Although we didn’t summit Greater Pharaoh Peak (Photo 2), the view of the lake (Photo 1) beside Egypt Lake took our breath away. Finally, there it is - the world my eyes have never seen until now (Photo 4), just right over Healy Pass. Smell pine and cedar in the forest, such great scent! The trail to Healy Pass is popular and often packed down thanks to its popularity. But I had gone this far. Past the meadow is the apex of the trail Healy Pass that provides fantastic views out to the surrounding peaks. With the Healy Pass trailhead just minutes away from Banff and having just completed this incredible solo hike last week, I pitched the idea to her. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until August. bear on the road. Realizing the boulders and rock field around the summit would be quite slippery and therefore dangerous to traverse across, I quickly snapped a few photos and made my way down just as the wind picked up more speed and more rain came down. This trail encircles a wetland filled from hot springs flowing out of the lower slopes of Sulphur Mountain. Instagram for pics/DM: rootyhiker, Hiking trail: Healy Pass and Pharaoh Peaks What a glorious hike! It really isn't an endurance hike, it's a peaceful slow uphill with incredible views. We had decided and were REALLY itching to bag Cascade Mountain. No words can express how majestic and grand this hike is. Later trail is icy and slippery. The final 1.5 is the steeper part of the hike and ends at a beautiful spot with views of the lake. Thanks to the ego-slaps we received from our Mount Collembola and Centennial Ridge attempts a couple weeks ago, we set aside our pride quicker than you could say Jack Robinson. Dogs Toward the end of the trail, visitors will pass two intersections: the first with the Triple Lakes Trail , and the second with the Morino Trail and the Triple Lakes Connector . My 4.5 month old puppy did 17km out of the 20km. For a family-friendly stroll, take the 1.1 km Lower My soul sister was all in and therefore so was I. It can be cold on top of Healy Pass, as it is quite exposed, but this makes for excellent views. I couldn’t believe it. This trail has 318 metres (1,038 feet) of elevation gain and typically takes 3 to 5 hours depending on experience level and pace. Make sure you take this into account if starting late. Very very very long. Gorgeous hike this time of year, believe the other reviewers when they say to bring more layers than you think you’ll need. Plan Your Day For a day on the slopes you won't forget; From tickets, to lessons, to rentals, and The clouds broke late in the day, so we stopped every once in a while to inhale the crisp air and listen to the muffled silence, fully taking in the grandeur of the fresh snow-capped peaks surrounding us (Photo 6). Drive 24.2km on this lovely road to Sunshine Village ski resort. THIS is the mountain I’m supposed to climb?! Easy unsubscribe links are provided in every email. The longer hiking/backpacking options are to Mount Assiniboine via Citadel Pass (August 2009) or to Healy Pass / Egypt Lake via Simpson Pass. Got to the start around 9:30am today (Sunday) and assumed it was busy. Image of summertime, summer, panoramic - 154304620 The … The tracksetting goes for about 6.8K. Definitely return through Simpson Pass if you can: it is wild and beautiful. Route Description for Healy Pass This Parks Canada Trail is well maintained, and allows for beautiful views of many gorgeous peaks and Egypt Lake. Definitely not a “hard” trail but very very very long. You will pass two small bridges along the route to Healy Meadows. In high risk conditions, be sure to stay on the main trail, avoiding any potential avalanche hazards. Healy Pass Ireland is found in southwest, a perfect diversion from the longer Ring of Beara driving route. Continuing on from these historic sites, the trail passes beside Hines Creek near the site of the first park headquarters, built in 1921. I was overwhelmed with emotion and joy. Don't miss the views of The Monarch, Monarch Ramparts Distance: 36km Its rated as difficult not for its intensity, but for its endurance. *Experienced Hikers Only*If you received an email from me regarding updating your RSVP, please disregard. In winter it is also rare to find…, A snowshoe trip to Crystal Ridge, along the Icefields Parkway, takes you through fascinating boulders, giant crystals, and awe-inspiring views…, Today for free and be the first to get notified on new updates. I only gave it 4 starts bc 90% of this hike is kinda dull. Top of trail you still can see lots