Location Details:? 

Directions:? 5 minute drive? (2.5 km / 1.5 miles) southwest of Banff. From downtown, take Banff Ave south across Bow River, then a left on Cave Ave. Take a right on Mountain Ave and follow that road until it deadends at the Gondola Parking area.

Latitude / Longitude: 51.148236 / 115.559503

Hiking Details:

Distance / Time: Over 1.5 hours up, 1 hour return down. Approximately 1.5 miles one way.

Elevation Gain: Strenuous (700m / 2300 ft gain)

Trail Type: Out and Back (or mix with a Gondola ride). Dirt trail

Notes: Water and restrooms at the trailhead and summit only

Description:? 

The Banff Gondola provides an easier alternative to the aforementioned hike, but at a price (as of May 2008, $26 CAD, approximately $28 USD). The ride itself is under 10 minutes and affords wonderful views of the surrounding mountains and downtown Banff. The elevation gain is roughly? 700m or 2300 ft between the parking lot and? the top, with an overall elevation at the top of around 7500 ft above sea level. At the top there is the usual tourist shop and a choice of restaurant or cafeteria.

There is an additional hike along a boardwalk to the apex of Suplhur Mtn to the north of the gondola where you can see the old weather/cosmic ray? station that used to function here. The views here are actually more revealing, and from the top you can look northeast and see Mt Brewster - 2,859 m (9,380 ft)- Cascade Mt - 2,998 m (9,836 ft)- Mt Aylmer - 3,163 m (10,375 ft)- Tunnel Mt - 1,692 m (5,550 ft). To the east you'll see Banff downtown, the brilliant glacial blue Bow River and even Bow River Falls.

While there are other locations in the Banff area to get a commanding view of the surrounding mountains, few are easier (via the gondola) and provide such an elevated vista.

As a side note, Upper Hot Springs is located very near the Banff Gondola and is an excellent place to relax.? Here you can soak in the wondrously hot waters surrounded by beautiful mountain vistas - a great way to relax after the day!? 

Banff Gondola top station from Sulphur Mountain

Related? Travel Articles? on Banff National Park:

Johnston Canyon

Banff Gondola

Upper Hot Springs

Vermillion Lakes

Minnewanka Loop / Johnson Lake