Ghost River Wilderness Area
Alberta Parks Check operator
Banff, Kootenay and Yoho - Backcountry · Banff National Park
Banff, Kootenay and Yoho - Backcountry
Parks Canada Banff National Park · Alberta
what to expect
Pre-trip planning is essential for travel in the backcountry. Prime hiking season runs July through mid-September. Until late June, many passes are still snow-bound and may be subject to avalanche hazard. In more popular and accessible areas of the backcountry, you will find maintained hiking trails and designated campsites with outhouses, tent pads, food storage cables or lockers, picnic tables and metal fire rings where fires are allowed. In the more remote areas of the park, trails may not be regularly maintained and hikers must be self-reliant. Route finding and navigation skills are required and hikers should be prepared to safely ford streams. Pre-trip planning and preparedness is essential for travel in the backcountry.
the basics
what to know
Updated each morning from provincial parks and Environment Canada.
No fire ban active
Last checked from the provincial fire-ban feed. Check at the gate before you light — conditions change.
Bear country
Use the food lockers. Do not leave coolers, garbage, or food on picnic tables overnight, even in a car. Carry bear spray on trails.
what to bring
This list adapts to Banff, Kootenay and Yoho - Backcountry. no showers means a travel towel; bear country means bear spray.
common questions about Banff, Kootenay and Yoho - Backcountry
- how far is Banff, Kootenay and Yoho - Backcountry from Calgary?
- Banff, Kootenay and Yoho - Backcountry is 106 km from Calgary. Use Google Maps for current drive times — they account for terrain, traffic, ferries, and closures we can't.
- do you need reservations at Banff, Kootenay and Yoho - Backcountry?
- Yes. Banff, Kootenay and Yoho - Backcountry is operated by Parks Canada and uses an online reservation system. Book direct via the operator link on this page.
nearby places
Within ~100 km of Banff, Kootenay and Yoho - Backcountry.
want to camp at Banff, Kootenay and Yoho - Backcountry?
Cancellation alerts are coming. We’ll email when sites open up at this park.
One email. Unsubscribe anytime. We don’t share addresses. — [email protected]
Give back to this place
volunteer at Parks Canada
Provincial parks rely on volunteer stewards for trail maintenance, beach clean-ups, and shoulder-season hosting. Most parks run programs through their park association.
See how to help →