Facts
| Distance: | 29.2 km (18.14 miles) round trip |
| Start Elevation: | 1,499 m (4,918 ft) |
| Max Elevation: | 1,568 m (5,144 ft) |
| Elevation Difference: | 89 m (292 ft) |
| Total Elevation: | 890 m (2,920 ft) |
| Time Required: | *3-4 hours roundtrip |
| Season: | April - November or all Year Round (subject to snow) |
* Note: These are running times not hiking times. The fastest times are for someone with a 10km road pace of under 6:30/mile or 4:00/km.
Details
| 0-1.1 km | Rolling dirt trail |
| 1.1-3 km | Some elevation including a loose shale section |
| 3-14.6 km | Rolling dirt trail, roots |
| 14.6 km | Warden Cabin (closed) |
Links
Overview
The trail along the banks of Lake Minnewanka is a great early season run. A popular bike route and hiking trail, it makes for a great trail running route. The snow is gone long before most other trails are ready to run and if you can handle running in snow, it is possible to run here during the winter too.
The elevation chart shows how incredibly flat the trail is but it doesn't seem that way when you run it, lots of rolling ups and downs make for a fun and technical trail. Don't get obsessed with the distance as you can turn around at any time and make this run as long or as short as you wish.
Trailhead
Park at the Lake Minnewanka trailhead parking and walk along the paved trail until it ends at the trailhead for this run.
Car: Drive out of town along Banff Avenue as if heading toward Calgary. When you reach the Trans Canada Highway, keep driving toward Lake Minnewanka. At the 9km mark you will see a large parking area just in view of the lake. Park here and run or walk along the paved trail for just under a kilometer to the trailhead.
Run: If you want to add 18kms to the run then follow the directions above. Otherwise, bike or hitch a ride.
Public Transit: Not Applicable
Lake Minnewanka Trailhead
Banff Townsite, 
Lake Minnewanka Trailhead
Trail
Despite the lack of elevation this is a really fun and scenic trail. It is constantly changing with a mix of dirt and roots with a short rocky/shale section. A definite favourite and one that is feasible before most other trails and still runnable in the winter.
Connector Options:
Out & Back
The trail doesn't end at the Warden's Cabin. Strong runners can keep going and loop Lake Minnewanka coming out on Carrot Creek (not sure if this is open these days - check with Park's).
You can also turn off earlier and run Aylmer Summit.
Since it's an out & back you can make this as long or short as you wish, just turn around when it suits you.
Route
| Google Maps | Google Earth | MotionBased | GPX
Elevation (Round Trip)
Generally flat trail with constant small ups and downs leading to quite an accumulation in elevation. My GPS reports the elevation strangely so this information is an average of other reports. Your reporting may differ but either way it's a great rolling trail with one main hill.
Photo Gallery
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Safety
The usual precautions apply as far as wildlife goes. Can be relatively busy with mountain bikers so keep your eyes open.
Take extra care during berry season (mid July to late August) as there is a lot of bear activity out here. Make lots of noise and carry bear spray.
Tips
Don't be tied to any particular distance, run as far as you want and turn around when you feel like it.