Planning to visit the ideal Banff hikes? Welcome to Tunnel Mountain hike! Locals love them as they can hike it any time during the year. 1684 meters above the standard sea level, you need to elevate 266 meters for this Tunnel mountain. Indeed, it is small compared to the other mountains nearby, and you will feel it more when you witness Mount Rundle throughout your hiking to this mountain.
Is Tunnel Mountain Hike Really Small?
It may be the smallest of the lot in the Banff National Park, but it beats the biggest ones when it comes to adding magnificent views of the surrounding valleys and the whole town of Banff. You need to check for the sunrise and sunset views to know why people tell you to include them in the must-do things in Banff.
Location
You can easily locate this mountain; thus, it holds an essential part in the Banff hiking itinerary. Parking areas are also available. Just start early.
Check out our article on What To Wear On Hiking Trip??
Ways to reach Tunnel Mountain
This mountain is pretty close to the great Downtown Banff. Hence, you can start your journey by walking or simply driving to a great distance.
– Walk and Walk
If you love to walk and explore, take a walk to Tunnel Mountain. It is too small, though, if we count it, you have to cover 1 km from the main town to the mountain.
– Bus Route
A quick suggestion, take roam transit route 2 to reach here if travelling by bus.
– Drive
The biggest hassle while driving to a place is getting a parking lot. Here, you will get two parking options. Choose between the lower and upper parking area as per your convenience and let the journey began.
How to start?
The options are enormous when it comes to the starting point of the Tunnel Mountain hike. You can select to start from the town centre or three planned parking lots. The route is simple, with some well-graded switchbacks. People with decent health conditions can easily hike this mountain. You can choose the morning or evening time for the hike. Generally, people pass through the forests to witness the views over Banff Town, Bow River, Mount Rundle, Bow Valley and Banff Springs Golf Course.
Amazing Views
It cannot be denied that it is the smallest mountain among all the mountains at Banff, but you still need to cross some steep sections to reach it. The trail starts with long switchbacks and town views, and as you climb, the trail may get narrow but remains comfortable throughout.
You will enjoy the Mount Rundle view while you are on your trail. Photographers are often seen clustering to catch the sunrise and sunset points. You can easily hike this place with a headlamp as it is too simple to climb. Railings are there to protect you while you climb here at any point of time. You are sure to find several meadows and views while climbing. Vermillion Lakes, Mount Bourgeau, Cascade Mountain and Sulphur Mountains are something that you can see at a distance from here.
Tunnel or no tunnel- the real story behind the name
If you are coming here with the hope of crossing a tunnel, you may get disappointed as there is no tunnel. The story behind the name Tunnel Mountain passes somewhere in 1882 when a plan was set to blast a huge tunnel through this mountain which was called Sleeping Buffalo at that time. The plan never happened, though. It was all set by Canadian Pacific Railway; the name remained, but the plan never came into action. Instead, they stick to the economic path around the mountain.
Right time for Tunnel mountain hike
The best part of the Tunnel Mountain hike is you can do it any day and in any season. Trails during summer are common and attract a great crowd. This family friendly hike often takes 2-3 hours to complete. You can plan your trail as per your preference. Just remember to capture the best views to embrace unforgettable memories.
