Tunnel Mountain

Tunnel Mountain is a summit in Banff National Park rising to about 1700 meters with views of Banff town, Bow Valley, and the surrounding Canadian Rocky Mountains. The peak sits close enough to town that it serves as a popular destination for day hikers of various levels.

In the 1880s, Canadian Pacific Railway surveyors planned to tunnel through the mountain for train tracks but chose a different route instead. This decision shaped how the area developed and kept the peak free for recreational use.

Indigenous peoples called this mountain Sleeping Buffalo because its outline resembles a resting buffalo viewed from below. You can see how the shape stays recognizable from the valley floor where locals and visitors still use this name today.

The hiking trail to the summit takes about two to three hours for the full round-trip over roughly 4 kilometers with moderate climbing. The path is well-maintained with fixed steps and stairs in steeper sections, making it accessible for many skill levels.

A longtime local resident named Anne Ness climbed to the peak thousands of times over her lifetime and holds a remarkable personal record. Her dedication shows how meaningful this modest summit became to someone who knew it intimately.

Location: Alberta

Elevation above the sea: 1,692 m

GPS coordinates: 51.17754,-115.55376

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:30