What hiking trails begin at the summit?

Yes. Several designated hiking trails begin from the upper area of the Lake Louise Summer Sightseeing Gondola on Whitehorn Mountain. They are relatively short compared with many Lake Louise hikes, but some involve surprisingly substantial elevation gain. The main trails are:

Kicking Horse Pass Viewpoint Trail – This is one of the shorter choices, at approximately 1.7 km round trip with about 235 metres of elevation gain. It begins immediately beyond the sightseeing lift at the marked hiking trailhead. The route initially climbs fairly steeply on a broad gravel trail before becoming gentler higher up. The viewpoint provides expansive scenery across the Bow Valley and toward the Continental Divide.

Pika Trail – Approximately 2.5 km round trip, with around 290 metres of elevation gain. Despite its short distance, this is a moderate hike because of the steep climbing. The route travels through forest and open mountain terrain, passing wildflower areas and small alpine ponds. As the name suggests, there is also a chance of spotting pikas among the rocky terrain.

Ptarmigan Valley Viewpoint – This can be reached as an extension of the Pika Trail. Continuing to the viewpoint increases the outing to roughly 3.4 km round trip. It provides a more extensive mountain walk and is particularly attractive during autumn when the surrounding larches turn golden.

There are also shorter interpretive walking areas around the upper mountain, which are better suited to visitors who want to experience the scenery without committing to one of the steeper hikes.

An important difference from many mountain resorts is that you cannot hike from the upper mountain all the way back to the resort base. The lower mountain contains an active wildlife corridor, so hiking there is prohibited. Hikers must use the gondola or chairlift both to reach the hiking area and to return to the base.

Trail availability can also change during the summer. Because Whitehorn Mountain is important grizzly bear habitat, individual trails can be temporarily closed when bears are in the area. Weather and maintenance can also cause closures.

For an easy introduction, Kicking Horse Pass Viewpoint is a good choice. For a somewhat more adventurous hike with greater variety, Pika Trail and the extension toward Ptarmigan Valley Viewpoint offer the more complete upper-mountain hiking experience. Book the Banff Sunshine Village Sightseeing Gondola & Standish ChairliftBooking the Banff Sunshine Village Sightseeing Gondola & Standish Chairlift Admission includes All taxes, fees and handling charges. Banff Gondola Home