EXPLORING THE BACKCOUNTRY BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING INFORMATION SOURCES
Most visitors to the backcountry of Banff National Banff Visitor Centre Park are hikers. Travel by horseback or bicycle is also Passes, Permits and Campgrounds 224 Banff Avenue, Banff, AB possible on designated trails. Reservations Camp in designated campgrounds as indicated tel 403-762-1556; fax 403-762-1551 Backcountry Trails in A Backcountry Permit and campground reservations on your Backcountry Permit and use the tent pads [email protected] Cycling are mandatory for anyone planning an overnight trip provided to minimize impact on vegetation. The maximum length of stay for any one campground is Lake Louise Visitor Centre Cycling is permitted only on designated trails. For more Baker Lake into the backcountry of Banff National Park. It specifies Banff National Park three consecutive nights. Samson Mall, Hamlet of Lake Louise, AB information on cycling in the park, ask for a biking trail the campgrounds you have booked, as well as the L. Holleman tel 403-522-1264; fax 403-522-1212 brochure at a Parks Canada Visitor Centre or online at number of people (maximum 10) and tents in Bring a Cooking and Campfires [email protected] parkscanada.gc.ca/banff-brochures. your group. Fishing carabiner All backcountry travellers should carry a portable stove A National Park Fishing Permit is your ticket to enjoy There are two ways to pay for your Backcountry for cooking. Campfires are permitted in metal fire rings For detailed trip planning information visit: one of Banff National Park’s most rewarding traditions. Permit. For shorter trips, you can purchase your Random Camping provided at certain campgrounds, see reverse for map. parkscanada.gc.ca/banff Horse Use Backcountry Permit based on a nightly rate. If you will Random camping is permitted in designated areas Fishing is permitted during specified seasons in most If you have a campfire, use only deadfall, keep it small Guidebooks and topographic maps are available at spend more than 7 nights in the backcountry of Banff, only, see reverse for map. Make sure you camp 5 km Horse travel is permitted throughout most of the park. backcountry lakes, rivers and creeks, however some and do not leave it unattended. the Banff Visitor Centre and outdoor retailers and Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho national parks this year, an or more from either the trailhead or any designated If you are planning a trip with your own horse, visit areas are catch and release only. To fish in Banff bookstores in Banff and Lake Louise. Annual Wilderness Pass is a better choice. campground. Pitch your tent at least 50 m from the trail parkscanada.gc.ca/banff-horse for information on National Park, everyone aged 16 or older is required where to ride and the required grazing permits, fees and at least 70 m away from the nearest water source. to have a National Park Fishing Permit. Children All backcountry visitors, including annual Wilderness Environment Canada Weather Forecast: and regulations. This website also provides links to Cook and store food well away from your tent. If you under 16 do not require a permit but must be Pass holders, must make reservations for overnight 403-762-2088 companies offering guided horseback trips within have a campfire, remove all trace before moving on. accompanied by a permit holder 16 years of age or backcountry trips, specifying which campgrounds or weather.gc.ca the park. older. These permits can be purchased at a Parks shelters you will stay at on which dates. Reservations Avalanche Bulletin (winter only): Canada Visitor Centre or at most local retail outlets that can be made in person at Parks Canada Visitor Washing sell angling supplies. parksmountainsafety.ca Climbing, Mountaineering and Centres in Banff and Lake Louise, or by calling Food Storage 50 metres Wash well away from any water sources and keep the For regulations visit 403-762-1556 in Banff or 403-522-1264 in Sleeping area use of soap to a minimum (even biodegradable soaps Banff Dispatch: Glacier Travel To avoid attracting bears and other wildlife to your At least 4 m from ground and 1.3m s from the top and side supports tre 403-762-1470 parkscanada.gc.ca/banff-brochures Lake Louise, up to three months in advance of your me are pollutants). When washing dishes, strain the bits Mountaineers require a Backcountry Permit to campsite, all food, garbage, toiletries and cooking 50 or pick up a copy of the Fishing Regulations Summary trip. Advance reservations are highly recommended of food waste and pack them out. Disperse strained bivouac, and may do so in non-vegetated areas only. equipment must be suspended from the food storage In case of EMERGENCY, call 911 or Banff Dispatch brochure from any Parks Canada Visitor Centre. for July