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Bow Falls
Best time to visit
Early morning or late afternoon, when sunlight creates beautiful rainbows in the mist. In spring, melting snow makes the waterfall especially impressive.
Budget tips
Free, no entrance fee. Parking along Spray Avenue is paid during summer, so arrive on foot or by bike from downtown Banff.
Recommended for
Families with small children, Photographers, Morning walkers, Budget travelers
Plan your visit
20-30 minutes
About
Quick facts: A thirty-meter-high waterfall drops over a 10-meter stretch and sends 60,000 liters of water plunging per second. The water comes from melting snow on Sulphur Mountain, making the falls especially powerful in spring.
Highlights: You can walk right at the edge of the falls, feeling the mist on your face, which is rare for such a mighty waterfall. The roar coming from behind the rock wall tells you that the waterfall has been carving deeper into the stone for 10,000 years.
Insider tips
- Walk to the Tunnel Mountain Drive bridge for the best photo angle of the waterfall with the Banff Springs Hotel in the background.
- Early morning before 9 a.m. is the quietest time; you will have the falls almost to yourself.
- In winter, the edges of the falls freeze into stunning icicles, but the paths can be slippery.
- From the Surprise Corner viewpoint (a 5-minute walk), you can see both the waterfall and the Banff valley at their best.
Practical info
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