Mount Temple, South West Ridge Route
Near Lake Louise · Banff National Park
Trail score 43 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality
About this trail
Mount Temple, South West Ridge Route is a 1.3 km out and back trail near Lake Louise in Banff National Park. It runs 0.7 km each way. The route gains 318 m in total and tops out at 2,922 m. Hike Alberta rates it expert. Allow about 2 hours 15 minutes of moving time. Along the way you pass Sentinel Pass. Expect scrambling and exposure; this is mountain terrain. Nearly all of it is mapped as T4 alpine hiking. Also used for scrambling.
- Length
- 1.3km
- 0.7 km each way
- Elevation gain
- 318m
- Estimated time
- 2h15min
- Moving time
- Route
- Out and back
- Highest point
- 2,922m
- Lowest point
- 2,604m
Elevation profile
2,604 m to 2,922 mHighest point 2,922 m, lowest 2,604 m, 318 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 81% 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 kmSentinel PassLandmark · 2,611 m
Good for
- Hiking, Scrambling
- Dog friendly (on leash)
- Views, Alpine
Trailhead
The trail starts at 51.3406° N, 116.2219° 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
- Mount Temple RouteExpert · 2.7 km · 589 m gain · 0.6 km away
- Sentinel PassHard · 5.6 km · 559 m gain · 1.3 km away
- Eiffel Peak TrailExpert · 4.9 km · 745 m gain · 1.8 km away
- Sentinel Pass · Paradise ValleyModerate · 2.0 km · 58 m gain · 2.0 km away
- Horseshoe Lake TrailHard · 5.5 km · 207 m gain · 2.1 km away
- Eiffel LakeModerate · 5.9 km · 111 m gain · 2.2 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