Paradise Valley Trail

Near Lake Louise · Banff National Park

Hard · Out and back

The Giant Steps cascades in Paradise Valley. Photo by Base Camp Dave, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trail score 86 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

About this trail

Paradise Valley Trail is a 23.8 km out and back trail near Lake Louise in Banff National Park. It runs 11.9 km each way. The route gains 1,443 m in total and tops out at 2,328 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 10 hours 45 minutes of moving time. It meets Plain of the 6 Glaciers Trail at 0.2 km, Lac Louise at 0.5 km and Fairview Mountain Trail at 3.8 km, and passes eight other mapped junctions. At 7.4 km a 0.3 km side branch with the same name splits off. The map also shows four separate sections with the same name that are not part of this route. The distance and climb above follow this route only, not its branches. Along the way you pass Lake Louise and Lake Annette and a viewpoint. Also used for backpacking.

Length: 23.8km; 11.9 km each way
Elevation gain: 1,443m
Estimated time: 10h45min; Moving time
Route: Out and back
Highest point: 2,328m
Lowest point: 1,735m

Elevation profile

1,735 m to 2,328 m

Highest point 2,328 m, lowest 1,735 m, 1,443 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 30% 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

0.1 kmDrinking water
0.2 kmLake LouiseLake
0.2 kmViewpointAt 0.2 km
3.7 kmSaddleback PassPass or saddle · 1,742 m
8.8 kmLake AnnetteLake

Good for

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

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 51.4170° N, 116.2140° 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