10 Amazing Beginner Scrambles in Banff

These are ten scrambles in Banff to add to your list if you’re looking to escape the hiking trail. It’s only natural for those with some hiking experience under their belt to branch out and start aiming for mountain summits.

The Canadian Rockies are home to some awe-inspiring views that are best appreciated from a mountain top. It’s best to treat these mountains with respect, while some blur the line between hiking and scrambling, several involve serious exposure.

With all of these scrambles, it’s important to keep an eye on the weather and have clear plans for the day. Weather in the mountains can be notoriously fickle and it’s best to head into the alpine prepared for anything. We have a great post on tips for hiking in the Rockies.

---

Banff Region Scrambles

---

Cascade Mountain

Cascade is one of the most appealing mountain summits to tackle due to its prominence in the Banff region. The mountain is an icon of Banff as it towers over the town and highway, with its classic mountain shape. A journey to the top is a big day out with a lot of elevation gain and long approach.

The good news is that it’s technically easy with minimal scrambling and blurs the line with hiking. However, due to the mountain’s beauty, its proximity to Banff, and the astounding views from the summit, we’d be amiss not to add it to the list.

The hike starts out from the base of the Mt. Norquay ski resort. From the forest, it heads up an alpine cirque and the talus-filled alpine of Cascade Mountain. Although the approach is long and the hike is somewhat challenging, the views from the summit are absolutely breathtaking.

---

East End of Rundle (EEOR)

East End of Rundle is a classic summit near Canmore. Its proximity to downtown Canmore and relative ease make it a popular hike, especially on weekends. Hikers enjoy views down the Spray Valley to the East, including Ha Ling Peak and Mount Lawrence Grassi. It’s most known for its social media spot halfway up the mountain, where many hikers turn around.

However, just because the East End of Rundle (or EEOR, or “Eeyore” as locals call it) is close to town doesn’t mean it’s an easy climb up to the summit. The ascent features several switchbacks, followed by a few rocky sections, then relentless scree, and finally several rocky sections that may require a handhold.

The climb to the summit is considered a scramble as the last section of the trail requires ascending a small headwall. It involves using hands, and we recommend a helmet on busy summer days due to the risk of rockfall from parties above. After the scramble and you’ve reached the summit, enjoy the views of Canmore!

While access and the majority of the route up the East End of Rundle take place in a provincial park, the summit lies on the boundary of Banff National Park. So, it’s technically in two parks!

---

Mount Bourgeau

Mount Bourgeau is a 2,931-metre (9,616 ft) tall mountain in the heart of Banff National Park. It promises extraordinary views from the summit. It’s a very similar mountain to Cascade in that it’s not quite a scramble. While the terrain is not challenging, the length and elevation gain require strong legs.

The trailhead is easily accessible from the town of Banff, at a 10-15 minute drive to the parking area. This makes it a great hike for those staying in Downtown Banff, as you can see the colossal mountain from the center of town.

To reach the peak, you climb over 1,700 meters or 5,600 feet and nearly 22km in a day. That being said, it’s one of the easiest peaks to reach in the Rockies, as it requires no scrambling or climbing.

However, you cross the lovely Bourgeau Lake on the way to the peak, witness stunning views from Harvey Pass, and then the whole park opens up from the summit. It’s an expansive view that never fails to disappoint.

---

Lake Louise Area

---

Mount St Piran

For a true summit that’s attainable for strong hikers, Mount St Piran is a good introduction to scrambles. The best part is it offers pretty amazing views over Lake Louise. It also stops by Lake Agnes and the Little Beehive on the way.

The trail to the summit follows along the Little Beehive Trail until it veers off 400m from the summit of the Little Beehive. You’ll follow a signed path through the thinning forest until you reach the alpine out of the tree line.

From there, it’s a beaten path or cairns through rock fields and scree. It’s not a technical challenge, but it does require a solid level of physical stamina. Once you reach its summit, though, you’re rewarded with some stellar views over the area, as you can see the Waputik Icefield to the North.

It’s a sharp departure from the busy throngs of crowds down at Lake Louise, as only a few complete the hike. You also get to claim you summited a peak in the Canadian Rockies!

---

Tower of Babel

This is the most well-known scramble in the Moraine Lake area, but it’s a fairly steep climb, with a distance of 2.9 km and a gain of 518 meters. Still, the Tower of Babel is a sub-peak that’s pretty easy to access and is appropriate for entry-level scramblers. You’re guaranteed fabulous views of Moraine Lake, Consolation Valley, and the Bow Valley.

