Skoki Loop
You'll hike up, up and up some more before coming back down to earth a few days later on the Skokl Loop backcountry trail.
Plan Around Skoki Loop
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Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Skoki Loop Details
The Skokl Loop backcountry trail hike starts with a four kilometer (2.5 mile) hike up the Ski Louise maintenance road (don't worry, there's no vehicle access here) before climbing over Boulder Pass. Once over the pass, you'll, well, pass by Ptarmigan Lake before coming back own to Baker Lake. Here's a terrific place to spend the night, at the Sk11 Baker Lake campsite. The next morning, lace back on your hiking shoes and hike around Fossil Mountain and past Skoki Lodge National Historic Site to Merlin Meadows. This is where you'll want to camp your second night, at the Sk18 Merlin Meadows campsite. On your final morning, re-join the access trail at Ptarmigan Lake, but not before climbing Deception Pass. The trailhead for this hike is at the Fish Creek trailhead, near the Lake Louise ski area. More detailed trail descriptions and maps are available at Banff National Park and Parks Canada Visitor Centres. If you have a topographic map, take a look at 82 N/8, 82 N/9, 82 0/5, or 82 0/12, or the Lake Louise - Yoho Gem Trek recreation map. Remember when out on the trails that cell phone service is not reliable. Banff National Park's backcountry is mostly accessed by hikers, but bicyclists and horseback riders can venture away from the crowds, too. The main hiking season in this area tends to be May through October, but do keep in mind that because of its altitude, many trails at the higher elevations remain snow-bound through mid-June, and snow is always a possibility, even in mid-summer. That being said, it's important to realize that the weather within the park is unpredictable, and you should be prepared for rain, snow and high winds at any time of year, especially in the backcountry.
Difficulty
High
Distance
34 km
Estimated time
3 days
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Skoki Loop
Compare nearby parks around Skoki Loop when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Skoki Loop
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Skoki Loop while the map context is still fresh.
1.5 mi away
Banff National Park
Canada's oldest national park and was established in 1885.
1.5 mi away
Lake Louise Visitor Centre
This visitor centre is found in the village of Lake Louise.
1.5 mi away
Pipestone
Travel along the Pipestone River into Pipestone Valley along this aptly-named trail - Pipestone.
1.7 mi away
Canadian Pacific Railway Station - Lake Louise
Also built in 1910, the Canadian Pacific Railway Station is the first of six mountain stations built after 1909.
