Sundance Canyon: An Easy Hike & Hidden Gem in Banff

Sundance Canyon is a hike with tremendous views along the Bow River and a forested canyon with wild rock formations. It’s an easy hike in Banff that we consider one of the park’s most underrated. Its proximity to town and easy accessibility make it a popular choice for many families and those seeking an approachable nature hike.

It makes for an attractive alternative to the much more popular Johnston Canyon hike, which has become too busy to be enjoyable in the summer months. The only downside to the hike is the rather long approach along an old paved road to the actual trail. The stats listed for the hike include the long approach, but it is possible to bike the first section.

We had long put off hiking the trail because we deemed it too boring, but we found it a pleasant surprise, well worth the effort. Check out our post on easy hikes in Banff if you’re looking for more alternatives.

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Route Description

The trail begins at the Cave & Basin Historic Site, which is an attractive stop in itself. It is the original site of Banff National Park and the Parks Canada system, offering fascinating insights into Banff’s founding. A visit to the museum is well worth an hour or more.

A wide paved path from the Cave & Basin building goes towards Sundance Canyon and along the Bow River. It’s an old park road and is now closed to private vehicles. At around 3.3 km from the trailhead of Sundance Canyon, the path can feel a little arduous and long on foot. So the ideal way to tackle this trail is with a bike, which is very popular with families.

Right at the start of the trail behind Cave & Basin is the small National Internment Exhibit that recognizes the internment conditions that took place in Banff during the world wars. After the small exhibit, the paved road goes down a gradual hill towards the Bow River.

It’s a mixed-use trail, so expect to see horses, horse-drawn carriages, and the occasional service vehicle. For those curious about the horse experience, you can book that with Banff Trail Riders—they offer cowboy cookouts and scenic pony rides along the trail.

At the 1 km mark, the path levels out, offering scenic vistas and benches along the Bow River. It’s a lovely scene as the river is slow-moving and calm here, and the wide opening offers views of the distant mountains.

After another 1.5 km of biking along the river, the trail takes a turn and moves up a valley. It’s a gradual uphill through the forest and is very easy even on a bike, with minimal elevation gain. The paved road will end at a small clearing with a parking lot and picnic area.

This is where bikes must be locked up, as they’re not allowed on the actual trail; it’s also not bikeable, with lots of steps and bridges. Sundance Canyon starts right at the end of the paved section of the trail. Which is another plus for biking the trail.

Moving through the forest and over a bridge, the trail arrives right at the base of a wild section of the Sundance Creek. The trail here is well-maintained, but it’s much rougher and wilder than the more popular Marble or Johnston Canyon hikes. It’s a wild, natural space full of greenery and moss along the fast-moving creek.

Steps feel a bit more uneven, the trail sees more water, and you’re much closer to the fast-moving water. It’s a really impressive piece of nature with some wild natural features, most notably the steep cliff walls on the right side of the creek. We think the photos speak for themselves. The trail is pretty steep in sections, but it is short-lived, so it’s manageable for most hikers.

After gaining a steep section, the trail winds back and forth next to the creek for a couple of hundred meters. However, it’s not too long as the whole trail along the canyon is 1 km in length. It ends at a high point above the canyon in some lovely forest.

There is a trail that leads back to the trailhead through the forest. It passes through a flat section before reaching a small bluff with safety fences that offer a great view over the valley. From there, it’s a short downhill back to the paved road. The return is the same and goes back to the Cave & Basin Historic Site.

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Best Time To Hike Sundance Canyon

As it’s a low-elevation trail, the canyon enjoys a longer hiking season. It’s generally good to hike from Early May to November. We hiked the trail in June and found good conditions.

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Trip Notes

The trail is largely along a flat paved road that follows the Bow River and then the Sundance Creek. It’s a rather long approach of 3.3 km to the start of the trail, so we suggest most bikers ride the first section of the trail.

Sundance Canyon is really impressive and feels much wilder than other easy trails in Banff. It’s well-built and well-maintained, but it does involve some natural-stone steps, a steep hill, and rough terrain. This means it may be a little more difficult for those who are less able. We also wouldn’t recommend a stroller as it’s not possible along this trail.

If you plan to hike the trail with your dog, please be advised that there will likely be horses along the paved section of the trail. Please ensure that your dog is not reactive and give the horses and guests their space.

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Our Thoughts On Sundance Canyon

Sundance Canyon is a hidden gem in Banff National Park that we’d highly recommend to those who want to stay close to Banff. It’s well worth exploring for locals or repeat visitors. Especially those who have access to a bike, making the trail more approachable and fun.

That said, we chose to stretch our legs and did it without bikes the first time we hiked the trail. We had a pleasant time and found the canyon to be far more impressive than we expected. It’s a really cool spot in Banff that’s often overlooked these days.