Get ready for a classic Banff adventure on the Healy Pass Trail, a journey that rewards your efforts with some of the most stunning scenery in the Rockies. You'll start your day from the Sunshine Village parking lot, about a 20-minute drive from Banff, with a long but gentle climb through a peaceful forest. After about 7.5 kilometers, the trees give way to a breathtaking alpine meadow that explodes with wildflowers in July or turns a brilliant gold with larch trees in the fall. The full hike is a rewarding 20.9 kilometers with a significant elevation gain, so be prepared for a full day on your feet, but the panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and Egypt Lake from the pass are absolutely worth it.

If you’re just hoping for the flowers, the trail is a lot shorter! Once you clear the trees you’ll get the view. Mid August is when flowers tend to peak here.