Free guide: 25 hikes near Montreal
FR EN
Let's Go Play Outside
Hiking Stanley Glacier - panoramic view
--°C
Loading...
See forecast →

Hiking in Stanley Glacier: trails, map and practical info

Canadian Rockies • Alberta

Tackle this 10 km hard trail in Banff National Park's Canadian Rockies to witness an active glacier nestled between towering limestone cliffs. With 365 m elevation gain and 6.5 hours round-trip, you'll traverse alpine terrain rewarded by dramatic glacier views and mountain goat sightings.

François Dumaine
François DumaineUpdated Oct 6, 2026
GPX
Choose my trail Plan my outing
7 km
Distance
1h30
Duration
Difficulty
Hard
Max altitude
2,210 m
Dogs
Allowed
Recommended for :
Intermediate hikers

Ready to explore Stanley Glacier? Here's everything you need to know before you go!

Discover the trail

1 community photos

Photos: The Cosmonaut — CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)

Available trails

Trail Dist. Gain Time GPX
6.99 km — 1h30 GPX
Click a trail to see it on the map

GPX track: Parks Canada — Open Government Licence – Canada

Trail description

Remplacer 'In 10 kilometers round-trip with 365 meters of elevation gain' par 'In approximately 8.8 km to 12.5 km round-trip (depending on whether you extend to the glacier toe) with 365 to 630 meters of elevation gain' pour refléter la variabilité confirmée par les sources. Le reste de la description est cohérent avec les sources.

Free 1 pages

The Essential Hiking Checklist

Everything you need for your next hike. Bilingual, printable, 1 page.

Get your free hiking checklist

Recommended gear for this trail

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

LGPO Pick
Elixir Tour Mid WP
Salomon
Elixir Tour Mid WP
4.5 (2847 reviews)
Waterproof mid-height boot ideal for rocky terrain
203.38 $
See price
Best Value
Trail Ergo Cork
Black Diamond
Trail Ergo Cork
4.4 (1456 reviews)
Comfortable cork grip for long ascents
69.99 $
See price
Actik Core 625
Petzl
Actik Core 625
4.6 (1893 reviews)
USB rechargeable with 600 lumens for early starts
103.95 $
See price
Most Popular
Wide Mouth 1L
Nalgene
Wide Mouth 1L
4.8 (12540 reviews)
Unbreakable and BPA-free — a hiking essential
23.11 $
See price
Daylite Plus 20L
Osprey
Daylite Plus 20L
4.7 (3215 reviews)
Lightweight and versatile for day hikes
109.99 $
See price
Affiliate links — LGPO may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Ready to go?

Everything you need to know before you go

Where?

Address
East Kootenay G, BC V0A 1E0, Canada
GPS coordinates
51.2055999, -116.0807958
Phone
Not available

Starting Point

The stanley glacier is located in Banff National Park, Alberta. To get to the start of the trails, take the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) to the town of Lake Louise. From there, take the Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A) to the Johnston Canyon turnoff. The stanley glacier trailhead is located at the end of the road.

When?

Opening hours
From sunrise to sunset
Varies by season
Best season
Fall
Spectacular colors
Best time
Early morning
Less crowded
Weather (next days)
Loading

How much?

Entry fees
Adult
Not available
Child
—
What to bring?

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Affiliate links — LGPO may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Gear
Download the PDF checklist
Water & food
2L minimum
No water point on the trail
Bring energy snacks for a 4h+ hike
Good to know
Park rules
Dogs allowed
Safety
Download the GPX before you go
Limited cellular coverage on the trail
Slippery after rain
Be careful on rocky sections
In an emergency
Emergency
911
Parking GPS
51.2055999, -116.0807958
Center
Not available

Hikers' opinions

Be the first to review!

No hiker has shared their experience yet. Share your impressions and help other hikers!
See reviews on Google Maps

FAQ - Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know
Stanley Glacier is rated hard.
The elevation gain of Stanley Glacier is 630 m.
The summit of Stanley Glacier is at 2,210 m.
Allow about 6h30 for Stanley Glacier (10 km).
Yes, dogs are allowed at Stanley Glacier.
No, Stanley Glacier has no visitor centre on site.
The Stanley Glacier trail is 10 km long and typically takes 3 to 4 hours to complete. Plan accordingly and start early enough to finish before sunset, as the trail is open from sunrise to sunset.
The Stanley Glacier trail has an elevation gain of 365 meters. This moderate elevation change makes it accessible to hikers with reasonable fitness levels.
No, dogs are not permitted on the Stanley Glacier trail. This restriction is in place to protect both wildlife and domestic animals in Banff National Park.
Yes, there is a fee to access the Stanley Glacier trail as it is located within Banff National Park. Additionally, parking at the trailhead is not free, so budget for both park entry and parking fees.
Didn't find your answer?
Top 10 best hiking in Canadian Rockies
Our ranking based on hiker reviews

Hiking near Banff

187 trails to explore ~36 km away

View trails
Did you spot an error?

We work hard to provide the most up-to-date and error-free data possible. If something seems incorrect, let us know!

Update : October 2026