Bow Valley Parkway Cycling Experience Pilot

From 2022 to 2024, Banff National Park piloted a three-year cycling offer along the eastern 17 km section of the Bow Valley Parkway. This pilot offer included restricting public vehicles in the spring and the fall on the Bow Valley Parkway to allow cyclists the opportunity to travel the scenic parkway without vehicle traffic.

The initial pilot was successful in demonstrating the significant demand for a vehicle-free cycling experience within Banff National Park, resulting in positive public feedback. As such, Parks Canada is extending the Bow Valley Parkway Cycling Pilot for an additional five years (2025-2030).

The extended pilot presents an opportunity for Parks Canada to take an adaptive management approach to this unique cycling offer. Over the next five years, Parks Canada will continue to monitor and collect data to address visitor experience, accessibility, safety, enforcement, and wildlife management considerations. Adaptive management adjustments may be made to mitigate issues over the course of this extended pilot phase and to inform long-term management planning.

What you need to know

• From May 1 to June 25, and August 28 to October 2, the Bow Valley Parkway Cycling Experience restricts public vehicles on the parkway's 17 km eastern end, from the Trans Canada-Highway junction to Johnston Canyon.
• Vehicle access to the west section of the parkway between Johnson Canyon and the Whitehorn Road junction at Lake Louise (31km) remains open.
• Vehicle access to the popular Johnston Canyon Trail and campground will remain open during the pilot via Castle Junction (the intersection of Highway 93 and the Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A), and the west end of the Bow Valley Parkway.
• Cyclists travelling on the parkway are encouraged to start and end their journey in the Town of Banff by parking at the Train Station Public Parking Lot.
• To coincide with the annual spring wildlife closure from March 1 through June 25, all modes of human travel along the 17 km stretch of the parkway will be restricted overnight from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
• Regular vehicle access on the parkway will resume once the cycling pilot program ends each spring and fall.