Bow Falls

It's nice and neat to see the rock under the water and hotel. You can get good photos from either side of the falls. There are better falls though but good to see if your in Banff for the day.

Great parking space. It got chilly and windy but the falls was so far the widest though shortest I’ve seen. The sound of the falls just couldn’t be beat regardless! Great stop!

Beautiful, cascading falls close to the Banff Springs Hotel. Easy walk from anywhere in town along the Bow River Trail. I highly recommend walking the entire Bow River Trail when you go. It has spectacular scenery of all the surrounding mountains with well done art walk along the way.

So cool to walk along the art walk on our way to the falls! There were tons of people around but nothing ever felt crowded because there’s so much space. A beautiful place you gotta see!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Bow Falls is an absolute gem that showcases the natural beauty of Banff without requiring a strenuous hike. Located just a short walk from the Banff Springs Hotel, these cascading falls offer stunning views year-round, though they're particularly impressive during spring runoff when the water volume is at its peak. The paved pathway makes it accessible for visitors of all ages and mobility levels, which is wonderful for families. The viewing areas provide excellent photo opportunities, especially with the iconic Banff Springs Hotel creating a dramatic backdrop. The sound of rushing water creates a peaceful atmosphere that's perfect for a moment of reflection. While not as towering as some of the region's other waterfalls, Bow Falls has a charm all its own. The wide, multi-tiered cascade creates beautiful patterns in the rock, and the surrounding forest adds to the scenic appeal. It's an ideal spot for a quick nature break if you're staying in town or exploring the Bow River area. The only minor drawback is that it can get quite busy during peak tourist season, so early morning or late afternoon visits tend to be more peaceful. Despite the crowds, it remains a must-see attraction that captures the essence of the Canadian Rockies in an easily accessible setting.

Its been years since I have visited the Bow Falls in the summer so I had to settle for a partially frozen view this time. Still very pretty in the way the falls don't completely freeze during early winter months. Very pleasant spot in the summer for watching the water and having a picnic.

Bow Falls is a beautiful spot and definitely worth a visit if you’re in Banff. It is surrounded by stunning mountain views which creates an amazing setting. It’s a great place for a short walk and to sit and enjoy nature. While it’s not a massive waterfall, the scenery and tranquility make up for it.

⚠️ TRAIL CONDITIONS ⚠️ The trail can be very icy, especially in colder months. Steps and landings are slippery, making it hazardous ⚠️ for seniors or anyone with mobility concerns. Proper footwear with traction is highly recommended. SAFETY WARNINGS ⚠️ High fall risk due to ice and uneven terrain. ⚠️ Be cautious when walking near the edge, as surfaces can be deceptive. ⚠️ Winter conditions can make navigation trickier, so take your time. PARKING & ACCESS 1) Lots of parking available near the trailhead. 2) Free parking, which is a great perk in Banff. 3) Informative posters near the parking lot provide options and guidance for the trail. FINAL THOUGHTS A beautiful and accessible hike with stunning views, but extreme caution is needed in icy conditions. ⚠️ Not ideal for seniors or those with balance issues during winter. If you’re prepared with proper gear, it’s an excellent short hike to enjoy the falls! Annie W. Master Reviewer Local Guide / Google Maps

We came here to ride rafts down the river a bit with an excellent guide who educated us on the geologic history of the area! We even say a magnificent elk grazing on shore; then 3 more leaving the park!

The cool wooded trail leads to a wooden staircase ascending above the trees. The viewpoint above cascading Bow Falls made me stop in your tracks & take out my camera phone. I then descending to feel the mist of the falls below. There were many separate trails for pedestrians & cyclists along the south shore of the Bow River & past roaring rapids before climbing up above the Bow Falls. The Bow River Bridge to Bow Falls is a 10 miles elevation gain and takes 20 to 25 minutes to climb.

Once you've seen all of the natural wonders in Banff, you probably won't think much of this waterfall. Nevertheless, it still attracts a crowd of tourists to come visit and take photos. Apparently you can take a raft down this fall?

Bow falls was right behind the Fairmount Springs Banff hotel. Since we stayed in the hotel it was a short but somewhat icey walk down to the falls. It was interesting to see how the water was frozen in some area but not others. The water wasn't as blue as it appears in the warmer months . If you have kids it's a short "hike" more like a walk down to see the falls so, worth it as they are very large.

