho National Park – Emerald Lake Lodge and Cathedral Mountain Lodge.
- Kootenay National Park – Storm Mountain Lodge & Cabins.
- Kananaskis Country – Mount Engadine Lodge and Kananaskis Mountain Lodge (luxury), Crosswaters Resort (mid-range), and HI Kananaskis Wilderness Hostel (budget).
About the Cascade Amphitheatre Hike
- Distance: 14.5kms
- Elevation gain: 965m
- Estimated time: 5-7hrs
- Type of trail: out & back
- Time of year: June to September
The Cascade Amphitheatre trail is forested, packed, and gains steady elevation over switchbacks. The hike up to Cascade Amphitheatre is honestly quite boring as you won’t have any views along the way, but if you’re looking for a quieter trail to reconnect with nature this one is a great choice.
The trail to Cascade Amphitheatre is well trafficked in the summer months as plenty of people opt to summit Cascade Mountain which initially follows the same route. If you visit during the shoulder seasons or hike during inclement weather though you’ll likely have the trail to yourself.
The Cascade Amphitheatre trail is well marked meaning it’s easy to find your way. Cascade Amphitheatre is a large basin full of rocks – you can opt to stop at the bottom of the rock pile or continue hiking through it. I opted to continue on a bit further because the further I hiked the cooler the rocks got. Call me a nerd, but I wanted to check out all the varieties and try to guess what they were.
After the amphitheatre you can opt to summit Cascade Mountain, but I’d only recommend this to experience hikers with a good level of fitness.
Caution – the area around Norquay ski resort (including the hiking trails) sees plenty of bear activity. It’s recommended to hike in groups, carry bear spray, and travel during daylight hours to avoid wildlife run-ins. There’s also limited-no cell service here so it’s recommended you hike with a satellite device. I always carry this device.
Cascade Amphitheatre is a Great Rainy Hike in Banff
I like to plan my hikes based on weather, sunrise/sunset, or certain times of year to optimize the experience and photos.
Cascade Amphitheatre is one of my favourite Banff hikes for rainy days as the majority of the trail is forested. The sound and smell of the rain in the forest enhances the experience, plus the amphitheatre is located right in front of you which means rain and clouds won’t obstruct your view. This is super important to me because I’m not busting my ass up a mountain to miss the view!
The Cascade Amphitheatre hike is great on a sunny day too, but there are plenty of other trails in Banff I’d rather tackle on a sunny day than this one.
Just some food for thought.
Top Tours & Excursions in Banff
Banff Gondola – epic views from the top of Sulphur Mountain.
Banff Hop on Hop off – explore the park at your own pace.
Lake Minnewanka Cruise – take a scenic boat ride down the largest lake in Banff.
Moraine Lake sunrise – chartered bus to see alpenglow on Canada’s most beautiful lake.
Norquay via ferrata – epic beginner friendly climbing route across iron bars on Mt Norquay.
Sunshine Meadows Gondola – find wild alpine flowers and hike around pristine alpine lakes.
Click here for a complete list of the Banff tours I recommend:
Hiking the Cascade Amphitheatre Trail
The Cascade Amphitheatre hike begins at the Norquay ski resort. From the parking lot walk past the large lodge (hikers right) and continue on the path/dirt road pictured below.
You’ll pass a couple ski lifts before seeing the sign below on your right. Once you see this, follow signs for “Cascade Amphitheatre.” The trail will enter and exit the trees a couple times. When the path seems uncertain there’ll be snowshoe symbols – follow these.
Eventually you’ll reach the official Cascade Amphitheatre trail which means you’re done wandering along the ski area boundary. Once you enter the forest here you’ll stay in it until the amphitheatre meadows.
The trail initially is pretty flat until you reach the bridge over 40 Mile Creek. After this point the trail steadily gains elevation over a series of seemingly never-ending switchbacks until the meadows.
