Sundance Canyon , Banff, Alberta - Feb 15th 2025

Описание: Trail : Sundance Canyon
Date : Feb 15th 2025
Location : Banff, AB
Trailhead location : Cave and Basin National Historical site
Distance : 10.7 km
Elevation gain : 238 m
Starting time : 8h10 am
Time to complete : 2h13
Difficulty : Moderate hike/no scrambling
Trail traffic : only met 1 skier (it was also -26!)

Given today’s glacial weather, my friend Jen and I opted for a lower-elevation hike, and Sundance Canyon turned out to be the perfect choice! We had no expectations whatsoever, but we were pleasantly surprised. The canyon itself is beautiful, though you’ll need spikes to navigate the icy stairs and a few slick crossings along the way. As you gain elevation, the trail loops back, leading you out of the canyon and reconnecting with the path you started on.
On our way back, we noticed a side trail veering left toward the river and decided to explore—and what an incredible discovery! Down by the water, we found a warm creek with fish swimming in it, along with vibrant vegetation still thriving despite the deep winter. It was such a cool spot! There were signs about winter birds in the area, but with the biting cold, they must have been hunkered down elsewhere. The frost buildup around the warm creek was absolutely stunning. We had to resist the urge to jump in and warm up!
All in all, it was another fantastic morning in the mountains with great company—an adventure well worth braving the cold!