Parking
Use the parking lot on the Mosquito Creek Hostel access road below the Icefields Parkway. Cross the highway and Mosquito Creek bridge to reach the signed trailhead north of the bridge; keep the hostel access road clear.
Overview
About Molar Pass Trail (South Molar Pass)
Why go
- Broad alpine meadows below a distinct pass
- A separate day hike from the Fish Lakes backpacking route
Heads up
- A difficult 7–8 hour day
- High elevation snow can complicate route-finding
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,847–2,288 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
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 Molar Pass Trail (South Molar Pass), 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 trailhead
Mosquito Creek: Camping and the Molar Pass Hike0:00 / 0:35
“Mosquito Creek is coming up, with a small seasonal campground and a separate wilderness hostel. Choose the campground for a simple wooded base on the Parkway, with some sites beside the creek and mountain views.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- A Grizzly Cub’s Food Lessons
- Inside a Beaver Lodge
- A Pika's Winter Pantry
- Hector Lake Viewpoint: Mountains beyond the Trees
- 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 Molar Pass Trail (South Molar Pass)
A full day to South Molar PassMolar Pass Trail is a long out-and-back from Mosquito Creek to a high pass through forest,…
Molar Pass Trail is a long out-and-back from Mosquito Creek to a high pass through forest, creek valley and broad alpine meadows. Allow about 12.2 miles (19.6 km) round trip and 7–8 hours; the 9.8 km pass distance is one way, so you return on the same route. This is a difficult full-day hike for people prepared for a long outing in remote alpine terrain.
Follow the creek, then turn rightThe trail begins across the Icefields Parkway, north of the Mosquito Creek bridge, and climbs…
The trail begins across the Icefields Parkway, north of the Mosquito Creek bridge, and climbs before easing into forest beside the creek. The Mosquito Creek backcountry campground is a landmark before the signed fork. Turn right for Molar Pass, also called South Molar Pass; the left branch continues to North Molar Pass and Fish Lakes. Carry food and drinking water for the full day; surface water may need treatment or filtering. Dogs must stay on leash.
Meadows below the passBeyond the fork, the trees open into wide, sloping alpine meadows.
Beyond the fork, the trees open into wide, sloping alpine meadows. At the pass, the valley drops away beneath layered cliffs, with the creek and distant peaks making a strong foreground-to-skyline view. Include the winding creek and some meadow in a photo to show the scale of the cliffs. July to mid-September is the prime hiking season, but high-country snow can arrive in any month.
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.
