Pipestone Loop Trails
Near Lake Louise · Banff National Park
Trail score 44 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality
About this trail
Pipestone Loop Trails is a 12.7 km loop trail near Lake Louise in Banff National Park. The route gains 279 m in total and tops out at 1,728 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 4 hours of moving time. It meets Mud Lake Ski Trail at 2.1 km, and passes two other mapped junctions. Six side branches with the same name split off the route, at 10 m, 0.7 km, 2.1 km and further on. 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.
- Length
- 12.7km
- Elevation gain
- 279m
- Estimated time
- 4h
- Moving time
- Route
- Loop
- Highest point
- 1,728m
- Lowest point
- 1,560m
Elevation profile
1,560 m to 1,728 mHighest point 1,728 m, lowest 1,560 m, 279 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 21% 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.
Good for
- Hiking
- Dog friendly (on leash)
Rankings
Trailhead
The trail starts at 51.4344° N, 116.1843° 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
- PipestoneHard · 76.9 km · 1,430 m gain · 0.1 km away
- Mud LakeModerate · 2.3 km · 78 m gain · 0.3 km away
- Lake Louis Tram LineEasy · 3.3 km · 95 m gain · 0.7 km away
- Lake Louise Tram Line TrailModerate · 11.1 km · 224 m gain · 1.0 km away
- TownsiteEasy · 1.1 km · 11 m gain · 1.1 km away
- Bow RiverModerate · 12.3 km · 152 m gain · 1.1 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