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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!
This is a cool view spot. Super touristy but if you don't walk up to the falls you can get solitude. The falls themselves are more like a cataract with tumbled down rocks. But the best view is a little downstream where u can look up to the falls and then around and downstream.
This was fire !! it was the most amazing thing we have seen ,Mother Nature created that's Mother Nature This was Xavi Epic Times 1 Million
Scenic water feature that goes through Banff and surrounding areas. Can't beat the legacy trail parallel to the highway; lots of wildlife on the scenic drive.
We walked down to Bow Falls from downtown & it was a lovely stroll by the river. As you get closer to the falls, there are a few staircases to go up & then down. The view of the falls is better south of the river instead of taking Bow River Trail, which is north to the river. There's also a small parking lot so there's the option to drive up to this view.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
5 days ago
Absolutely gorgeous falls! A must-see while visiting the town of Banff. The parking lot is decent size, and well maintained. You can see the falls from the area right across the parking lot. If you want a view from above, you can take the stairs trail up to the top. Such beautiful scenery and the sound of the waterfall is therapeutic. There are places to sit and eat and enjoy the waterfall at the base and riverbank. Such an awesome viewpoint. Would highly recommend! read more
11 months ago
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! read more
This is a cool view spot. Super touristy but if you don't walk up to the falls you can get solitude. The falls themselves are more like a cataract with tumbled down rocks. But the best view is a little downstream where u can look up to the falls and then around and downstream. read more
We walked down to Bow Falls from downtown & it was a lovely stroll by the river. As you get closer to the falls, there are a few staircases to go up & then down. The view of the falls is better south of the river instead of taking Bow River Trail, which is north to the river. There's also a small parking lot so there's the option to drive up to this view. read more
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. read more
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. read more
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. read more
3 years ago
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. read more
3 years ago
Beautiful place Winter you might need spikes and poles A little slippery Very close to town and easy for walking read more
3 years ago
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. read more
7 years ago
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. read 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! read more
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! read more
7 years ago
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 read more
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. read more
4 years ago
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. read more
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. read more
8 years ago
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! read more
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! read more
11 years ago
11 years ago
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' read more
4 years ago
7 years ago
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