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The Banff Highline
Classic Banff Hiking
The Banff Highline Trail is a wonderful
journey through the Canadian Rockies during which we encounter much of the diversity to be found in these beautiful mountains. Day after day we cross spectacular passes interspersed with alpine lakes.
Craggy peaks constructed of multi-hued quartzite give way
to the massive gun-metal grey limestone slabs typical of the Front Ranges. Different
elevations feature different flowers and vegetation from the delicate
moss campions of the alpine zone to the flowering shrubs and berries
of the forest floor. A daily constant will be Mount Assiniboine's
massive pyramid, first seen from Arnica ridge on Day 2, gradually
getting closer until we reach its base three days later then to be
last seen as we drive back to Canmore with more than 100 km of trail
behind us.
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2008 Dates
July 12 - 19, August 8 - 15, September
7 - 14
Cost
$1395.00 Canadian includes guides,
out-trip meals, Park 'Wilderness Pass',
group camping gear and local transfers.
Not included: Canmore
accommodation, Gratuities & 5% Goods and Service Tax (GST)*. Cancellation insurance available for $74.
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.
Currency Exchange Calculator
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Meeting Place and Time
We
will meet you at our Yamnuska Mountain Adventures office at 7.30pm the
evening 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 7.00 and 7.20pm.
Please ensure that you have your hiking equipment with you.
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Program Itinerary
Day 1:
At 7.30pm 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.
Day 2: Vista Lake to Shadow Lake
We will pick you up after breakfast, deal with last minute gear issues
and food packing then drive to the trailhead (1hour). From a
view point above the emerald waters of Vista Lake view point, we
descend to the shore from where we commence the long climb past Arnica Lake
to Arnica Ridge (2285m). From nearby we can get our first views of Assiniboine in the very
far distance. A short hike takes us down to the Twin Lakes before our
final climb for the day to Gibbon Pass (2300m) with its extensive
meadows. We drop again towards Shadow Lake and the campground.
Distance: 14 km, Total elevation gain: 1100 meters, Elevation loss: 830 meters.
At Arnica Lake, Day 2 Banff Highline Hike
Day 3:
Shadow Lake to Egypt Lake
Today we continue on towards Ball Pass junction (1950m), where the trail starts to climb through Whistling Valley,
named for the Whistling Marmots found on the Pass. We hike past Haiduk
Lake to Whistling Pass (2300m) and excellent views back past Mt. Ball. After taking in the vistas, we head down towards camp at Egypt Lake
(1995m).
After setting up camp we can walk the short distance to the Lake, to
swim, to fish or just watch the Bald Eagle circling above.
Distance: 14 km, total elevation gain: 480 meters, elevation loss: 300 meters. Day 4:
Egypt to Howard Douglas Lake
Leaving Egypt Lake we start climbing towards Healy Pass
(2330m). Emerging from the forest the landscape opens up
ahead of us to reveal the extensive meadows systems that stretch with
interruptions, all the way to Assiniboine.
Our next objective is Simpson Pass (2350m), discovered in 1841 by Sir
George Simpson, Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company. We actually
descend to the Pass then begin a long, gradual contouring climb which
will bring us to the Wawa ridge overlooking the expansive Sunshine Meadows.
The Monarch viewpoint here has one of the best views of the entire
trip. As always we can look back to the mountains from whence we've
come and ahead to Assiniboine, our objective. Weather permitting we bypass Sunshine Village
(famous ski hill) and cross several kilometers of meadow before the
final short climb over Quartz Ridge and the quick descent to the the Howard Douglas campground at 2275m.
Distance: 19 km. Total elevation gain: 630 meters, elevation loss:
350 meters
Log bridge on Banff Highline. Janet Jamieson photo.
Day 5:
Howard Douglas to Og Lake
More meadows lead us to Citadel Pass (2360m) and the long descent into the Golden Valley (1960m) and the unique looking 'Valley of the Rocks'. We'll be gently ascending towards Og
Lake campground (2060m). Distance: 16.4 km. Total elevation gain:
400 meters, elevation loss: 600 meters.
