Parking
Use the Lake Louise Lakeshore parking lot. Spaces fill before sunrise; transit or a reserved shuttle is more reliable. Lakeshore parking is paid during shuttle season.
Overview
About Devil’s Thumb Trail
Why go
- The summit frames Lake Louise and Lake Agnes together.
- The Lake Agnes teahouse is a useful rest stop on the approach.
Heads up
- The long, steep approach comes before the unmarked summit scramble.
- Loose exposed ground can be slippery and harder to descend when wet or icy.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,737–2,458 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
8 active Banff alerts
- ClosureJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area closedJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area are closed to all traffic and travel through December 11, 2026, because construction work requires protecting public and workers’ safety.Official details
- ClosureBaker Lake and Hidden Lake campgrounds closed to campingCamping is prohibited at Baker Lake and Hidden Lake campgrounds through December 1, 2026, because a grizzly bear entered campsites and investigated tents and gear; the closures reduce risk to…Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Devil’s Thumb Trail, 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.
See the Banff audio tourRecorded for this area
Lake Louise and the Lakeshore0:00 / 0:32
“You're coming up on Lake Louise, where the public shore looks straight toward Victoria Glacier between the mountains. You don't need a big hike for that view.”
Plays on the road 0.2 km from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Ice Beneath the Boulders
- Lake Louise Village: Advice, Lunch and the Old Tram Route
- Lake Louise Campgrounds: Choose the Right Section
- The Bird That Spirals Up a Tree
- 185 audio storiesacross Banff’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Brown Bear, Gray Wolf, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 162 trails, 90 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 Devil’s Thumb Trail
The commitmentDevil’s Thumb is a hard out-and-back from the Lake Louise Lakeshore lot: about 7.
Devil’s Thumb is a hard out-and-back from the Lake Louise Lakeshore lot: about 7.5 miles (12 km) round trip, gaining roughly 720 m (2,360 ft) to the summit. The route climbs through the Lake Agnes corridor, then leaves the signed trail network at the Big Beehive col for an unmarked summit spur. Allow about 6 to 8 hours. The last section is steep, loose and exposed, with a short hands-on scramble. If you want a shorter day, Lake Agnes makes a satisfying turnaround.
Up through Lake AgnesWalk from the lakeshore lot around the Chateau and join Lake Agnes Trail.
Walk from the lakeshore lot around the Chateau and join Lake Agnes Trail. The popular approach climbs through forest, with glimpses back toward Lake Louise, then passes Mirror Lake. A waterfall and stairway bring you to Lake Agnes and its seasonal teahouse. This is the straightforward part of the day; the route changes character beyond the lake.
From the lake to the colContinue along the rocky shelves at the far end of Lake Agnes and cross a loose scree slope.
Continue along the rocky shelves at the far end of Lake Agnes and cross a loose scree slope. Switchbacks climb toward the col between Big Beehive and Devil’s Thumb. Several routes meet there: Big Beehive’s summit path branches away, while the Devil’s Thumb line heads toward the mountain’s back side. This route turns at the col on the way back; it does not include the Big Beehive summit or the Highline return.
The summit spurThe Devil’s Thumb continuation is faint and unsigned.
The Devil’s Thumb continuation is faint and unsigned. It traverses around the back of the peak, crosses a short rock band where you may use your hands, then follows steep ground with loose dirt and rock toward the summit. The narrow tread and exposed slope make the descent just as demanding as the climb. Take care after rain or when the ground is icy, when the loose surface can slide underfoot.
What you see from the topThe rocky summit looks down on Lake Louise and Lake Agnes at once, with Little and Big Beehive…
The rocky summit looks down on Lake Louise and Lake Agnes at once, with Little and Big Beehive between them and glaciated peaks beyond. From Lake Agnes, Devil’s Thumb is the third pointed summit from the right across the water. The summit is the photo payoff: include both lakes and the ridges between them in one frame.
Access and a shorter optionStart at the Lake Louise Lakeshore parking lot.
Start at the Lake Louise Lakeshore parking lot. The lots fill before sunrise, so use transit or reserve a shuttle in advance; lakeshore parking is paid during shuttle season. A valid Banff National Park entry pass is required. The Lake Agnes route is a shorter, signed outing if you want the waterfalls and teahouse without the exposed summit spur.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Banff
123 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
69 sightingsMooseMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
466 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 9 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Banff. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
