Little Temple Route
Near Morant's Curve · Banff National Park
Trail score 51 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality
About this trail
Little Temple Route is a 12.0 km out and back trail near Morant's Curve in Banff National Park. It runs 6.0 km each way. The route gains 1,649 m in total and tops out at 2,622 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 10 hours 15 minutes of moving time. It meets Moraine Lake Highline Trail at 0.5 km, Temple Lake Ridge Route at 1.2 km and Little Temple Alt Route at 1.9 km, and passes two other mapped junctions. At 3.0 km a 2.3 km side branch with the same name splits off. The distance and climb above follow this route only, not its branches. Along the way you pass Temple Lake.
- Length
- 12.0km
- 6.0 km each way
- Elevation gain
- 1,649m
- Estimated time
- 10h15min
- Moving time
- Route
- Out and back
- Highest point
- 2,622m
- Lowest point
- 1,794m
Elevation profile
1,794 m to 2,622 mHighest point 2,622 m, lowest 1,794 m, 1,649 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 70% 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
- 2.0 kmTemple LakeLake
- 3.1 kmLittle TempleSummit · 2,588 m
Good for
- Hiking
- Dog friendly (on leash)
- Lake, Views, Alpine
Trailhead
The trail starts at 51.3748° N, 116.1576° W.
Banff National Park admission
National park admission required
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.
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
- Temple Lake Ridge RouteHard · 3.6 km · 384 m gain · 1.3 km away
- Little Temple Alt RouteHard · 1.9 km · 431 m gain · 1.6 km away
- Lake AnnetteModerate · 11.4 km · 349 m gain · 2.5 km away
- Paradise ValleyModerate · 5.9 km · 193 m gain · 3.8 km away
- Sheol Mountain RouteHard · 6.1 km · 914 m gain · 3.9 km away
- Fairview MountainHard · 2.4 km · 402 m gain · 4.6 km away
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