A GREAT little hike in Banff National Park, Castle Lookout

July 9/2023 Summer Hike, Alberta Canada
Today we are in the Bow Valley in Banff National Park, and we will be hiking up to the Castle Mountain Lookout. The Trail is 7.5 kilometers out and back with an elevation gain of 551 meters. The trailhead is located on the 1A Highway between Banff and Lake Louise.
The parking lot is a pretty good size, and there were only a few cars in the lot when we arrived. The trail starts off relatively flat. Almost immediately you will come across a beautiful little creek. Soon the elevation gain will begin. With a couple steeper parts and it levels off in a couple of sections. At .7k the trail now gets a little bit steeper. For this portion you are in the trees, but as you climb you will start and get a few views through the trees. Just over 1k the trail levels out, but this doesn’t last long. At 1.6k you will see an old wooden structure on your left, some type of old cabin. You will continue to work your way up in the trees. Around 2.3k you will cross a drainage that was dry. Now the trail will get a little narrower, and it starts to open up a little more. Soon the switchbacks will begin. You will start and see Castle Mountain above you. We saw a grouse on the trail and I managed to get a picture of her and one of her babies. The switchbacks continue. Now you are starting to get into a rocky section with cliffs above you on the mountainside. Just over 3k the trail will switchback and you will have to hike up a rocky section. The switchbacks get shorter as you climb, and the views just get better and better. Soon you will come across another drainage and a big gorge, I think this is where there might be a waterfall possibly in the spring. At 3.2k the switchbacks continue. Soon you will get a view of the entire Bow Valley below you and the beautiful mountains across the valley. At 3.7k we arrived at the lookout which is on top of a cliff. The views were just stunning looking at the valley below you and Castle Mountain above you. After a quick lunch and a beer, we headed back down.
This was a great little hike here in the Bow Valley. The trail never really got that steep as most of your elevation gain was in the switchbacks, which makes it a lot easier. There were a few people on the trail but it was not busy by any means. The trail was in great shape all the way up to the top, with only a couple tricky sections where you were hiking up some rock. If you are looking for a nice hike with some great views this is the hike for you.
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Thank you,
Cary Mason
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