Town of Banff

Spray River Loop

• Bridge across the Spray River leads to the picnic area at the Spray Loop Trail turn-around Photo: Sue Webb

  12 km round trip, 65 m elevation gain (3 – 3.5 hrs.)
  

Also known locally as the Spray Loop.

This old fire road follows the Spray River upstream for 6 km to a footbridge and picnic area, and loops back on the other side of the Spray Valley. For a longer outing, you can continue out past the picnic area, to the Goat Creek Trail which continues all the way to Spray Valley Provincial Park above Canmore.

In spring, summer and fall, this trail is popular with hikers, cyclists, and horse riders. In the winter, it becomes a favourite cross-country ski trail, regularly track-set, and convenient enough for locals to do a quick loop on their lunch break.

You can start the loop either from the golf course road at the end of the 15th hole (please stay on the trail and avoid crossing the fairway - the trail leads through a wooded area behind the green); or from the Spray River Trailhead located just past the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel parkade.

Access:

• Bow Falls Viewpoint to the Golf Course road
• Spray River Trailhead parking lot
  

Connects to:

• Mt. Rundle Trail
• Upper Hot Springs Trail
• Bow Falls Trail