This trail which can also be accessed along a ridge from the Protection Mountain Route is best done in summer as it presents some serious avalanche terrain which makes it quite dangerous during the winter. This Northern summit is the highest peak on Protection Mountain which is about 11km in length. While its true summit TV peak lies to the south of the mountain, Armor Peak does offer some amazing views for those who are willing to endure 2309m of elevation gain to make it to the peak.
Starting from where the Luellan Lake Trail swing in toward the campsite at Luellan Lake, this trail continues north west as it follows Johnston Creek and crosses the creek on a few wooden bridges as it makes its way towards Badger Pass Junction Camp Jo29 just south west of Pulsatilla Mountain, From this point a steady climb is at hand as you make your way to badger pass at 2545m, view map to see views of the area surrounding badger pass.
Distance: 20.37km (return)
Elevation: 1309m
Distance: 21.44km (return)
Elevation Gain: 659m
A popular trail for both hiking and snowshoeing. While the actual trail is about 6.5 km, I cut mine short as near the top this trail does run into some avalanche terrain beyond this point, if you are reading this in the winter, I will have slope angle shading turned on during winter months and off during summer months. A really nice hike that you can let your dog tag along with you on. Be careful in winter if going beyond the ridge.
Distance: 4.79km (return)
Elevation Gain: 339m
With amazing views of Eisenhower Tower, Bow Valley and Castle Mountain Falls. This side trip from Rockbound Lake with only 295m makes it all worthwhile. Or if you want to do the whole trip, see click here on Rockbound Lake Trail to view its info.
Distance: 6.97km
Elevation Gain: 295m
Distance: 14.87km (return)
Elevation Gain: 1287m
This path shares the trail with Rockbound Lake and offers some great views of Castle Mountain and the Johnston Creek Valley.
Distance: 23.18km (return)
Elevation Gain: 1375m
Sometimes done as a side trip from the Ink Pots Trail, Hillsdale Ridge does offer some great photographs of the surrounding countryside. My suggestion is to do it as a side trip from the Ink pots Trail from a more rewarding hike.
Distance: 13.49km (return)
Elevation Gain: 591m
Starting on one of the busiest areas in Banff National Park, The Ink Pots Trail goes through Johnston Canyon. The Ink Pots get their colour from the minerals in the water and stay at 4 degrees Celsius year-round. The inkpots themselves are located within a breathtaking basin. This trip is best done during the summer months and will be a highlight of your time within the park. Just past the end of this trail is a hike which leads to the Hillsdale Ridge Trail and Hillsdale Ridge Itself, it is shown on the map above if you wish to check it out.
Distance: 10.51km (return)
Elevation Gain: 318m
A good chance your boots will get wet as you hike into this lake, some bushwhacking may be needed on this relatively moderate hike.
Distance: 2.6km (return)
Elevation Gain: 87m
Starting out on one of Banff National parks most popular scenic hikes, this trail cross Johnston Creek and then heads north east past a wooden bear, which is a popular spot for tourists to take photos. Past this point as you continue you walk on a suspension bridge style boardwalk as you make your way past the different waterfalls. So many scenic views along this hike it is very easy to see why so many people visit this area every day. This one hike you will not regret, you can continue and to the inkpots and beyond. See Ink Pots Trail for more info.
