Parking
Park at the Fireside Day-use Area, 8.3 km west of Banff on the Bow Valley Parkway. Turn right just before the parkway’s east entrance archway. Parking is limited and unlined, with gender-neutral outhouses and picnic tables.
Overview
About Mount Edith Route
Start at the Fireside Day-use Area and climb the Cory Pass Trail. At Cory Pass, take the Mount Edith Approach Trail to the North Peak, returning to the junction before continuing over the Centre Peak and out to the South Peak. Retrace the South Peak route to the Mount Edith Descent Route, descend toward Edith Pass, and rejoin the Cory Pass Trail for the return to the trailhead.
Why go
- Three-summit traverse with broad Bow Valley and Gargoyle Valley views.
- A quieter, committing alpine route for experienced scramblers.
Heads up
- Difficult route-finding and exposed scrambling beyond Cory Pass.
- Loose rock, limited water, and a long, strenuous day.
This demanding loop links three Mount Edith summits with broad views over the Bow Valley, Mount Cory, and the Gargoyle Valley. The limestone terrain and quieter high route reward confident scramblers, but the unmarked summit sections require a map or GPS and careful judgment.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy hike itMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,426–2,524 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 Mount Edith Route, 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
Cory Pass Loop: A Demanding ScrambleListen
“The trailhead you'll be passing is for the Cory Pass Loop. This is one of the most demanding day hikes in the Banff area, and it's definitely for experienced hikers only.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Beaver Engineers of Vermilion Lakes
- Bear Smarts: A Practical Guide to Bear Country
- Healy Pass Trailhead: A Major Backcountry Hike
- Vermilion Lakes: Reflections and Wildlife
- 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 Mount Edith Route
What this route isA strenuous three-summit scramble of Mount Edith from the Fireside Day-use Area via Cory Pass.
A strenuous three-summit scramble of Mount Edith from the Fireside Day-use Area via Cory Pass. Follow the Cory Pass approach, then leave the maintained trail for Mount Edith’s North, Centre, and South summit routes. This is exposed, route-finding terrain for experienced scramblers, not the standard Cory Pass Loop.
Distance, time, and effortThe complete mapped loop is about 12.9 km (8.0 miles). Allow roughly 8–10.
The complete mapped loop is about 12.9 km (8.0 miles). Allow roughly 8–10.5 hours for the full outing, depending on scrambling pace, route-finding, and conditions. The route includes sustained climbing, loose rock, and exposed sections.
Is it for you?Choose this route only if you are comfortable with exposed scrambling, loose limestone, and…
Choose this route only if you are comfortable with exposed scrambling, loose limestone, and route-finding away from signed trails. For a marked, less committing outing, use the official Cory Pass Loop without the Mount Edith summit detour.
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.
