Hike Alberta
Hector South Peak 500 m N
Route preview. The interactive map opens here with terrain, contours and live notices.Open the map

Little Hector Route

Near Field · Banff National Park

Hard · Out and back

Trail score 52 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

Hector South Peak 500 m Open the map

About this trail

Little Hector Route is a 6.4 km out and back trail near Field in Banff National Park. It runs 3.2 km each way. The route gains 1,146 m in total and tops out at 2,957 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 7 hours of moving time. It passes two mapped trail junctions. Between 1.6 km and 2.2 km a 0.7 km alternative with the same name runs beside the route. The distance and climb above follow this route only, not its branches. Along the way you pass the summit of Hector South Peak.

Length
6.4km
3.2 km each way
Elevation gain
1,146m
Estimated time
7h
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
2,957m
Lowest point
1,827m

Elevation profile

1,827 m to 2,957 m
2,9571,827 0 km3.2 km

Highest point 2,957 m, lowest 1,827 m, 1,146 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 56% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 100% of route

0% LTE · 100% 5G

Longest modelled gap
0.0 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. 3.1 kmHector South PeakSummit · 2,972 m

Good for

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

Trailhead

The trail starts at 51.5453° N, 116.2866° 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