Parking
Park at Mosquito Creek (campground/hostel area) along the Icefields Parkway; pick up the trail by crossing the highway or creek as signed.
Overview
About Fish Lakes
Why go
- Spectacular larch color around the basin in September without technical terrain.
- Optional high alpine extension from the basin toward the Pipestone Highline/Devon Lakes.
Heads up
- Backcountry campsites (especially Fish Lakes Mo18) are highly competitive to reserve.
- Rooty, muddy sections can be energy-sapping—gaiters are genuinely useful.
Fish Lakes via North Molar Pass is a demanding Banff backcountry out-and-back to a pair of turquoise lakes and the Fish Lakes campground. The route trades forest and creekside walking for open meadows, a high alpine pass and broad views toward the surrounding peaks. It is a rewarding multi-day objective for hikers prepared for a long, remote outing.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy goMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,841–2,579 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
8 active Banff alerts
- ClosureRed Deer River valley bottom closed for ceremonial bison harvestThe Red Deer River valley bottom is closed to the public during an Indigenous ceremonial bison harvest taking place through November.Official details
- ClosureLake Minnewanka and Aylmer area closureLake Minnewanka Trail, Aylmer Pass Trail, and campgrounds Lm8, Lm9, Lm11, Lm20, Lm22 and Lm31 are closed to all users because black bears are displaying food-seeking behaviour.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Fish Lakes, 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
HI Mosquito Creek: Wilderness Hostel and Alpine TrailsListen
“The cluster of cabins coming into view is the HI Mosquito Creek hostel, a true wilderness base right on the parkway. This is a very rustic, off-grid kind of place, popular with hikers and climbers.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Why It’s Called Noseeum Creek: Tiny Biters, Big Role
- Dolomite Country: The Magnesium Rock Shaping This Valley
- The Doctor and the Kicking Horse
- Hector Lake: A Quiet Hike with a River Crossing
- 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 Fish Lakes
What to expect on the trailStart at the Mosquito Creek trailhead on the Icefields Parkway and follow the creek before…
Start at the Mosquito Creek trailhead on the Icefields Parkway and follow the creek before climbing through the North Molar Pass approach. The upper route is steep and exposed to changing alpine weather; beyond the pass, descend into the Fish Lakes basin and continue to the campground and lakeside area. Expect roots, mud, rocky tread, braided sections and some minor unbridged water. The route is an out-and-back physical corridor; optional extensions toward Devon Lakes and the Pipestone Highline are not included.
Distance, pace, and difficultyPlan on about 29.5 km/18.4 miles round trip, with roughly 1,128 m/3,701 ft of total ascent.
Plan on about 29.5 km/18.4 miles round trip, with roughly 1,128 m/3,701 ft of total ascent. The mapped corridor stored here is 14.77 km/9.18 miles one way; the return follows the same route. This is a strenuous, committing backpacking trip: many hikers take 2–3 days, while a very strong party may complete it as a long day.
Camping, permits, and safetyOvernight trips require a Parks Canada backcountry reservation; Fish Lakes (Mo18) is the…
Overnight trips require a Parks Canada backcountry reservation; Fish Lakes (Mo18) is the primary destination, with Mosquito Creek (Mo5) available as an en-route option. Reserve early, carry bear spray and keep food secured. Expect mosquitoes near water and be prepared for limited crossings, mud and rough trail. Dogs should remain leashed and under control around wildlife and camp.
Pro tipsCarry a detailed topo map or offline GPS because the route is remote and conditions can obscure…
Carry a detailed topo map or offline GPS because the route is remote and conditions can obscure the tread. Gaiters are useful in wet sections, and an early start helps with the long pass crossing. If you have extra time in the basin, treat the Pipestone/Devon Lakes extensions as separate route options rather than adding them to this Fish Lakes line.
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.
