Parking
Fireside Day-use Area, 8.3 km west of Banff on the Bow Valley Parkway (Highway 1A). Limited unlined gravel parking, gender-neutral outhouses and picnic tables are available; park only in designated spaces.
Overview
About Cory Pass – Edith Pass Loop
Why go
- Gargoyle Valley's limestone pinnacles and Mount Louis views
- A full alpine loop without retracing the route
Heads up
- Steep, exposed terrain with loose scree and short hands-on sections
- Route finding can be tricky above treeline; water is limited
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,426–2,299 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Banff alerts
- ClosureRed Deer River valley closed during ceremonial bison harvestThe Red Deer River valley bottom is closed to the public during an Indigenous ceremonial bison hunt taking place through November, for public safety during the harvest.Official details
- ClosureJohnston Canyon closed for constructionJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area, including the washrooms and P1 parking lot, are closed to all traffic and travel through December 11, 2026, for construction work to ensure public and worker…Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Cory Pass – Edith Pass Loop, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Banff National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Cory Pass Loop: A Demanding ScrambleListen
“The trailhead you'll be passing is for the Cory Pass Loop. This is one of the most demanding day hikes in the Banff area, and it's definitely for experienced hikers only.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Beaver Engineers of Vermilion Lakes
- Bear Smarts: A Practical Guide to Bear Country
- Healy Pass Trailhead: A Major Backcountry Hike
- Vermilion Lakes: Reflections and Wildlife
- 178 audio storiesacross Banff’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Brown Bear, Gray Wolf, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 177 trails, 236 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“…Loved the commentary as you drove thru. I’m sure the app can do more than I know but the tips were very helpful. I’m gonna use it when we go to Banff next month.”
Trail guide
Hiking Cory Pass – Edith Pass Loop
A serious mountain dayThis 11.7 km (7.3-mile) loop from Fireside Day-use Area takes about 6 hours.
This 11.7 km (7.3-mile) loop from Fireside Day-use Area takes about 6 hours. It climbs steeply to Cory Pass, crosses the other-worldly Gargoyle Valley, contours Mount Edith, then returns over Edith Pass. I'd choose it for a full alpine outing near Banff, not a casual walk.
Go up to Cory Pass firstFollow the loop clockwise, taking the ascent to Cory Pass before the return through Gargoyle…
Follow the loop clockwise, taking the ascent to Cory Pass before the return through Gargoyle Valley and Edith Pass. That puts the steepest climb and loosest terrain on the way up, with wide views of Mount Louis, Mount Cory, Mount Edith and the Bow Valley. Route finding can get tricky near treeline and across the scree.
Expect rough, exposed terrainParts of the trail are steep, rocky and narrow, with loose scree and a few short hands-on moves.
Parts of the trail are steep, rocky and narrow, with loose scree and a few short hands-on moves. Bring sturdy footwear, poles and enough water; reliable water is limited after the opening section. Snow or ice can linger into late June and return by late September, and winter travel brings avalanche risk. Carry bear spray and know how to use it.
Photos and the trailheadLook for Gargoyle Valley's eroded limestone pinnacles, then include a bit of trail or a hiker…
Look for Gargoyle Valley's eroded limestone pinnacles, then include a bit of trail or a hiker in photos to show the scale of the formations and Mount Louis. Start at Fireside Day-use Area, where limited unlined gravel parking, outhouses and picnic tables are available. The Bow Valley Parkway Cycling Experience can affect road access.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Banff
122 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
150 sightingsBrown BearMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
44 sightingsGray WolfMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
12 sightingsRiver OtterMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
67 sightingsMooseMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
465 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 9 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Banff. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
