A Guide to Hiking Castle Mountain Lookout, Banff National Park


Mountain Rush Banff, Alberta Castle Lookout, Bow valley pwy, July

From Castle Junction go west on Highway 1A for a few km to reach the trailhead for the Castle Mountain fire lookout. Follow the trail to the lookout (1-2 hours) and then pick up a smaller trail that crosses the gully (east) before heading steeply uphill to the headwall. Look for a diagonal break in the headwall (small cairn).


Castle Mountain Lookout Hike in Banff National Park Travel Banff Canada

From the lookout, which is still far below the crest of the imposing Castle Mountain, the Bow Valley extends in both directions in almost limitless majesty. You will work to ejoy this view, climbing more than 530m in just 3.7-km, but few have ever complained after experiencing the panorama they are rewarded with at the lookout.


Castle Mountain Lookout Hike in Banff National Park Travel Banff Canada

A regular adult should be able to trek the entire roundtrip distance of the Castle Mountain Lookout in 3-4 hours. Even with photo breaks and lunch at the top, we've completed it in as low as 2 hours and 20 minutes. 6. Things you need to keep in mind when Castle Mountain Lookout hiking.


Castle Mountain Lookout Trail Alberta, Canada AllTrails

Castle mountain, so named for its fortress-like shape, is a quick hop away from the town of Banff. If you don't have time to hike to Rockbound Lake (at the base of Castle), head to the viewpoint just off of Highway 91 and snap some pictures of this epic mountain. Drive north for about 10 minutes and follow the signage for the viewpoint pull off.


Castle Mountain Lookout Hike in Banff National Park Travel Banff Canada

Castle Lookout Hike. If you are looking for a moderately difficult hike to a panoramic viewpoint, we highly recommend the Castle Mountain Lookout hike. Just under 4 km long (one-way), the views of the Canadian Rockies get better and better as you near the Castle Mountain Lookout.


Castle Mountain Lookout Hike in Banff National Park Travel Banff Canada

868. Exterior of Castle, with cemetery . Campbell Pack (Atlas Obscura User) Found off the beaten path near Knoxville, Tennessee, this handmade castle is the handiwork of a man named Floyd Banks.


A Guide to Hiking Castle Mountain Lookout, Banff National Park

The Castle Mountain Lookout Trail is a great hike that has a relatively accessible difficulty. This hike doesn't have any technical sections, which.


Castle Mountain Lookout rockiesoutdoors

Castle Mountain Lookout Trail. Hard • 4.5 (1759) Banff National Park. Photos (1,341) Directions. Print/PDF map. Length 7.2 kmElevation gain 547 mRoute type Out-and-back. Get to know this 7.2-km out-and-back trail near Lake Louise, Alberta. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 11 min to complete.


Castle Mountain Lookout Hike in Banff National Park Travel Banff Canada

The Castle Mountain Lookout hike is only 7.4 km return with an elevation gain of 520 m (1,705 feet), enough to give you a workout - but it doesn't kill you - an especially good compromise for an early season hike. And at the end of the trail, you enjoy a panoramic view of the Bow Valley. On clear days you can see as far east as the Three.


Castle Mountain Lookout Hike in Banff National Park Travel Banff Canada

How to Get to Castle Mountain Lookout Trailhead. The parking area for the Castle Mountain Lookout Trail is approximately half an hour from either Banff or Lake Louise. From Highway 1, turn off at Castle Junction, the only real intersection between the two towns, and the same turnoff as for nearby Silverton Falls and Johnston Canyon. You'll.


Castle Mountain Lookout Hike in Banff National Park Travel Banff Canada

Rehabilitating Lookout Mountain's historic "Castle in the Clouds". Originally built as a resort hotel, Carter Hall is a Tudor style concrete-framed stucco structure on the Covenant College.


Castle Mountain Lookout Hike in Banff National Park Travel Banff Canada

23. Castle Mountain Lookout. The Castle Mountain Lookout hike is another great hike in Banff National Park that offers some of the best views in Banff for anyone looking for panoramic views over the Bow Valley. This hike is found along the Bow Valley Parkway. Trailhead: Castle Lookout Trailhead; Distance: 7.4 km out-and-back; Elevation: 567 m.


A Guide to Hiking Castle Mountain Lookout, Banff National Park

Castle Mountain Lookout Trail. Get to know this 4.5-mile out-and-back trail near Lake Louise, Alberta. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 11 min to complete. This is a very popular area for hiking, snowshoeing, and running, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.


Castle Mountain Lookout Hike in Banff National Park Travel Banff Canada

Mar 2019. As you travel westbound along Highway#1, approaching the Castle Mountain junction, you come across a pullout section that has a view point of Castle Mountain. You will see signs indicating the view point. This is a spectacular photo opportunity location that also has outhouse facilities and an educational display about the animal.


Castle Mountain Lookout Hike in Banff National Park Travel Banff Canada

Castle Mountain Lookout - the basics. Distance: 7.4 km. Elevation gain: 550 m. Highest Point: 2010 m. Time: 2.5-4 hours. We took 1.5 hours to go up, and less than an hour to come down. Then we also had a good long rest at the top! What to bring: We used microspikes as the trail was well packed down.


Castle Mountain Lookout Hike in Banff National Park Travel Banff Canada

The Castle Mountain Lookout Trail is a great hike that has a relatively accessible difficulty. This hike doesn't have any technical sections, which makes it a great option for trail running. The route is short but follows a gradual incline the whole way to the top with some steep sections. Much of the trail is shaded by a forest with some breaks in the tree cover that allow for great views.

Scroll to Top