Cascade Mountain Hike in Banff: DETAILED Scramble Guide
Last summer I made the Cascade Mountain hike my most important objective – after living in Banff for years I thought it was definitely time to hike the beautiful mountain looming over Banff ave I looked up at every day. Although long with lots of elevation, the Cascade Mountain scramble ended up being a pretty straightforward hike considering the climb up takes you to almost 3,000m.
The Cascade Mountain trail is considered a scramble, however in comparison to the many nearby peaks I’d consider it a more of a challenging hike than a technical scramble. If you’re hoping to summit a near 3,000m mountain, either Cascade Mountain or Mount Bourgeau are the two “easiest” options in Banff.
Don’t let the “ease” of hiking Cascade fool you though. The Cascade hike is long and steep, requires some route finding, and is exposed in a few areas. For most, summiting Cascade Mountain outweighs any physical activity they’ve done and will ever do in their life.
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How to get to the Cascade Mountain Trailhead
The Cascade Mountain hike is located just 10 minutes (7kms) outside the town of Banff. From the Calgary International Airport the Cascade Mountain hike is 1hr 30mins (147kms).
Luckily if you’re travelling Banff sans-vehicle there’s a free public shuttle bus to the Cascade Mountain trailhead from downtown Banff. This means you can hike Cascade Mountain 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 take a longer time to hike Cascade Mountain than the window within the first and last shuttle you could always 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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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 Mountain Scramble
- Distance: 18.5kms
- Elevation gain: 1,689m
- Estimated time: 5-12hrs
- Type of trail: out & back
- Time of year: July to September
The Cascade summit trail is a summer scrambling route. Do not attempt this trail in winter or during the shoulder seasons.
The Cascade Mountain hike is a demanding, yet technically simple hike considering this objective is just short of 3,000m. The first 7.5kms of the trail are long and boring – forested switchbacks. After this the trail transitions from stable boulder fields, to exposed areas, to loose scree. You get a bit of everything, but none of the terrain or scrambling is overly challenging. Meaning as long as you have a good level of fitness you should have no problem completing the Cascade Mountain hike.
I will say the combination of rock, distance, and the significant level of elevation gain does a number your knees though. Proper footwear and hiking poles come highly recommended for this route.
There are markers on the Cascade Mountain hike to help you find where you’re going. Initially you’ll want to follow the green Parks Canada trail signs and snowshoe symbols. After reaching the Cascade Amphitheatre x Cascade Summit turnoff there’ll be orange-y ribbons every so often in the trees. Once you break the treeline there are orange spray painted dots leading you to the summit.
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.
Best Time of Year to Hike Cascade Mountain
The best time of year to hike Cascade Mountain varies year-to-year but generally late July to early August is best. This short window is when most tall summits are guaranteed clear of snow in Banff, but some years Cascade will be snow free earlier or later than this.
You do not want to attempt the Cascade Mountain hike if there’s still snow near the false summit (you can monitor this from the town of Banff down below). There’s an exposed traverse near the false summit which would be treacherous in the snow. Once this section is snow free you’re good to go.
How Hard is the Cascade Mountain Hike?
The Cascade Mountain hike is difficult for its lengthy distance and significant elevation gain. The scrambling required to reach the summit is straightforward though and doesn’t require technical skills. I’d consider Cascade Mountain a hard hike, but an easy scramble – for reference I’m an experienced hiker and a moderate scrambler.
The Cascade Mountain hike is more of a workout than anything, however do not discount the associated risks. Hiking always comes with risk, especially if you’re tacking mountains near the 3.000m mark.
The Cascade Mountain hike is not for beginners.
Here are other suitable hiking trails in Banff for those less experienced
Tips for Summiting Cascade Mountain
- Weather can change on a dime and Cascade’s high elevation means you can loose visibility out of nowhere. Try to hike on a clear day.
- Look back every so often so you know what the trail looks like for the descent.
- Download the Alltrails map before you hike. I found this exceptionally helpful as I lost the trail many times.
- Bring extra snacks and water. The Cascade hike is long and there’s only one small water source near the beginning of the trail.
- Bring extra layers – the summit is exceptionally cold and windy.
- Proper footwear is required for the Cascade Mountain hike. You can find my favourite hiking boots for Banff on this page.
- Hiking poles are very helpful for balance in the scree and take some of the load of your knees.
How Long Does the Cascade Scramble Take?
I took me around 6.5hrs to complete the Cascade Mountain trail (with around a 1.5hr break at the top). Most hikers report the trail takes them 5hrs-9hrs depending on fitness level and previous experience, however some have reported it taking them 12hrs+.
My recommendation is to start the Cascade Mountain hike early to ensure you have plenty of daylight.
Here are my Canadian Rockies hiking tips (listed below)
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 Mountain Trail
Below is a detailed description of the Cascade Mountain trail all the way to the summit. I’ve broken the hike down into segments to better describe each section of the hike.
