Facts
| Distance: | 20 km ( 12.4 miles) round trip |
| Start Elevation: | 1,370 m (4,495 ft) |
| Max Elevation: | 2,948 m (9,338 ft) |
| Elevation Gain: | 1,578 m (5,177 ft) |
| Time Required: | *2-4 hours up, *1-3 hours down |
| Season: | Late June to Early September |
* 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
Overview
Mount Rundle is spectacular. A giant wedge tilting out of the ground, from one side it is a solid wall of rock, from the other side a beautiful jagged peak. The run is split between the hiking trail which is completely runnable in 40+ mins and the scrambling section which is pretty much a solid powerwalk/hike taking another 80+ mins. The scrambling section involves looses scree and very narrow ridges so if you start to feel uncomfortable you may want to turn back. The ridge would be very scary in wet or snowy conditions, the drops are hundreds of feet on each side.
Trail
The trail starts at the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course road just across the bridge from Bow Falls. If driving to the trailhead you can park at the Bow Falls or drive over the bridge and park in the first pull-in on the right.
Run a minute or two down the road and then turn right to go behind the green. The trail is clearly marked and after a few hundred metres the turn off to the Rundle Approach trail begins. From there you have a couple of kilometres of reasonably steep trail before reaching about 14 switchbacks of varying steepness. After the switchbacks you will continue uphill until you reach a big gully. Take a look across to the other side for an orange ribbon and head towards it. From this point it gets insanely steep, first through the forest until you hit the treeline. Once above the treeline you basically follow the ridge all the way up taking care along the way. There are some great views on the way up but just keep in mind that the view from the top is even more spectacular.
Photo Gallery
Safety
There have been a number of accidents and injuries on this mountain over the years.
- Trailhead to end of hiking trail: Watch for wildlife
- End of hiking trail to Summit: Follow correct route, beware of loose rock/scree, beware of narrow, steep ridge and and dropoffs.
Tips
- Before you even start this run, go to the Parks Information Centre at 224 Banff Avenue and pick their excellent (free) guide for Rundle Mountain. It provides a very detailed route map as well as all kinds of tips and advise on completing this hike/run safely.
- A light pair of gloves will prove invaluable.
- Take lots of water, unless it rains you won't find any.
Fastest Times
Post your fastest times for Rundle