The route heads up a gully directly off Moraine Lake and features a steep, consistent climb to the summit. It’s a scree bash (loose rock), but it’s a pretty well-worn trail due to its popularity. It’s a challenging workout for novice hikers who may underestimate the 518m climb to the top, as it’s literally straight up.

The biggest threat on this route is a loose rock falling down the gully from a party above; I strongly recommend wearing a helmet! It’s also best to start early and be one of the first to the top in the morning so you don’t have loose rock falling on you from hikers above.

---

Mount Niblock

Mount Niblock, along with Mount Whyte, are tremendous options around Lake Louise if you’d like to escape crowds; the views are phenomenal, and it’s also a nice challenge. When we scrambled up the gully to summit the peak, only one group was on the route that day, despite a packed Lake Louise in the summer.

You also have the option of Mount Whyte, which is an advanced scramble due to a very exposed traverse across rock as the crux. Anyone attempting its summit likely knows the area already.

Mount Niblock has significant exposure, and Mount Whyte is highly exposed. Exposure means if you fall, let go, or slip, you’ll likely be seriously maimed or die. This is one of the more difficult objectives on this list.

---

Icefields Parkway

The Icefields Parkway is known for its inspiring views, which have garnered it the name as one of the most scenic drives in the world. It also happens to be our favourite area to hike, scramble, and climb. If you’re looking to get into the Alpine, the parkway holds some of the most inspiring climbs.

---

Bow Peak

Bow Peak offers a great adventure with plenty to see along the way. It starts off with an adventurous and beautiful water crossing across the Bow River from Bow Lake. After crossing the trail, it leads up into Crowfoot Pass, a wild area of alpine terrain that you’ll likely have to yourself.

The journey up to the pass is an adventure in itself, as the trail isn’t overly developed and involves navigating several creeks that descend from the pass above. The views in the pass really open up over the Icefields Parkway and offer unique vistas of the surrounding peaks. The journey from there to the summit of Bow Peak is a straightforward route-finding objective.

It takes around 400 meters of scrambling up a huge talus field that leads all the way to the summit. The classic route is to shoot for the summit ridge as soon as possible and hike that to the summit. As you top out, you’re rewarded with commanding views of Bow Lake and the Icefields Parkway. While it has no serious exposure, it’s definitely a moderate scramble.

---

Mount Jimmy Simpson

Jimmy Simpson lies due north of Bow Lake and opposite Bow Peak. It’s a commanding peak that offers some incredible views of the Wapta Icefield. The scramble up Jimmy Simpson is long and is best left to the more experienced, as some route finding is involved.

It involves some very steep slopes that are over a cliff. While the slopes don’t require three points of contact, they are a no-fall zone.

Nevertheless, if you are up for the adventure, you will be rewarded with some of the best views over the Icefields Parkway, Bow Lake, and even Peyto Lake. If Mount Jimmy Simpson is a little too long, consider the hike up Jimmy Jr., which involves much less elevation gain, exposure, and distance (a popular spot for photographers).

---

Observation Peak

Observation Peak is a moderate scramble that can be done in half a day, but it is not for those new to hiking and scrambling. It is one of our favourite scrambles in the Canadian Rockies, providing an excellent workout, stunning views, and limited traffic on the mountain. We were alone on the mountain while looking down on one of the busiest lakes in Banff.

You get unparalleled views over Peyto Lake and the Icefields Parkway. However, some intimidating scramble sections require experience scrambling in the Rockies. Many sections require handholds, which is a bit more than most easy to moderate scrambles. However, the summit offers one killer view of Peyto Lake.

---

Cirque Peak

Cirque Peak is a classic and considered one of the best introductions to scrambling in the Canadian Rockies. The majority of the adventure to the summit is a hike. This includes the journey to the popular moderate hike to Helen Lake.

To reach Helen Lake, you must hike on a moderate trail for 6 km (one way). The trail is well-maintained and absolutely stunning, offering breathtaking views of mountains and blooming wildflowers everywhere. From Helen Lake, you head up to Dolomite Pass, which provides views of Lake Katherine.

From there, the route up to Cirque Peak is straightforward. However, it is still a significant challenge, and the final few moves to the summit require secure footing, as there is a slight exposure. A fall from the summit or the final climb up could be consequential.

---