of larches. It was nice and quiet with only a few people on the trail. Be sure…, Snowshoeing in Paradise Valley, near Lake Louise, is stunning, with incredible scenery. Even then, the wet snow, wet socks, and wet feet did not dampen our spirits over the 30km hike. It is important to note that when travelling through avalanche terrain it is extremely valuable to always have a companion. You can download a list of Avalanche Terrain Ratings from Parks Canada on their site. Populated? We got quite a bit of snow as we hiked so the trail will probably be fairly wet until it warms up. Rock Isle and Twin Cairns Meadow Park Trail, Sunshine Meadows, Simpson Pass, and Healy Pass, Healy Pass, Simpson Pass and Sunshine Village, Sunshine Meadows via Banff Ave and Citadel Pass. We made it up top and were fed within three hours with plenty of stops so decided to tack on Simpson Pass. It was muddy but I had no issues in waterproof trail runners. Wow. It was a banner year for wild flowers, which were at their prime when I was there. Distance: 28,4 km –> 19,4 km return to Healy Pass & 9 km extra to Egypt Lake (took us 7 hours including breaks) Elevation gain: 1060 m (650 m if you hike to Healy Pass only) Maximum elevation: 2335 m. Difficulty: easy trail with gradual incline; the trail to Egypt Lake is a lot steeper. Amazing views from the top few km and pleasant forest trail winding uphill for bottom ~8km. This one included. I had done 4 hikes in 4 days and it all culminated in these unbelievable views (Photos 1, 9, 10). Dog-friendliness: 5/5 until Pharaoh Peaks At some point, it turns into a spiritual experience when I’m 10km in, and I realize I’m alone in this gold-draped valley, with The Monarch (Photo 2) and the Monarch Ramparts (Photo 3) rising above. Cramp ons would definitely have been helpful but we made do. Head up to Healy Pass in late September or early October to check out the beautiful larch trees in their golden glory. Quite busy (but not as much as the primary larch hikes! I could feel the first few raindrops land on my face. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Hiking date: October 4, 2020 A larch wonderland! No We continued on past Healy Pass towards Healy Pass Peak. Healy Creek campground is located at 5.5 km. I will absolutely do it again, maybe this winter. It was a bit cold on the summit, but the views under the clear blue sky were absolutely fantastic in all directions and we hung around for 20 minutes before starting a very leisurely descent. Trail Facts Distance: 37.3 Waypoints BNP001 Location: 51.1142768859863, -115.763542175293 Simpson Pass Trail starts behind gondola BNP002 Location: 51.0847511291504, -115.794326782227 Continue NW on I logged 20.8km for the whole day. Bikers will be held back or shuttled around hazards, i.e. Such a small world and so proud to be part of such a cool community. Difficulty? The grade was steep, the climb was relentless and unforgiving, and worse, the weather was turning. Sunshine Meadows, Assiniboine, and other amazing views can be seen from the top of this easy trail. No spam. Arrived 9:20 am; 0°. Instagram for pics/DM: rootyhiker. Pharaoh Lake (Photo 9) was to the north. Nice walk through the woods, a little long on way down. The trail is well-graded the whole way and winds it's way along the creek valley, steadily gaining 300-400 m of elevation for the first 6-7 km while in the forest. Make sure you wear layers, and warm clothing as the wind and snow can change temperature dramatically at the pass. Thus Healy Pass Peak is best done as winter snowshoe trip, while Eohippus lake trail can be used as alternate access to Monarch Ramparts in summer. Make sure you wear layers, and warm clothing as the wind and snow can change temperature dramatically at the pass. Easy and doable for pretty much anyone. nice views from the top. See the conditions report, 5 day weather forecast, and lift & run status. 