Sawback Trail Backpacking Guide, Banff National Park

The Sawback Trail in Banff National Park is a 74 km (46-mile) traverse through the rugged and beautiful Sawback Mountain Range. Along the route, hikers climb over three spectacular passes and wind through meadows dotted with stunning alpine lakes. This trail spans a good portion of Banff National Park, stretching from the Lake Louise area to the town of Banff. With most people flocking to crowded trails on the west side of the Trans Canada Highway, this trek provides a true backcountry feel in a stunningly beautiful wilderness. 

Quick Facts

Distance: 74 km (46 miles)

Days Needed: 4-6 days

Elevation Gain/Loss: 734 meters (2,408 feet)

Best Travel Time: Late July – September

Permits: Required, see below

Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult

Highlights

• Beautiful mountain passes and high alpine scenery
• Relative solitude, less crowded than other trails in Banff
• Good side trips (Badger Pass, Ink Pots, etc.)
• Good shuttle/hitchhike options with trailheads in popular areas

Lowlights

• Competitive permit process
• Can be susceptible to quickly changing weather
• Seasonal bugs and snow
• Campfires prohibited
• Heavy horse travel from Cascade Amphitheatre Trailhead to Mystic Junction
• Route finding required from Baker Lake to Wildflower Creek

Best Time to Travel

In general, July through September is the best time to hike the Sawback Trail. Snowpack and wildfires are key factors for trip planning in this area. Snow can linger on passes until late in the year. Wildfires and prescribed burns pose limitations to any backpacking trip as early as May and as late as October. Rain and snow can fall at any time of year here, and freezing temperatures are possible as well, even in the summer months.

As always, be prepared and diligent in monitoring current conditions, as weather can change quickly in the mountains. Before heading out, check the Banff National Park trail reports for up-to-date conditions. Parks Canada staff are very friendly and helpful for up-to-date information.

Difficulty

• Total Distance: 74 km (46 miles)
• Total Elevation Gain/Loss: 734 meters (2,408 feet)
• Overall Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult

We rate this hike as moderate to difficult due to some big climbs and occasional route finding.

As always, difficulty ratings depend on your experience, physical fitness, pack weight, & weather conditions. This is not a technically demanding hike for a relatively active hiker/backpacker. However, like any backpacking trip, you should plan a trip that falls well within your comfort level and train earnestly.

It’s good practice to be honest about your limitations with your hiking partners, refresh your wilderness skills, and update your gear before heading out. It’s a major buzzkill to bring a busted tent or pad with you. Doing so will make for a safe and enjoyable adventure.

Permits

According to the Parks Canada site, a backcountry permit and campsite reservations are mandatory for anyone planning an overnight trip into the backcountry of Banff National Park.

When making a reservation, you must specify the campgrounds you wish to book, as well as the number of people and tents in your group. Our section on campsites shares the ones we went with and some alternatives.

Permits can be obtained online at reservation.pc.gc.ca or by calling 1-877-737-3783. Reservations are available beginning in January for visits throughout the calendar year.

Getting to Trailheads

The Sawback Trail spans from the Lake Louise Ski Resort (Fish Creek Trailhead) to the Mount Norquay Ski Resort (Cascade Amphitheatre Trailhead) just outside of Banff. You are able to hike this trail in either direction. Parking lots can fill up quickly, so try to get an early start or use the public transit or a shuttle.

Fish Creek Trailhead: If you are traveling from Lake Louise to Banff, you will begin at the Fish Creek Trailhead near the Lake Louise Ski Resort. To get here from Lake Louise, head southeast on Lake Louise Drive. Continue on Fairview Rd. Take Pinnacle Drive to Lake Louise Drive. Take Bow Valley Pkwy/AB-1A E to Whitehorn Drive. Follow Whitehorn Drive until you see your destination. There is also a free shuttle service which connects Lake Louise Village to the Lake Louise Ski Area.

Cascade Amphitheatre Trailhead: If you are traveling from Banff to Lake Louise, you begin at the Cascade Amphitheatre Trailhead near the Mount Norquay Ski Resort, which is located 6 kilometres (4 miles) from the town of Banff. If driving from Banff, head west on Wolf St toward Banff Ave. Turn right onto Lynx St and continue onto Mt Norquay Rd. After continuing onto Mt Norquay Scenic Dr, the ski area will be on your left. There is also a free shuttle service which connects Banff to the Mount Norquay Ski Area. 

Below is a map showing mileage, campsites, and the general route of Sawback Trail. Follow the red trail lines from Lake Louise in the upper left to Banff in the lower right. The green dots are the campsites.

Possible Itineraries

Most people complete the Sawback Trail in 4-6 days. Below are a few sample itineraries, but there are many different ways to trek this route. For more information on mileage between campsites, please refer to the Parks Canada Reservation website.

Three Night Option

• Starting Trailhead: Fish Creek/Lake Louise Ski Area
• Camp 1 – Wildflower Creek
• Camp 2 – Luellen Lake or Johnston Creek
• Camp 3 – Mystic Valley

Four Night Option

• Starting Trailhead: Fish Creek/Lake Louise Ski Area
• Camp 1 – Hidden Lake
• Camp 2 – Wildflower Creek
• Camp 3 – Luellen Lake or Johnston Creek
• Camp 4 – Mystic Valley

Five Night Option

This trip itinerary allows for extra time to explore the spectacular Skoki Lakes region and take a side trip to Badger Pass.

• Starting Trailhead: Fish Creek/Lake Louise Ski Area
• Camp 1 – Merlin Meadows
• Camp 2 – Baker Lake
• Camp 3 – Badger Pass Junction
• Camp 4 – Luellen Lake or Johnston Creek
• Camp 5 – Mystic Valley

Maps & Guidebooks

Lonely Planet: Banff, Jasper, and Glacier National Parks – We used this book for planning all our trips in this region. Although it provided a good overview, it did not give all the specifics needed to complete the Sawback Trail. Still a good resource though. 

Banff & Mount Assiniboine Map – This topographical map provided all the details we needed on campsites, water sources, and mileage for the Sawback Trail. 

Parks Canada Banff Park Website – We’ve been continually impressed with Parks Canada information on various trails. Their reservation system is straightforward and easy to use.

Note: At the time of this posting, basic route-finding skills are required to follow the trail from Baker Lake to Wildflower Creek. The trail is sometimes easy to follow, but can quickly be lost in wetland areas around Baker Creek. We recommend using a GPS device (we like the Gaia GPS phone app), carrying a map/compass, and brushing up on your navigation skills (Navigation #1 – Staying Found, Navigation #2 – Map, Compass & GPS) before your trip.

Water

Water is plentiful along this trail and easily accessible from small streams and lakes. Carry enough water to get from one source to the next and use a lightweight water purifier. We carried the SteriPEN Ultra, and we were very happy with its performance. Another one of our lightweight favorites is the Sawyer Squeeze. Check out our best water filter gear guide for our other top recommendations.

Bears & Food Storage

Banff National Park is home to a healthy grizzly and black bear population. At each campsite, there are food storage facilities such as bear boxes or food storage cables. You will need to bring a small carabiner to attach your stuff sack to the storage cables. Please remember to stow away all food, garbage, toiletries, and cooking supplies in a dry stuff sack overnight. Abide by these regulations to limit bear-human interactions, which ultimately saves bears’ lives.

Bugs

Mosquitoes are seasonally present along the Sawback Trail, especially earlier in the season and at lower elevations. Hiking in September is often bug-free. Use a combination of permethrin on your clothing and a small amount of DEET on exposed skin for full protection.