The Mistaya Canyon hike is located just off the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. It’s a super pretty, short hike that is relatively close to the parking lot and leads to a stunning canyon and waterfall with views of mountains in the background.
If you’ve been to Maligne Canyon in Jasper, Maligne Canyon is a lot larger than Mistaya Canyon, and there is a lot more canyon to see and explore at Maligne. But, I still think it is worth a stop here if you are driving the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper!
Mistaya Canyon Hike at a Glance
- Location: Icefields Parkway (Banff National Park)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Length: 1.8 km
- Time to Complete: 25 minutes – 1 hour (I need more time for photos!)
- Facilities at the Trailhead: Pit toilets, garbage cans, medium parking lot
- Facilities nearby: The nearest gas station and food/restaurants are at Saskatchewan River Crossing, only a 5 minute drive from the trailhead. It is more expensive usually to fill up here, so grab your gas before leaving town if you can!
- My Favourite Part: The view of the waterfall!
Mistaya Canyon Hike
This hike is great for those who want to see the amazing views Banff National Park has to offer, but that don’t want to spend 3-4 hours hiking to see them! This is also a stop you cannot miss while driving between Banff and Jasper, because it is so easy to get to the viewpoint and it’s a stunning photo to take.
You also don’t need too much time to explore Mistaya Canyon, which is perfect if you are short on time or trying to jam in a bunch of sites while exploring.
From the trailhead, you will walk the short trail from the parking lot, through the forest, until the trail opens up and there is a bridge you can cross.
This bridge is the main viewpoint for the Canyon, and where you’ll get the photo of the river turning into a waterfall with the pretty mountain in the background.
From the bridge you can also look down into the canyon, just make sure to hold onto your hat and your phone/camera while looking over the edge!
Then, there is a small trail that will take you over to the river and the rocks, but please be careful here – you are responsible for your own safety!
How to Get to the Trailhead
The trailhead for this hike leaves from the Mistaya Canyon parking area, which is an amazing stop on the Icefields Parkway (the highway that connects Banff to Jasper, Highway 93).
If leaving from Banff, head North on Highway 93, and make sure to stop at Peyto Lake Viewpoint (Bow Summit) on the way!
If you are driving from Jasper, head South on Highway 93 and don’t miss Athabasca Falls and Sunwapta Fall!
The trailhead is only accessible by car, there is no public transportation that runs on the Icefields Parkway! If you are travelling Banff and Jasper without a car, you could look into a tour that stops here.
When to do the Mistaya Canyon Hike
The best time to hike Mistaya Canyon trail is between June – September!
Hiking in May can be a hit or miss, because it is very common for it to still be snowy and icy in May and the Spring season, as well as into fall and late-September/October.
During the winter time, the Icefields Parkway (the highway the Mistaya Canyon Trailhead is located on) can be incredibly icy and snowy. Snow tires are mandatory for this road during the winter, and sometimes the road can close due to dangerous conditions and potentially avalanche conditions as well.
I would recommend checking the road conditions on 511.alberta.ca before heading out!
Staying Safe While Hiking in Banff
Mistaya Canyon is quite a popular hike, as it is super easy to access right off the Icefields Parkway. There usually aren’t a lot of animal sightings on the hike itself, but if you have bear spray, it’s always a good idea to carry it just in case.
The trail takes visitors mostly around the canyon with the Mistaya River running through it, which means there are some steep cliffs and a bridge for visitors to cross over. Please be safe while exploring the canyon and do not get too close to the river’s edge on the rocks.
In the above picture, I was comfortable with how close I was, as I actually wasn’t as close as it may seem! But it was also not busy, so there was no risk of me being accidentally knocked over or pushed by other visitors, and the rocks were dry, so there was no real risk of slipping.
I’ve seen people jump to more questionable areas of the canyon and get right up close to the river’s edge and dip their hands in the water. Remember, this place is wild, there is a real risk of falling in, and you are responsible for your own safety.
Use your judgment and keep a close eye on kids!
Mistaya Canyon is a stop you can’t miss on your way to Jasper National Park!
What to Bring Hiking Mistaya Canyon
The hike isn’t very long at all, so you don’t need to bring much:
- Camera
- Snack if you’re feeling hungry (granola bar, juice box..)
- Dress for the weather (jacket, etc.)
- Bear spray (it’s always good to have bear spray while out exploring in Banff!)
If you do forget anything, you won’t be incredibly far from the parking lot!
Leave No Trace
It’s important to be a responsible visitor and Leave No Trace while hiking!
- Respect the plants that grow off-trail, by staying on the trail
- Do not throw garbage or items over the edge of the bridge
- Pack out what you pack in (carry your garbage and throw it out at the trailhead garbage can)
Other Things to Know
For another viewpoint, head up the path to Sarbach Lookout! It’s a quick (and a little steep) hike for a nice lookout of Sarbach mountain and the surrounding forest (pictured above). It’s hard to see the actual canyon and waterfall from here, but it is a nice way to escape some of the crowds and enjoy a pretty view. You can choose to keep going down the path after the lookout, but we turned around to have enough time for other stops along the Icefields Parkway.
There is no wifi/cell signal on the Icefields Parkway, so make sure to download offline maps, screenshot what you need, and input your GPS before leaving.
There is rushing water – be careful with small children and on the rocks near the waters edge.
Keep Reading:
- Hiking Siffleur Falls in David Thompson Country
- Jasper National Park Bucket List
- Banff National Park Bucket List
- Cycling the Bow Valley Parkway in May
- 4 Day Banff Itinerary
Mistaya Canyon Hike FAQ
The Mistaya Canyon hike takes about 25 minutes-1 hour to complete. It really depends on how long you want to stay at the Mistaya Canyon waterfall taking pictures and enjoying the views! The hike itself doesn’t take long at all.
The Lake Louise parking lot is about a 53 minute drive from Mistaya Canyon, with good weather conditions and no traffic back-ups.
Yes! Mistaya Canyon is a nice family friendly hike, as there isn’t much of an incline and is a relatively easy hike to do. But, it is important to monitor children and stay on the trail, as getting close to the water can be dangerous and there are no barricades. There is also no cell reception on the Icefields Parkway, so please keep this in mind.
Have you visited Mistaya Canyon before? Or is it on your bucket list?
I love all of the mini hikes on the Icefields Parkway, with Mistaya Canyon being one of them! If you’re looking for more short hikes similar to this one, check out Bow Summit (Peyto Lake, South of Mistaya Canyon) and Parker Ridge (a little harder but still great, North of Mistaya Canyon).
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Hey! I’m Kat. Based in Alberta, Canada I love to travel to the Rockies and explore new places around the world. Follow along on my adventures and find inspiration and tips for your own travels.
Nikki says
Wow, what a great guide and an awesome hike! The Canadian Rockies are on my travel list for 2023, so I’m saving this! thanks!
Kat says
Thank you so much! That is so awesome, the Canadian Rockies are so incredible – let me know if you need any help planning 🙂
Laura says
I would love to visit Banff! Your guide is so informative that this hike has to be added to my list! It’s an easy level but those views are incredible.
Kat says
Thank you so much Laura!! Mistaya Canyon is incredible and not a lot of work for a huge payoff!! 🙂
Jenn says
Been to Banff lots of times but haven’t ever hiked, and this looks like the perfect hike to start with! Thanks for sharing this great trail near the Icefields.
Kat says
Awesome Jenn!! Thanks for your comment 🙂 This is definitely a great hike to start out with!
Leah Tierney says
We absolutely love hiking and this looks like a beautiful place to do it. Really informative guide, thank you!
Kat says
Thanks so much Leah!