The C Level Cirque trail is one of the more attractive hikes in the Banff-Lake Minnewanka vicinity. This 15km round trip hike begins on the Icefields Parkway at Waterfowl Lake which is 19km south of Saskatchewan Crossing. print. Amazing lake, the trail was quite muddy. At some points, it’s almost impossible to follow the trail and you just have to make it up as you go along. Hiking up the switchbacks to the ridge . The trail runs to a low point on the south ridge . Looking back, the view extends to Sparks Lake and Mount Bachelor. From Cirque Lake at the end of Old Cottonwood Creek Trail, cross a short but tiresome boulder field to get to the base of the mountain. Read more. Get more views into the south cirque as you hike up pumice slopes and cross a rubble field. Ptarmigan Cirque Trail Loop Hike is a moderate 4.3 – 6 km trail that leads to some spectacular views. 1 review of Cirque Lake "This is the best camp to use for climbing Wolf's Head and lines on the west side of Pingora. Exhausted by crowds at Lake Louise, we went up the Icefields Parkway; the trailhead here had 2 cars in it. We experienced a blizzard at the peak but it was worth the views below. Length: 2 km one way. It's not for everyone: there are a couple of scrambly bits, there is a bit of exposure to stree drop-offs and it's very steep. I docked just to the right of the falls. Took about 25 mins to cross including pic breaks. It sits high above Callaghan Lake, which itself is a gorgeous, mountain lake. This makes the hike to Cirque Lake doable for just about anyone. No boring cleanup and, we do it all!Free delivery and pickup 24/7 365 Distance: 13 km (8.4 km for the main trail plus 2.3 km extra each way in winter) Elevation gain: 455 m Highest Point: 1920 m Time: 3-4 hours. Once on the ridge, stick to the ridgeline and scramble up the rock band. Cirque Peak via Helen Lake trail is a challenging day hike along the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park. Where to start. Heather and grouseberry form small mats. C Level Cirque, Banff National Park . Cirque Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes to visit in the Whistler area. Helen Lake is one of the most popular day hikes in Banff as it provides spectacular views over an Alpine meadow with a lovely lake and stunning views of the Bow Valley and Mount Hector.. It’s one best Banff hikes and in the summer months can draw bit of a crowd to enjoy the wildflowers that line the trail. old5ten - Apr 25, 2005 12:24 am - Hasn't voted Untitled Comment. You can see Tusk upon your return. Cirque Peak appears above Helen Lake. I started out accross Callaghan lake in my kayak. There is no designated parking lot for this hike, you have to drive pass the paved parking lot for Highwood Meadows and Ptarmigan Cirque trails on hwy 40 and when you start rolling down the road, watch our for cars parked on the left side or at the edge of the forest (near a washout). thanks for your comments. The hike to Helen Lake was pleasant: a well-worn path over roots, streams, and through forest before opening up to wonderful views of Dolomite Peak to the east and Cirque Peak in the distance to the north. Hiking the Cirque Lake trailhead is not for a novice hiker. Cirque Lake and Chephren Lake Hike. Definitely a slog . The trail was very muddy mid July. The trail starts near those cars parked on the dusty dirt road. The hike in total is about 5 km long and gains a moderate amount of elevation. But for those with the experience and skills to summit the views of Bow Lake, Bow Glacier and Dolomite Peak are absolutely stunning. In less than 4 km it climbs past artifacts of the long-defunct Bankhead coal operation and a panoramic viewpoint for Lake Minnewanka to a high, rockbound pocket beneath the sheer east face of Cascade Mountain. i'd like to point out that i actually climbed the 'south rib' of cirque lake peak in august of 2000 based on a topo (i'm still trying to dig up my old copy, it's available at the elephant's … Chester Lake. Descending this slope is much easier. Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult. The hike up to Cirque Lake is very difficult and extremely steep to begin with, you gain 300m elevation in only 2km. All reviews great hike pit toilets circus hikers wildflowers views lake. It cuts about an hour off of your approach. Activities: river-canoe hike Seasons: summer From: Irkutianin. Be warned that this is a challenging day with steady uphill climbs, particularly the final push to the top of Cirque Peak, which also involves some scrambling. The trail is marked and just cross the bridge to begin. From Helen Lake up to Cirque Peak the hike provides incredible views. Edmonton, Canada 163 contributions 28 helpful votes. Thomas, Kiran and Karen followed the route as it zigzags up the cliff band. It’s marked with sporadic pieces of ribbon or an Inukshuk every now and then… but we still left the trail a few too many times. Sep 6, 2018. Alexander Falls Map - Whistler Hiking Trails. View southeast . If you are early enough to park in the parking lot you will have access to restrooms and maps. I did this. During the second half of