Healy Pass - Banff (With an alternative return)
The stats
Time: 6 - 8 hours depending on which way you decide to come bak
Distance: 18 km for an out and back to Healy Pass around 25 km if you decide to come back via Simpson pass
Elevation Gain: 900 m
Access: The great thing about Healy pass is that it starts from the Sunshine Village parking lot. So not only is there plenty of parking but there is also the possibility to get to the trail head without a car by using the Sunshine Village free shuttle service that will bring you directly from Banff. There are lots of different departure times starting at 7:30am with the last return being at 5:45pm. So plenty of time to complete the Healy Pass trail and get the last bus home!
More info here!
THe HIKE
Healy Pass has to be one of the best trails in Banff for not only wild flowers in the summer but also larch trees in the fall. Really any time of year you get on to this trail you won’t be disappointed. The alpine meadow on the pass offers sweeping vistas of the surrounding area.
The trail starts heading up through the woods to the side of the ski resort gondola, the incline is continuous but steady so it isn’t too strenuous. In fact the incline is so manageable and the trail so wide it actually makes for a great running trail up to the pass and back!
The wooded incline goes on for around 7 km or about 2 hours of steady hiking. One reason to run the trail or move a bit quicker is that it gets this relatively uninteresting section out of the way quicker! Believe me though, the slog through the trees is definitely worth it!
Running the first section of the Healy pass trail!
At the start of the season there can some times be a fair amount of tree fall on the trail.
Once you’ve made your way through the woods you’ll cross a couple of quaint wooden bridges and the the forest finally opens up, take a right to head up to the pass. You’ll spend the last couple of kms in a stunning alpine meadow full of larch trees or wildflowers with views of the distant mountains. This is a fantastic spot to stop, take a breath, enjoy the views and have some lunch.
Crossing the bridges in to Healy Passes alpine meadow
During fall the pass couldn’t have any more larch trees!
The way back
Now there are a couple of options on how to get back to the trailhead and which way you go probably depends how much energy you have left and how much time it will take!
The easiest way back is of course to follow your footsteps back the way you came and treat the trail as a simple out and back.
Simpson Pass
Another option though is to take Simpsons Pass back. Retrace your steps to the first foot bridge you crossed after coming out of the woods but rather crossing over take the right hand fork, this will lead you over Simpsons pass. This alternative ending doesn’t add all that much elevation gain but it does increase the distance by about 7 km in total. You’ll follow the trail back to the Sunshine Village ski resort and end up following the winter ski out trail back down underneath the gondola to the car park.
Coming back this way means some different views and a more open trail rather than being enclosed in the woods. There’s also the possibility of grabbing a little snack at Sunshine Village on the way through if one of the cafes are open!
Things to know
Wildlife
As always wildlife is a big one! Bears are regularly spotted on the Sunshine Village access road so could be hiding away in the woods! As always carry bear spray, hike in groups and make plenty of noise!
Make it a Multi-Day Hike
If you carry on from the pass it is possible to camp put at Egypt lake with a prior reservation. There are also some fantastic trails to further explore in that area and some fantastic photography. Check out my post on Egypt lake and beyond here!
Offline maps
Knowing where you’re going is super important as to not get lost on your way home. I recommend All Trails Plus for finding routes and offline mapping allowing you to safely find your way home.
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The East End of Rundle, commonly know as EEOR has to be one of my favourite hikes close to Canmore. It also offers some of the best sunset photography in the Rockies.