While not the most impressive falls, it is pretty. There really isn't anywhere in Banff that's atrocious. You can walk to it or drive to it. There is a parking lot, so it is a more accessible falls to view. There are a set of stairs that leads to the top of the falls for a grander view. It's not something that is a must see, but if you're in the vicinity go and see it! Art in the park runs along the bow river so check that out on your walk back into downtown!

Beautiful area just a short walk from downtown Banff. The water was really high and rushing pretty hard when I visited so they looked more like large rapids than falls, but it was still amazing to see none the less! From the center of town, the trail to get to the falls is about a mile one way. You walk across the pedestrian bridge and along the Bow River, surrounded by beautiful nature the whole time. There are plenty of benches along the trail to stop and take in the mountains. When we visited in summer 2022 the trail was lined with artwork from different local artists. Made the walk take a bit longer because we kept stopping to admire. As we got closer to the falls the trail changed from flat to stair lined. There were multiple sets of stairs going up and down and back up and back down. From a top the stairs you get a great overhead view of the rushing waters. Finally after the last climb down you make it to the end of the falls and some benches to sit and enjoy the beauty. Well worth the walk from town and a generally easy stroll unless you have difficulty with stairs.

Gorgeous spot!! We stopped by around 7:30 am on a Saturday and there was no one here! We loved the bench that had the awesome view of the Fairmont. What awesome walking paths around here as well. The falls were so pretty and the water is clear! We also stopped by in the afternoon and it was much more busy. Great photo spot.

There is a lovely path to the river and falls that stretches from behind the Banff Springs Hotel all the way into the town of Banff. It is free and lovely. Because it is alongside the mountains, there are a lot of steps going up and then down for parts of the path. Take your time and enjoy the various viewpoints.

Beautiful place Winter you might need spikes and poles A little slippery Very close to town and easy for walking

It was a lovely drizzly summer day and we enjoyed walking down from the Fairmont, watching the rushing waters and then enjoying a leisurely stroll to town along the art walk. It was a great way to get oriented on our visit to Banff and we could see the float boats, horseback riders and golfers nearby.

Bow Falls was one of the first Waterfalls I saw on this Canada trip! I wouldn't necessary consider it a waterfall... but it was still gorgeous to see, listen to and walk along. Located in Banff, you don't have to trek off the beaten path to experience this marvel.

Phenomenal place that will leave you feeling spirited away to a tranquil setting. Its lazy river shuttles you along the quiet lush forest and rounds you back to the starting point. The river takes you on a short journey with views of Mt. Rundle shooting straight up into the blue Canadian sky! The views will leave you full of wonder and coming back for more!

we decided to walk this trail after having dinner in town on our vacation and it really wasn't that long probably like 30 minutes round-trip. there are no public washrooms on this trail just so you're aware but it is absolutely breathtaking once you get to the end where the falls are. see my pictures attached below. The trail itself is pretty flat there's a little bit of steep areas but those have staircases. I would most definitely come back next time I come to Banff!

This is a quick visit, roadside waterfall. It is impressive in the sense that it has such amazing scenery with the parking lot right there. You can definitely hike along the river and up to the main Lodge for even more scenery. But if you are short on time or have mobility issues, this is a great option for some wonderful pictures.

We came here for an easy rainy day activity as did every other tourist it seemed. Since you don't have to hike to get to the falls, this one seemed to be excessively crowded. It's a pretty falls, but nothing spectacular. It's literally right next to the parking lot. You can hike there from downtown Banff, but it seems like most people just drive. If you're in the area, it's worth a quick stop, but I wouldn't go out of the way to see it.

Easy casual walk to see the falls from downtown or there is parking at the falls. Better waterfall hikes in area, but we loved it because we were wore out from longer hikes previous days so this was a nice break.

