Parking
The trailhead is beside the Lake Louise boathouse. Upper lakeshore parking is extremely limited; plan around the Parks Canada shuttle or park-and-ride and confirm current access details.
Overview
About Fairview Mountain Trail
Why go
- A high summit panorama above Lake Louise and surrounding glaciers
- Larch color and open mountain views near Saddleback Pass
Heads up
- About 990 m of climbing makes for a long, steep day
- The exposed upper slope can be snow covered
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,737–2,686 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 Fairview Mountain 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 0.1 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
- The Bird That Spirals Up a Tree
- Lake Louise Campgrounds: Choose the Right Section
- 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 Fairview Mountain Trail
The hikeFairview Mountain Trail is a 10 km (6.
Fairview Mountain Trail is a 10 km (6.2 mi) out-and-back from the Lake Louise boathouse to a 2,744 m summit. The climb runs through forest and larch stands to Saddleback Pass, then takes steep switchbacks over rocky slopes. Allow 5–6 hours and about 990 m of climbing; this is a hard mountain day, not a quick lookout walk.
Route and effortFrom the lakeshore, follow the signed path through forest toward Saddleback Pass.
From the lakeshore, follow the signed path through forest toward Saddleback Pass. Larches open the view near the pass, where many hikers turn around. The summit branch adds roughly 1.6 km each way and a steep 414 m climb across talus. The route is maintained as a walking trail, but the final slopes feel strenuous at altitude.
Summit viewsFrom the exposed top, Lake Louise sits far below, with Mount Victoria, Lefroy, glaciers and the…
From the exposed top, Lake Louise sits far below, with Mount Victoria, Lefroy, glaciers and the Bow Valley filling the wider panorama. The larch bands near Saddleback Pass are a seasonal highlight in late September and early October. Keep back from the rocky summit edges when stopping for the view.
Access and shorter choicesThe trail starts beside the Lake Louise boathouse.
The trail starts beside the Lake Louise boathouse. Parking at the lakeshore is extremely limited, so plan around the Parks Canada shuttle and park-and-ride system and confirm current access details. Saddleback Pass is a shorter turnaround at about 7.2 km round trip; Fairview Lookout is a separate, much shorter trail.
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.