To start off this Cascade Mountain scramble guide I’ll add this photo from Parks Canada outlining the various sections of the Cascade Mountain hike.
Cascade Trailhead to Amphitheatre Meadows
The Cascade summit hike starts at the Norquay ski resort. You’ll walk past the lodge (hiker’s right) and continue on a dirt road past a couple ski lifts until you see the sign pictured below on your right. Follow directions to “Cascade Amphitheatre” and watch out for the snowshoe symbols.
The initial 7.4kms of the Cascade Mountain hike is completely forested and it’s honestly pretty boring. Until you past the bridge over 40 Mile Creek the trail is relatively flat, but after this you begin to gain some real and steady elevation over 3kms of what seems to be never ending switchbacks.
There’s not too much to say about this section of the Cascade Mountain trail, but if you want a detailed recount from the trailhead to the Amphitheatre Meadows you can read this post: Cascade Amphitheatre trail guide.
Once you reach the turnoff pictured below, take a right and follow the sparsely laid out orange ribbons in the trees. This is when the Cascade hike turns into the official Cascade scramble route.
Cascade Summit Turnoff to the Treeline
Past the turnoff the Cascade hike becomes steeper as you climb up and around the edge of the Amphitheatre. There’s a well worn, fairly narrow path through the trees marked by the odd orange marker. The trail remains like this until you reach the treeline.
Cascade Mountain Boulder Field
The treeline marks the beginning of the boulder field which I did not find difficult to cross, but I did find fairly hard to navigate. Granted I was hiking alone, I have terrible eyesight, and essentially no sense of direction (should I even be allowed to hike solo)?
I had the Alltrails map downloaded which was the only thing that kept me on track. That and the spray painted orange markers on the rocks.
I did manage to lose my way back again on the return hike and found that every time the trail seemed to become difficult to follow or loose, that was a definite sign I was wandering off.
The rocks in the Cascade boulder field are virtually all stable – I did not experience any sliding or loose footing here (as long as I remained on the correct path).
I found the trail to be slightly more orange than the surrounding rock too which was what I tried to look out for as the distant orange markers were hard to see.
Eventually as you continue through the boulder field you’ll come to a section where a 2m downstep is required. Handholds and a generous step are enough to tackle this objective. I made the mistake of hiking up past this, but you’ll want to continue “horizontally,” – continuing along rather than gaining immediate elevation.
Make sure you look back here to gain a general idea of where to go on the return hike.
Cascade Mountain False Summit
Shortly after the downstep the trail will curve left around a corner bringing you to the trail leading up to the false summit. I honestly did not research this hike before doing it and was unpleasantly surprised when I found there was still more after the false peak. You live you learn.
After reaching the top of the false peak you’ll arrive at the infamous exposed section of the Cascade scramble. If there’s snow here consider turning back as a slip could be fatal.
The exposed section is a saddle that lies atop a steep bowl. It’s a beautiful part of the hike as you can see over both sides of the mountain, but it can be dangerous in inclement weather. If the skies are sunny and the ground is dry you have nothing to worry about. If there’s snow and you slip, an axe and crampons offer a slim chance to save yourself.
Final Push to Cascade Summit
The final push to Cascade summit is a steep slog up loose rock for about 1km – you’ll gain around 200m here. You have to be a bit careful with footing and you can expect some sliding, but nothing an experience hiker can’t handle.
The rock is loose enough that you can half scree ski on the descent to speed things up.
Once you finish the Cascade scramble you’ll be rewarded with views overlooking Lake Minnewanka, the Bow Valley, and the town of Banff.
One final caution – be sure to stay away from cornice snow at the peak and on the final ascent push.
Cascade Mountain Return Hike
After finishing the Cascade scramble you’ll need to make the lengthy return hike – do not take any shortcuts! Going off trail can lead to dangerous terrain and adds unnecessary time to the Cascade hike. Some hikers have attempted to descend through the amphitheatre which have led to disastrous accidents.
I opted to run the descent and somehow made it down in just under 2hrs, but you can expect the descent to take at least 3hrs or more on average – longer depending on how much your knees are feeling it.
If you have any gas left in the tank you can opt to visit Cascade Amphitheatre on the way down. It only adds an extra 2kms roundtrip with around 100m of elevation gain. There are lots of pikas in the area and the meadow before the rock field is a nice place to stop and rest for a while if you find yourself needing a break or a pretty spot to enjoy a snack.
More information about the Cascade Amphitheatre hike can be found in this post
Otherwise continue on with the long slog that is the Cascade Mountain descent until you reach the parking lot. The last couple kilometres seem deadly – a real “I’m so close, yet so far” type of situation. Rest assured once you reach the Norquay parking lot you’ll be filled with satisfaction knowing you’ve just summited Cascade, one of Banff’s biggest, baddest mountains.
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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!
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 about the Cascade scramble. 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.
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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