Skokie
Park: Banff National Park, Lake Louise region, Banff
15.5 km one way.
Terrain: Moderately gentle
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Approximate
Elevations (in meters) |
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| Start: | 1500 | End: | 2200 | | Minimum: | 1500 | Maximum: | 2500 | | Net Gain: | 1000 | Cumulative Gain: | 1000 |
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Fish Creek Parking Area Trailhead: Near Lake Louise.
Uses
| Backcountry skiing | Strenuous. | | |
| Backpack | Moderate (backcountry permit required). | | Best from early July thru late September. |
| Dayhike | Strenuous day hike . | | |
Description
Start from Fish Creek Parking area near the town of Lake Louise (elev 1500 m) . There is a bus going up to Temple Lodge, but you can also warm up by skiing the old access road to Temple before the main climb. It should take about an hour to get to Temple (4km). This is part of Ski Louise Alpine Ski facility and there can be thousands of down-hillers there. The trail to Skoki continues just above the lodge and proceeds northeast up the remote valley, soon you will be out of the crowds and reach open meadows near the tree-line (2000 m). It is an easy climb to Boulder Pass and a small hut (9.5km). Wind may bare the trail at the pass necessitating taking off your skis off and walking across the rocks.Next comes a gentle descent to Ptarmigan Lake. On the opposite shore looms Deception Pass. It looks like a short climb but that is a deception, it is only about a 300 m climb. At the top there was a fantastic view. Far, far below, you can see the summit of Ski Louise"s Alpine runs. It"s a fast run down back into the trees to Skoki Lodge (2160m). This was one of first back-country ski lodges in Canada, dating to the 1930"s. It is booked up months in advance.
This high alpine meadow is under the shadow of Skoki Mountain. Make sure to check avalanche reports before strarting out.
Features
This trail features animals (Grizzly bear), birds (White tailed ptarmigan), flowers, forests (Larch), glacial views, lakes, meadows, mountains and views.
Hazards
- Avalanche Rating. Simple - Class 1
Campsites along the trail
| Hidden Lake | 7.5 km | | - Bear cache/wire
- Tables
- Flush and pit toilet
| Water is available quality is good. |
| Merlin Meadows | 15.5 km | | - Bear cache/wire
- Tables
- Pit toilet
| Water is available quality is good.
It is quite a ways to the water source, it is recommended that you bring a bucket to carry the water back to the camp for pumping. |
Last hiked:September 3, 2005
Other trails in Banff National Park
- Alexandra
- Boom Lake
- Boulder Pass
- Bourgeau Lake
- Bow Glacier Falls
- Bow River Loop
- Brustall Pass to Sunshine Village
- Cascade Amphitheatre
- Castleguard Meadows
- Chephren Lake
- Cirque Lake
- Cory and Edith Passes
- Egypt Lake - via Healy Pass
- Fairview
- Glacier Lake
- Healy Pass Loop
- Hector Lake
- Helen L. - Dolomite Pass - Pipestone Pass - N. Molar Pass
- Helen Lake
- Hoodos
- Johnson Lake
- Johnston Creek - Pulsatilla Pass - Baker Lake - Hidden Lake Loop
- Johnstone Canyon - Lower Falls
- Johnstone Canyon - Upper Falls
- Lake Agnes
- Lake Louise
- Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass
- Louise Creek
- Marsh Loop
- Mistaya Canyon
- Molar Pass
- Morraine Lake
- Mt Bourgeau
- Nigel Pass
- Paradise Valley
- Parker Ridge
- Peyto Lake
- Saskatchewan Glacier
- Spray River-Goat Creek
- Sulphur Mountain
- Sundance
- Sunset Pass
- Sunshine Meadows Access
- Sunshine Village to Egypt Lake
- The Beehive
- Thompson Pass
- Tunnel Mountain Summit
Trail-conditions
View trail condition reports for this trail.