Parking
Begin at the Moraine Lake parking lot and shoreline trailhead. Parking is very limited; use the Parks Canada shuttle in summer and check current access arrangements before departing.
Overview
About Mount Temple
Mount Temple is a demanding out-and-back scramble from Moraine Lake to the 3,543 m summit. From the Moraine Lake parking lot, follow the shoreline and the Larch Valley/Sentinel Pass trail through Larch Valley, then leave the maintained approach for the southwest route to the summit. The route is about 9.4 miles (15.1 km) round trip, gains roughly 1,690 m (5,543 ft), and generally takes 7–12 hours. It includes loose scree, route-finding, and three rock bands with exposed Class 3/4 scrambling; a helmet is strongly recommended and some parties use a rope at the crux. Descend by the same route—shortcuts into gullies increase rockfall and cliff hazards. This is a summer climb only when snow and ice conditions permit; upper-mountain snow can require crampons and an ice axe, and cornices may form near the summit ridge. Parking at Moraine Lake is very limited and summer access is primarily by Parks Canada shuttle. Grizzly-group restrictions may apply on the Larch Valley/Sentinel Pass approach; check Parks Canada access and safety information before starting.
Why go
- World-class views of Moraine Lake, Larch Valley, the Valley of the Ten Peaks, and surrounding peaks
- Combines a clear lower-trail approach with a challenging summit scramble for experienced parties
Heads up
- Long, strenuous day with roughly 1,690 m of ascent and loose scree
- Exposed Class 3/4 scrambling, rockfall, route-finding, and possible snow or ice make this unsuitable for casual hikers
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,874–3,492 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
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 Temple, 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 area
Pikas: The Alpine Haymakers of BanffListen
“If you're up high on a rocky slope and hear a sharp ‘eep!’, scan the boulders for a pika. They look like a small, round potato with ears, and are actually related to rabbits.”
Plays near this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Famous 'Twenty-Dollar View' at Moraine Lake
- Mountain Weather 101
- Golden Larches of the Valley of the Ten Peaks
- Lynx and Wolverine: Banff’s Ghost Predators
- 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.