Approx. 3.5kms after the bridge you’ll reach the turnoff for Cascade Amphitheatre x Cascade summit. Stick left here for the Amphitheatre and turn right for Cascade summit.
Not long after this you’ll find Cascade Amphitheatre. There’s a quick stretch where you’ll walk through a small meadow before hitting the basin full of rocks. Don’t be surprised if you hear screams along the way – there are lots of pikas living around here.
You can continue on through the rock pile – I opted to continue past the end of the official route as I wanted to check out more of the rocks and really take in how large the amphitheatre was. This is totally optional though.
The return hike follows the exact same trail as the ascent. The Cascade Amphitheatre hike honestly seems super long on the return journey, but like the ascent it’s not difficult. Just long.
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Things to do: tours, viewpoints & unique activities
I lived in Banff for years and know all the best spots!
Recommended Hiking Gear for the Rockies
Below are my personal recommendations and favourite products for Canadian Rockies specific hiking gear.
Backpack: I use the Osprey Sirrus 24L (men’s edition) for quick day hikes and the Osprey Sirrus 36L (men’s edition) for longer hikes requiring more gear.
Hydration: I use the 3L Hydrapak to carry water and always have aquatabs on-hand if I need to filter water.
Footwear: I currently use the Scarpa Kailesh (men’s version) and full cushion crew Smartwool socks.
Safety: I always carry the Garmin Inreach Mini 2 as my satellite device.
Here are my detailed posts for Canadian Rockies hiking gear
Rockies Hiking Gear: Winter
If you’re planning to hike the Rockies in winter, you’ll need to add a few more items to your gear arsenal.
The items below are what I use.
Spikes: I love Hillsound’s trail crampon which provides killer traction and long-lasting durability.
Snowshoes: I use TSL’s sustainable Symbioz Hyperflex snowshoe, however any snowshoe from TSL is top of the line. This one is their midrange model which offers similar features at a light weight and better price point.
Gaiters: this is my top pick for gaiters which are great for keeping water and snow out of your boots. If you’re on a budget, these ones are a little more cost effective and have plenty of great reviews.
Warmth: I use Aurora Heat’s reusable hand + ultra foot warmers for both hiking and skiing. They’re made of beaver pelt by Indigenous women in Canada’s Yukon.
Softshell Pants: these are my favourite pants (men’s sizing) for cold weather hiking. They’re water resistant, wind resistant, and warm. If you’re reading from the USA, these REI pants are equivalent: women’s sizing | men’s sizing.
and that’s everything you need to know regarding the Cascade Amphitheatre hike. Enjoy!
Canadian Rockies Hiking Tips
Guides for hikes in: Banff | Jasper | Kananaskis | Kootenay | Waterton | Yoho
Approach: take a conservative approach if you’re new to hiking and ensure you have lots of daylight. Trails here are steep, long, and can have challenging terrain.
Best Time of Year: July to early September is the most reliable for weather and minimal snow. This post outlines each month in Banff.
- Hiking in winter? Stick to easy, well-trafficked trails unless you’re knowledgeable about avalanche terrain. I always check the avalanche bulletin and use both Caltopo and Google Maps satellite view to survey terrain before hiking.
Pets: leashed dogs are allowed on all trails in the Rockies unless otherwise stated.
Safety: tell someone where you’re going and when you plan to return. I always carry the Garmin InReach Mini for additional safety as there’s minimal cell service in the Rockies.
Wildlife: carry bear spray and know how to use it. Here are bear safety tips from Parks Canada.
Maps: I purchase the Alltrails+ membership and download my maps before hiking so I always know where I am.
Helpful Canadian Rockies Hiking Posts:
More of my detailed hiking tips can be found here
Canadian Rockies Camping Tips
Plan to go camping in Banff and the Canadian Rockies? Here are some useful things to know.
Unless you’re on some form of public land – random camping and free car camping is not permitted in the Canadian Rockies. If you do plan to “free” camp in the designated areas, you must purchase the Public Lands Camping Pass.
