If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Unknown login to update. Start: Surprise Corner parking lot on Tunnel Mountain Dr. Map to Surprise Corner to Hoodoos Viewpoint Surprise Corner to Hoodoos Viewpoint Take Buffalo to where it turns into Tunnel Mnt Drive at a sharp left corner and there is free public parking there. Most Banff tourists are familiar with taking the gondola up to the mountain or driving to Lake Louise, many are not aware that this viewpoint by the hotel is just as mesmerizing.. You can access the lookout at the corner of Buffalo Street and Tunnel Mountain Road. Continue your visit to www.tripadvisor.com, Is this a romantic place or activity that you would suggest for, Is this a place or activity you would suggest for, Are the prices for this place or activity, Buffalo Street Surprise Corner Viewpoint parking lot, Banff, Banff National Park, Alberta T0L Canada, We parked at Surprise Corner. You can hike here from Surprise Corner, but there's also a view point you can drive to. Surprise Corner to Hoodoos Viewpoint. The trail was great exercise and there were a lot of campers staying there. From the Surprise Corner Viewpoint, this trail descends to the Bow River and runs under the cliff face of Tunnel Mountain, with nice views of these unique rock formations. There is a sign if you want to read all about it too. The rest of the route enjoys many views of the Bow River, mountains and forests. Add one. Views are really nice. Daniel N. Roberts (on Jun 14, 2016) What's this? The surprise at the corner on Tunnel Mountain Road in the town of Banff is the sudden appearance and incredible view of the Banff Springs Hotel. The Hoodoos are right across from the campground and we could walk over to the Hoodoos and then down the trail to the trailhead by the Bow River. We took the Bow River Hoodoos trail to the Hoodoos viewpoint. Trailhead: Surprise Corner, east end of Buffalo Street This sunny trail provides open vistas to the Hoodoos Viewpoint. From the trail head at Surprise Corner, you basically go down to the river, and then back up again to see the hoodoos. The view of Hoodoo from the viewpoint on Tunnel Mountain Drive. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Ireland. Reproduction in whole or in part strictly prohibited. Hoodoos Trail. Surprise Corner To Hoodoos. Participants to drive themselves to … The Bow River snakes around and through the valley below. The beautiful building known as the “Castle Of The Rockies” sits in the backdrop of Sulphur Mountain while in the foreground the majestic Bow River cascades down into the Bow Falls. Club Sponsor-Local Bike Shop. Locally known as Surprise Corner (but there is no sign), this is the spot where most of the famous pictures have been taken of the historic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel! Round trip from town was 3 hours.. as someone else mentioned, the hoodoos are kind of far away to see well,, but the overall views are fantastic. We took the Bow River Hoodoos trail to the Hoodoos viewpoint. Views are really nice. Ink Pots. There is limited parking and we were lucky to get a spot. There is limited parking and we were lucky to get a spot. Date of experience: October 2020. This is a great pick for wildlife fans visiting Banff. Read more. Total trip time was 2.75 hours including the time spent viewing the Hoodoos. A 5.4 mile one way hike will lead you to seven crystal clear jade-green spring fed pools. Tip: to avoid walking next to the road for half the hike, park at the Hoodoos viewpoint and then walk to and from Surprise Corner. We returned via the Tunnel Loop Hoodoo trail. Length: 4.8 km one way Elevation gain: 115 m, elevation loss 90 m Hiking time: 3 hour round trip Trailhead: Surprise Corner, east end of Buffalo Street On foot: Trailhead is a 20 minute/1.6 km walk from downtown Banff. Hopefully you won’t be caught in a blizzard like us, so you’ll actually have a view of the hoodoos. Banff – Surprise Corner to Hoodoos Viewpoint – C+/C Level Hike This event is for C+/C level hikers. Upcoming Events. Rebound Cycle View more. © Copyright 2020. Surprise Corner Named for its spectacular, surprising views when viewed from Buffalo Street, Surprise Corner is an excellent place for photos and to connect to the local