A photo of the view from a Banff trail can make that route feel like the reason for the whole trip. For a visit with a dog, we’d put a different question first. Can the dog safely and legally do the route you’ve planned, and what will you do if the answer changes? Parks Canada requires dogs to be leashed and under physical control in Banff National Park and says some trails prohibit dogs. It also asks owners to consider leaving dogs at home for activities such as backcountry hiking. Parks Canada guidance for dogs in Banff
Give the shorter option its own reason to exist
Look up the permitted routes before you arrive, then check current restrictions and closures close to the visit. Pick a second option because it’s somewhere you’d be happy to go in its own right. A shorter outing can leave time for the dog to rest and the people to enjoy the afternoon. If a walk involves poor footing or likely close encounters with wildlife, change the plan while it’s still easy to do so.
Readers coming from the US should check Canadian entry requirements and the return journey separately. At the trailhead, though, the relevant choice is the local one. A second route gives everyone permission to change course. Parks Canada current closures and restrictions
