Rockbound Lake is one of our favorite hikes in Banff because it's easy to find some peace and quiet if you climb up past the lake. Rockbound Lake is well-known hiking objective; in summer it is a launching pad for fantastic alpine and several popular Kane scrambles. The nature reserve is located in the county El Dorado in California and is characterized by its innumerable picturesque mountain lakes, bare granite as well as by its individual conifers and bushes. here to grab a bite to eat and refill water bottles. Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Boom Lake trail is an easy-to-follow trail with gentle elevation gain. Longer trips and those on the icefields cost more, since the cost of the accommodation is higher plus there . 55 photos. Barrett Lake 8. A favourite for a relatively "easy" 25 km loop and an amazing option for larch season before snow starts falling again above treeline. This often results in an unstable snowpack with high avalanche danger. Enjoy the . We generally will break for 10-15min. Best time to go: June to September (possible in winter with snowshoes, check Parks Canada website for trail conditions and avalanche danger) The route to Helena Ridge starts up the well trafficked Rockbound lake hiking and snowshoe trail. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 5 h 43 min to complete. If you plan to hike the Rockbound Lake trail in winter, proceed only to Tower Lake unless you're an experienced hiker, have avalanche training, avalanche gear, and have checked the avalanche bulletin. Avalanche Lake 6. Trailhead: Rockbound Lake trail, Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy 1A), 0.2 km east of Castle Junction . Drive to Castle Junction on highway 1 and head east 100m on the 1A to find this parking lot. 15 Aug 1985 - by John Bees. A favourite for a relatively "easy" 25 km loop and an amazing option for larch season before snow starts falling again above treeline. Azure Lake 7. It starts running at 9 a.m. which is pretty much perfect timing for anyone leaving from Calgary at 7 o'clock. Trails lace the Banff area, ranging from low-elevation strolls along boardwalks to more strenuous full-day outings that lead seasoned hikers to some of the best alpine passes the Rocky Mountains have to offer. Between Rockbound and Doris Lake trail is still 50% snow covered, then mostly snow free between Doris and Lois. More Information Banff Visitor Centre: 403-762-1550 224 Banff Avenue We decided to approach Numa Mountain from the avalanche chute route ( bench ) and return via Floe Lake. We got a quick glimpse of the south end of Helena Ridge East Peak (right), before heading deep into the forest! Lake Miller Lake Rockbound Lake Granite Lake Lake Lois Richardson Lake Gilmore Lake Lake Le Conte Beauty Lake Mc Kinney . Check the avalanche bulletin before heading out www.avalanche.ca. The pre-broken trail continued (left) towards Rockbound Lake, but we'd be the first of the season for where we were headed!! You pass by the remains of an old log cabin. Tana Stratton, Zosia Zgolak and I originally planned on skiing to Rockbound Lake on 25 April 2021, but snow conditions were so poor at the trailhead that we decided to go elsewhere. More posts from the Calgary community . Peaks: High Route (sorted/filed as High) ; Place: California Part 1, Was There a High Route? A great spot to click photos when in Banff! Visit Kananaskis Avalanche Forecast for the latest Avalanche Conditions. snow slopes or when exposed to avalanche paths. . After eating a bit of lunch I started back. Horseshoe Lake. AVALANCHE WARNING: Sunday, December 12 The following message is transmitted at the request of the Sierra Avalanche Center. The trail begins at the Rockbound Lake trailhead parking lot. Kananaskis Highway Powder. From here we leave the Parks Canada trail exiting onto the climber's approach trail and follow this for another 30min or so to the base of the lower tier of the mountain. Tower is far prettier, I felt. This short hike starts at the Rockbound Lake Trail located next to the Rockbound Lake Trailhead parking lot. The cost of a weekend trip is arrived at by: Adding the cost of accommodation, including a prorated portion of the Tour Leader's accommodation, plus $10/weekend club levy for equipment purchase and maintenance. Note: This trail is not recommended for winter travel as the waterfall viewpoint is on an avalanche slope. Angora Lakes: Echo Lake: Avalanche Lake: Echo Lake: Azure Lake: Emerald Bay: Barrett Lake: Rockbound Valley: Bass Lake: Clarksville: Beauty Lake: Pyramid Peak . Trailheads on El Dorado National Forest (West) Side. Numa Mountain & Floe Lake trail head are down Hwy 93 on the right from Castle Mountain, about 30km from Hwy 1. . Placerville Ranger District again. Bass Lake : DONT PUT LIGHTS UP AT BASS LAKE ITS NOT THAT BIG A. Rockbound Lake Hike On this guided day hike you will follow a beautiful and well maintained trail that climbs steadily and opens up to stunning views of Castle Mountain and Rockbound Lake. It took 3 hours to get to the first lake which was certainly beautiful, but not comparable to hikes around Lake Moraine or Lake Louise. From the parking area, proceed up Rockbound Lake Trail to its terminus at Rockbound Lake (9 kilometers). Avalanche Risk During any month of the year, hikers should expect that steep slopes covered in snow can avalanche, with serious consequences. El Dorado County, California Lakes: A listing of all the Lakes in El Dorado County, CA with maps, driving directions, and a local area search function. Typically our Guides will ascend via . If you plan on hiking a lot in the winter taking an Avalanche Safety Course is recommended if you are venturing into . . A Waterfall can be seen from the back side of the lake. Set within an amphitheatre carved from the limestone walls of the Massive Range, Bourgeau Lake is a moderately difficult hike, but is the closest subalpine lake to the town of Banff, making it a popular destination for those based in town. Doug Wiens' site Alberta Ski Trail Conditions for Trails North of Red Deer. Trails are all snow-covered with a mix of ice, slush, fresh snow or melting snow conditions. I went on (with greatest difficulty - I"m 83) to Rockbound. As the year closed out in 2019 the avalanche ratings were still fairly high and the weather was bitterly cold. As alpine granite comes into view, the trail enters its sustained steepest section up to Maude Lake, sometimes with the aid of engineered steps, then onto its highest elevation at Rockbound Pass (having climbed over 1,500 vertical feet and 6 1/2 miles from the trailhead. Desolation Wilderness is accessed through 13 trailheads: Loon Lake, Van Vleck, Rockbound, Twin Lakes, Lyons Creek, Pyramid Creek, Ralston Peak, Echo Lake, Glen Alpine, Mt. To reach the gorgeous lake requires some effort, and it . With a significant increase in avalanche risk, this trip seemed to be a good choice, instead of a more ambitious objective - ambitious being quite relative - 16 km of . This hike primary trail can be used both directions and has a hard overall physical rating with a 49 ft black diamond climb. Description Directions Stats Switchbacks up to Tower Lake takes about 3 hours. AVALANCHE WARNING: Sunday, December 12 The following message is transmitted at the request of the Sierra Avalanche Center. There is a cliff between Tower and Rockbound. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 6 h 43 min to complete. This is an area where natural processes take precedent; a place where nature remains substantially unchanged by human use. This is the time to learn about big snow slides by registering for an avalanche course with Avalanche Canada or a guiding company. If you see a lake name that is . However, the trail is quite muddy from Doris to Lois. Many of these spots are open to public fishing. After a small drop the trail levels out for a bit through a forest of smaller trees. Trailhead : Miles One Way: Difficulty: Twin Lakes to: Grouse Lake: 2.1: Moderate/Difficult : Hemlock Lake Helena Ridge East Peak, Feb. 18, 2019. The Banff-Egypt Lake Map features detailed cartography, accurate hiking trails with distances, and details such as side trips and backcountry campgrounds. If you're unsure of the conditions, this is not the place to be. The hike to the lake is easy and tranquil. Hidden Lake. The Rockbound Lake Trail is located near Lake Louise in Banff National Park, just 31 km west of the town of Banff. My understanding is that in winter, you can camp anywhere in the backcountry of the Nat'l Parks. The trailhead to Rockbound Lake Hike is on the right side of the Bow Valley Parkway, shortly after you pass the sign for Johnston Canyon. View this link for Office Locations and Hours of Operation. Very steep switchbacks for about 15 minutes brings you to Rockbound Lake. The views from treeline are dramatic and highlight the steep North face of Castle Mountain. 07/05/17. However, you will want to avoid the slope to skiers right as it is a very clear avalanche path from the ridge . Wietse and I decided to do a relatively safe and easy outing to get our ski legs going. Other options in the area include Castle Lookout and Rockbound Lake. It's only about a 100 m elevation gain, but it gains it quick even with the help of the switchbacks. Start the trail to Rockbound Lake at the trail kiosk in the parking lot. It is located west of Lake Tahoe and north of Highway 50 in El Dorado County. Local Trail Association Mother Lode Trail Stewardship The Sierra Avalanche Center in Truckee has issued a BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE WARNING for the following areas: Greater Lake Tahoe region. It covers popular areas such as Sunshine Backcountry and Egypt Lake but also some less known gems like Massive Mountain, Copper Bowl and Rockbound Lake. 1. PAGE 2: HIDE PAGE 2 SHOW/HIDE PIC 1 This is the other side (North side) of famous Castle Mountain here in Banff. . Winter is almost here and that means avalanche season. Elevation gain: 725 metres (2,380 feet) Allow: 5 to 6 . Check the trail conditions beforehand to prevent a muddy or avalanche situation. (Photo, top: Tower Lake from the trail before getting to Rockbound Lake) at 22:40 No comments: Labels: Hiking. Grouse Lakes (Large) Grouse Lakes (Small) Half Moon Lake. When I hiked up there in the winter, there were a LOT of skiers. There is a parking lot with a kiosk, bear safety information and a map. Trailhead: Rockbound Lake trail, Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy 1A), 0.2 km east of Castle Junction . With sun, no wind, and tolerable temperatures forecast for today I turned to my list of excellent "secret" peaks and picked one that would be great for Sandra and I on snowshoes and Alison on skis. Starting point of our tour is Rockbound Trailhead, which is directly situated by the idyllic Wrights Lake on more than 6,950 ft (2130 m). Past the lake, the trail hits treeline and Paradise Valley reveals itself with its glaciated peaks. True Meaning of . Great Western Divide High Route. Grouse Lakes (Large) Grouse Lakes (Small) Half Moon Lake. 5500ft 4000ft 0.00miles 1.50miles 3.00miles 4.50miles Rockbound Lake Details Activities Hike Trail Running Riding Area Lake Louise , Alberta Difficulty Rating Blue rate Hiking SAC Scale T2 Mountain Hiking Trail Type Wilderness Trail Direction Both Directions Physical Rating Moderate Trail Visibility Always easy to follow Dogs Allowed Yes