Summit Elevation (m): 3084
Trip Date: July 24 2009
Elevation Gain (m): 1200
Trip Time (hr): 5
Total Trip Distance (km): 11
Quick ‘n Dirty Rating: Class 2/3 – you fall, you sprain or break something
Difficulty Notes: No major difficulties if snow and ice free. Beware of the hiking restrictions due to bear activity in the summer.
Technical Rating: SC5; YDS (3rd)
GPS Track: Gaia
Map: Google Maps
On July 24, 2009 I soloed the scramble route up Eiffel Peak in Lake Louise, Banff National Park.
Technically there is a hiking restriction of a minimum part of 4 to get in this area but I simply hiked
between groups of tourists that were slower than me and figured as long as I stuck with the groups,
I’d be fine. There are a LOT of people on the trails in this area in the summer anyway, but you should
be aware that there are stiff fines if you are hiking solo. (Update 2022: I would no longer consider
going solo nowadays while there are active restrictions in this area. Due to a massive influx of tourists
to the area there are more enforcements of the rules compared to when I was here in 2009.)
Eiffel Peak is an easy scramble – I don’t know why it’s not rated ‘easy’ but according to me it should
be. It’s a very pleasant and short day out with a killer view. I will probably repeat this one some day in
the fall with my kids – it would be fantastic with lots of larches. I missed the trail that cuts across the
stream on the way up – I actually went down it but didn’t think it continued over the stream. You
know you have the right trail when you are immediately crossing the stream at a small falls (you hear
it from the main trail) and there are small stone steps dug into the slope right off the main trail.
I went all the way up to the empty sign post and benches before losing height on my way over to
Eiffel’s shoulder ridge. The trail is obvious all the way up.
Moraine Lake (R).
On descent I passed more people and had to take care for falling rocks – both from myself and from
those above me. This is a highly recommended scramble with some pretty stellar views.
