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Road cycling routes
Canada
Alberta

View of Backswamp – Second Vermilion Lake loop from Cottage Club Ghost Lake

Routes
Road cycling routes
Canada
Alberta

View of Backswamp – Second Vermilion Lake loop from Cottage Club Ghost Lake

Intermediate

5.0

(5)

369

riders

View of Backswamp – Second Vermilion Lake loop from Cottage Club Ghost Lake

01:59

45.5km

380m

Intermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 27, 2025

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Waypoints

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Parking

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1

14.1 km

View of Bow River in Banff National Park

Highlight • Viewpoint

Does not quite come up to the "Backswamp" viewpoint, but is probably the second most beautiful place in the Bow River Parkway.

Translated by Google •

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2

14.4 km

View of Backswamp

Highlight • Viewpoint

Incredible view. Really incredible! My personal highlight of the area, you can see the glowing Bow River behind a scenic train and in the background the huge Backswamp. Phenomenal!

Translated by Google •

Tip by

3

17.6 km

Heritage Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Nice bike path through the forest. Watch out for wildlife (at least one coyote I met).

Translated by Google •

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4

21.8 km

Second Vermilion Lake

Highlight • Lake

Very beautiful lake with many marshy parts. Is suitable for bird watching.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

5

22.5 km

First Vermilion Lake

Highlight • Lake

First of three beautiful lakes outside of Banff.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

6

25.3 km

Third Vermilion Lake

Highlight • Lake

Incredibly beautiful view of the mountains ⛰

Translated by Google •

Tip by

B

45.5 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

35.3 km

9.93 km

147 m

110 m

Surfaces

45.3 km

176 m

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Elevation

Elevation

Highest point (1,490 m)

Lowest point (1,380 m)

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Weather

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Tuesday 4 November

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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

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Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
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Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
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View of Backswamp – Second Vermilion Lake loop from Cottage Club Ghost Lake

01:59h

45.5km

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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 4–6.
Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
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Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

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Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
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Expert
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Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
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Mountain Bike

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Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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Intermediate
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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

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Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
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Expert
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Mountain Bike

Road Bike

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Easy
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Intermediate
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Expert
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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

Hiking

Bike

Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
More than 5 hours long or 3000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires very good fitness.Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
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Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
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How to understand each route’s difficulty level

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Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
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Expert
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Hiking

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Mountain Bike

Road Bike

Running

Easy
Up to 2 hours and 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Great for any fitness level.Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Corresponds approx.to SAC 1.
Intermediate
Up to 5 hours and 3,000 ft. of elevation gain. Requires good fitness.Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Corresponds approx. to SAC 2-3.
Expert
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Technical difficulty rating based on the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) Hiking Scale.
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