more stats
4.3 miles
Distance
72 ft
Climb
-77 ft
Descent
00:32:37
Avg time
-5 ft
Altitude change
5,086 ft
Altitude min
5,131 ft
Altitude max
5,123 ft
Altitude start
5,118 ft
Altitude end
-7%
Grade max
8.2%
Grade min
4,777 ft
Distance climb
1 mile
Distance down
2 miles
Distance flat
00:32:37
Avg time

Bow River Loop Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
    • Nordic Ski
  • Riding Area
    Banff National Park
    Lake Louise, Alberta
  • Difficulty Rating
    Green Rate
  • Local Popularity
    30 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 5 in E-Biking
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #119780 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #137048 in Trail Running
    • #130574 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Season
    Summer
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1

An easy scenic loop trail along the river. Great for kids or people new to biking, this trail has very little elevation change and no steep grades but offers great views and pleasant slow speed biking. The trail is used mostly for hiking and can get busy; there are a few blind corners, so it is not great for riding fast on. However, as an easy introduction to mountain biking it is a nice short loop.

Access Info

Can be picked up at many of the road crossings, but the best easy parking is at the train station.

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 1 rides
  • 6 miles avg distance
All
  • 22 rides
  • Last: Aug 24, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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update trails status or condition

Bow River Loop Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Jun 20, 2024 @ 9:19am
Jun 20, 2024
southwest route closed. north side clear and connects to tramline
Sep 25, 2020 @ 8:08pm
Sep 25, 2020
 South west portion of loop closed shortly after campground till October for wildlife protection.
Jun 2, 2020 @ 3:14pm
Jun 2, 2020
 No snow just some big puddles along the way
May 24, 2019 @ 5:12pm
May 24, 2019
 All clear of snow with some wet/muddy patches but otherwise riding well!
Jun 23, 2017 @ 8:59pm
Jun 23, 2017
 Closed for river flooding
more »
Status:
on Jun 20, 2024
Avg: 3.99 (4 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to bow-river-loop trailhead (51.428390, -116.189400)
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      Photos

      28 more »
      mtb
      13 |
      Jul 27, 2026 @ 3:39pm
      Jul 27, 2026
      mtb
      17 |
      Jul 27, 2026 @ 3:39pm
      Jul 27, 2026
      mtb
      20 |
      Jul 27, 2026 @ 3:39pm
      Jul 27, 2026
      mtb
      78 |
      Aug 9, 2024 @ 8:09pm
      Aug 9, 2024

      Videos

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      Technical Trail Features (TTF)

      4.3 ★★★★★
      4 Ratings
      5 ★ 50%
      4 ★ 25%
      3 ★ 25%
      2 ★
      1 ★

      Reviews / Comments

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      Nearby Trails

      Banff National Park

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      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Bow River Loop located?
      Bow River Loop is located in Banff National Park, Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. It is part of the Banff National Park trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 51.42839, -116.1894.
      ▼ How hard is Bow River Loop?
      Bow River Loop is rated as Green difficulty.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Bow River Loop?
      Bow River Loop has 72 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 77 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 5,086 ft to 5,131 ft.
      ▼ How long is Bow River Loop?
      Bow River Loop is 4.3 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Bow River Loop?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Bow River Loop. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Bow River Loop?
      Bow River Loop is best visited during: Summer.
      ▼ How do I access Bow River Loop? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Bow River Loop are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Bow River Loop?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 43 minutes to ride Bow River Loop. The trail is 4.3 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Bow River Loop?
      Bow River Loop is a less popular trail with lighter traffic. There have been 79 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 80 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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