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Ross Lake Trail

Near Lake Louise · Banff National Park

Hard · Out and back

Lake Louise near the start of the trail
Lake Louise near the start of the trail. Photo by RAF-YYC from Calgary, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trail score 69 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

1 km Open the map

About this trail

Ross Lake Trail is a 14.2 km out and back trail near Lake Louise in Banff National Park. It runs 7.1 km each way. The route gains 378 m in total and tops out at 1,848 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 4 hours 30 minutes of moving time. It meets Divide Mountain Route at 6.8 km, and passes one other mapped junction. Also used for mountain biking.

Length
14.2km
7.1 km each way
Elevation gain
378m
Estimated time
4h30min
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
1,848m
Lowest point
1,727m

Elevation profile

1,727 m to 1,848 m
1,8481,727 0 km7.1 km

Highest point 1,848 m, lowest 1,727 m, 378 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 20% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 84% of route

0% LTE · 84% 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, Mountain biking
  • Dog friendly (on leash)
  • Lake

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 51.4193° N, 116.2171° 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