Parking
Park in the designated Redearth Creek parking area off the Trans-Canada Highway. Parking is limited to designated areas; roadside parking is prohibited.
Overview
About Shadow Lake via Redearth Creek
Start at the Redearth Creek parking area and follow the historic Redearth Creek approach into Banff’s backcountry. This out-and-back is about 17.3 miles (27.8 km) total; the mapped corridor is approximately 13.9 km (8.6 miles) one way. The route climbs steadily from the parking area toward Shadow Lake, with the final destination at the lake and nearby Shadow Lake Lodge.
The first roughly 10 km follows an old fire road through the valley. Bicycles are allowed on this section to the end of the road, where riders must leave their bikes and continue on foot. The remaining roughly 3.9 km follows the Shadow Lake route toward the campground, lodge and lake; do not add Gibbon Pass or Little Copper Mountain side trips to this experience.
The long approach is mostly steady, with mountain views opening as you reach the meadows and the lake basin beneath Mount Ball. The route gains approximately 425 m overall on the mapped corridor, with local ups and downs, so the cumulative effort is greater than the net elevation change.
Plan this as a full backcountry day and carry navigation, food and water. Park only in the designated Redearth Creek area and expect limited facilities. Dogs are allowed on summer trails when leashed and under physical control, while winter ski-trail rules can differ; check current Parks Canada notices before setting out. Shadow Lake Lodge and backcountry camping require advance reservations.
Why go
- The first roughly 10 km is a bike-friendly former fire-road approach, reducing the walking burden for riders who leave bikes at the end of the road.
- Shadow Lake and the lodge deliver a memorable alpine destination beneath Mount Ball.
Heads up
- The full out-and-back is about 17.3 miles (27.8 km), making it a long day even though the grade is generally steady.
- The final walk beyond the bike endpoint is more remote and narrower, with backcountry logistics and limited facilities.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,416–1,859 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 Shadow Lake via Redearth Creek, 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
Highway Rest Stop with a Wildlife Crossing ExhibitListen
“The rest area just ahead is a convenient highway stop with some wide-open views across the Bow Valley. What makes it interesting is the interpretive exhibit about Banff’s famous wildlife crossings.”
Plays on the road 1.7 km from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Bow Valley Parkway: A Road for Wildlife
- Cliff Runners: Falcons and Eagles of the Bow Valley
- Waterfall Ghosts: Black Swifts of Johnston Canyon
- Johnston Canyon's Famous Catwalks and Waterfalls
- 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.
