Bow Valley Parkway Goes Car-Free Again as Cycling Use Climbs 46%

One of Banff National Park’s most popular cycling routes is about to go car-free again, as new Parks Canada figures show use of the Bow Valley Parkway cycling program has climbed nearly 47 percent since the pilot began.

Starting Tuesday, Sept. 1, public vehicles will once again be restricted from a 17-kilometre section of the Bow Valley Parkway between the Fireside Day-use Area and Johnston Canyon (map here), giving cyclists access to the scenic roadway without regular vehicle traffic.

The fall restriction runs through Oct. 6.

The closure marks the second car-free period on the parkway this year, following the spring restriction from April 30 to June 25. It is part of a cycling program that began as a three-year pilot in 2022 and has since been extended through 2030.

And the numbers suggest the car-free route is becoming increasingly popular.

Parks Canada recorded 63,695 cyclists across the spring and fall closure periods in 2022, the first year of the formal pilot. By 2025, that had risen to 93,311 riders, an increase of approximately 46.5 percent.

What Cyclists Need to Know

From Sept. 1 through Oct. 6, the eastern 17 kilometres of the Bow Valley Parkway, between Fireside Day-use Area and Johnston Canyon, will be restricted to public motor vehicles.

Cyclists should still expect to encounter some authorized vehicles, including Parks Canada and utility vehicles.

E-bikes are permitted.

For riders travelling from Canmore or Calgary, Parks Canada recommends parking at the Banff Train Station and accessing the parkway by riding west from Banff.

From the train station, cyclists can travel along Vermilion Lakes Road before connecting with the Banff Legacy Trail and continuing to the eastern end of the Bow Valley Parkway.

Watch: How to access and cycle the car-free Bow Valley Parkway

The closed portion itself is approximately 17 kilometres each way, meaning cyclists riding the entire section to Johnston Canyon and returning the same way should expect roughly 34 kilometres of riding on the parkway, plus the distance required to reach it.

Another option is to approach from Castle Junction, although portions of the parkway west of Johnston Canyon remain open to vehicles.

Food, water and repair services are limited along the route, and Parks Canada advises cyclists to be prepared to deal with a mechanical problem or accident themselves.

A Road Shared With Wildlife

Although removing public vehicles changes the experience for cyclists, the seasonal restrictions also overlap with Parks Canada's efforts to protect wildlife using the Bow Valley.

The eastern parkway passes through habitat used by bears, wolves, elk and other animals. Parks Canada says some of those species are particularly sensitive to human activity around dusk and dawn, when wildlife activity is often highest.

Wildlife can still be encountered at any time, however, and cyclists should carry bear spray, remain alert and give animals plenty of space.