Camping Reservations: reservation day (when bookings go live) usually occurs in January. Most summer camping reservations must be made then as sites fill up instantly.
- National park camping reservations can be made here and Kananaskis reservations can be made here: backcountry | front country.
- Can’t get a reservation? Sign up for cancellation notifications via Schnerp. I use this resource frequently and have found cancellations at the most popular spots in the Rockies like Lake O’Hara.
When to Camp: most campgrounds close for the winter, however a few remain open year round. July-August is best for backcountry camping. Keep in mind, temperatures are typically very cold at night even during peak summer.
Hut Camping: the Alpine Club of Canada has established alpine huts scattered around the Rockies and beyond. These huts must be booked in advance and cater to backcountry skiers, hikers, and climbers.
Packing advice and my personal gear recommendations can be found in my Backcountry Gear Guide.
Cascade Amphitheatre Hike Final Tips
Banff Google Map: 600+ Pins
Get my 600+ Banff recommendations saved to your Google Maps app
Outdoors: 100+ hiking trails, backcountry campgrounds, ski resorts, waterfalls & lakes
Planning: lodging, restaurants, public washrooms & transit hubs
Things to do: tours, viewpoints & unique activities
I lived in Banff for years and know all the best spots!
My Featured Banff Blogs
Travel Guides
Banff Activities
Quick Banff Guide
First time visiting Canada? This page outlines all my travel tips for those new to Canada.
When to visit: this post breaks down each month in Banff with average temperatures and corresponding activities.
How to get to Banff: fly into Calgary International Airport. From here, rent a car (what I recommend), RV, or take one of the following shuttles to Banff:
- Budget: On-It runs during the summer months and Pop-a-Ride is a ride-share program. You can use my Poparide link to save $5 on your first trip.
- Professional shuttles: Banff Airporter and Brewster.
- Car rental: having access to a car is the best way to travel to/from/within Banff. This site compares the best local rates.
Best Activities in Banff: here are all my recommendations for the best tours, activities, and unique experiences in Banff & beyond.
Moraine Lake or Lake Louise: read my guide for how to get there with the new road closures. If you want to see Moraine Lake at sunrise, you can book a shuttle here.
Lodging & Camping: Here’s my guide for hotels in Banff (Organized by Category). If you’re visiting during peak summer (mid June to early September), make your lodging reservations FAR in advance. Front country and backcountry camping reservations must be made on the Parks Canada reservation system. The system typically opens in January and it’s recommended you make reservations then.
Reservations: for activities and restaurants should be made well in advance during summer. Get Your Guide and Viator are popular tour booking platforms whereas OpenTable is used for restaurants.
Parks Pass: You’ll need a National Park Pass for your vehicle for each day you’re in Banff. Passes can be purchased at the East Parks Gates, the Visitor Centre, or online. If you’ll be in any of Canada’s National Parks for more than 7 days in a 365 day period, an annual Discovery Pass offers a better rate than purchasing individual day passes.
Roam Transit: once you arrive in Banff, use the local transit service as much as possible to avoid parking issues. There are bus lines within town, plus lines to popular spots like Lake Louise and Johnston Canyon. The bus to Lake Louise should be reserved in advance.
Parking: the best spot to park is the free lot next to the train station. More information about parking in town can be found here and parking fees can be paid here. Bylaw is strict, so ensure you’re following parking rules exactly.
Wildlife Safety: 11 ways to stay safe from wildlife, bear safety, & bear basics.
Happy adventuring!
Taylor ♡
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About the Author
HI, I’m Taylor – the voice behind The Holistic Backpacker.
After moving to Banff National Park in 2020 I became an outdoor adventure enthusiast and vowed to never stop exploring.
I now spend my days travelling the world, climbing mountains, and spending nights under the stars in the Canadian Rockies backcountry.
I created The Holistic Backpacker so I could share my adventures and help connect people like you with the same amazing experiences.
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