Sulphur Mountain
Improvement District No. 9, AB
Named after its gushing thermal springs, Sulphur Mountain rises to a height of 8,041 feet (2,450 meters), towering over the town of Banff and Bow Valley. Banff Upper Hot Springs sit on its lower slopes, while the Banff Gondola carries you up to the summit ridge for views out across the peaks of the Canadian Rockies.
To ascend Sulphur Mountain you have two options: Hike the 6.8 miles (11 kilometers) up Sulphur Mountain Trail, or ride the Banff Gondola to the summit. For ease, prebook gondola tickets or buy them on site. At the summit, explore viewing areas, restaurants, and trailheads.
Many multi-day tours of Banff and Jasper national parks make stops at Sulphur Mountain, where you can ride the gondola at your own expense. Some horseback riding tours and tours by horse-drawn wagons follow routes around the foothills of Sulphur Mountain. If you choose to hike, consider following it with a restorative soak at Banff Upper Hot Springs.
The Banff Gondola can accommodate up to four travelers per cabin, and the journey to the top takes about eight minutes.
The Banff Gondola is wheelchair accessible.
You can hike up and take the Banff Gondola down for a reduced cost, but if you choose to ride the gondola up and hike down, you pay full price.
Sulphur Mountain is south of Banff town. To get to the Banff Gondola lower terminal, ride Roam bus route 1. The Sulphur Mountain Trail begins from the Upper Hot Springs parking area.
Banff Gondola is open year-round, with hours varying by season. Hiking and visibility is typically better between May and October. In winter, trails are covered in snow and ice. For a quieter experience at the peak in summer, come before 10am or after 6pm.
One of the most popular activities at the top of Sulphur Mountain is to follow the .6-mile (1-kilometer) elevated boardwalk from the summit across to neighboring Sanson Peak, where a 1950s facility—formerly used by Canadian scientists to study cosmic rays—stands. Note that the boardwalk features shallow steps and is not wheelchair accessible.
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