How to Hike Paget Peak (& Lookout) in Yoho National Park
After feeling couped up for a few days, we decided to head into Yoho National Park and scramble up Paget Peak for a nice afternoon hike. Paget Peak is often recommended to those who want to start scrambling in the Canadian Rockies.
It’s an easy scramble, with nothing technical involved. It’s also one of the shorter scrambles you can complete in the Canadian Rockies, making it a great option for those who want to get out but don’t have an entire day. If you’re looking to scramble Paget Peak, read on for all the details on how to do it!
A Paget Peak Scramble/Hike Guide
Key Stats
Length
9.5 km
Duration
4 – 6 hours
Elevation
962 meters
Difficulty
Easy Scramble
Trailhead
Wapta Lake Picnic Area
Route Description
From the car park, follow the Sherbrooke Lake/Paget Lookout trail. There will be a picnic shelter with a wildlife door to cross. Almost right after the door, the trail splits into two. You’ll want to hang a left towards Sherbrooke Lake and Paget Peak.
It’s a well-worn path up to the Paget Lookout. Getting to the lookout shelter takes 45 minutes to an hour. The Paget lookout shelter is no longer in use; it was previously used to spot forest fires, but stopping here for beautiful views and rest for a bit is worthwhile.
When ready, continue on the trail behind the lookout shelter. Once you get past the trees, you’ll be on shale slopes that take you to the summit of Paget Peak. It’s here that the trail starts to fall apart into a boulder and scree field, and it’s more of a “choose your own adventure,” although there are parts that are well worn and parts where some have marked the best way up with cairns.
You’ll be climbing up scree and slabs for most of this ascent (450 meters). This is where the real work of this scramble begins. Hiking gloves will come in handy at this point as the slabs are sharp. You’ll reach a false summit and have a short downclimb to go. Towards the final push, you’ll use your hands a bit more as you figure out your routing to the top. However, there is nothing technical about this scramble, with mild exposure. If you suffer from vertigo, you may feel it a bit on the downclimb.
When you reach the summit of Paget Peak, note that it is possible to continue along the northern ridge for 30-40 minutes for a higher viewpoint. As it was getting late when we reached the summit, we did not do this and instead took the time to enjoy views of Kicking Horse Pass and the glaciated peaks of the Great Divide.
When we descended, we decided we had just enough time to go see Sherbrooke Lake, one of the most underrated lakes in the Rockies, which took an additional 45 minutes. If you have the energy, I would highly suggest adding on Sherbrooke Lake either before or after your scramble up Paget Peak. It’s downright stunning and sees far fewer visitors than Emerald Lake, Lake Louise, or Moraine Lake.
Gear We Recommend For Hiking in the Rockies
The vast majority of hikes and easy scrambles in the Rockies, you’ll find us in our trusty Salomon Speedcross.
Arc’teryx Cerium is our pick for the best down jacket. It’s incredibly light, and we bring it on almost every hike in the Rockies.
This nifty clip from Peak Design secures a camera to my backpack strap for easy reach. No more digging in the backpack!
20L feels like the ideal size for quick hikes and scrambles. We love the Nano from Gregory with a hydration reservoir.
There is not much cell service in the Canadian Rockies. In case of emergencies, we carry an emergency beacon with GPS.
Paget Peak Parking
Past Lake Louise and heading towards Golden is where you will find Paget Peak. Just past the Great Divide Lodge and across from Wapta Lake, you will see a parking area on your right-hand side for Sherbrooke Lake, but it’s easy to miss, so keep your eyes peeled. Park here.
When Can You Hike Paget Peak?
Paget Peak is best hiked between late June and early October. In June and October, you’ll likely find snow. If you go out during the shoulder seasons, we recommend packing a pair of crampons and dressing in layers.
How Long Does It Take?
With a distance of 9.5 km and an elevation gain of under 1000 meters, Paget Peak is one of the shorter scrambles in Yoho and Banff. We completed this hike in just around five hours round trip, with a stop at Sherbrooke Lake (a must-add to your Yoho itinerary) at the end, but we hiked at a moderately fast pace.
If you are short on time, you can just hike to Paget Lookout, which is 3.6 km one way with almost 400 meters of gain. The hike to Paget Lookout is on an easy and well-maintained switchback trail.
Another option if you are short on time is to hike to Sherbrooke Lake. Sherbrooke Lake is as blue as the famous Lake Louise, but sees far fewer crowds. The hike to Sherbrooke Lake is a 3.2 km out-and-back trail with an elevation gain of just 248 meters. It’s nearly effortless for all to hike to and enjoy.
How Hard is it to Scramble Paget Peak?