trail system. Starting from the Hoodoo Parking area and the intersection with Tunnel Bench Loop, this trail descends to the level of the Bow River. Stunning Bow Falls view, forested trail paralleling the Bow River, open vistas along Hoodoos Tr beside Tunnel Mountain Rd and overlook of hoodoo rock spires. Trail conditions. Hoodoos are best viewed from the banks of the Bow River on the north end of the trail. You can see Surprise Corner Viewpoint to the bottom left corner and the Banff Hoodoo Viewpoint to … The hike itself is known as the Banff Hoodoo Trail, and leads from “Surprise Corner Viewpoint” and leads to a little carpark along the Tunnel Mountain Road. So peaceful, wonderful views throughout, squirrels common but not much else at the time. … ... We took the Bow River Hoodoos trail to the Hoodoos viewpoint. Worth the walk, and snap, snap pictures. Please go to our meeting point Surprise Corner trailhead in the Sulphur Corner Viewpoint parking lot instead. Surprise Corner to the Hoodoos - II Western Canada, Banff specifically, is experiencing a "heat wave"; it has reached 90 degrees for the past three days. We parked at Surprise Corner. There is limited parking and we were lucky to get a spot. Camping & Lodging. We parked at Surprise Corner. You can take Buffalo Street to go to Surprise corner and keep going to the top of the hill. … I have read on these forums that there is a Hoodoos Viewpoint off Tunnel Mountain Road that you can drive to from Banff town. Book your tickets online for Surprise Corner, Banff: See 716 reviews, articles, and 250 photos of Surprise Corner, ranked No.21 on Tripadvisor among 52 attractions in Banff. It’s a lovely trail through the forest and along the river. Hotels near Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Hotels near Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum, Cave and Basin National Historic Site: Tickets & Tours‎. It's a 15-minute walk from Banff Park Museum and about 30 minutes if you're starting from the town's main street, Banff Avenue. There is limited parking and we were lucky to get a spot. That climb up to the hoodoos was a good heart pumper for us, but worth doing. Hoodoo Viewpoint. Keep an eye out for wildlife and watch for icy sections. ... We parked at Surprise Corner. Put half a day aside and just enjoy the tranquillity. It's was nice 1.2 km walk on bow lake trail to surprise corner Viewpoint, beautiful view of fairmont bangg spring Hotel, looks like a castle, easy trail from downtown Banff just follow the arrow. Get more out of your vacation by going on an evening safari in Banff National Park. You can make a loop or return to town along Tunnel Mountain Road. Surprise Corner to Hoodoos Our go-to hike when we want to stay close to home and get some household chores done. The surprise at the corner on Tunnel Mountain Road is the sudden appearance and incredible view of the Banff Springs Hotel. From Surprise Corner continue on Tunnel Mountain Drive, and turn right on Tunnel Mountain Road, The Hoodoo viewpoint outlook will come up at right, and left will be RV campground. Surprise Corner to Hoodoos Trail map . There is a viewpoint on your left where you can see town of Banff. Look out for elk, deer, bears, sheep, and more in their natural environment. This part was not really worthwhile - I would recommend returning by the Bow River Hoodoos trail. To get to Surprise Point parking, drive all the way along Banff Avenue and turn left just before (N side) of the Bridge to the Park Admin building/Banff Springs onto Buffalo Street. What the heck is a hoodoo is listed on the information sign by this beautiful landmark. We took the Bow River Hoodoos trail to the Hoodoos viewpoint. Beautiful scenery! We just took the path and saw the amazing Bow Valley for a short 10min walk. Limit of 10 participants. There is a good uphill ascent at the end as you climb up from the river to the Hoodoos viewpoints on the ridge. It’s a lovely trail through the forest and along the river. If you choose to follow the signs of Tunnel Mountain as you enter Banff from the highway, you will get to our ending point, Hoodoos Viewpoint instead of our starting point. There is a good uphill ascent at the end as you climb up from the river to the Hoodoos viewpoints on the ridge. The