84km of distance and 5,590m of elevation gain later, I can truly say this most recent hike was the pinnacle of all the hikes I’ve done to date. This is where you can put on your snowshoes and begin the day! ), really nice trail with the larches turning Any doubt that I would just stop and turn back at Healy Pass because of fatigue were erased the moment my eyes were laid upon these mountains - Greater Pharaoh Peak, Scarab Peak, Sugarloaf Mountain. It then narrows to single track. Completed 2020-09-26. Or check it out for yourself via our live webcams. The only difficulty for some may be the distance, with close to 20 km round trip. There are very few of these rangers in the field during the shoulder seasons and none in the winter months. West Bragg actually has better conditions overall which is unusual. This past weekend, my 4-day hiking marathon included Heart Mountain Scrambler’s Route, Cascade Mountain, Taylor and O’Brien Lakes, and finally Pharaoh Peaks. Also make sure you have lots of layers as it’s chilly out there!Once you make it out of the forest however, the views of the larches are increasingly spectacular. The trail begins behind the parking area. It took us just under 7h. The trail from here continues onto Egypt Lakes, which presents backcountry camping opportunities or an extended day hike for a keen hiker. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until August. Access Healy Pass by taking a shuttle to the Sunshine Ski Resort, which is just west of Banff on the Trans-Canada Highway by about 15 minutes. logged approximately 23km round trip. Whilst the stats looked pretty gruelling, the Healy Pass hike is actually on the easier side when compared to other trails in the Rockies. Time: 09:00 hrs Hi, Does anyone have knowledge of Healy Pass and Egypt Lake conditions? The trail begins on a gravel access road beside the gondola station. It looked like an old postcard photograph! I had done it! Been there twice this year. Doubt crept back in my mind that I could even do another 1,200m more. Healy Pass is one of my favourite places - summer and winter! Healy Pass Trail is a 18.3 kilometer heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Banff, Alberta, Canada that features a lake and is rated as difficult. The views at the end are absolutely stunning with an incredible view of the mountains. Very nice hike, although 90% of it goes through a forest so it’s not that interesting. From the pass, it is a Healy Pass from Sunshine Parking 19.4 km 665 m 2 B1 afatp Healy Pass from Sunshine Parking 19.4 km 665 m 3 B1 Sunshine Village to Parking via Monarch Viewpoint-Healy Meadows-Healy Creek 15.6km 350m/680m up/down But I’d already done 700m of elevation! This trail is popular, so there should be a well-packed trail here. It is rewarding though, especially as it's larch season. Drive 7.7km west of Banff on Trans-Canada and take the Sunshine Village exit. I wouldn’t say it’s a hard hike by any means, just long. It’s so goddamn beautiful. Good judgment comes from experience. You will usually need to tell the parking lot attendants for Sunshine Village that you are snowshoeing to Healy Pass, as they don’t let Sunshine Visitors park at the rear parking lot. And those lakes. When the trail began climbing up to Healy Pass the views began to open up. It is not a place to ASK "are the trails open?". Ninety miles of road through the rugged Denali National Park. Distance: 30km I’ll be back in the summer to check out the wildflowers. PS: To borrow from Dr. Geoff Tabin - an accomplished mountain climber and medical professor - who said, “To have a great adventure and survive requires good judgment. Snowshoeing in the Banff takes you into remote terrain. Shout out to @sarah_poff and @poffdaddyy, whom we came across on our hike. And that makes me feel so very aware. Absolutely stunning views, larches are fully yellow and once the trail opens up to the clearing it is an immediate “wow” view. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. It's an official Parks Canada Trail so it is well maintained and easy to keep on track and there are a lot of people. You will be following the summer hiking trail, so the route will be familiar for many hikers. Cell phones do not work until you get to Canmore. Photo about Wide Panoramic Landscape of Healy Pass Meadows on a great summertime hiking trail in Canadian Rocky Mountains, Banff National Park. 2019 UPDATE: As of this summer, there is no shuttle bus service from the Sunshine parking lot to the Sunshine Meadows trail head. The main two clearings and best spots for pictures are around the 6.5 and 8.5km points. Be cautious here, as this area can see strong winds, sweeping the snow right off the rocks. * Get two-way radios because you never know what could happen Several muddy parts of the trail but much easier to grip than the ice! Highly recommend this, it extends it to about 22.5km but it's flat then downhill. Out in the backcountry in the Healy Pass area on the 3rd, snow pack more like November, and mostly facetted Scramble? The grade steepens as you gain elevation, but still remains relatively gentle. However in the summer there was considerably less. started hiking at 0725 and got back to the car around 1320.. nearly 6 hours round trip with a 45 minute break at the pass and taking on simpson pass trail on the way back. Anyone on a snowshoe trip should have Avalanche training, we recommend AST 2 for all backcountry travellers, and AST 1 is the minimum. And though the clouds severely limited visibility at these higher elevations, we were still in awe of the views (Photos 3, 4, 5). 