Sulphur Mountain Hike via the Banff Gondola Trail
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The Sulphur Mountain hike beneath the Banff Gondola is a Banff classic though it took me over a decade of living in Alberta to do it. It’s not a wild or even pretty hike since a good part of the trail is under or near the Banff Gondola. Also, most of the trail is in the trees, except for a pretty view part way up and of course the summit. You can expect to run into a lot of people at the top of the gondola so people who love solitude on a hike should give this one a pass. There is a longer alternative route to the top via the Cosmic Ray Road – where chances are good you won’t see a soul.
What the Sulphur Mountain hike offers – in every season, is a good workout as you do climb 665 metres over 5.5 kilometres. And you really can’t beat the views at the top. It’s also a great one for nervous hikers as it is busy, so chances of having a bear encounter are very small. Solo hikers will also feel safe doing this hike because of the number of people around.
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Sulphur Mountain hike trailhead
You can drive or take Roam Transit to the trailhead. From downtown Banff drive south on Banff Avenue and cross the Bow River Bridge. Turn left onto Spray Avenue and then right on Mountain Avenue. You will probably see signage for the Banff Gondola and the Upper Hot Springs. Continue for 3.2 km to reach the Upper Hot Springs parking lot. The trailhead is on the right near the intersection of the entrance to the parking lot and the road up to the Upper Hot Springs.
The parking lot can get crazy busy so if you want to avoid parking headaches hop on a Roam Transit bus. There is a stop just a few feet from the trailhead. A local one-way fare for an adult is $2 and $1 for a senior. There are fare boxes that accept both US and Canadian currency down to a nickel. You will need to plan your Sulphur Mountain hike around the schedule to a certain extent, but buses run frequently.
Sulphur Mountain hike details
Distance: 11 kilometres return
Elevation gain: 655 metres (2149 feet)
Elevation at the upper gondola terminal: 2260 m (7413 feet)
Time needed: 2.5 – 4 hours depending on your fitness level
Difficulty: Moderate
Dogs allowed: Yes, on leash. They can not ride down on the gondola.
Return on gondola: Purchase a downloading ticket at the base of the gondola or up on top based on availability. Dogs cannot ride the gondola.
Water and food: Take water as none is available on the trail. You can purchase food at the top and bottom of the Banff Gondola.
Avalanche risk: Proceed at your own risk.
Sulphur Mountain hike description
The Banff Gondola trail from bottom to top is easy to follow. Start hiking up the trail (really a service road at the start) beside the big sign saying Sulphur Mountain. In the winter, this part of the trail can be very icy and microspikes come in handy. Switchback left after just 100 metres. You’ll see another map and a warning about avalanche danger and dogs on the Banff gondola.
Follow the boot beaten trail as it switchbacks 27 times up the steep mountain to reach the backside of the Banff Gondola station. In warmer months, you can see a small waterfall, 2.3 km into the hike.
Banff Gondola to Sanson Peak
If you’ve got the time, I’d recommend continuing to Sanson Peak. Simply wander around the gondola building to reach the boardwalk. There are lovely views from here too. Follow the boardwalk for about half a kilometre until it ends at Sanson Peak, at an elevation of 2270 metres. The peak is also the site of a historic meteorological station called the Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station National Historic Site. From here you get excellent Bow Valley views.
At the top of Sanson Peak there is lots of informative signage related to cosmic ray research. Cosmic rays are thought to be the cause of the Northern Lights. Research was done up here from 1960 – 1978 by the University of Calgary. For those of you as unfamiliar with cosmic rays as I am this description seen on a sign might help. “Cosmic rays are energized particles traveling at close to the speed of light after being accelerated by our sun or exploding stars in distant galaxies.”
Where to stay in Banff
The closest hotel to the Sulphur Mountain hike is the Rimrock Resort Hotel but it’s not within walking distance of many Banff attractions.
Downtown Banff has loads of good hotels including the Moose Hotel & Suites, the Fox Hotel and Suites and Canalta Lodge.
Location map of the Sulphur Mountain hike:
Further reading on hikes in Banff National Park and nearby
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