Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Saddleback
• Length: 3.7 kilometers/2.3 miles (90 minutes) one-way
• Elevation gain: 600 meters/1,970 feet
• Rating: moderate
• Trailhead: boathouse, Lake Louise
This trail climbs the lower slopes of Fairview Mountain from beside the boathouse on Lake
Louise, ending in an alpine meadow with a view of Mount Temple from across Paradise
Valley. Four hundred meters (0.2 mile) from the trailhead, the trail forks. Keep left and
follow the steep switchbacks through a forest of Englemann spruce and subalpine fir un-
til reaching the flower-filled meadow. The meadow is actually a pass between Fairview
Mountain (to the northwest) and Saddle Mountain (to the southeast). Although most hikers
are content with the awesome views from the pass and return along the same trail, it is
possible to continue to the summit of Fairview (2,745 meters/9,000 feet), a further climb
of 400 vertical meters (1,310 vertical feet). The barely discernible, switchbacking trail to
the summit begins near a stand of larch trees above the crest of Saddleback. As you would
expect, the view from the top is stupendous; Lake Louise is more than one kilometer (0.6
mile) directly below. This option is for strong, experienced hikers only. From the Saddle-
back, the trail descends into Sheol Valley, then into Paradise Valley. The entire loop would
be 15 kilometers (9.3 miles).
Paradise Valley
• Length: 18 kilometers/11.2 miles (6 hours) round-trip
• Elevation gain: 380 meters/1,250 feet
• Rating: moderate
• Trailhead: Moraine Lake Road, 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) from Lake Louise Drive
This aptly named trail makes for a long day hike, but it can be broken up by overnighting at
the backcountry campground at the far end of the loop. The trail climbs steadily for the first
five kilometers (3.1 miles), crossing Paradise Creek numerous times and passing the junc-
tion of a trail that climbs the Sheol Valley to Saddleback. After five kilometers (3.1 miles)
the trail divides again, following either side of the valley to form a 13-kilometer (eight-
mile) loop. Lake Annette is 700 meters (0.4 mile) along the left fork. It's a typical sub-
alpine lake in a unique setting, nestled against the near-vertical 1,200-meter (3,940-foot)
north face of snow- and ice-capped Mount Temple (3,549 meters/11,645 feet), one of the
10 highest peaks in the Canadian Rockies. This difficult face was successfully climbed in
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