Mountain Biking

Whether you have your own bike or you rent one from the many bicycle shops in town, cycling in Banff National Park [1] is for everyone. Loop roads through the golf course and past Lake Minnewanka [2] are popular, as is the Bow Valley Parkway [3], while Mount Norquay Road is a steep grunt favored by local riders for the exercise.

Several routes into the backcountry have been designated as mountain bike trails. These include Sundance (3.7 km/2.3 mi one-way), Rundle Riverside to Canmore [4] (15 km/9.3 mi one-way), and Spray River Loop (via Goat Creek, 48 km/30 mi round-trip).

Abominable (229 Wolf St., 403/762-5065), Bactrax (225 Bear St., 403/762-8177), Banff Adventures Unlimited (211 Bear St., 403/762-4554), and Banff Springs Ski & Mountain Sports (Fairmont Banff Springs, 405 Spray Ave., 403/762-5333), rent front- and full-suspension mountain bikes for $8–15 per hour and $35–60 per day. Rates include a helmet, lock, and biking map.