and August. A non-refundable reservation fee water on the land. cables provided at designated campgrounds. For at 403-762-4506, but remember cell phone reception Alternatively, the Alpine Club of Canada Seasonal closures may be in effect for some lakes to applies to all bookings. P. Zizka P. (403-678-3200, alpineclubofcanada.ca) operates areas where random camping is permitted bring bear- in the backcountry is not reliable. S. Gignac allow fish populations to recover from over-fishing and resistant canisters, rope or hang your food downwind several mountaineering huts in the park that are ideally these are generally not posted at the lake, so you must You will also require a National Park Day Pass or located for mountaineers. annual National Park Discovery Pass to enter of your campsite as illustrated on right. Cooking/eating area © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada be familiar with the regulations. Catalogue: R64-445/2016E Également offert en français Banff National Park. ISBN #: 978-0-660-02419-6
BACKCOUNTRY TRAIL SHELTERS, HUTS, AND LODGES BACKCOUNTRY ETIQUETTE SAFETY Banff National Park is a very special place to enjoy a backcountry experience. As a Skoki Lodge National Historic Site backcountry user, you can access treasured Stay on the Trail Collecting Natural or Cultural Checklist natural wonders not seen by most park Rustic trail shelters located at Egypt Lake and Bryant When planning a trip into the backcountry of Banff Shortcutting between trail switchbacks damages both Creek can be booked through the Parks Canada Objects National Park, at least one person in your party visitors—and experience them without the the soil and vegetation. This not only impacts the Select a trip which best suits your group’s Visitor Centres in Banff or Lake Louise. Leave all rocks, fossils, horns, antlers, wildflowers, should be able to recognize natural hazards and have crowds associated with the park’s more area, but also makes it susceptible to further damage abilities, experience, interests, equipment and nests and other natural or historic objects where they experience in wilderness first aid. Caution and self- accessible attractions. by erosion. the time you have available. Alpine huts maintained by the Alpine Club of Canada are for others to enjoy. It is unlawful to remove, deface, reliance are essential. This guide is designed to help you plan a are available to club members and non-members. damage or destroy any natural or cultural resources Familiarize yourself with the hike you have Reservations are required: 403-678-3200 or within Canada’s national parks. Giardia lamblia is a water borne parasite that can be safe and enjoyable visit of Banff National selected by using guidebooks and topographic alpineclubofcanada.ca Garbage present in any surface water. Boil, filter or chemically Park’s backcountry, while keeping the natural maps. If you pack it in—pack it out. Littering is unlawful and treat all water before drinking. environment as healthy as possible. For information on low-impact backcountry travel, visit: Howard Douglas Lake There are four commercial lodges located in the hazardous to wildlife. Do not dispose of garbage in leavenotrace.ca Obtain all required permits from a Parks
backcountry of Banff National Park. For reservations S. Gignac Ticks carrying Lyme disease may be present in the park. outhouses. Canada Visitor Centre. and information: banfflakelouise.com. Learn how to protect yourself and pets. Check weather conditions prior to departure. Shadow Lake Lodge Red paintbrush Dogs are considered as either predator or prey by many North Molar Pass shadowlakelodge.com Human Waste Share the Trail wild animals. This can provoke confrontations with Be prepared to be self-sufficient in all weather Use the outhouses provided. If there are no outhouses, Backcountry trails are shared by hikers, trail runners, wildlife and may affect your safety, so consider leaving conditions and emergency situations. Skoki Lodge select a spot away from trails, campsites and at least mountain bikers and horseback riders. Please your dog at home. Dogs must be kept under control skokilodge.com 70 m away from water sources. Dig a hole 12 to respect other users and yield the right of way to and on a leash at all times. Ensure a friend or family member knows your 16 cm deep to reach the dark-coloured biologically ensure safety. If you wish to avoid trails that are travel plans. Any wild animal can become aggressive if it feels Sundance Lodge active soil layer. When filling the hole with soil, do not busier due to shared use, plan ahead and check with pack it down. Pack out toilet paper and used feminine threatened. Keep a distance of at least 30 m from most staff at a Parks Canada Visitor Centre. Before starting your hike, check the trailhead Halfway Lodge hygiene products. species and at least 100 m from bears. Carry bear spray kiosk or the Parks Canada trail report for trail horseback.com at all times, keep it accessible and know how to use it. conditions, important updates or restrictions. Share the trail parkscanada.gc.ca/banfftrails Learn how to reduce the risk of bear encounters by reading wildlife brochures available at all Parks Canada Visitor Centres or visit parkscanada.gc.ca/banff-bears. L. Holleman S. Gignac Partageons le sentier