Distance: 4.88km (return)
Elevation Gain: 131m
From the parking area, this trail shares the same path (see Ink Pots Trail and Johnston Canyon Falls Trail). If it seems busy at Johnston Canyon, this hike can also be started from the Moose Meadows Trail. If choosing the latter be wary of a short section which goes through a swamp and van be wet and muddy at times. As you continue whichever way you are choosing to enter this hike, eventually you will make your way to the ink pots (see Bow Valley Parkway Map). While a side trail to Hillsdale Ridge can be accessed from this area, continue North and you will cross a wooden bridge at the end of a meadow with a handrail on one side. Keep following this trail north as it heads towards Larry’s Camp Campground. From the campground as you keep hiking you will come to a wooden gate; you can enter but please close it after you have gone through. The gate is for horses with Parks Canada use in the backcountry quite often. From here as you continue to Luellan Lake a lot of nice scenery will be had by any who head this way. Remember to keep your bear spray in a quickly accessible location, and not in your pack or back pocket. As you get to the junction with Luellan Lake, it is well marked and very hard to miss. One more wooden bridge takes you over Johnston Creek and and towards your final destination of Luellan Lake. There is a camping area here with picnic tables. Just be sure to keep an eye out for bears, wolves and mountain lions and practice safe food storage while in the backcountry especially along this trail.
Distance: 31.8km
Elevation Gain: 542m
This forested trail is used by some as a shortcut to the Ink Pots (see Ink Pots Trail) that avoids Johnston Canyon Falls Trail as it is extremely popular. This hike can also be used as a starting point for the Luellan Lake Trail as well as the Mystic Lake Trail.
Distance: 6.14km (return)
Elevation Gain: 182m
With 1347m of elevation gain this hike is considered moderate by most. One noticeable feature seen when doing this hike is gaping dark cave known as the Hole in the Wall. This cave can be seen from the highway as is approximately 60 feet high and 100 feet deep.
Distance: 10.58km (return)
Elevation Gain: 1347m
The original trail I have on my map for this is just to be used as a reference point, for general navigation to the top as this trail is now filled with deadfall, and requires some pretty good route-finding skills to make it to the top, a lot of ankle breaker level trees crisscrossed together can also lead to serious injury. Not recommended for beginner or novice hikers who are not experienced in scrambling.
Distance: 5.35km (return)
Elevation Gain: 824m
While the trail I have on the Bow Valley Parkway map starts above Larry’s Camp Backcountry Campground, I will provide the info on how to reach that particular area here as well as you can see it under the Luellan Lake Trail as it also shares the first leg of this hike. From the parking area, this trail shares the same path (see Ink Pots Trail and Johnston Canyon Falls Trail). If it seems busy at Johnston Canyon, this hike can also be started from the Moose Meadows Trail. If choosing the latter be wary of a short section which goes through a swamp and van be wet and muddy at times. As you continue whichever way you are choosing to enter this hike, eventually you will make your way to the ink pots (see Bow Valley Parkway Map). While a side trail to Hillsdale Ridge can be accessed from this area, continue North and you will cross a wooden bridge at the end of a meadow with a handrail on one side. Keep following this trail north as it heads towards Larry’s Camp. From here the hikes follows the norther base of Mystic Peak clockwise as you make your way towards Mystic Pass as the trail starts to descend to Mystic Lake which is located in the western part of the Mystic Valley. Mystic Valley Camp M122 is roughly 1.2 km west of the actual lake.
Distance: 9.06km (one-way)
Elevation Gain: 566m
Note – this trail like the name says is for advanced hikers with scrambling and mountaineering experience as well as an above average fitness level due to the length and elevation of this hike. While many other trips can be done in this area, make sure to plan ahead and give yourself extra time as no one wants to be caught up here at night, trying to navigate this terrain.
This trail shares its south eastern starting point with the Rockbound Lake Trail and Silverton Falls Trail, and its northwestern point of access with the Armor Peak Route. When following the Rockbound Lake leg of this hike you pass the beautiful Silverton falls as you make your way towards Stuart Knob. Many side trails exist from here giving this trail multiple different ending points. Side trails such as Helena Peak and Ridge (see Helena Ridge Trail) as well as an impressive hike up to Castle Mountain (see Castle Mountain Trail from Rockbound Lake Trail) which offers great views of the Bow Valley as well as Castle Mountain Falls. From Stuart Knob this hike continues north as Television Peak becomes another option side trail or ending point, as so many multiple trails can be created in this area depending on time and fitness level of the people involved. From here you can continue on to Armor Peak or do a steep ascent to at alternate entry point for this mountaineering adventure.
