Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
• Trailhead: Lake Minnewanka, Lake Minnewanka Road, 5.5 kilometers (3.4 miles) bey-
ond the TransCanada Highway underpass
The first eight-kilometer (five-mile) stretch of this trail follows the northern shore of Lake
Minnewanka from the day-use area to a junction. The right fork leads to a campground,
while the left climbs steeply to the site of an old fire tower on top of an exposed ridge.
The deep-blue waters of Lake Minnewanka are visible, backed by the imposing peaks of
Mount Girouard (2,995 meters/9,830 feet) and Mount Inglismaldie (2,964 meters/9,725
feet). Bighorn sheep often graze in this area. From here a trail forks left and continues
climbing to the alpine tundra of Aylmer Pass. (Access along this trail is often restricted in
summer due to bear activity-check at the visitors center before heading out.)
Cory Pass
• Length: 5.8 kilometers/3.6 miles (2.5 hours) one-way
• Elevation gain: 920 meters/3,020 feet
• Rating: moderate/difficult
• Trailhead: Fireside Picnic Area, Banff end of the Bow Valley Parkway
This strenuous hike has a rewarding objective—a magnificent view of dog-toothed Mount
Louis. The towering slab of limestone rises more than 500 meters (1,640 feet) from the
valley below. Just over one kilometer (0.6 mile) from the trailhead, the trail divides. The
left fork climbs steeply across an open slope to an uneven ridge that it follows before as-
cending yet another steep slope to Cory Pass—a wild, windy, desolate area surrounded by
jagged peaks dominated by Mount Louis. An alternative to returning along the same trail is
continuing down into Gargoyle Valley, following the base of Mount Edith before ascend-
ing to Edith Pass and returning to the junction one kilometer (0.6 mile) from the picnic
area. Total distance for this trip is 13 kilometers (eight miles), a long day considering the
steep climbs and descents involved.
MM
Bourgeau Lake
• Length: 7.6 kilometers/4.7 miles (2.5 hours) one-way
• Elevation gain: 730 meters/2,400 feet
• Rating: moderate
• Trailhead: signposted parking lot, TransCanada Highway, 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) west
of Sunshine Village Junction
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