Scenic Views · Fishing · Alberta
Backswamp Viewpoint
A small roadside pull-off on the Bow Valley Parkway in Banff National Park, looking over the Bow River, its wetlands and the peaks beyond. A quick, well-loved photo stop with limited parking.
What visitors say
Backswamp Viewpoint is a pull-off on the Bow Valley Parkway between Banff and Johnston Canyon, where the Bow River loops through a broad, marshy stretch of valley with mountains on every side. Visitors describe a wide panorama for such a small stop: blue river water, the swampy backwater beyond it, forest, and the rail line running along the valley floor. A couple of reviewers mention the added bonus of a train rolling through the frame.
It's a stop of a few minutes rather than an outing. There's no trail to speak of, just the view from the edge of the pull-off. The Bow River below is open to angling under Banff's national park rules, which are catch-and-release only because whirling disease has been found in the river; you need a national park fishing permit rather than a provincial licence, and felt-soled boots are banned.
Wildlife is part of the draw. One visitor suggests watching the slopes for mountain goats or bighorn sheep, and the parkway in general is known for animal sightings. Photographers like the early morning, when the light is soft and the pull-off is quieter.
Parking is minimal, so on busy summer days you may have to try again on the way back. Plan around the parkway's seasonal rules: the eastern 17 km, which includes this stretch, is closed to vehicles during the day in late spring and in September for car-free cycling, and from March to late June all travel on that section is restricted overnight to give wildlife space.
Summarised from visitor reviews on Google Maps. Based on 277 Google reviews. Conditions and rules change — check current park, access and fishing regulations before you go.