the trail’s length, the going becomes quite cumbersome and the chances are good that you will have to pull yourself up the trail’s embankments using handholds on tree roots and rocks. add photo. This is the view of Lonesome Lake from above. Cirque Lake. Such is the case with Cirque Lake. We left early to start our hike and on our descent (in the afternoon) it became quite congested. I want to do. Review of Banff National Park. Banff National Park: Cirque Lake and Chephren Lake Hike - See 518 traveler reviews, 787 candid photos, and great deals for Banff National Park, Canada, at Tripadvisor. Cirque Lake and Chephren Lake Hike. Upon reaching Chephren Lake we paused to take in the wonderful, albeit singular, view, then backtracked to the T-intersection and headed for Cirque Lake. Need to know: First things first, you need a water vessel to get you across Callaghan Lake before you can begin the hike and no, an explorer won From the Upper Bankhead Parking lot, it is a short 3.9 kilometre hike to C Level Cirque. Jun 24, 2012 - Whistler and Garibaldi Park's best challenging hiking trails. Cirque Lake. We took 2 hours 10 minutes to go up, and 1.5 hours to come down (including the extra 4.6 km to Minnewanka Lake) Reviewed July 19, 2019 via mobile . Review of Banff National Park. For those seeking a true day hike adventure continue on the remaining 2 km that ascends steeply to Cirque peak, towering over Helen Lake. Follow the One Way loop as posted anytime but specifically now to keep the social distancing in check while we are in this COVID pandemic. Chester Lake. Cirque Lake in Callaghan Lake Provincial Park, Whistler. Turn at the Waterfowl Lake campground and park on the road to the left. 9km trek had it all to myself. Why is this lake not a no-brainer? add review. The trail is marked and just cross the bridge to begin. It's not as cozy as the lower lakes. Banff National Park: Cirque Lake and Chephren Lake Hike - See 518 traveler reviews, 787 candid photos, and great deals for Banff National Park, Canada, at Tripadvisor. Just 90 minutes later I was on the shore of one of the most beautiful sights I'd ever seen. Expensive hiking gear for bargain prices.Hassle free, easy booking and no wasted time.Try the newest and best gear on the market. Fantastic venture today! The water was beautiful. Cairns mark an easy way up. Turn at the Waterfowl Lake campground and park on the road to the left. The trail was very muddy mid July. There isn't as much vegetation and there are no trees. Canoe or Paddleboard accessed hike from Callaghan Lake to Cirque Lake It should not be undertaken alone. Hiking through the valley alone is stunning. Ascend a steeper gravel slope, and get views of a couple of small waterfalls in the creek. Hike past coal mining ruins to two scenic viewpoints near Lake Minnewanka, Banff National Park. Cirque Lake is a wild and beautiful lake that hides high above and beyond Callaghan Lake in Callaghan Lake Provincial Park.. What makes Cirque Lake special among the other sensationally beautiful lakes in the Whistler area is both its location and geologically formed shape. The Chester Lake hike is a great option year round, since there are great cross-country skiing and snowshoeing routes in the winter. You are super-high, and there aren't as many people up here as at the lower lakes. Reviewed July 19, 2019 via mobile . Descending the southern side of Cirque Peak. C-level Cirque – the basics. High clearance vehicle required to get to this destination. Hiking to Helen Lake and Cirque Peak is a local favourite. It is very remote feeling despite the short 2 kilometre hike to reach it. Pinkdresses wrote a review Aug 2020. Ptarmigan by the tarn . The wild and hostile environment contained in a cirque valley create a staggeringly enchanting world high above Callaghan Lake. Look up and choose a path. The trail is steep and crumbling. Keep in mind that spending a night at the Horseshoe Meadows Campground before your hike is advisable so you can acclimate to the high-altitude. The final section of the hike is where your summit views are really rewarded for. Hiking Cirque lake in Banff national park. Starting from the trailhead shared with the Burstall Pass hike across from the Smith-Dorrien Trail, the well-marked path has a good mix of both tree cover and wide-open valleys. Elevation profile of the Day 2 (magenta) hike along the Cirque of the Towers Loop in the Wind River Range from Lonesome Lake to Dutch Oven Lake On day 2 you hike down to Lonesome Lake and can meet up with the Big Sandy Trail to the south of the lake. The Cirque Lake trailhead (Horseshoe Meadows) is one of the highest in the Sierra at about 10,000 feet. Looking back at Helen Lake. Loose gravel and rocks can add a little extra effort to the climb to the saddle. With the incline ever increasing, and the footing becoming ever looser pick you line through the scree slope towards the summit. Well worth the visit star star star star star. This 15km round trip hike begins on the Icefields Parkway at Waterfowl Lake which is 19km south of Saskatchewan Crossing. 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