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It can be nerve-wracking to take beginner climbers up a mountain, but the scramble up Cirque Peak is non-technical and is unlikely to scare anyone off, except maybe a friend or two. Reaching the summit provides an incredibly rewarding view and a genuine sense of accomplishment. The mountains stretch out as far as the eye can see, and the colours are breathtaking. However, on rainy days, there would be no views and the only color you would see is grey.

So, when my girlfriends and I failed to summit the Cirque Peak due to the weather earlier this season, I couldn’t wait to go back up there again. By late July I was determined to complete it alone because scrambling isn’t intimidating at all, right? But, I ended up asking my friend Sam to join me, not only to help me with practical things like taking photos but also to assist me with scrambling.

When you’re out here, these are the sort of things that are waiting for you. And for just a moment, you can forget about anything else. It feels surreal, like you are from another time. A much simpler time.

s.t.

Cirque Peak At A Glance

Cirque Peak was named in 1909 after the large cirque that lies at the base of its northern cliffs. However, it was first ascended before it had a name by H.P. Nichols, C.L. Noyes, C.S. Thompson, and G.M. Weeks in 1899.

  • Distance: 18 km
  • Elevation Gain: 1079 m
  • Time: 5:23:23
  • Difficulty: Hard

Getting To The Cirque Peak Trail Head

Drive on Highway 93 north towards Jasper for 32.8 km from the Highway 1 turnoff. The parking lot is marked as “Helen Lake” and is on the east side of the road.

TH To Helen Lake

We started from the signed point in the parking lot and entered the forest. The trail was well-marked and we followed it for about 4.5 km. Once we emerged from the trees the views were stunning. We crossed Helen Creek and continued until we reached Helen Lake after about 6.0 km. Thousand and a half pictures later we headed for the headwall.

Helen Lake

I’ve found that this particular part of the trail is quite popular, so keep that in mind when planning your trip. Lots of people will end their hike here but despite the crowds, I enjoyed it because the distance is so long. However, if you’re looking for a more solitary experience, this trail may not be the right fit for you. But don’t worry – if you plan your visit for a weekday or arrive early in the morning, you’ll likely have a more peaceful experience. There’s plenty to enjoy and appreciate on this trail, regardless of the number of people around you.

The Cirque

We hiked around the lake and contoured around the right-hand side of the water towards a headwall. The trail took us to the right of the cliffs. I would not want to take any shortcuts here. Finally, we scampered the remaining few meters to the viewpoint before turning left and walking across the plateau to the base of the main push to the top of Cirque Peak.

Final Stretch To The Summit

The final ascent was a bit of a challenge with just under 500 m of elevation gain to complete in a 1.3 km of distance. The terrain consisted of sand and loose scree and we followed the trail to the left of the ridge, being careful not to get too close to the edge. I whined a lot at this point.

Roughly 10 meters from the top, a pretty tricky rock formation required some quick thinking and agility. Sam and I ditched our poles at this point and used our hands to scramble up the notch towards the peak. It can be a bit intimidating if you’re not used to it, so go at your own pace.

Wow, reaching the top was quite the climb, but the view from up here was breathtaking! You can see for miles in every direction, including Dolomite Pass, Dolomite Peak, and even Lake Katherine. The mountain to our right looked almost like a submarine. That’s Dolomite Peak, and it’s one of the most unique peaks in the entire Rocky Mountain range. The drop-off on the other side is pretty steep and not something you want to mess around with. One wrong step and it could be fatal.

After we were done running around taking pictures while being blown over, we descended the same way we went up. It was quite an adventure, but we managed to capture some amazing shots despite the windy conditions, well Sam did. The descent was a bit easier than the climb up, but we still had to be careful not to slip on the loose rocks.

Cirque Peak Via Helen Is The Prettiest Hike In Banff NP

There, I said it. I know it’s a bold statement to make considering the number of unbelievably beautiful hikes in Banff NP. But here’s the thing, the summit views will make this one worth repeating over and over! Bow Glacier spills down from the Wapta Icefield, draining first into upper Bow Lake, and then into Bow Lake. It’s mind-blowing. And the pee-views were the best!

Is Banff NP overrated?

Sometimes you come across a place so pretty, so stunningly beautiful, it’s hard to believe it’s real. And if you happen to be in Banff NP, that’s because it is! Just a little heads up, though – it’s a popular spot, especially on weekends, so be prepared for crowds, high prices and bears. Some people may argue that Banff is overrated but I believe that some places are popular for a reason and it’s okay to want to experience them for yourself.

LNT

When exploring the great outdoors, it’s important to remember the Leave No Trace principles. By following this framework, we can ensure that we enjoy nature while preserving it for future generations. The idea is to leave the environment as untouched as possible so that the next person who visits can enjoy it just as much as we did.

Related

If you would like to learn more about Sam’s adventures, overlanding, offroading and car camping with his FJ you can subscribe to the Stoked Tour channel. And for the the battle of the Canadian Rockies read here.

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Happy Trails!