Parking
Fish Creek Trailhead parking area off Whitehorn Road, about 3 km from the community of Lake Louise. There is no vehicle access beyond the trailhead; the route begins with roughly 4 km on the Temple access road.
Overview
About Skoki Trail
Why go
- A complete backcountry loop links Boulder Pass, Ptarmigan Lake, Baker Lake, Skoki Lodge, and Merlin Meadows.
- Alpine lakes, larch forest, open meadows, and historic scenery reward the long approach.
Heads up
- The first and last 4 km use the Temple access road and are a monotonous approach.
- Steep passes, remote terrain, and changing mountain weather demand backcountry experience and preparation.
- Routefinding at junctions requires a current map or GPX; overnight camps and permits must be arranged in advance.
The Skoki Loop is Banff's classic multi-day backpack, linking alpine lakes, open meadows, mountain passes, and historic Skoki Lodge in a single lollipop-style route.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy hike itMap & 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
- ClosureLake Louise area trails and access areas closed for wildlifeMentions Lake Louise, referenced in this guideThe Bow River Trail, Louise Creek Trail, lower Tramline Trail, and Great Divide Trail parking area are closed because the closure prevents wildlife from being displaced from an essential travel…Official details
- CautionSkoki trails grizzly bear warningMentions this trailA grizzly bear warning is active on Skoki trails because a bear is showing bold, curious behaviour and approaching people.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Skoki 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.
Recorded for this trailhead
Skoki Trailhead: Backcountry Loops and Day HikesListen
“The trailhead you're nearing is for the Skoki backcountry, one of Banff's most celebrated hiking areas.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Lake Louise Ski Resort and Summer Gondola
- Grizzly Buffet on the Ski Slopes
- Lake Louise Petro-Canada: A Key Fuel Stop
- Lake Louise Village: Your Base for Adventure
- 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.”
Trail guide
Hiking Skoki Trail
Route overviewFrom the Fish Creek Trailhead near the Lake Louise ski area, the route climbs about 4 km on the…
From the Fish Creek Trailhead near the Lake Louise ski area, the route climbs about 4 km on the Temple access road before crossing Boulder Pass and passing Ptarmigan Lake on the way to Baker Lake. The loop then travels around Fossil Mountain and past Skoki Lodge National Historic Site to Merlin Meadows before climbing Deception Pass and rejoining the access trail at Ptarmigan Lake. The complete round trip is about 36.8 km (22.9 miles), commonly planned as a three-day, two-night trip with nights at Baker Lake and Merlin Meadows.
What you'll seeExpect larch forest, broad alpine meadows, turquoise lakes, limestone peaks, and expansive…
Expect larch forest, broad alpine meadows, turquoise lakes, limestone peaks, and expansive views from the passes. Skoki Lodge adds a distinctive historic stop, while the route's remote sections reward careful navigation and an early start.
Logistics and safetyA Banff backcountry permit and advance campground reservations are required for an overnight…
A Banff backcountry permit and advance campground reservations are required for an overnight trip. There is no vehicle access beyond the Fish Creek trailhead. This is a demanding backcountry route with steep passes, changing mountain weather, possible snow, and limited services; carry a map, sufficient food and water-treatment supplies, first aid, satellite communication, and bear spray. Make noise in grizzly habitat, keep dogs under control and on leash, and follow Parks Canada trail conditions, wildlife, and camping rules.
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.