Distance: 33.12km (return)
Elevation Gain: 1344m
After walking approximately 300m of along a forested Rockbound Lake Trail which parallels Silverton Creek, you cutoff Rockbound lake Trail and continue following the creek till you get to your destination of a waterfall that flows over a series of narrow stone ledges as it makes its way roughly 50m to the creek below.
History Note – in 1881, after Joe Healey received some ore during a trade with an Indigenous person which was found to contain a relatively high silver content, a town called Silver City, started to thrive as up to 3,000 people at its peak once lived there but as fast as it sprung up, by 1885 it was nearly abandoned due to the mine failing to make a decent profit. The name Silver City gave way to the name Silver Town Creek which led to Silverton Creek for which the falls are named after.
Distance: 1.65km (return)
Elevation Gain: 86m
This trail is best used between July and the end of October. With 970m of elevation gain along this hike, it makes for a full day trip. A side trail to Silverton Falls is a nice addon as well as the view of Eisenhower Peak. This is a popular trail during Larch season as above Tower Lake there are views of Larch Trees, Castle Mountain Falls, Rockbound Lake plus the many other peaks in this area. This hike never seems to disappoint.
Distance: 20.05km (return)
Elevation Gain: 970m
| Trail | Distance | Elevation Gain | Terrain |
| Armor Peak Route | 20.37km (return) | 1309m | Experience mountaineering trail |
| Badger Pass from Luellan Lake Trail Lake Trail | 21.44km (return) | 659m | Long steady hike along a forested creek |
| Castle Mountain Lookout Trail | 4.79km (return) | 339m | A moderate forested hike |
| Castle Mountain Trail from Rockbound Lake Trail | 6.97km (return) | 295m | Steep hike with great views at the top |
| Cockcomb Mountain | 14.87km | 1287m | Technical Mountaineering Trail |
| Helena Ridge Trail | 23.18km (return) | 1375m | A forested hike with a steep scramble |
| Hillsdale Ridge Trail | 13.49km (return) | 591m | Moderate forested hike up to a ridge |
| Ink Pots Trail | 10.51km (return) | 318m | Popular hike via Johnston Canyon |
| Island Lake trail | 2.6km (return) | 87m | Easy trail; bushwhacking required |
| Johnston Canyon Falls Trail | 4.88km (return) | 131m | Banff's most popular easy hike leading to waterfalls |
| Luellan Lake Trail | 31.8km (return) | 542m | Steady hike with moderate elevation that passes 2 campsites |
| Moose Meadows Trail | 6.14km (return) | 182m | Forested hike avoiding Johnston Canyon Trail |
| Mount Cory Route | 10.58km (return) | 1347m | Moderate hike with steep elevation |
| Muleshoe Ridge trail | 5.35km (return) | 824m | Advanced hike with route findings |
| Mystic Lake Trail from Luellan Lake Trail | 9.06km (return) | 566m | Moderate forested hike to a lake |
| Protection Mountain Advanced Loop Route | 33.12km (return) | 1344m | Advanced hike Please view description |
| Rockbound Lake Trail | 20.05km (return) | 970m | Long steady forested leg burner |
| Silverton Falls Trail | 1.65km (return) | 86m | Short easy hike to a waterfall |
The maps, GPS data and elevations on profiles are provided for reference purposes only and to help you plan you next outdoor adventure. Maps can be used for navigation and you can open them up in Caltopo for a better viewing experience. Backcountry Views makes no guarantees, representations or warranties respecting this data, either expressed or implied. Backcountry Views assumes no responsibility for damages or other liabilities due to the accuracy, availability, use or misuse of the information provided. I use the information provided within this website to help plan my hikes from elevations to different types of terrain. This info is free to use, as I want to help everyone have a safe enjoyable time while hiking, thank you very much. I hope you find this info to be a benefit to you. For updates follow me at backcountryviewsofficial on Instagram.
