Caldron Lake

Banff National Park

Moderate · Out and back · Official trail

Peyto Lake from the viewpoint where the route begins. Photo by Tobias Alt, Tobi 87, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trail score 92 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

About this trail

Caldron Lake is a 13.9 km out and back trail in Banff National Park. It runs 6.9 km each way. The route gains 956 m in total and tops out at 2,402 m. Hike Alberta rates it moderate, and Parks Canada rates it moderate. Allow about 6 hours 45 minutes of moving time. It meets Caldron Peak Trail at 2.8 km and Trapper Peak Route at 5.3 km, and passes one other mapped junction. Along the way you pass Caldron Lake, Peyto Lake · Viewpoint and Difficult Ford at Site of Washed Out Bridge. Much of the route follows Peyto Creek. Also used for horseback riding.

Length: 13.9km; 6.9 km each way
Elevation gain: 956m
Estimated time: 6h45min; Moving time
Route: Out and back
Highest point: 2,402m
Lowest point: 1,847m

Elevation profile

1,847 m to 2,402 m

Highest point 2,402 m, lowest 1,847 m, 956 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 51% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 0% of route

0% LTE · 0% 5G

Longest modelled gap: 6.9 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

0.0 kmPeyto Lake · ViewpointViewpoint
4.1 kmDifficult Ford at Site of Washed Out BridgeStream crossing
6.9 kmCaldron LakeLake

Good for

Hiking, Horseback riding
Dog friendly (on leash)
Lake, Views, River or creek, Glacier, Alpine

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 51.7170° N, 116.5072° 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

Parks Canada trail data, Open Government Licence Canada
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30