Alex Thomas
The altitude gains and tough climb upwards unfortunately do not reward you with the best views. It took 3 hours to get to the first lake which was certainly beautiful, but not comparable to hikes around Lake Moraine or Lake Louise. Rockbound Lake was another 20-30 minute hike after the initial Lake, up tough switchbacks and was generally unrewarding with a desolate mountain alpine lake. If you have 3+ days in Banff, Rockbound could be a good option, but there are better "bang for your buck" hikes that have better views, which don't take 5 1/2-6 hrs.
3.0
We are from Seattle and Sentinel Pass was our first hike in Banff. Trail starts with steep switchbacks, which eventually level off, leading to mountain meadows. After the mountain meadows you will hit the upper Alpine Lake which was still mostly frozen over. The view from here shows you the daunting Sentinel Pass switchback route. Highly encourage making it to the top of the lass, as views are stunning looking in both directions. The opposite direction we heard constant thunderous avalanches. Very cool. No micro spikes needed, though they would have been helpful near the top. Hiking poles also not needed, but would have been helpful.
5.0
Leave early! Unless you leave prior to 830, there will be backups on the trail. We left at 920 and ran into thick crowds. Tea hut was very crowded but had excellent scones and tea ( $9 ). Make sure to hike past the tea hut to the edge of the scree field. Phenomenal views inside the "Death Trap" and the best views of the glaciers. Our favorite hike we did in Banff. Took around 5 hours including the lunch stop
5.0
Community
Mobile Apps
© 2024 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy