- Trail:
- Ross Lake (Banff National Park)
- Status:
- Minor Issue / Yellow
-
Issue status:
- Condition:
- Ideal - Hero dirt! Not wet but not dry, moisture in soil.
- Reporter Primary Activity:
- Mountain Bike
Description:
Ideal time to ride this trail with only minor issues. The Trail is in good condition with 2 downed trees but that offer really simple workarounds. For stream crossings, your feet will stay dry since the water is low. Saw not a single rider or hiker for the entire route - a complete solo experience.
Although the trail is rated as ‘Black Diamond’, I view it as mostly a blue trail with only some ‘typical’ black diamond sections. However, the ample roots / rocks along the way as well as the stream crossings probably add up to give it that black diamond rating. However, this is a thoroughly rideable and enjoyable trail that anyone more comfortable NOT on black diamond trails should not hesitate to ride!! Haha! The trail is well engineered for vertical considerations to give maximum propulsion without stopping. Carry bear spray as this is ‘thick’ bear country. The biggest obstacle to accessing this trail is the parking situation – view recommendations below in the last 3 paragraphs.
It’s recommended to take the trail from east to west as the last 2 km near Ross Lake is mostly downhill, steep in sections, and is a big part of the reason this trail has the black diamond rating. You have to look around a bit to find the starting point which lies hidden behind the LL Chateau upper parking lot, but which otherwise is very clearly marked once you find the starting point. Once at Ross Lake, which makes a great photo op, it would be recommended take the northward downhill exit to the old ‘Great Divide’ closed highway and then return eastward that way for a loop experience. If you go slightly further west from the exit point on the old highway, there are some great views from the small lake there and there are also some more views at another small lake further east on the return. There’s also a cool monument and picnic tables (in good condition) right at the Continental Divide as you re-enter Alberta from BC and which makes a great rest stop.
Additionally, saw only a single biker at Lake Louise proper - not sure what's going on there - perhaps the ridiculous parking situation? I rode up from Lake Louise Village via the Tramline trail whose grade is super reasonable and makes a very reasonable way to access Lake Louise without the circus that is the upper parking lot.
In addition, even though I visited on a Wednesday, as soon as I exited Hwy 1 to Lake Louise about midday, all the signs indicated that all parking lots were full and that there were no more bus tickets available for the ride up – completely sold out! Yes, a complete circus indeed – so I would definitely recommend parking your vehicle wherever you can as close to the Village as possible, and then finding your way and riding up to Lake Louise via the Tramline Trail. At the Village parking lot off Hwy 1, parking has now been restricted to 1-2 hours, so, you’ll need to find a parking spot somewhere else nearby without risking a ticket.
Additionally, if you’re at Lake Louise for biking, it’s definitely NOT recommended to park in the designated ‘mass crowds parking lot’ which lies many km east of Hwy 1, which is another circus in itself and does not offer a credible means for bikers to return to the Village – that road is really only currently suitable for 4-wheel motorized traffic, it’s too far anyway, and I don’t believe those buses transport bikes.
Although the trail is rated as ‘Black Diamond’, I view it as mostly a blue trail with only some ‘typical’ black diamond sections. However, the ample roots / rocks along the way as well as the stream crossings probably add up to give it that black diamond rating. However, this is a thoroughly rideable and enjoyable trail that anyone more comfortable NOT on black diamond trails should not hesitate to ride!! Haha! The trail is well engineered for vertical considerations to give maximum propulsion without stopping. Carry bear spray as this is ‘thick’ bear country. The biggest obstacle to accessing this trail is the parking situation – view recommendations below in the last 3 paragraphs.
It’s recommended to take the trail from east to west as the last 2 km near Ross Lake is mostly downhill, steep in sections, and is a big part of the reason this trail has the black diamond rating. You have to look around a bit to find the starting point which lies hidden behind the LL Chateau upper parking lot, but which otherwise is very clearly marked once you find the starting point. Once at Ross Lake, which makes a great photo op, it would be recommended take the northward downhill exit to the old ‘Great Divide’ closed highway and then return eastward that way for a loop experience. If you go slightly further west from the exit point on the old highway, there are some great views from the small lake there and there are also some more views at another small lake further east on the return. There’s also a cool monument and picnic tables (in good condition) right at the Continental Divide as you re-enter Alberta from BC and which makes a great rest stop.
Additionally, saw only a single biker at Lake Louise proper - not sure what's going on there - perhaps the ridiculous parking situation? I rode up from Lake Louise Village via the Tramline trail whose grade is super reasonable and makes a very reasonable way to access Lake Louise without the circus that is the upper parking lot.
In addition, even though I visited on a Wednesday, as soon as I exited Hwy 1 to Lake Louise about midday, all the signs indicated that all parking lots were full and that there were no more bus tickets available for the ride up – completely sold out! Yes, a complete circus indeed – so I would definitely recommend parking your vehicle wherever you can as close to the Village as possible, and then finding your way and riding up to Lake Louise via the Tramline Trail. At the Village parking lot off Hwy 1, parking has now been restricted to 1-2 hours, so, you’ll need to find a parking spot somewhere else nearby without risking a ticket.
Additionally, if you’re at Lake Louise for biking, it’s definitely NOT recommended to park in the designated ‘mass crowds parking lot’ which lies many km east of Hwy 1, which is another circus in itself and does not offer a credible means for bikers to return to the Village – that road is really only currently suitable for 4-wheel motorized traffic, it’s too far anyway, and I don’t believe those buses transport bikes.
