Town of Banff

Biking

Enjoy the mountain bike trails around Banff

Biking is a great way to enjoy Banff National Park, and rental bikes are available at several stores within the Town of Banff (Backtrax Bike Rentals, Mountain Magic, The Ski Stop, Banff Adventures Unlimited, Banff Springs Ski & Mountain Sports).

As of 2010 Banff is even more bike friendly with the addition of sharrows which will help motorists and bicyclists navigate the roads better.

The townsite itself offers several paved pathways, and bike racks are abundant along the main downtown streets.

Beyond using a bike to get around town, there are great opportunities to explore out into Banff National Park, whether on road or by trail.

Mountain Biking

In Banff National Park, mountain bike riders will find several trails open for riding. Most of these are accessible from the townsite, but other local favourites are at Lake Minnewanka, and further afield in Lake Louise.

An up-to-date and comprehensive list of open trails is available on the Parks Canada Website.
 
See the Bow Valley Mountain Bike Alliance to learn more about safe and responsible practices for riding in Banff National Park.

Bike Touring

For those riders who are seeking pavement, Banff offers a great variety of rides, ranging from one hour to several days in length. Shorter rides originating from the townsite include the trail along the Bow River, Vermilion Lakes Drive and a loop around Tunnel Mountain or Lake Minnewanka Road. Climbers will enjoy riding the road up Mount Norquay (approximately 5 kilometres from the Highway 1 exit to the Ski Norquay parking lot). More ambitious rides include the Bow Valley Parkway (1A Highway) to Lake Louise and back (approximately 120 kilometres return).

See the Parks Canada Website for a list of local road rides. There are several local tour operators who provide guided bicycle tours. Retailers such as The Ski Stop provide a range of services for riders, including a bicycle valet service and a 'shuttle & ride' service.