Skoki Circuit
Dates Price Meeting Place & Time Itinerary Difficulty, Fitness & Prerequisites Guides & Group Size; Accommodation & Meals Transportation Clothing & Equipment Insurance Booking Information
In the Canadian Rockies, not far to the east of Lake Louise lie vast alpine meadows linked by forested valleys and narrow passes. The Skoki region has been a favourite with mountain travellers to the Canadian Rockies for well over a century. This summer we are offering a short backpacking tour of the region which is designed for newcomers to the activity and for those who enjoy a more relaxed approach to mountain travel.
The trails are good, the campsites are located in spectacular settings and the mountain ambiance is as good as it gets!
2010 Dates
July 24 - 27, August 19 - 22, September 1 - 4
Cost
$855 CDN Includes guides, Park fees, out-trip meals, group camping gear and local transfers.
Not included: Canmore accommodation, Gratuities & 5% Goods and Service Tax (GST)*. Cancellation insurance available for $45.
Optional pre and post trip accommodation packages are available from $80 per person per night for shared room lodging ($160 for single occupancy). Purchase with booking. Subject to availability.
* a 50% rebate of the GST is available to non-residents of Canada.
Meeting Place and Time
We will meet you at our Yamnuska Mountain Adventures office at 8.30am the morning of Day 1.
Our office is located at 200, 50 Lincoln Park, Canmore. See this map for location.
For your greater convenience we offer a pre-meeting shuttle service within Canmore. Please let us know in advance where you will be staying if needing this service. Pickup will occur between 8.10am and 8.20am.
Please ensure that you have your hiking equipment with you.
Program Itinerary
Day 1: Lake Louise to Hidden Lake
At 8.30am we meet at the Yamnuska Mountain Adventures office in
Canmore. We'll go over the trip with you and check to see that you are
properly outfitted. Once packed we drive for just under an hour, west
to Lake Louise.
The hike starts at the nearby Fish Creek parking lot and after 4km of ski area road we hit the trail proper which we follow for a further 3.0 km up Corral Creek to the Halfway Hut which is a historic log cabin used as a shelter for travellers en-route to Skoki Lodge in the old days. Just beyond is our first campsite. Distance 7.8km. Elevation gain 400m.
Hidden Lake, set in an absolutely spectacular bowl beneath the rocky ramparts of Mount Richardson, is not far away and we can go there for a walk once we have our camp set up.
Day 2:
Hidden Lake to Merlin Meadows
Today is a classic day of backpacking in the Canadian Rockies as we
continue up valley to Boulder Pass at 2345m. Boulder Pass is named for
the ancient boulder field created by a rockfall from Redoubt Mountain.
Revealed beyond, Ptarmigan Lake stretches away to the east surrounded by expansive alpine meadows and rocky peaks. Continuing along and above the Lake we come to the trail leading us over Deception Pass (2450m.) and down into the Skoki Valley. Dropping quickly into the forested valley we cross a couple of meadows before coming to historic Skoki Lodge. Built in the 1920s by the Canadian Pacific Railroad, it is especially popular with backcountry skiers in winter. After stopping perhaps, for a cup of tea it is only another kilometer of downhill hiking until we get to the Merlin Meadows and our camp for the night. Distance 8.9km. Elevation gain 250m, loss 300m.
From the campsite it is only 2.6km of hiking across open meadows then up a headwall to Merlin Lake, yet another beautiful alpine lake in an unbeatable setting! We can either do this in the afternoon or save it for the next morning.
Day 3: Merlin Meadows to Baker Lake
One of the good features of this region is its complicated
topography and which allows us a couple of different options today.
Our primary objective is the campsite at the outlet of Baker Lake
though if the weather turns bad we may opt instead for Red Deer Lakes
further east. In any event we will most likely continue down valley
until the trail skirts around Skoki Mountain taking us into the huge
open, meadow-filled headwaters of the Red Deer River.
Enjoying the view south from Cotton Grass Pass, Skoki Circuit
Were we to continue east we would eventually (after many days) end up on the prairies! But we don't, we hike instead past the Red Deer Lakes climbing slowly to Cotton Grass Pass (2200m.) and the head of Baker Creek. Again we spend most of our time out of the forest travelling across expansive meadows surrounded by endless mountains. Baker Lake campsite is a short distance above the Pass. Distance 10.3km. Elevation gain 100m.
Day 4:
Baker Lake to Lake Louise
Baker Lake with its meadow setting is an amazing place.