Bow River in sight the air was fresh and clean I loved it! I started from the town centre taking the Bow River trail to Surprise Corner and then picked up the Hoodoo Trail towards Tunnel Mountain, finishing the 5km journey in about 3 hours, with dozens of photo stops along the way. We took the Bow River Hoodoos trail to the Hoodoos viewpoint. Local Info. It is free in that direction. You can take the No.2 bus from the camping ground back down the hill to town. Short drive to mountain top, easy hike route, unbelievable scenery, definitely a must-see, remember to wear hiking boots and sunglasses. Trail checkins. more. This is a scenic route to drive around. river to the Hoodoos viewpoints on the ridge. Great room and open space! Banff Tourism; Banff Hotels; Bed and Breakfast Banff; Banff Holiday Rentals; Flights to Banff Stunning Bow Falls view, forested trail paralleling the Bow River, open vistas along Hoodoos Tr beside Tunnel Mountain Rd and overlook of hoodoo rock spires. It parallels Tunnel Mountain Road to the Douglas Fir Resort. In the end you should emerge at a viewpoint of the hoodoos. None. Started from Banff town, walked though past Surprise Corner and then along the river. We parked at Surprise Corner. It’s a lovely trail through the forest and along the river. Add to or improve this map // Place this map on your website. Once seen. There is limited parking and we were lucky to get a spot. The Hoodoo Trail's south trailhead (main entrance) is located at Surprise Point at the south … Get more out of the trip than if you were exploring alone by having informative commentary about local wildlife and preservation schemes from a guide. It’s 4.4 km (2.7 miles) one-way to the Hoodoos Viewpoint at Tunnel Mountain … Good mix of mountain views, quiet forest, and the river. Buffalo Street Surprise Corner Viewpoint parking lot, Banff, Banff National Park, Alberta T0L Canada. Visiting Vermillion Lakes and the Surprise Corner in Banff before taking the bus to Calgary Airport where we were surprised with a free hotel room for the night. Start: Surprise Corner parking lot on Tunnel Mountain Dr. 21 Unforgettably Unusual Day Trips and Getaways From Toronto, Free Things to Do in Victoria: 20 Activities That Will Cost You $0, 16 Unforgettably Unusual Restaurants in Toronto, Sweet Treats at Temper Chocolate & Pastry, Bill Reid Gallery's Centennial Exhibition. Keep going North, once you get to the junction you can take a left to get back to the town or turn right to go towards the Hoodoos. hoodoos are very neat and you can even hike to see them upclose. As you drive the Tunnel Mountain road from town, you get to Surprise Corner where it opens up suddenly and you can see the Banff Springs Hotel on your right. I thought there would be a bunch of the hoodoos… It's was nice 1.2 km walk on bow lake trail to surprise corner Viewpoint, beautiful view of fairmont bangg spring Hotel, looks like a castle, easy trail from downtown Banff just follow the arrow. The hike from Surprise Corner to Hoodoos is full of incredible views and comes at a leisurely pace, perfect for beginners or expert hikers who just want to appreciate their surroundings. All Rights reserved. ... Prairie View - Jewell Pass Loop 9.4 mi 15.2 km • 1,838' Up 560.27 m Up • 1,838' Down 560.26 m Down. The second and third ones have the best views. I have also read that there is a 3km one way/6km roundtrip hike to the Hoodoos Interpretive trail that one can take that starts at the Surprise Corner Viewpoint. There is a good uphill ascent at the end as you climb up from the. Located at the corner of Buffalo Street and Tunnel Mountain Road, you can access this trail by walking along the river and taking the stairs up to Buffalo Street. It’s a lovely trail through the forest and along the river. There's several viewpoints where you can see the hoodoos a short walk from the parking lot. Parking was easy and then a trail leads down to the Hoodoos Viewpoint. Views are really nice. There we came out on the road and then took a left on Tunnel Mountain Drive and walked back on that road (it’s closed to traffic). The walk starts at a car park at Surprise Corner, and winds its way through pretty forest between the Bow river and Tunnel Mountain. 5.1 km / 3.2 mi; 60 m elevation gain.