Saddleback · Sheol Valley
Near Lake Louise · Banff National Park
Trail score 79 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality
About this trail
Saddleback · Sheol Valley is a 14.3 km out and back trail near Lake Louise in Banff National Park. It runs 7.2 km each way. The route gains 1,090 m in total and tops out at 2,328 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard, and Parks Canada rates it difficult. Allow about 7 hours 30 minutes of moving time. It meets Lac Louise at 0.1 km, Fairview Lookout at 0.2 km and Paradise Valley Trail at 1.8 km, and passes three other mapped junctions. Along the way you pass a viewpoint. Also used for horseback riding, cross country skiing and snowshoeing.
- Length
- 14.3km
- 7.2 km each way
- Elevation gain
- 1,090m
- Estimated time
- 7h30min
- Moving time
- Route
- Out and back
- Highest point
- 2,328m
- Lowest point
- 1,749m
Elevation profile
1,749 m to 2,328 mHighest point 2,328 m, lowest 1,749 m, 1,090 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 34% 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 kmViewpointAt 0.0 km
- 3.3 kmSaddleback PassPass or saddle · 1,742 m
Good for
- Hiking, Horseback riding, Cross country skiing, Snowshoeing
- Dog friendly (on leash)
- Views, Alpine
Rankings
Trailhead
The trail starts at 51.4155° N, 116.2154° 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
- Lake Louise LakeshoreModerate · 4.6 km · 75 m gain · 0.1 km away
- Plain of Six GlaciersModerate · 13.7 km · 692 m gain · 0.2 km away
- Paradise Valley TrailHard · 23.8 km · 1,443 m gain · 0.2 km away
- Fairview LookoutEasy · 1.3 km · 95 m gain · 0.2 km away
- Moraine Lake HighlineHard · 11.9 km · 387 m gain · 0.3 km away
- Lac LouiseEasy · 1.0 km · 39 m gain · 0.3 km away
All 588 trails in Banff National Park
Parks Canada trail data, Open Government Licence Canada
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30