Iceline Trail Out-and-Back

The Iceline Trail Out-and-Back climbs from the Iceline trailhead to the high moraine and Iceline Summit, then retraces the same corridor. The mapped route to the summit is about 9.0 miles (14.4 km) round trip from the trailhead; allow around six hours, or five to seven with a long stop at the top. Measurements for this flexible turn-back hike vary from 13.2 to 13.6 km. This record follows the mapped spur to the named summit; turning where the path starts to lose elevation makes a shorter day. It is a good pick if you want a substantial climb and glacier views, not a gentle lake walk.

From the trailhead, the path gains height quickly on steep switchbacks through forest. After several hundred metres of climbing it breaks above treeline, and openings behind you frame Takakkaw Falls across the valley. The climb eases, but it does not become flat immediately. Expect a steady effort before the route settles onto higher ground.

The forest gives way to barren glacial moraine and loose scree. The trail crosses rock and gravel, then flattens and passes three small lakes. Takakkaw Falls and Daly Glacier stay in view across the valley; the glacier feeds the waterfall. The open bench is the reward for the hard lower climb, and glacier-fed streams along the route are cold.

A short informal path reaches the named summit on the moraine crest at about 2,230 metres. Glaciers fill the view to the left; to the right, Takakkaw Falls sits below the surrounding peaks. Stop here and retrace the same way for this out-and-back. The longer Iceline circuits continue downhill toward Celeste Lake or Little Yoho, so do not follow those descents if you want to return to the same trailhead.