9.26.20- great trail. Healy Pass and Simpson Pass Loop is a 12.4 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Banff, Alberta, Canada that features a lake and is rated as difficult. From the parking lot, walk behind the main lodge and gondola base, looking for a trail kiosk under a large retaining wall. After all, she hadn’t summited a mountain in forever, and I wasn’t able to complete Mount Lougheed 2 and 3 (extreme winds) and Mount Glasgow Ridgewalk (incoming blizzard compounded by extreme bushwhacking and frustrating trail-finding) the previous two days. An hour later, I summited Greater Pharaoh Peak. * Get waterproofed Gore-Tex boots for snowy conditions The trail is definitely NOT a premier hike. Very easy trail to follow. Would recommend! From the Sunshine Village parking lot take the main trail behind the main building. Elevation really doesn’t feel like much overall but it certainly is long. We left the herd here (and were exceedingly grateful to do so) and headed around the main building to pick up the Healy Pass trail where we put on our snowshoes and started our trip. Great hike, completed on Tuesday September 22. Whilst it is 700 metres in elevation, it is evenly spread across 9km, making it far more gradual than most. Become a Contributor at 10Adventures and share your adventures! For our day, we reached the summit of Healy Pass Peak four hours after leaving the car. The trail is double trackset for the initial 1.8K. Beginning of the tail is solid, frozen. We’d traveled very quickly for the first 7.0km, but had slowed down considerably in the meadows as we tired a bit, broke a bit of new trail, and just soaked in the scenery. FRIENDLY REMINDER - it gets very dark, very fast in the mountains. Such a heart-warming hike! Snowshoeing to Healy Pass is a great day out in winter, and a fantastic break from the busy ski hills. Get there early to get a good spot! Dog-friendliness: 5/5 There is a picnic table and viewpoint at 3.8K. The info center insists the entire pass area is under a meter of snow and impassable, but I hesitate to believe them as I've backpacked through there in the past when they were insisting it was "snowbound" without encountering any snow! A snowshoe trip to Taylor Lake, which sits at the base of Mount Bell, is a beautiful sight. This group is for people to POST updates of trails conditions. Note: As of September 27, 2020 users have reported that the Sunshine village CLOSED the parking lot, so you have walk to the trailhead adding a bit of distance to your hike. If you have the time, anyone can do this hike, it might just take a while! It's exactly 10kms to the top so 20kms return unlike what All Trails has listed for distance. Details Gain: 215 m Along this moderate hiking trail you will find beautiful meadows, ponds, waterfalls and streams. You could make that hike a little bit longer, you could go down to Egypt Lake (approximately 4km more) and you can make a loop by going back to Sunshine Village and down on the access road instead of the same way you went up. Strangely enough, the best skiing of the day was descending the luge-track-like trail with its many twists and turns through the forest just below Healy Pass. The start of the trail keeps you shaded from the … You have walk far away to the trailhead. Time: 10:00 hrs (solo hike, includes 45 mins lunch) Done, We did this hike on Sept 27. Fresh air all around! Somehow the email went out to … Seen all the seasons today. Total elevation gain: 1,960m The Park does actively monitor wildlife near roads. Healy Pass Access Description Drive Sunshine access road branching west from Trans-Canada highway some 10 … Absolutely stunning if you can do this hike in the sweet spot when the larches have changed but there's no snow at the top. Healy Pass is a long and progressive hike on well-maintained trail. Brilliant day. No filter is needed! Medium, very gradual rise and somewhat long. Snow conditions … Enjoy the scenery here, as this is where the views begin to grow. Please note that skiing is dependent on snow conditions, and current conditions for the Sundance. I definitely wouldn't rate this as hard. 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