Parking
Fish Creek Parking Area off Whitehorn Road near Lake Louise Ski Resort; follow the signed Skoki access route from the lot. The first roughly 4 km is a broad access road before the route becomes backcountry trail.
Overview
About Hidden Lake (Skoki)
This difficult out-and-back begins at the Fish Creek Parking Area off Whitehorn Road near Lake Louise Ski Resort. The first roughly 4 km follows a broad access road; the route then narrows through forest and subalpine meadows before reaching Hidden Lake. Plan on about 10.4 miles (16.7 km) round trip, roughly 8.3 km each way, with about 700 m of elevation gain. Most hikers should allow 6–7 hours round trip.
Why go
- Backcountry feel with fewer crowds than Lake Louise and Lake Agnes
- Hidden Lake campground makes an easy first night for bigger Skoki trips
Heads up
- First miles are on a ski-area service road under lifts
- Bugs can be aggressive in mid-summer
Hidden Lake is a demanding but rewarding doorway into Banff’s storied Skoki backcountry: a quiet alpine lake beneath Ptarmigan Peak and Pika Peak, with larches, wildflowers, and a real sense of the high country. The tradeoff is a long access-road opening before the scenery becomes more alpine.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy goMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,704–2,305 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
8 active Banff alerts
- ClosureLake Louise area trails and access areas closed for wildlifeMentions Lake Louise, referenced in this guideThe Bow River Trail, Louise Creek Trail, lower Tramline Trail, and Great Divide Trail parking area are closed because the closure prevents wildlife from being displaced from an essential travel…Official details
- 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
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Hidden Lake (Skoki), 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
Skoki Trailhead: Backcountry Loops and Day HikesListen
“The trailhead you're nearing is for the Skoki backcountry, one of Banff's most celebrated hiking areas.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Lake Louise Ski Resort and Summer Gondola
- Grizzly Buffet on the Ski Slopes
- Lake Louise Petro-Canada: A Key Fuel Stop
- Lake Louise Village: Your Base for Adventure
- 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 Hidden Lake (Skoki)
What you’ll seeThe early road section is practical rather than scenic, but the route gradually opens onto…
The early road section is practical rather than scenic, but the route gradually opens onto forest, meadows, and broad views toward the Skoki peaks. Near the end, the trail reaches a high basin and Hidden Lake, with the surrounding sedimentary peaks and larch-covered slopes providing the payoff. Marmots and pikas are possible, and this is active grizzly and black bear country.
Logistics and tipsStart and parking: Fish Creek Parking Area off Whitehorn Road, near Lake Louise Ski Resort.
- Start and parking: Fish Creek Parking Area off Whitehorn Road, near Lake Louise Ski Resort. Follow the signed Skoki access route from the lot.
- Route character: A long, steady approach on an access road followed by maintained backcountry trail; the distance and sustained climbing make this a full-day hike.
- Camping: Hidden Lake backcountry campground is nearby for hikers continuing into the Skoki system. Overnight stays require the appropriate Parks Canada backcountry permit or reservation.
- Wildlife and bugs: Carry bear spray and know how to use it. Mosquitoes and deer flies can be intense in summer, and mountain weather changes quickly.
Is it for you?Choose this hike if you are comfortable with a long, sustained backcountry day and want a…
Choose this hike if you are comfortable with a long, sustained backcountry day and want a quieter alpine destination. The road opening is a real part of the experience, and the route is better suited to strong hikers than casual beginners. Check Parks Canada conditions before setting out.
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.