Regarding scrambles in the Canadian Rockies, I would rate this hike on the easier side. Alan Kane rates this as an easy scramble with moderate exposure, and I would have to agree. If you are new to scrambling and want to build your confidence, Paget Peak is a great place to start. If you just want an easy hike, follow the trail to Paget Lookout, stop there, or take the family to Sherbrooke Lake.
Dogs and Kids on the Trail?
Both hiker dogs and experienced kids would be able to handle Paget Peak easily. Make sure to keep your dog on a leash at all times in National Parks, as there are bears around.
How Busy is Paget Peak?
Paget Peak is one of the less busy hikes in the Canadian Rockies. We saw a few groups heading to Sherbrooke Lake and Paget Lookout on our day out in the summer, but no one else attempting Paget Peak. You are likely to be one of the only groups on the trail past Paget Lookout.
Add On the Hike to Sherbrooke Lake
As mentioned above, I highly recommend adding Sherbrooke Lake to your day. It’s a quick 3.2 km out and back trail with very little elevation gain. The views are magnificent. It’s like Peyto Lake or Lake Louise without any of the crowds. I will likely return here next summer with an inflatable Stand Up Paddleboard and a cold beer.
Wildlife Awareness in Yoho
You should practice proper wildlife awareness if you’re on any hikes in the Canadian Rockies. There are frequent sightings of black bears, grizzly bears, moose, coyotes, and cougars in the region. They are all a potential threat to humans, and we should reduce our impact on their natural lives.
Before hiking or walking in the Canadian Rockies, you must have bear spray. Remember that the bear spray is worthless if it’s in your pack. You’ll need to be able to grab this in two seconds or less in an emergency. We wear our bear sprays on our hips. Always check the park websites for wildlife information (Parks Canada) and then check again for notices at the trailhead.
When you’re on the trail, make noise by banging hiking poles, talking, whistling, clapping, or singing. This is particularly important around blind bends and corners. You’re through the deep woods during these times, and it’s prime time to sneak up on a bear. Once you’re at the summit, you’re safer as you can see wildlife from afar, but still, don’t let your guard down and keep the bear spray on you just in case.
As always, while hiking, you need to stay alert, travel in a group, mind children and pets, and finally, carry bear spray and know how to use it. If you’ve come to the park without bear spray, Valhalla Pure Outfitters in town sells spray and holders with employees who will demonstrate how to use it properly.
How To Hike In Bear Country (Alberta & BC)
Advice on Hikes in the Canadian Rockies
- If this is your first time hiking in the Rockies take a conservative approach. Pick an adequate hike for your fitness, plan for plenty of time, pack water and food, and don’t be afraid to turn around.
- For long hikes, set a turn around time at the departure. Any time we set out for an objective I determine a time at which we need to turn around in order to arrive at the parking lot or campsite by dark. I would recommend not hiking in the dark as it’s easy to get lost and it’s not fun in bear country.
- Always carry bear spray if you plan to hike in the park. We carry ours in the neighborhood, and bears are known to stroll through town and even busy parking lots. Always practice wildlife awareness when you’re on a trail, and please give animals space.
- In regards to times, keep in mind your mountain fitness, which is different from the gym. The low end of the times in this post is a constant fast pace uphill with little to no breaks and a brisk pace downhill. Most hikers should plan for a middle of the road time with the estimated duration.
- A GPS tracker could save your life – it’s one of those essentials I like to have on me just in case I need to hit SOS.
- Alltrails is our favorite app to have on a hike. It shows the correct trail way, elevation, and other hiker reviews. We paid the subscription fee so that we could download all the data we need to our phones. Best $3 (per month) ever spent!
What to Wear On a Hike?
The most basic principle of what to wear hiking is layering. Anyone that has spent time in the wilderness or mountains can speak to the fact your temperature can fluctuate a lot on a hike. You can easily start off cool at the mountain base and get hot as soon as you begin moving.
Hiking clothes aim to help regulate your body temperature, element protection, and moisture management. Temperature management is best done through a layering system. If you want to learn more about what to pack for a day hike or what to wear on a hike, you can see our full post!
More Hikes in Yoho
Of course, there are so many more hikes in Banff and Yoho. Another great one in Yoho is called The Iceline Trail, which gives fantastic views of waterfalls, glaciers, and lakes!
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is this hike possible at the end of May? i’m afraid lots of snow on the trail
It’s hard to tell this far out, but most likely it will be snow covered still.
thoughts on camping out at the fire lookout tower? i wish i knew i could’ve when i was in Seattle at Mt Philchuck.
There is no camping allowed at the fire lookout.