Mount Girouard Route

Near Anthracite · Banff National Park

Hard · Out and back

Johnson Lake near the start of the route in winter. Photo by davebloggs007 on Flickr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trail score 76 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

About this trail

Mount Girouard Route is a 18.0 km out and back trail near Anthracite in Banff National Park. It runs 9.0 km each way. The route gains 1,655 m in total and tops out at 2,977 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 11 hours of moving time. It meets Inglismaldie to Girouard Route at 8.8 km, and passes two other mapped junctions. Between 7.0 km and 8.1 km a 1.2 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 Johnson Lake, the summit of Mount Girouard and a stream crossing.

Length: 18.0km; 9.0 km each way
Elevation gain: 1,655m
Estimated time: 11h; Moving time
Route: Out and back
Highest point: 2,977m
Lowest point: 1,418m

Elevation profile

1,418 m to 2,977 m

Highest point 2,977 m, lowest 1,418 m, 1,655 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 55% 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

0.0 kmJohnson LakeLake
0.9 kmStream crossing
1.0 kmStream crossing
1.1 kmStream crossing
1.2 kmStream crossing
2.0 kmStream crossing
2.8 kmStream crossing
2.8 kmStream crossing
3.2 kmStream crossing
3.9 kmStream crossing
3.9 kmStream crossing
8.9 kmMount GirouardSummit · 2,995 m

Good for

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

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 51.1938° N, 115.4770° 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