Parking
Use Pipestone Parking at the end of Slate Road, about 1.5 km west of Lake Louise from the Trans-Canada Highway. Park only in designated areas; roadside parking is prohibited.
Overview
About Mud Lake Trail
Why go
- A short lake outing with the Louise peaks across the water.
Heads up
- The lake spur comes after an approach from parking and can be muddy.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,561–1,640 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 Mud Lake Trail, 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 area
The Bird That Spirals Up a Tree0:00 / 0:29
“On a forest walk, watch for a tiny patch of bark that seems to move. It could be a brown creeper, a bird whose mottled back blends into the trunk.”
Plays on the road 0.9 km from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Lake Louise Village: Advice, Lunch and the Old Tram Route
- Moraine Lake Shuttles at the Park and Ride
- Lake Louise Campgrounds: Choose the Right Section
- Ice Beneath the Boulders
- 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 Mud Lake Trail
A short out-and-back to Mud LakeMud Lake Trail is a 3.4 km (2.1 mi) return walk from Pipestone Parking at Lake Louise.
Mud Lake Trail is a 3.4 km (2.1 mi) return walk from Pipestone Parking at Lake Louise. Follow the Pipestone path about 0.9 km to the junction, then take the roughly 0.8 km side trail to Mud Lake and return the same way. Plan about 1–1.5 hours, including time at the shore. Published spur figures are 0.7 km and 800 m, but their measurement convention is not stated; the total here includes the approach from the parking lot.
Follow Pipestone to the side trailThe approach follows a well-defined gravel-and-dirt trail beside the Pipestone River.
The approach follows a well-defined gravel-and-dirt trail beside the Pipestone River. At the junction, turn onto the shorter Mud Lake path; it can be muddy. This outing turns around at the lake. It does not continue along the longer Pipestone Valley route or follow the separate winter Mud Lake Ski Trail.
At the lakeThe reward is a small lake with forest along the shore and the Louise peaks across the water,…
The reward is a small lake with forest along the shore and the Louise peaks across the water, including Mount Temple in the mountain skyline. When the surface is still, the peaks can reflect in the lake.
Access and safetyReach Pipestone Parking at the end of Slate Road, about 1.
Reach Pipestone Parking at the end of Slate Road, about 1.5 km west of Lake Louise from the Trans-Canada Highway. Use designated parking; roadside parking is prohibited. Cyclists and horse users also use the Pipestone approach. This is bear country: Parks Canada advises groups of four or more and carrying bear spray you know how to use. Dogs are allowed on summer trails unless a trail restriction says otherwise; keep them leashed and under physical control.
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.
