Hike the Sulphur Mountain Trail in Banff Canada

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Sulphur Mountain is a mountain in Banff Nationwide Park within the Canadian Rocky Mountains simply outdoors the city of Banff in Alberta, Canada. The mountain will get its identify from the 2 sulfurous sizzling springs discovered on the decrease slopes and provides a pleasant mountain climbing path to the summit at 2,281 meters (7,486 ft). The most well-liked solution to the highest of Sulphur Mountain is with the Banff Gondola.

Banff Gondola Sulphur Mountain
The Banff Gondola above the Sulphur Mountain Path, mountain climbing in September.

Widespread Excursions in Banff Nationwide Park

Banff Gondola Journey – A round-trip gondola trip to the highest of Sulphur Mountain. Get pleasure from nice views of six totally different mountain ranges, close by rivers, and the encircling space aboard a state-of-the-art gondola.

Lake Louise and the Icefields Parkway – Full-Day Tour – Spherical-trip journey from Banff with lodge choose as much as some highlights which are far aside together with Lake Louise, the Icefield Parkway,g Bow Falls and Moraine Lake, information, small-group tour—restricted to fifteen folks.

Bow River trip on Horseback – Guided horseback driving journey alongside the paths of the Bow River or the Spray River. Study concerning the historical past of the nationwide park from a nature information

Sulphur mountain gondola stationla
The Sulphur Mountain Gondola Station, Banff Nationwide Park, Alberta, Canada in September

From the gondola automotive, you will have a good looking view of the Canadian Rockies, the Spray & Bow Valleys, Lake Minnewanka, and the City of Banff. From the Sulphur Mountain summit expertise jaw-dropping views of Banff Nationwide Park.

The Sulphur Mountain path is a well-liked mountain climbing route of average issue that goes up the mountain, beneath the gondola and is a free solution to the highest of this icon of Banff. The path is a steady uphill with a sequence of switchbacks crossing beneath the Banff Gondola. Positioned principally between the bushes views are restricted, however there are some wonderful vistas from the open patches that you just hit each from time to time and nice views from the summit. The path itself just isn’t too busy, however count on lots of people on the high that made their manner up the mountain within the gondola!

It’s also possible to take the gondola up and down or only one manner making this lovely mountain accessible to everybody. There are in depth services on high of the mountain; a pleasant boardwalk, viewpoints, some mountain climbing trails, and even eating places, and a present store. For a caffeine junkie like me, espresso on the highest of a summit at all times places a smile on my face.

Do a shorter model of the hike by taking the gondola a technique or prolong your mountain climbing route by strolling over the mountain and mixing the path with another trails to Banff city.

Climbing in Banff Nationwide Park

Banff Nationwide Park is Canada’s oldest nationwide park and is an unimaginable place for mountain climbing lovers and nature lovers with over 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) of well-marked and maintained mountain climbing routes exploring mountainous terrain, glaciers, and spectacular alpine forests.

The vast majority of trails are simply accessible from 2 totally different cities, each situated contained in the nationwide park, the City of Banff, and the village of Lake Louise 57 km aside by street. The Regional Service is a fast and low cost bus service that runs 5 instances per day between Banff and Lake Louise. 

Put together to Hike the Sulphur Mountain Path

Banff Nationwide Park is situated in Bear Nation. Grizzly bears are seen on Sulphur Mountain, particularly in the summertime months. It is strongly recommended to at all times carry bear spray.

A Nationwide Park Move is required when getting into a Canadian Nationwide Park. The cities of Banff & Lake Louise are situated within the Banff Nationwide Park and a Park Allow is required, Parks Canada can ask to your allow. Entry and repair charges assist help customer companies and services. Purchase a Park Allow Right here. 

lake louise near banff
The spectacular Lake Louise is the trailhead the place a number of wonderful mountain climbing trails begin in Banff Nationwide Park.

Attending to Sulphur Mountain from Banff

The trailhead to the Sulphur Mountain mountain climbing path is situated simply outdoors city and is simple to achieve from Banff Avenue. See our in depth information to mountain climbing in Banff Nationwide Park for particulars on a big number of hikes round Banff and Lake Louise.

The Banff Gondola is situated on the base of Sulphur Mountain on the finish of Mountain Avenue in Banff. There are three choices to get to Sulphur Mountain from Banff city; drive, take a public bus, or take a free shuttle bus.

