Parking
There is no road-access trailhead or parking lot. Begin at Mystic Junction Campground (Fm19), reached by a separately planned backcountry route; secure the campsite permit and reservation before setting out.
Overview
About Mystic Lake Trail
Why go
- A focused lake visit from a booked backcountry camp
- Rocky cirque and forested shore make a distinctive destination
Heads up
- The remote camp requires a separate backcountry approach
- Recreational use of the lake water is prohibited
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,868–2,014 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 Mystic 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 tourMore stories near here in the app
- A Nest Beside the Waterfall
- Hillsdale Meadow: Wildflowers and Pilot Mountain
- 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 Mystic Lake Trail
A backcountry side tripMystic Lake Trail is a 4.
Mystic Lake Trail is a 4.5-mile out-and-back from Mystic Junction Camp (Fm19) to the lake and back. That figure covers the camp-to-lake spur only; reaching Fm19 is a separate backcountry approach. Allow about three hours for the route itself. This is a rewarding add-on if you have a booked campsite in the area, not a day walk from Banff.
Follow the mapped pathThe route leaves camp on established backcountry footpaths, winds through forested country and…
The route leaves camp on established backcountry footpaths, winds through forested country and ends at the lake shore below a rocky cirque. The mapped corridor is about 3.6 km one way and rises roughly 140 m overall, with smaller ups and downs along the way. It is shared backcountry terrain, so yield to horses and allow extra time for route finding. Turn around at the shore; this row does not include the long approaches to the camp or a circuit around the lake.
Keep the water protectedThe lake and its outflow to Forty Mile Creek are protected habitat for threatened Westslope…
The lake and its outflow to Forty Mile Creek are protected habitat for threatened Westslope Cutthroat Trout. Fishing, boating, swimming and other recreational water activities are prohibited. Wading across a stream is permitted only when needed to stay on an official trail where no bridge exists. The rocky shore and cirque make the lake the clear payoff; stay on land and use the near-shore rocks to frame the view.
Plan the access firstFm19 is a backcountry campground, not a road-access trailhead.
Fm19 is a backcountry campground, not a road-access trailhead. Plan and reserve the overnight itinerary that gets you there before adding this excursion; overnight backcountry camping requires a permit. There is no food service or water refill at the lake, and surface water must be treated before drinking. Banff's main backcountry season is May through October; higher trails can remain snowbound into late June, with the highest stream flows in June and July. Check current conditions before leaving camp. Keep dogs leashed and under 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.
