Hike Alberta
Ptarmigan LakeBrachiopod MountainAnthozoan Mountain 1 km N
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Brachiopod / Anthozoan Route

Near Lake Louise · Banff National Park

Expert · Out and back

Trail score 71 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

Ptarmigan LakeBrachiopod Mountain 1 km Open the map

About this trail

Brachiopod / Anthozoan Route is a 13.4 km out and back trail near Lake Louise in Banff National Park. It runs 6.7 km each way. The route gains 1,032 m in total and tops out at 2,718 m. Hike Alberta rates it expert. Allow about 9 hours of moving time. It meets Unity Peak Route at 0.5 km, Valley Route at 1.3 km and Heather Ridge Route at 5.4 km, and passes one other mapped junction. At 0.7 km the trail forks. This route keeps left; the right fork is a 0.4 km T4 side branch with the same name. The distance and climb above follow this route only, not its branches. Along the way you pass Ptarmigan Lake and the summit of Anthozoan Mountain. Expect scrambling and exposure; this is mountain terrain. Nearly all of it is mapped as T4 alpine hiking. Also used for scrambling.

Length
13.4km
6.7 km each way
Elevation gain
1,032m
Estimated time
9h
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
2,718m
Lowest point
2,321m

Elevation profile

2,321 m to 2,718 m
2,7172,321 0 km6.7 km

Highest point 2,718 m, lowest 2,321 m, 1,032 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 65% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 22% of route

5G near trailhead

Longest modelled gap
5.2 km
Model
2024 · Natural Resources Canada

Predicted coverage is not guaranteed. It varies by carrier, terrain, weather, device and network load, and it does not guarantee emergency service.

Along the way

  1. 0.0 kmPtarmigan LakeLake
  2. 3.5 kmBrachiopod MountainSummit · 2,667 m
  3. 6.6 kmAnthozoan MountainSummit · 2,695 m

Good for

  • Hiking, Scrambling
  • Dog friendly (on leash)
  • Lake, Summit, Views, Alpine

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 51.4811° N, 116.0836° W.

Driving directions

Banff National Park admission

National park admission required

Buy day or annual pass

Pass details

Visitors spending time in a national park need valid daily admission or a Parks Canada Discovery Pass. Admission is separate from camping, reservations, parking and other service fees.

Information checked October 21, 2026.

Official details

Before you go

Carry an offline map and plan for no service in backcountry areas. Trails close for wildlife, fire, weather and construction. Check the official sources:

Nearby trails

All 588 trails in Banff National Park

Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30