Biking from Canmore to Banff on Goat Creek & Legacy Trail
Throughout the months of summer and fall, many people flock to the national parks to take advantage of the great outdoors. What better way to enjoy a long weekend or day off than to bike from Canmore to Banff? Here are two stunning trails that your whole family can enjoy!
Goat Creek Trail
Goat Creek Trail is a multi-use backcountry trail that is just under 20 km long. This breathtaking trail takes you from Canmore to Banff, carving through the valley of Sulphur Mountain and Mount Rundle. With a wide path and gentle slopes, it is ideal for mountain bikers of all levels.
You’ll find the trailhead at the Goat Creek Parking Lot just outside Canmore. From this point, the trail is mostly downhill, so depending on your group’s fitness level, it will take roughly two to three hours to complete one way.
Remember that this is a backcountry trail so please be prepared and bring enough water and snacks. Bear spray and a first aid kit could come in handy as well.
Note: if you wish to take the trail back to Canmore from Banff, it will be significantly more difficult as the majority of the trail will be uphill.
Where to rent a bike: If you don’t own a bike, there are plenty of rental companies in both Canmore and Banff. I would recommend Trail Sports, which is situated at the Canmore Nordic Centre. This very conveniently located bike rental company has very friendly and knowledgable staff.
If you are biking with a group, you can arrange to leave a second vehicle at the end of the trail in Banff near the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel or you can arrange for a shuttle (such as Roam Transit) to bring you back to Canmore.
Legacy Trail
Of course, if you don’t want to bike uphill or take a shuttle, there is a more fun option for returning to Canmore: the Banff Legacy Trail.
Also known as the Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail, this is a 26 km paved multi-use recreational pathway that connects the town of Banff and Canmore together. This trail is a very popular and highly trafficked pathway that runs parallel to the Trans Canada Highway.
This scenic trail is surrounded by towering mountains and the 3 m wide path allows for plenty of room for all users to enjoy. The trail contains multiple rest spots and picnic areas along the way, so stop and take in all the beautiful scenery the Rocky Mountains have to offer!
Note: this trail ends at the Travel Alberta Visitor Information Centre which is about 11.6km away from the Goat Creek Parking Lot. A second car parked at this location would be ideal.
Hopefully this post has inspired you to try out these wonderful trails. We’ll see you out there!
Looking for things to do in Banff?