Day 6:
Og to Magog Lake
With only 7 km of easy hiking to the campground at Lake Magog we can
afford a leisurely start. 5 kilometers of spectacular meadow
hiking brings us to historic Assiniboine Lodge with the campground a
further 2 km beyond the Lake. We can spend the afternoon doing a short hike
to Sunburst Lake or just take a well-earned nap! Distance: 7 km Total elevation gain: 120 meters.
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Mount Assiniboine
from Sunburst Lake. Janet Jamieson photo. |
Day 7:
Day hiking at Magog Lake
We'll stay at the Magog Campground again tonight, so we have the whole day to explore the Assiniboine area, or have a rest day. There are many options, from easy wandering in the meadows, to a scramble up Nub
Peak where the views of Mt. Assiniboine are just fantastic. We can
finish off with tea and cake at the Lodge before returning to camp.
Distance and elevation change subject to group will! (8 - 14km).
Day 8:
Magog to Mount Shark
Our final day on the trail is a very long one. We'll head over Wonder Pass (2395m), leaving Assiniboine Provincial Park. Continuing down a steep trail, we have views of three beautiful blue and green lakes and we travel
above the largest one, Marvel lake. Rejoining the main valley trail
from Assiniboine Pass we'll stop for lunch before setting out on a
pleasant forest trail for the final 12km leg to the Mt. Shark (1770m)
trailhead. A further 50 minute drive brings us back to Canmore for hot showers and an
evening in which to celebrate our trip and life in the mountains.
Distance: 26 km. Total elevation gain: 280 meters, elevation loss: 690 meters.
Heading for Wonder Pass,
Day 8 on the Banff Highline
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How difficult is it? How fit and experienced need you be?
This
trip is rated challenging due to the succession of longish days
(14 - 19km) plus the final 26km day. By using food drops at Sunshine
Meadows and Assiniboine, backpack weights are moderate.
Participants will be carrying personal clothing and gear plus a fair
share of food and group gear (tents, stoves, etc.). By keeping personal
gear light, pack weights need not exceed 16kg (35lbs). Please read our
Travelling Light & Making Backpacking More Fun
for information and suggestions for clothing and equipment.
Prior hiking experience is
not a prerequisite but is recommended. Participants must be in good physical
condition able to carry a backpack over hilly terrain for a succession
of longish days.
The trails are generally
good. We will hike a regular and steady
pace that conserves energy but you still must be in reasonably good
hiking shape before you come. We cannot
emphasize enough that 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.
Haiduk
Lake on the Banff Highline
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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 two.
Wildflowers .. Banff Highline Hike
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Accommodation and Meals
On the trail you
will be staying in modern, lightweight 2- and 1-person weather-proof
tents.
The first and last
night's accommodation in Canmore is NOT included. For your
convenience we can arrange bed
and breakfast hotel rooms for these and other nights 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 2 to lunch on Day 8. 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.
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Getting to Canmore and Transportation
Canmore is situated 100km (65miles) 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.
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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.
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Gear and Clothing Sales
Yamnuska Mountain
Adventures now has a range of backpacking equipment
and clothing for sale including recommended light-weight packs, sleeping bags, sleeping mats and
clothing. Clients signed up for a
Yamnuska Program receive 5% off retail items, with
larger discounts available on our package deals.
Details on packing light & recommended items.
Catalogue and purchase information. |
Fishing
Several lakes on this trip fish well for brook and rainbow trout.
Participants are welcome to bring lightweight fishing gear. National
Park and BC licenses are required (latter can be purchased from
Assiniboine Lodge). Fishing regulations apply.
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Insurance
In the National Parks there is no charge for rescue, in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park however you may have to pay for evacuation should you hurt yourself or fall ill (not astronomically expensive). Ensure that you have adequate travel insurance or that your health plan will cover you whilst here.
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To Book
Please book as early as practical to avoid disappointment.
A deposit of $513CDN (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 $74, 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!
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