Driving

It’s a 10-minute drive from city. Park on the gondola or the Higher Scorching Springs parking zone. The Banff Gondola parking zone has quite a lot of house, but it surely fills up shortly within the season.

Shuttle Bus

There’s a free shuttle bus departing day by day from sure accommodations.

Public Bus

The Banff Gondola is serviced year-round by Bow Valley ROAM Transit Companies. Present your Banff Gondola ticket between Might 20 and October 9, 2023, for free fare to and from Sulphur Mountain. Take the Roam Route #1 bus. Simply take the bus from a number of pick-up factors on the town to the Banff Gondola ($2 a technique). Use the regional service bus to get from Lake Louise to Banff.

Sulphur Mountain Hike Particulars

Distance – 5.5 km (3.4 miles) a technique, 11 km return (6.8 miles) – additional 1 km return to Sanson Peak

Strolling time – My time is 1h30min up and 45 min down, permitting 2h to 4h relying on health.

Complete ascent/descent – 700 m (2286 ft)

Max Altitude – Sanson Peak 2451 m (8041 ft) above sea stage

Issue. Average.

Trailhead. Sulphur Mountain trailhead  at Banff Scorching Springs (Gondola Parking Space)

The Sulphur Mountain path provides an excellent exercise with an ascend of 700 meters over 5.5 kilometers rewarding you with some nice views on the high.

The path is in style for mountain climbing, path operating and snowshoeing and the perfect time to make your manner up the path is from June by way of October. Canines are allowed if on a leash. Climbing the path alone in October I solely noticed 2 different hikers, but it surely was loopy busy on the summit. The gorgeous mountain views and a Fort Mountain espresso went down nicely earlier than persevering with down the opposite facet of the mountain.

mountain views from Sulphur mountain gondola
Superb views from the encircling mountains from the Sulphur mountain hike.

Trailhead Sulphur Mountain Hike

The Sulphur Mountain Hike trailhead is subsequent to the Banff Scorching Springs at an elevation of 1,580 M (5,200 ft). The trailhead is situated near the bus cease and is well-marked. and will be reached by automotive or by public transport from downtown Banff.

Sulphur Mountain Path

In season the Sulphur Mountain path is a busy path that’s straightforward to observe and it’s a comparatively protected path to hike alone as a result of it’s so busy. The path snakes up the mountain with 27 switchbacks going zig-zag up the comparatively dense wooded slope ending on the high of the Banff Gondola. It’s doable to proceed strolling at this level. Gaps within the forest permit for some good views alongside the path.

The Sulphur Mountain path begins out comparatively huge and dry, however on the higher slopes, it might probably have muddy and icy sections, microspikes can come in useful. It’s a comparatively steep 5.5 km hike up the mountain. The views from the highest of the path throughout the park are glorious. I’ll suggest waterproof footwear and produce sufficient water to make it to the highest, there is no such thing as a water on the best way.

In season the path is busy, however strolling up in early October I solely noticed two different hikers. On the high, it was loopy busy. The views from the highest of the encircling mountains are good.

Climbing from Banff Gondola to Sanson Peak

The path hyperlinks with a boardwalk on the summit. To proceed mountain climbing to Sanson Peak stroll across the gondola constructing to the boardwalk and proceed on the boardwalk for about 500m till you attain Sanson Peak, at an elevation of 2289 meters. There are some good views from the boardwalk. There’s a Mountain Climate Observatory and a meteorological station referred to as the Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station Nationwide Historic Web site at Samson Peak with nice views of the Bow Valley, Spray Valley, and the Sundance Canyon. 

hiking to Sanson Peak from the Banff Gondola
Climbing from the Banff Gondola to Sanson Peak on the boardwalk.

Sulphur Mountain prolonged hike – proceed to Sundance Canyon and Marsh loop

For an important full-day hike I mixed Sulphur Mountain with two different trails. There will not be many individuals that stroll down the opposite facet of the mountain, so carry bear spray.

You may stroll over Sulphur mountain and mix the path with strolling to Sundance Canyon and the Marsh loop for a complete hike of 18 km – my mountain climbing time was 4h 25min, Elevation achieve 807m.

