Banff Half Marathon & 10K
The Lowdown
The Banff Half Marathon & 10K is an annual road race through Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies, widely marketed as one of the most scenic races on the planet. The course starts on Bow Avenue alongside the Bow River in the town of Banff, follows the Bow River Trail north, then turns onto Vermilion Lakes Road and the Legacy Trail before climbing roughly 3km up the Bow Valley Parkway to the Backswamp Viewpoint turnaround, with Half Marathon runners retracing the route back to a finish in Banff's Central Park; the 10K uses a shorter version of the same out-and-back course. Race weekend also includes a Sport Expo, a Yoga in the Park session, and a free Kids Run. Demand consistently outstrips the limited in-person field -- thousands of hopeful entrants were turned away in both 2024 and 2025 -- so registration for the region's marquee summer event tends to close months ahead of race day, though a Virtual Run option remains open through race month for runners who miss out. The event is held annually in mid-June, with the next edition set for June 20, 2027.
Race Day
Weather Forecast
Elevation
Terrain Profile
Relatively flat course
Participants
Field Size
Medium-sized race
Crowd Rating
Spectator Support
Moderate spectator support
Bow River
Vermilion Lakes
Legacy Trail
Bow Valley Parkway
Backswamp Viewpoint
Banff Central Park
Other distances available during the event weekend:
Banff, Alberta, Canada
CA
Average rate for 3-star accommodations near the start line
Eligibility
- Minimum age 14 for the Half Marathon and 12 for the 10K by December 31 of the race year
- Participants under 18 require written parental/legal guardian consent
Required Documents
- Photo ID for packet pickup
Entry Methods
- Online registration via Race Roster
- In-person Expo/packet-pickup registration once race-week entries open, subject to availability
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Standard entries are non-refundable, non-transferable, and non-deferrable
If the event is postponed, entrants receive free entry to the rescheduled date or a virtual alternative
No refunds for wildlife-related course modifications or closures
Out-and-back course along the Bow River, Vermilion Lakes, and the Bow Valley Parkway inside Banff National Park
In-person entries sold out well ahead of race day in 2024, 2025, and 2026, with a capped field to manage impact inside the national park
Race weekend also includes a Sport Expo, Shake Out Run, Yoga in the Park, and a free Kids Run
Headphones/earbuds are prohibited so runners can hear official wildlife-safety instructions on the course
Entrants have come from over 25 countries, 10 Canadian provinces, 45 U.S. states, and 100 Alberta communities in recent editions
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