Parking
Start at Fish Creek Parking Area at the end of Whitehorn Road, about 2 km from the Trans-Canada Highway on the way to Lake Louise Ski Area.
Overview
About Red Deer Lakes Trail
Why go
- Subalpine meadows, pass lakes and a remote lakeside campsite.
Heads up
- The long return and very steep access road make this a serious backpack.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,701–2,367 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Banff alerts
- ClosureBaker Lake and Hidden Lake campgrounds closed to campingMentions Baker Lake, referenced in this guideCamping 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
- 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
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Red Deer Lakes 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 trailhead
Fish Creek: The Way into Skoki0:00 / 0:33
“You're coming up on Fish Creek trailhead, the walking gateway to Skoki's alpine lakes and historic lodge.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Moraine Lake Shuttles at the Park and Ride
- Lake Louise Village: Advice, Lunch and the Old Tram Route
- The Sea Duck in the Mountains
- Lake Louise Campgrounds: Choose the Right Section
- 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 Red Deer Lakes Trail
What this trail isRed Deer Lakes Trail is an out-and-back backpack from Fish Creek Parking Area to the Red Deer…
Red Deer Lakes Trail is an out-and-back backpack from Fish Creek Parking Area to the Red Deer Lakes backcountry campground in the Skoki network. The approach is about 18.7 km one way; allow about 37.4 km (23.2 miles) for the return, with the route drawn once. It is a serious wilderness trip for a lakeside camp, not a quick lake walk.
The climb inThe first 3.8 km follows a very steep dirt access road toward Temple Lodge.
The first 3.8 km follows a very steep dirt access road toward Temple Lodge. From there, take the signed Skoki route back into the woods. The forest opens into subalpine meadows after a few more kilometres; Halfway Hut is about 7.1 km from Fish Creek. Continue over Boulder Pass by Ptarmigan Lake, then through Baker Lake and the high Skoki trail network to Red Deer Lakes. The final stretch crosses a meadow east of Fossil Mountain. At the lakes, keep a little shoreline in the foreground if you want the surrounding peaks to read at their full scale.
Make it an overnightAllow roughly 5–7 hours for the walk in and a similar time out, about 12 hours of hiking…
Allow roughly 5–7 hours for the walk in and a similar time out, about 12 hours of hiking overall. Most visitors should split it over at least two days. An overnight stay at Red Deer Lakes requires a Parks Canada backcountry permit and campsite reservation, as well as a park pass. Treat the camp as a self-sufficient stop: bring food and a stove. Dogs are allowed on the route but must stay leashed.
Know which Red Deer route you meanA Skoki loop from Baker Lake can include Red Deer Lakes and return by Deception Pass; that is a…
A Skoki loop from Baker Lake can include Red Deer Lakes and return by Deception Pass; that is a different itinerary from the Fish Creek out-and-back mapped here. July and August are the prime backcountry months. High passes can remain snowbound and impassable into late June, and mountain weather can change quickly. Some upper path sections are hard to follow, so carry a topographic map and check the current trail report before setting out.
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.
