Hike Alberta
Mount RichardsonRichardson Ridge 1 km N
Route preview. The interactive map opens here with terrain, contours and live notices.Open the map

Mount Richardson Route

Near Lake Louise · Banff National Park

Expert · Out and back

Trail score 65 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

Mount RichardsonRichardson Ridge 2 km Open the map

About this trail

Mount Richardson Route is a 17.0 km out and back trail near Lake Louise in Banff National Park. It runs 8.5 km each way. The route gains 2,400 m in total and tops out at 3,071 m. Hike Alberta rates it expert. Allow about 18 hours 45 minutes of moving time. It meets Pika Peak Route at 3.2 km and Mount Richardson Shortcut at 5.6 km. At 1.9 km a 0.2 km T4 side branch with the same name splits off. The map also shows a separate section with the same name that is not part of this route. The distance and climb above follow this route only, not its branches. Expect scrambling and exposure; this is mountain terrain. Nearly all of it is mapped as T4 alpine hiking. Also used for scrambling.

Length
17.0km
8.5 km each way
Elevation gain
2,400m
Estimated time
18h45min
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
3,071m
Lowest point
2,206m

Elevation profile

2,206 m to 3,071 m
3,0712,206 0 km8.5 km

Highest point 3,071 m, lowest 2,206 m, 2,400 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 68% 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. 3.9 kmMount RichardsonSummit · 3,086 m
  2. 6.3 kmRichardson RidgeSummit · 2,650 m

Good for

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

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 51.4762° N, 116.0981° 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