Good sized waterfalls almost right at the center of town. We're talking about the Bow Falls, which is right on the back door step of the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel. Simply take a hundred or so steps down the stairs to the falls. Of course you will have to take those hundred of so steps up the stairs, a much harder feat, back to your hotel room. Not staying at the hotel, no problem, just take the drive down the road just before the golf course of the hotel, which winds down to a parking area. This is what I did, together with my bus tour party. You can also walk from the Bow bridge, down the Bow Falls Path along the river, to the Bow falls area, full of benches, to watch the falls in all it's glory against a background of mountains. Unfortunately we couldn't see the mountains, as the whole place was filled with forest fire smoke, smog like it was downtown LA! And finally you can take a raft like Robert Mitchum and Marilyn Monroe over the falls, in Otto Preminger's 1954 movie "River of No Return", in color. What some men will do for a damsel in distress! We saw some rafting on the river, just below the falls -nobody would raft above the falls! That happens only in Hollywood!

Banff, Alberta, Canada. There is nothing to rave about here. This is not a waterfall. It's so small. Maybe ten feet high at the most. The water does come down violently so I wouldn't recommend messing around near the falls. Me thinks the city added this as a site to divert traffic away from the Fairmont Hotel. There is one main trail heading to/from the parking area to near the the bridge. The trail can be slippery so be careful. Perhaps the falls were inconsequential to me because of the beauty that was witnessed at higher elevation. Access/Roads: A. Paved. Parking: A. Free and Plenty. Distance: A. Below the Fairmont Hotel. Calgary is appx 130 KM (~70 miles) Los Angeles is appx 1,700 miles away. Costs: A. Free. Nearby Attractions: Banff Gondolas (Closed often). Fairmont Banff Hotel (Pimp) DT Banff. Buffalo Museum Cool spot to stretch and walk abouts. Might as well check it out if your in Banff. Safe travelings. @cigarcpa

Short paved walk to Bow Falls, waterfall didn't really seem like a waterfall, just a river with some slant.

For the fastest and easiest nature hike that you can take directly from downtown Banff, head to Bow Falls via the Bow Falls Trail! Banff is great in that there are plenty of street signs directing you to the hiking trails. Don't always rely on Google Maps like us since it will usually direct you to the route fir cars. The Bow Falls trail is flat for the most part, and probably can be completed in 30 minutes round trip. Of course, its worth a few stops along the pedestrian bridge, taking in the Bow River which cuts through the town, and finally the falls themselves. The falls themselves are pretty small, but the views of the mountains in the background are pretty nice.

Everything in Banff is beautiful, so anything in nature that is getting reviewed is going to be five stars for me. Bow Falls is exactly what it sounds like -- a waterfall in downtown Banff. If you're staying in the area, you can go on a simple ten minute walk just to take a peak and enjoy a view not only of the falls, but also of the Fairmont Hotel in the distance. The view from the high point at the falls truly makes you feel like you're in a fairy tale, glimpsing the castle not too far away. It's a quick stop, but definitely recommended!

This was another amazing lake in Banff w an awesome waterfall. The weather was amazing but a bit cool, nothing a light jacket couldn't fix! Nice area to take photos or to relax and catch up w friends.. bring snacks to enjoy!

Nice and relaxing!! I also love the little town just before you get to the falls. Beautiful area

Very picturesque falls. After getting our pictures of the Bow Falls, we continued along the trail to the Banff Pedestrian Bridge. It's a nice walk with some stairs to climb. The trail wasn't crowded. Highly recommend!

This is a small beautiful falls located directly behind the Banff fairmont Springs Hotel. If you go down a different road there's also a secret lookout point and a trail or you can walk down and there's also a nice big parking lot or you can come and park at and enjoy the falls there's also rafting that goes on on the right side of it with the Banff rafting club. If you continue going down the same road right next to it and behind the falls are at the Fairmont golf club and grounds. This is a nice balls and we will definitely come back for more!

Review from Tripadvisor posting ------------------------------------------ This is a super close drive to downtown banff. It was raining in the morning and we waited until it cleared up to head over to this place and it's absolutely gorgeous in the sun. There's a short fall plus a hiking trail (if you're up for it). In general, we just went to take pictures and it's absolutely amazing since you'll get a view of not only water and rocks but the beautiful mountains in the background as well. You know this is a gorgeous place when in your 30 min span visit, 2 couples are having their wedding photos taken here! For those of you who like water activities, they've got some offered here as well!

