The streets and highways in the Banff National Park area west of Calgary will be full of marathoners running in a 42-kilometre race this year.

Parks Canada has approved the Banff Marathon for June.

A spokesman says the approval is for one year, so officials can see how it works out.

It will be capped at 1,500 runners and will be held along the roadways.

Organizers have come up with a secondary route if they are forced to a detour because of wild animals, which often frequent the park roadways.