[1-Boathouse below Mt Fairview - click to enlarge]
The Saddleback Trail is located at Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Alberta.
Distance 3.7 km one way to Saddleback Pass
Difficult, strenuous
Elevation gain: 595m
Time: 2 – 5 hours or longer depending on level of fitness
The trailhead starts at the south-east side of Lake Louise near the boathouse.
[2- Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]
Hazards to watch out for on the trail are bears. Hikers should be in groups of 6 or more before venturing out.
[3- Larch trees on Mt. Fairview - click to enlarge]
Begins with an asphalt trail that soon turns to dirt where it begins to climb through the larch forest. Larches are the only pine needle bearing tree to lose them in the fall. Unlike pine needles from other pines, the larch needles are soft to the touch and change colour in the autumn before they fall off.
[4-Bow Valley from the Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]
[5-click to enlarge]
[6-Lake Louise resort from the Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]
If any hiker decides to climb the trail to Fairview Mountain they are advised to return by the trail. There have been a few hikers who have taken the scree down the northeast side only to learn they needed to be rescued.
[7-Hikers on the Saddleback Pass Trail]
Waypoints #131-133 are all intersections with other trails. Waypoint #132 is the trail to Fairview Lookout. To continue on the Saddleback Trail remain on trail headed straight.
[8-Larch trees on Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]
In 1km the hiker will emerge from the forest with a view of the valley and the Lake Louise ski area.
[9-Bow Valley from Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]
[10- Looking down from Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]
[11-Saddleback Pass in sight - click to enlarge]
[12-Mt Temple from Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]
[13-Looking through the Saddleback Pass - click to enlarge]
[14 - Larch tress - click to enlarge]
[15 - Mt. Temple from Saddleback Pass - click to enlarge]
[16-Looking north from Saddleback Pass - click to enlarge]
[17-Looking SE from Saddleback Pass - click to enlarge]
[18-South-east from Saddleback Pass - click to enlarge]
[19 - Larch Trees on southern side of Saddleback Pass - click to enlarge]
[20- View south-west from Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]
[21 - Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]
[22-Heading back down to Bow Valley - click to enlarge]
[23 - Village of Lake Louise and ski resort - click to enlarge]
[24 - Looking south-east down the Bow Valley toward Banff - click to enlarge]
[25-Mushroom and fresh snow on Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]
[26-Chateau Lake Louise from the Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]
[27 - Chateau Lake Louise from the Saddleback Pass Trail - click to enlarge]
Photo Credits: [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]-brilang CC=nc-sa-flickr.
Source:
ParksCanada - Banff
Map of Saddleback Trail
15 comments:
I love the spectacular scenery on this hike post, Barbara. Thanks for the information about larch trees. I knew they lost their needles, but I didn't know the needles were soft and changed colors. I learn so much from your blog.
Chateau Lake Louise looks enormous Barbara! You've gone to a lot of trouble to post these wonderful photos. The scenery is magnificent.Thanks for a great post.I like the photo of Archangel Gabriel on your sidebar too.
That was a wonderful hike-by-blog. I may not ever do it for real so this is very welcome.
I just featured "scree" in the story i'm working on right now. Great picS!
Marvelous pics but I will pass on the snow right now.
Great pictures! That looks like a fantastic Hike!!
Beautiful hike! I particularly love photo no 2.
I've always loved larch trees, with their colours and wonderful presence.
Magnificent country, clears my mind.
Aloha, Friend!
Comfort Spiral
The larch trees are beautiful. They are one of my favorite trees.
Teresa, nearby Moraine Lake also has larches and when walking among them you can see the difference in the type of pine needle.
Pam, the Chateau Lake Louise is one of many of the early Canadian Pacific Railway hotels. The oldest wing was built in 1913. One of my great aunts worked in the Chateau in the 1920s and stayed at Deer Lodge which was the servants quarters at that time. It was considered to be quite the position to have as they paid well for the era.
Leah, I have been as far as just past the boathouse and up to Lake Agnes on the other side of Lake Louise.
Charles, scree is nice to look at but can be quite dangerous to walk through.
David, to me snow means festivities and chubby men in red suits.
Sight Seer, it is a great hike and relatively straight forward although steep most of the way.
Cloudia, truly an inspirational place.
Gallow, mine too.
This is such a nice post, I enjoyed all the photos, they are so clear. Thanks for sharing with us.
I'd give just about anything to walk that little trail right now. I've stayed at the Chateau Lake Louise!! It's as beautiful inside as out.
Margaret, this is the bloggers method of vacation to get away from it all if only in your mind.
L.A., the Chateau is a magnificent place to stay. The restoration was done well.
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