Old Fort Point Road

Old Fort Point Road isn’t your typical Banff scenic drive — it’s a gnarly limestone shelf that clings to the mountainside 800 feet above the Bow River, demanding full lockers and spotters for the exposed traverses. Originally blasted for logging access in the 1940s, the road deteriorated into a technical nightmare of loose rock, off-camber sections, and zero guardrails. The infamous “Devil’s Elbow” switchback at mile 7 has claimed more oil pans than pride, with a 300-foot drop-off that’ll pucker your seat cushions.

This is Expert-level wheeling — think Moab slickrock meets Canadian Rockies exposure. Modified rigs with rock sliders, 35s minimum, and experienced drivers only. Summer months are mandatory due to ice, and Parks Canada requires permits plus liability insurance. The route dead-ends at an old fire tower with panoramic views of Mount Rundle and the Bow Valley that’ll make the sketchy approach worthwhile. Most turn back at Devil’s Elbow, but the hardcores who push through get bragging rights and some of the most dramatic alpine scenery in North America.