On this, our final day we will have some time for exploration before
heading back past Ptarmigan Lake and over Boulder Pass and down to Lake Louise
to return to Canmore! Distance 11 km.
Elevation gain 100m., loss 525m.
View on Day 4, Ptarmigan Lake, Boulder Pass and the peaks surrounding Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies
How difficult is it? How fit and experienced need you be?
This
trip is rated easy due to shorter distances, generally good
trails and moderate elevation gains. Backpack weights are moderate.
Participants will be carrying personal clothing and gear plus a fair
share of food and group gear (tents, stoves etc) for the entire trip. As food and fuel are used
up the backpacks
become a little lighter day by day. By keeping personal
gear light, pack weights need not exceed 14kg (30lbs). Please read our
Travelling Light & Making Backpacking More Fun
for information and suggestions for clothing and equipment.
Prior hiking experience is not a prerequisite. Participants must however be in good physical condition and able to carry a backpack over hilly terrain for a succession of days.
We will hike a regular and steady pace that conserves energy but it's really worthwhile to do some training before you come, training pays great dividends in enjoyment. We suggest you train by walking and/or cycling and/or hiking (ideally in hilly terrain).
Visit our Trip Difficulty Comparison Chart.
Accommodation and Meals
On the trail you will be staying in modern, lightweight 2- and 1-person weather-proof tents.
Accommodation in Canmore is NOT included. For your convenience we can arrange bed and breakfast hotel rooms at $160 per night. These will be at the recommended Westridge Country Inn. Double or single occupancy, the cost is the same. For those wishing to defray this cost we will try to pair them with other participants. This accommodation can be booked with the trip online or by calling us. Subject to availability.
You can also make your own arrangements. Check our links page for a range of Canmore accommodations.
Excess luggage can be left at your hotel or our office.
We supply all meals and trail snacks from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 4. Groups generally go out for dinner in Canmore with the guide on the final evening (own cost).
Trail cuisine is constructed from lightweight ingredients including our Yamnuska custom-made dehydrated dinners. Please specify any special dietary requirements you have on booking so we can incorporate them into our menus. In case of more complicated diets a surcharge may apply.
Guides and Group Size
Yamnuska Mountain Adventure guides are certified through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. Our professional guides have extensive experience in the Canadian Rockies. Guides also have advanced wilderness first aid training and heritage interpretation accreditation. Guides carry emergency equipment including
a first aid kit, bear spray and radio.
There will be a maximum of eight guests and a minimum of four.
Getting to Canmore and Transportation
Canmore is situated 100km (65 miles) west of Calgary on the Trans-Canada Highway. It is well served by scheduled bus lines both from Calgary (airport and downtown), Banff (20km west) and points further west. Calgary International Airport is well connected to major cities throughout North America and Europe. Once in Canmore we will supply all transport needed for the trip.
Frequent shuttles connect Calgary International Airport and Canmore. Greyhound Bus Lines (1 800 661 8747) serves Canmore from points east and west along the Trans-Canada Highway. Call 609 8790, 609 0300, 609 1490 or 609 8505 for taxis in Canmore.
Clothing and Equipment
We supply group camping and cooking equipment plus a full emergency and first-aid kit. You will need to bring personal equipment (backpack, sleeping bag etc) and clothing. Yamnuska Mountain Adventures does have rental and retail equipment such as sleeping bags, mats, and backpacks. Rental Gear List. Contact us in advance to reserve.
What you bring will have a big impact on the quality of your experience, we especially urge you to read our notes on lightweight gear and clothing.
Please download the list below and make sure that you will have the items listed.
Clothing and Equipment List (pdf)
Contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Fishing
Hidden, Red Deer and Baker Lake all fish well with brook trout prevalent. Participants are welcome to bring lightweight fishing gear. National Park fishing licenses are required (purchase in Canmore). Fishing regulations apply.
Insurance
There is no charge for rescue in this area. However you should ensure that your health plan will cover you in case of illness or accident whilst here. Obtain extra travel insurance if necessary.
To Book
Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment. A deposit of $315 CDN (including GST) is required at time of booking. Final payment is due eight weeks before the start of the trip. To avoid unnecessary cancellation penalties we suggest you take our cancellation insurance for an extra non-refundable $45, this can only be purchased at the time of booking.
For detailed Booking Instructions and Conditions, click here.
Please note that you will be required to sign our waiver before commencing the trip. Click here for waiver copy.
Please don't hesitate to contact us if you need to know anything else about this hike.
