Parking
Park at the Fish Creek trailhead near Lake Louise Ski Area. There is no vehicle access on the Temple access road; Parks Canada describes the initial approach as a 4 km walk before the Skoki backcountry route.
Overview
About Merlin Lake
Lake Merlin is a remote Skoki backcountry side trip from Skoki Lodge. The mapped route follows the named Merlin Lake Route west through larch and subalpine terrain to a high viewpoint above the lake, with steep grades, rough footing, and big views of the surrounding peaks. It is about 7.7 km (4.8 miles) round trip from Skoki Lodge; the stored line represents the physical outbound corridor once, so the return is not duplicated.
This trail record begins at Skoki Lodge, not at the Fish Creek parking area. To reach the lodge, start at the Fish Creek trailhead near Lake Louise Ski Area. Parks Canada describes the initial Temple access road as a 4 km walk with no vehicle access, followed by the Skoki backcountry approach. Plan for that approach separately from the Lake Merlin side-trip distance.
The route climbs through forest and open alpine terrain and finishes at the signed Merlin Lake route viewpoint above the lake. The mapped line does not include an invented direct descent to the lakeshore. Expect a remote mountain route with steep and occasionally exposed sections, changing footing, and route-finding demands. This is grizzly country: carry bear spray, secure food, stay on designated trails, and be prepared for stream crossings and rapid weather changes. Overnight travel requires a Parks Canada backcountry permit, and Merlin Meadows (Sk18) camping requires a reservation.
Why go
- Dramatic alpine lake and surrounding mountain views
- Quiet backcountry setting with larch, meadow, and rocky terrain
Heads up
- Remote approach requires a long hike from the Fish Creek trailhead
- Steep, exposed sections and rough footing can be difficult when wet, snowy, or icy
- Route-finding and backcountry self-reliance are required
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation2,131–2,373 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Banff alerts
- CautionSkoki trails grizzly bear warningMentions this trailUse extra caution on Skoki trails because a grizzly bear is frequenting the area, behaving boldly and curiously, and approaching people closely.Official details
- 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
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Merlin Lake, 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.
More stories near here in the app
- Skoki Trailhead: Backcountry Loops and Day Hikes
- The White-tailed Ptarmigan: Snow Birds of the Larch Zone
- 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.”
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.