Surprisingly beautiful and free parking to boot! The riverside path can be taken from downtown to the falls or you can drive 5 minutes to a great overview area. Worth the time to see this beautiful natural wonder. August 2014

5 stars for ease of access - pretty much by the parking lot and yet so gorgeous! Hey, us folks with toddlers like see some cool waterfalls too!! Looks like there's some cool trails to hike that must have pretty awesome viewpoints. Worth a quick drive by while in the vicinity! 4 stars for ..... ease of access... huge tour buses packed with lotsa tourists unloaded large groups of people about when we were to head back... it was suddenly much much more noisy and ... subway station like! Best bet was to get out of there and find another cool place. Thankfully, we were in Banff - no dearth of choices with all that nature around!

Bow Falls are neat. That's it...they're nifty. They are not noteworthy in any global sense. They are not particularly tall; they are not particularly fast. But they are in walking distance from the main streets of Banff and to access them costs you nothing. And I like things being free. Even the parking is free. Boardwalks running up either side of the river are inviting and get you surprising close to the rapids...because that's really what they are. Rapids. I wonder what differentiates rapids from falls. There must be a book somewhere defining the difference, like between a hill and a mountain. Ultimately, I have little criticism for a tourist site that is free. It's an interesting feature if you're like most people who walk around Banff hoping to stumble on something interesting, and this is that. Oh and some of the trees look like that monster from the first Poltergeist. Just sayin'

So beautiful! I hiked to or past Bow Falls every day for a week this June. The trail is well maintained on both sides of the Bow River, making access super easy. One side of the river has a totally flat trail, the other features stairs. There are also two viewing platforms from the road if you'd prefer to stop while on a drive.

This place is great the waterfalls are so beautiful that I just like it a lot and I like the waterfalls. I'm coming back again!

Beautiful falls! And pretty cool that one can drive all the way to the parking lot next to this gorgeous falls or take a small walk along the beautiful green Bow River to see this falls. There is plenty of seating by the river, from where you can get an unprecedented view of the Bow Falls. Have a picnic along the Bow River, watching this beautiful waterfalls. Granted, it is not as massive as the falls in other parts of the Canadian Rockies, but there is something about the Bow Falls that you wouldn't want to take your eyes off of it. We were planning on taking a picture of this falls and be off in 2 minutes. But, ended up spending close to 30 minutes just watching the gushing waterfalls and the gorgeous Bow River flowing by.

Chances are that if you've ever been lucky enough to experience all that is Banff National Park, you've also been lucky enough to at the very least hear about Bow Falls. Bow Falls is located on Bow Falls Avenue in Banff National Park. It's the perfect place to go for a short hike, have a picnic or bbq, or spend the day walking along the lake and the falls. I had the day off on Tuesday, so a friend and I drove up to Bow Falls and monopolized one of the benches facing the falls. It is *so* beautiful. Banff, in my books, should be considered one of the wonders of the world. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, and Bow Falls in Banff is no exception. The weather is finally hot and toasty; in fact, it's the perfect weather for a hike along the falls, wouldn't you say?

Awesome wonder of nature and so readily accessible it is hard to sustain the mystery of rushing water at this volume. A little touch of the water even now at the end of Summer is enough to jolt you awake - hold your feet in the water for five minutes and they're numb; this ain't Kansas Toto / that water is ice cold!

It's a really nice little falls not too far of a hike from Banff town center. At the end of the falls, the water is really shallow and there was stepping stones leading into the lake itself. You can get a nice cool breeze from the falls if you walk right into the middle of the lake. It's worth a quick stop along the way.

We visited Bow Falls during a trip up to Banff, Radium, Lake Louise, and Jasper. The walk to the falls from downtown is really pleasant, but the waterfalls itself wasn't as impressive as some of the other things we visited along the trip (Johnston or Maligne Canyon immediately come to mind). However, you have to check out the Fairmont Banff Springs, so you might as well take the short walk from the hotel to the falls and see it.

Spectacular falls. Take the walk up the trail.

So amazing we have this little piece of paradise so close to our back doors!!!

beautiful view and you can get close to the water to get some really nice pictures. there is a hiking trail as well (we weren't able to stay to hike). the sound of the water is really peaceful and the smell of the trees really makes you feel like you are in the wilderness despite being moments away from the downtown. will plan to do the hike the next time i'm back out that way!!

This is another must-see spot when visiting the area. Photo opportunities abound!