We hiked Tunnel Mountain right after getting into Banff.

We checked into our hotel.

We got in the car.

Parked at the trailhead.

Up to the top.

Boom.

Complete.

I was thrilled to have made it to the top of a mountain in under 48 hours of being in Banff.

The plaque at the top of tunnel mountain

Standing at just over 5,500 feet, Tunnel Mountain is a tame hike that grants people an excellent vantage point — one that overlooks town, shows the surrounding peaks, rivers and valleys, all while boosting one’s confidence.

That is, at least, until you read the plaque at the summit.

Banff resident Anne Ness hiked to the top of Tunnel Mountain more than 8,000 times over the course of 40 years, the plaque reads. “That is the equivalent of climbing the height of Mount Everest over 275 times.”

Talk about putting in work.

Well done, Anne.

The trail maintains a relatively steep incline for most of the trek upwards. You’ll hit switchback after switchback until getting close to the top, where the trail mellows out. The incline eases.

The trees become a bit more scarce, giving way to large protruding rocks.

Then, it’s a pretty flat area at the top where many have roamed.

Trails zig zag every which way, leading to and from vistas on either side of the mountain.

For us, we arrived at the top during a bout of weather.

At the base, it was rainy. The day, overcast.

Hiking upward, we met fog that grew thicker and thicker.

Seeing for miles wasn’t an option.

We caught town and some of the valley below.

But not much else.

Looking toward town from the Tunnel Mountain trail

Despite being robbed of a panoramic scene on that day, instead we had a calm, quiet experience atop a misty, foggy mountain.

In its own way, it was just as grand.

Just as beautiful.

Just as rewarding.

Just as meaningful.

Ashley and I stood at the top. Ash walked over to what would’ve been a great area to take in a vast landscape.

Instead, she was blocked by a wall of white fog and clouds.

In her black rain jacket, she contrasted starkly.

Eventually, we descended.

Overall, we probably spent an hour and a half on the trail.

Going up took longer, naturally. Coming back down was a breeze.

We didn’t run into any sketchy areas on the trail, nor did we experience any loose rocky, slippery areas, or bears. All of which, I’m sure are possibilities at different times of the day or year.

Regardless, consider putting Tunnel Mountain on your must-do Banff hiking list. The recommendation came directly from the employees at the visitor center.

And I’d second that.

Have you been to Banff before? If so, where did you hike? Any recommendations? Share them in the comments below.

I Recommend You Hike Tunnel Mountain in Banff

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