After mountain climbing to the highest of Sulphur Mountain I had a espresso, explored the boardwalk, Sanson Peak, and walked down the opposite facet. I noticed some hikers on the best way up, a whole bunch of those that took the gondola on the high, however on the best way down the opposite facet of the mountain I didn’t see anyone and had the entire mountain to myself, solely seeing hikers once more on the Sundance canyon path. Strolling in October the mountain was lined in snow, the golden larches have been lovely with a mixture of inexperienced and golden leaves over the mountain.

Hiking over Sulphur Mountain to Sundance Canyon
Climbing over Sulphur Mountain to Sundance Canyon with some superior golden leaves in fall.

It was fast taking place the mountain on the opposite facet. The Marsh Loop is a flat 2.8 km path that encircles a wetland crammed with sizzling springs flowing out of the decrease slopes of Sulphur Mountain.

The Sundance Canyon path begins on the Cave and Basin Nationwide Historic Web site. This path offers good panoramic views of the mountains throughout the Bow River. Simple, regular climb away from the river, the paved part ends, and the reasonably troublesome path loops by way of a water-filled canyon.

Extended Sulphur mountain trail 18km
Map of Prolonged Sulphur Mountain Path from the Banff Gondola, over Sulphur Mountain by way of the Marsh Loop and Sundance Canyon, 18 km. Map generated with my Garmin Fenix 5 GPS Watch

Take the Banff Gondola

You may go up and down Sulphur Mountain with the Banff gondola with nice views of the encircling valleys. The Gondola is sweet however could be very pricy for a 10-minute Gondola trip. The Banff Gondola is a superb exercise to do with youngsters in Banff. Do a shorter hike by mountain climbing up and taking place with the gondola. 

Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain
Going up Sulphur Mountain with the Banff Gondola.

Banff Gondola Value

The Banff Gondola return worth varies from CAD$58 to $65 relying on the time of the day. The worth of a ticket relies on projected visitation. Climbing up the mountain and taking the Gondola down is feasible at half the value of a return ticket. There is no such thing as a low cost for mountain climbing down, if you need the take the Banff Gondola up and hike down, you will need to buy a full-price ticket.

Sulphur Mountain – The Summit

There are extra than simply breathtaking views on the high of Sulphur Mountain. All hikers received’t get pleasure from arriving at such a business heart on the high of the mountain, however I loved looking round, having a espresso, and persevering with mountain climbing. If you happen to take the gondola up and down there are some good services to get pleasure from on high. The higher terminal has a state-of-the-art interpretive heart with fascinating shows for youths. The multi-sensory Above Banff Theatre allow you to expertise the magnificent Canadian Rockies from the attitude of an eagle. Discover the summit with the Sulphur Mountain boardwalk, the outside 360-degree rooftop statement deck, 2 eating places, a espresso store, and a present store.

Finest Season to Hike the Sulphur Mountain Path

Sulphur Mountain will be hiked all yr spherical. In Summer time this path could be very in style with many hikers. There’s a waterfall the place you’ll be able to clean up in summer season about 3/4 up the mountain. In winter it’s pretty quiet with many gondola customers going up the mountain. There’s a campfire on the statement deck in winter with an important view. Microspikes and mountain climbing poles will likely be of nice assist if the slopes get icy in chilly climate. In September after I hiked the path there have been solely a handful of different hikers strolling up the mountain.

Superb Hikes in Banff

Banff Nationwide Park is an unimaginable place for mountain climbing lovers and nature lovers, with 1000’s of kilometers of unreal trails across the cities of Banff and Lake Louise. There are trails starting from flat straightforward trails to more difficult trails involving some scrambling. The Tunnel Mountain path is a pleasant family-friendly route we loved, strolling from Banff city. The Large Beehive path was a good looking hike from Lake Louise that is a little more of a difficult route. 

Packing to hike round Banff

Ice crampons/cleats are helpful to stop slipping when mountain climbing in chilly climate.

My Garmin Fenix 5 GPS Watch is an incredible mountain climbing instrument; measuring velocity, elevation and health parameters and we use it to map all our hikes.

Climbing within the snow, waterproof gaiters are nice at conserving snow and dust out of your boots!

My Salomon X Extremely Prime gortex boots are nice pair of trainers, for all seasons. Retains mud, snow, and rain out. Snug, gentle, and utterly waterproof.

Girls mannequin, Alya loves her Girls Salomon X Extremely boots.

I at all times carry a light-weight rain jacket in my daypack, the North Face for girls or North Face Resolve for males

BUFF Multifunctional Headwear – for solar and wind safety.

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