Banff - Bow Falls

Below the Banff Springs Hotel the Bow River tumbles over a cliff-like rise formed from sloping layers of limestone. In pre-glacial times Bow River initially flowed north of Tunnel Mountain through Cascade Valley and Lake Minnewanka; later the valley became cut off by retrograde erosion, causing the river to flow between Fairholme Range and Tunnel Mountain. Massive moraines of Ice Age glaciers then blocked the original course and probably formed a lake until such time as the river was able to burst through between Mount Rundle and Tunnel Mountain.

Bow Falls is located just below the Banff Springs Hotel and are easily reached on foot from downtown Banff.