Saddle Mountain (Banff) | Hiking in Banff National Park (Lake Louise)

01 Saddle Mountain (Banff) | 2010-10-20

Saddle Mountain (Banff)

Location: Banff National Park (Lake Louise)
Activity: Hiking
Height: 2,433 m (7,983 ft)
Elevation Gain: 675 m (2,215 ft)
Distance: 8.6 km / Round Trip (5.3 mi)
Avg Steepness: 8.9°
Estimated Time: 2.5-4 hrs
Technicality: Intermediate
Fitness Level: Easy

Download GPX: [Trail] Saddle Mountain Banff.gpx
OpenStreetMap: See track recorded by GPS
Print: Display in printer-friendly format
Related Trips:
- Fairview Mountain
- Fairview Mountain 11
Conditions:
- Weather
- Avalanche Bulletin

I originally planed to do Tower of Babel. Since I had to be back in town by 3, I thought Babel would be the perfect short scramble but when I got there the road was already closed for winter so I switched to Saddle Mountain in Lake Louise.

I parked at no longer so crowded Lake Louise parking lot. (Nice! but I still saw Japanese tourists and I ended up bowing… When I bowed my wig fell off to blind them. Customs customs) I walked to Lake Louise behind the hotel first to take pictures then followed Saddleback trail. After going through zigzags, I came near Saddle/Fairview col. I could have stayed on the trail all the way up to the col, but I decided to go off-trail and scramble up the boulder field (NW slope) directly to the summit (page 5).

I had enough time to enjoy the view at the top and ate lunch and went back to the parking lot. The trip took 3 hours which was as long as I could afford especially after I lost 1 hour because I waked up late…