WHY HAVE I NOT HIKED HERE BEFORE? Sunshine Meadows. Banff National Park

August 16/2022 Summer Hike

WHY HAVE I NOT HIKED HERE BEFORE?

Today we are in Banff National Park, and we will be hiking the Rock Isle Lake Trail. One thing we have to do before we start the hike is take the gondola up to Sunshine Village. Then we will ride up the Standish Chairlift and begin our hike. Even though we start in Alberta, most of this hike will be in British Columbia. The total trail is 9.2 kilometers with an elevation gain of 230 meters.

Once we get off the Standish Chairlift, we will be at an elevation of 2420 meters above Sea Level. It’s a short walk from here to the Standish Viewing Deck. Here we have a gorgeous view overlooking Sunshine Meadows and the 3 lakes we will be hiking to. They are Rock Isle lake, Grizzly Lake and Laryx Lake. This is the nicest viewpoint I have ever been to. From the lookout the trail will start to descend. We found ourselves immediately surrounded by wildflowers and Larch Trees. As the trail weaves down, you will have beautiful mountain views. Walk slowly here so you can take it all in. You will reach a junction in the trail, so keep proceeding straight towards Rock Isle Lake. Soon Rock Isle Lake will be on your right, this is one spot to stop to get some beautiful photos. At 1.5k you will have arrived at the Rock Isle Viewpoint, another great spot for photos. They also have numerous benches here to sit and relax. Now you will have to backtrack a bit to get to the other side of Rock Isle Lake. Just to let you know there are a couple outhouses on this trail, and quite a few benches to rest. Now you will be back at the junction, and you want to go left here. Make sure you stop at all the lookout spots as they each offer some spectacular views in all directions. At the end of Rock Isle lake the trail will now take you towards Grizzly Lake. There is a little platform on your right. Take this to another viewpoint and you will also see a nice little waterfall. Now you will go down a couple sets of stairs into a meadow area bursting with wildflowers. The trail continues to descend. Soon you will cross a little creek on a bridge and then just past the bridge is a little waterfall on your left. At 3.1k the trail becomes a one way trail. Take the trail on the right, this is a loop trail around Grizzly Lake and Laryx Lake. The second outhouse is along here. The trail is now mostly flat and starts to open up into another meadow. At 3.5k you will have arrived at Grizzly Lake. The trail will take you down the left side of the lake. After the lake the trail will take you back into the trees. And once again more beautiful wildflowers. At 4.3k you have arrived at Simpson viewpoint. Here you will get a spectacular view looking down the valley surrounded by mountains. After a short little walk, you will arrive at Laryx Lake. The trail will take you around the right side of the lake. At 4.9k there is a nice spot to rest looking over the lake. You will continue walking the lake and then back into the trees. At 5.9k you will meet up with the main trail where you started the one way loop. Now get ready, its uphill all the way back to Rock Isle Lake. Once you get back to Rock Isle Lake you have a decision to make. If you take the trail left, you will be hiking back up to the Standish Chairlift, and you can ride it back down. If you take the trail to the right, you will walk back around the lake and take the Rock Isle Road back down to Sunshine Village. It is about a kilometer longer, than hiking back up to the chairlift, but it is 130 meters less in elevation gain. I took the trail right this time. The previous week I was here with my family, and we hiked back up to the chairlift. And the bonus of going this way, you can enjoy Rock Isle Lake one more time. Once you get past the lake it is 1.8k back to Sunshine Village. This part of the trail is wide open, so you get some great views of the meadows and surrounding mountains. Once back at the village you have a nice gondola ride back down to your vehicle.

This year Sunshine Meadows was open from June 24/2022 will close on September 11/2022. It may change from year to year.

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Thank you,
Cary Mason
#hikingalberta #canadianrockies #travelalberta #banff
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