When up in Banff, Alberta for the Mountain Festival, I was trail running around town each day. I had no vehicle.
Sulphur Mountain from the Upper Hot Springs is normally regarded to be the best hike within walking distance of Banff. The view is spectacular from the top. But much of the 2hr walk up is tree locked.
larger photo – flickr – D’Arcy Norman
My advice is to instead take the Gondolla to the top of Sulphur mountain and — starting from this viewpoint — to do some ridge walking. You will likely go off-trail or even scramble at some points.
Many, many years ago I recall a friend Pat McRoberts accidentally dropping his camera off the mountain while up here. (Hang on to yours.)
It’s a wonderful thing to be delivered to the top of a mountain for $25. You’ll need another $7.40 at the bottom of the Gondola for …
PS
When we were kids we loved hiking up Sulphur Mountain because the ride down on the Gondola was FREE. That’s not the case in 2007 — though they still do not check your ticket on the way down.
I’m just saying …
besthike.com 
There is also a terrific ridge walk that starts on the quiet side of the upper gondola…
You head away from the crowds, all the way to what seems to be a blank rockwall, but is easily gone up… This opens up the ridge for quite some distance with lots of meandering little summits along the way…
I have often headed up there when the ‘ol legs are too tired to do much else but wander…
A great place for views of Rundle and for some quiet meditation…
DSD