S. Gignac
What to Expect SUGGESTED ITINERARIES Whistling Pass In more popular and accessible areas of Banff’s backcountry, you will find maintained hiking trails and designated campsites with outhouses, tent pads, Two Day Trips Three Day Trips Four Day or Longer Trips food storage cables, picnic tables and metal fire rings Marvel Lake Sunshine – Vista Lake where fires are allowed. More remote areas of the park Lake Minnewanka Shoreline Trail Egypt Lake Assiniboine Loop 40 km provide a greater opportunity for solitude, although 8 km one way; elevation gain: nil 12.4 km one way; elevation gain: 655 m 55 km Campsites: E13 Egypt Lake (night 1); Re14 Shadow Lake trails may not be regularly maintained and hikers must Campsite: Lm8 Aylmer Pass Junction. Campsite: E13 Egypt Lake or Egypt Lake trail shelter. Campsites: Br 14 McBride’s Camp (night 1); Lake Magog (night 2); Tw7 Twin Lakes (night 3). be self-reliant. Route finding and navigation skills Topographic map: 82 O/6. Gem Trek recreational Topographic map: 82 O/4. Campground or the BC Parks trail shelter, Mt. Assiniboine Topographic maps: 82 O/4, 82 N/1. are required and hikers should be prepared to safely map: Banff and Mount Assiniboine Gem Trek recreational map: Banff and Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park (nights 2 and 3) where separate BC Parks Gem Trek recreational map: Banff and Mount Assiniboine ford streams. Pre-trip planning and preparedness is A popular early or late season hike or bike along the Hike from the Sunshine Village ski area parking lot campground fees will be collected on-site; Br 13 Marvel Lake, A series of high country trails link the Sunshine Village essential for travel in the backcountry. S. Gignac lakeshore. The trail departs from the trailhead at the via Healy Pass to the Egypt Lake Campground or or stay at the Bryant Creek trail shelter (night 4). ski area (access via foot or the privately run shuttle) to Mystic Pass the Vista Lake viewpoint on Highway 93S. Explore the Lake Minnewanka Day-use Area and returns by the trail shelter. Stay two nights if possible to explore the Topographic maps: 82 J/14, 82 J/13. Sunshine – Assiniboine – Bryant Creek Egypt Lake area en route. After climbing over Gibbon S. Gignac same route. During the summer, Lake Minnewanka is a wonders of the area. Gem Trek recreational map: Banff and Mount Assiniboine 55.7 km When to Go Pass, the trail meanders past a series of scenic lakes popular destination for motorboats. Stay an extra night The trail begins and ends at the Mt. Shark trailhead Campsites: Porcupine Campground, Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Sawback Trail The main hiking season in Banff National Park is and explore Aylmer Pass or Aylmer Lookout. Skoki Loop in Spray Valley Provincial Park. Travel through three before the final ascent to the highway. Park (night 1); Lake Magog Campground, Mt. Assiniboine 74 km from May to October. Until late June, many trails at Seasonal restrictions in area during buffaloberry 34 km; elevation gain: 1,136 m contiguous protected areas and behold the beauty of Provincial Park (night 2), where separate BC Parks Campsites: Fm 19 Mystic Junction (night 1); Jo 9 Larry’s higher elevations remain snow-bound. Stream flows season (July 10-September 15). Campsites: Sk11 Baker Lake (night 1); Sk18 Merlin Meadows the sixth highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies campground fees will be collected on-site; Br 13 Marvel Lake camp (night 2); Jo 18 Johnston Creek or Jo 19 Luellen Lake are highest during June and July; more remote trails (night 2). (Mt. Assiniboine). or Br 14 McBride’s Camp (night 3). Sunshine Meadows (night 3); Jo 29 Badger Pass (night 4); Ba 15 Wildflower Creek have few bridges and require stream fording. July and Glacier Lake Topographic maps: 82 N/8, 82 N/9, 82 O/5, 82 O/12. Seasonal trail restrictions on Allenby Pass and Topographic maps: 82 O/4, 82 J/14, 82 J/13. Gem Trek (night 5); Sk 11 Baker Lake (night 6). August are the prime backcountry hiking months, 8.9 km one way; elevation gain: 210 m Gem Trek recreational map: Lake Louise – Yoho Assiniboine Pass during buffaloberry season. recreational map: Banff and Mount Assiniboine Topographic maps: 82 O/4, 82 O/5, 82 N/8. although even in summer snow is not uncommon at Campsite: Gl 9 Glacier Lake. Beginning at the Fish Creek