Hike or cycle the Banff Legacy Trail between Canmore and Banff, Alberta

The Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail in Kananaskis Country, Alberta connects the popular Rocky Mountain communities of Canmore and Banff, Alberta, Canada. This 26.8 km long, 3 m wide paved path is popular with cyclists, hikers, horseback riders, inline skaters, cross-country skiers, and snowshoers. Built to commemorate Parks Canada's 125th birthday, it officially opened in 2010 and now has an average of 200 users per day during the summer months. The Banff Legacy Trail runs through the Bow River Valley parallel to the Trans Canada Highway. It offers spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery, with the Fairholme Mountain Range on one side, and the many stunning peaks of Mount Rundle on the other. About 7 km from Canmore trail users enter Banff National Park, the oldest and most internationally well-known National Park in Canada. This spectacular Rocky Mountain park encompasses several mountain ranges, many glaciers and ice fields, waterfalls, canyons, limestone caves, dense conifer forest, and alpine landscapes. It also offers fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities, including chances to see elk, mountain sheep, mountain goats, wolves, grizzly bears, and many different bird species. The Valleyview Lookout and rest stop offers a great place to take a break at a picnic table, use the washroom, and scan the forested slopes of the Bow River Valley for signs of wildlife. Approaching Banff, cyclists and hikers enjoy magnificent views of Cascade Mountain, cross over the cold, clear, fast-flowing waters of the Cascade River, and have an opportunity to relax beside the turquoise waters of the Cascade Ponds. From there it is a short distance to the town site of Banff, one of the most popular destinations in the Rocky Mountains.