Sulphur Mountain (Banff Gondola Hike)

Sulphur Mountain is one of the most popular hikes in the Town of Banff. The mountain itself is named after the natural hot springs that sit below and were responsible for starting the ball rolling in turning Banff into the tourist hot spot that it is today.

The gondola Summit building on a crisp winters day.

The stats

Time: About 1.5 hours for the up and around 1 hour for the down depending on your fitness level. You’ll most likely want to leave a little extra time though to explore around the top!

Distance: 11 km return

Elevation Gain: 700 m

How to Get to the Sulphur Mountain Trailhead?

The Sulphur Mountain trailhead starts at the Banff Gondola parking just south of the main town over the bridge. There is a large car park here but during busy seasons it will often fill up quickly and the traffic crossing over the bridge to the south side of town can often be pretty horrendous. I highly recommend leaving the car behind and using the Roam bus service to get yourself to the parking lot. Route 1 will take you directly to where you need to be and only costs $2 and if you’ve got tickets for the gondola it’s even free! That takes all the stress out of the drive and also helps alleviate some of the traffic going through town.

The hike

The hike up to Sulphur mountain is pretty easy going and straight forward via a series of switch backs that cross back and forth under the gondola. Of course there is a fair amount of elevation gain on this trail but the path is well mantained and at a good gradient meaning as long as you take your time it isn’t too difficult a trail. You’ll find yourself weaving in and out of the woods crossing underneath the gondola as you make your way to the top. Now the hike up itself isn’t overly rewarding when it comes to views but it’s a very different story once you reach the top.

The Sulphur Mountain trail as seen from the gondola above

On this hike you won’t reach the true summit of Sulphur mountain as this lays further south and requires a little more experience in route finding and scrambling to make your way there. You will however make it to the top where the gondola station sits, the Summit Building offers some fantastic dining options, an interpretive centre as well as the Above Banff theatre offering an interactive experience for the whole family.

However this is by no means the highlight! The scenic boardwalk that winds it’s way to Sansons peak and the cosmic ray station is of course the main event. The boardwalk offers some fantastic panoramic views across the Bow Valley taking and the Sundance range as well as the iconic Cascade mountain. In fact I’d say this is one of, if not the, best place to photograph sunset anywhere in Banff national park.

The view across the valley at sunset in winter

Ride The Gondola

Now of course you can ride the gondola up to the top and it is a great option if you aren’t able to make the hike. The views are stunning and well worth the effort but for me personally the $88 is getting up there in price when it comes to the gondola. However I have never met anyone who has regretted taking the ride up and taking in some of the best views in the Canadian Rockies so if the hike up isn’t for you it will still be worth checking out the gondola.

Alternatively you can hike up and then take the gondola back down if you’re feeling tired for half the regular ticket price.

I’ve taken my parents up via the gondola and they loved it!

You can book the gondola here.

When to Visit?

Winter or Summer?

The Sulphur Mountain trail is accessible year round and makes for a fantastic winter hike. In fact I’d go as far to say that the view over Banff is even better in the winter. However during the winter months, which could easily be October through to May, the trail is snow covered and icy so I’d highly recommend some micro spikes and poles. If you’re going later in the day you’ll also want to pack a head torch in case you end up hiking back down in the dark.

Although it’s of course much colder in winter and you’ll need to wrap up warm it is easier to catch the sunset as it’s much earlier in the day and the Summit building will still be fully open, which is perfect if you need to warm up, grab a drink or a bite to eat.

The Summit Building with the true summit of Sulphur mountain behind

Events

From the end of November until the end of March you’ll also find the nightrise exhibit, an interactive light display that illuminates the walk ways and buildings during the darker evenings. In fact there’s often some great events up at the Summit building throughout the year often including some great live music.

Live music at the Summit Building

Things to know before you go

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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