trailhead (near the Lake This trip is best suited for parties with two vehicles. Mt. Gem Trek recreational map: Banff and Mount Assiniboine higher elevations. September is generally drier than Topographic map: 82 N/15. Louise ski area) this trip starts with a 4 km hike up the Assiniboine can be reached from the Sunshine Village This trip takes you over three spectacular mountain July and August, although temperatures are lower and Gem Trek recreational map: Bow Lake Ski Louise maintenance road (no vehicle access). Climb ski area via the alpine meadows of Citadel Pass. Either passes. The trail traverses a good portion of Banff there is a greater chance of snowfall. Saskatchewan Crossing over aptly named Boulder Pass and pass by Ptarmigan walk up the Sunshine Village ski area maintenance National Park, linking the Town of Banff with the A popular early season hike that departs from a Lake before descending to Baker Lake. The second road (no vehicle access) or ride the privately run shuttle hamlet of Lake Louise. Trailheads are located at Mt. Regardless of the season, the weather in Banff trailhead north of Saskatchewan Crossing on the day involves travelling around Fossil Mountain and past up the 6.5 km to the base village. The trip exits via Norquay ski area and the Fish Creek trailhead (near National Park is unpredictable. Being prepared Icefields Parkway (93N) which brings hikers to a Skoki Lodge National Historic Site to Merlin Meadows. Bryant Creek at the Mt. Shark trailhead in Spray Valley the Lake Louise ski area). Portions of this area are for rain, snow or high winds at any time of year is campsite at one of the largest backcountry lakes in After climbing Deception Pass, re-join the access trail Provincial Park. frequented by commercially guided horse trips. especially important in the backcountry. Banff National Park. at Ptarmigan Lake. Seasonal trail restrictions on Allenby Pass and Various routes are possible, a suggested 7-day itinerary Assiniboine Pass during buffaloberry season. Lake Magog is provided above. S. Gignac S. Gignac S. Gignac Ta6 Pa10 Sk5 Sk11 Jo9 Jo18 Sf No5 Gl9 Cs Cr37 Jo29 Ba15 Sk19 Sk18 Mo16 He5 Mo18 Fm29 Fm19 Fm10 Jo19 Ek13 Cr6 Bo1c Lm22 Lm11 Lm20 Lm31 Lm8 Lm9 Re16 Tw7 Mo5 Cr15 Mi22 Cr31 Re14 Re6 Su8 E5 E13 Re21 Sp6 Br14 Br13 Us18 Bw10 Us15 Br9 Icefields Parkway − Lake Louise Moraine Lake − Louise Skoki Area − Lake Louise Cascade District − Banff Lake Minnewanka District − Banff Bryant District − Banff Egypt District − Banff Br17 Canada Visitor Centre or parkscanada.gc.ca/banff . backcountry trails in Banff National Park, visit a Parks authorities. For information on winter use of Banff National Park, consult with the appropriate land For information on trails and required permits outside of commonly used access routes from outside of the park. maintained hiking trails in Banff National Park, plus suitable for navigation. The map features of cially This publication is a summer trip planning tool. It not Have ideas or information to improve this trail guide? NOTE TO USERS Contains information licensed under the Spray River (Mount Rundle) Taylor Lake Paradise Valley Shadow Lake Lost Horse Creek Howard Douglas Healey Creek Egypt Lake Ball Pass Junction McBride’s Camp Marvel Lake Burstall (Leman Lake) Brewster Creek Birdwood Big Springs Allenby Junction Wild ower Creek Red Deer Lakes Merlin Meadows Mystic Junction Mount Cockscomb Luellen Lake Molar Creek Hector Lake Fish Lakes Elk Summit Cascade Bridge Bow River Mount Inglismaldie* Mount Costigan* Ghost Lakes Sawback Lake Sif eur River Norman Lake Mosquito Creek Glacier Lake Castleguard Hidden Lake Baker Lake Stoney Creek Mystic Valley Larry’s Camp Johnston Creek Flint’s Park Block Lakes Junction Badger Pass Junction The Narrows* Aylmer Pass Junction* Aylmer Canyon* Pharao Creek Twin Lakes Open Government Licence – Alberta. Campgrounds Email: [email protected] 95 Eastings 604389 573619 619995 573804 577019 548300 594319 610597 601167 618620 620920 611002 587919 582419 572219 602964 604026 576719 571219 595019 602119 581419 581990 597596 546234 511415 507081 544180 552259 611746 607078 612419 609719 578319 577142 586053 580127 588203 589533 576319 567200 555500 555610 563523 568600 566341 562661 586619 592219 563298 N/A Northings 5679356 5669106 5641943 5665610 5678510 5679110 5682104 5654809 5661010 5665410 5673910 5683278 5689502 5638903 5689661 5724000 5681710 5681710 5671610 5662446 5696064 5681910 5677203 5688410 5676810 5682330 5693010 5660210 5627882 5665092 5639892 5714554 5752781 5683367 5700300 5710081 5703280 5735139 5770382 5688410 5682910 5683762 5704900 5690410 5624720 5637159 5693710 5715400 5721888 5709414 National Jasper N/A Park Sites 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Castleguard Mountain Dome H Snow
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