# Going to Banff National Park next week - what should be on the bucket list?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-banff-national-park-next-week-what-should-be-on-the-bucket-list/818842>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [July 31, 2018, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-banff-national-park-next-week-what-should-be-on-the-bucket-list/818842 "2018-07-31T01:48:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-banff-national-park-next-week-what-should-be-on-the-bucket-list/818842/41 "2018-08-13T15:59:18Z")

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Welcome back! It sounds like you had a great time.

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**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-banff-national-park-next-week-what-should-be-on-the-bucket-list/818842/42 "2018-08-13T19:19:28Z")

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> [@China\_Guy](#):
>
> Actually, it was terrible. The trail was not maintained and very confusing. Crossed lots of slate outcrops that, IMHO climbing experience (which ain’t shabby) was downright unsafe. I should have known better but got sucked into "well, we’ve already climbed 30 minutes, and ignored the guy that said “the trail gets worse”. We kept going. only 1000 meter elevation climb but went’ straight up. The view from the top was good but not worth the shitty climb (I’ve climbed a lot of peaks with spectacular views, and this was merely a “good” view). Coming down really sucked as the trail was complete shit, lot’s of slippery slate, and my youngest twin (13 years old),doesn’t do well on uneven surfaces. So, even though it was a one person wide trail, I had to hand hold her down. At the same time, coach her exuberant twin that doesn’t like being coached to come down safely, and then also talk 18 year old big sis was “bad” ankle became bad during the hike. The mountain was immediately dubbed “Bullshit Mountain” and has already become part of family lore.
> 
> Seriously, it was a shit, unmarked and poorly maintained trail that an 80 year old volunteer at the Banff Information center recommended. I was seriously kicking myself for not throwing in the towel 1/3 of the way up, and literally pretty concerned I wasn’t gonna get all 3 girls down safely. That said, Bullshit Mountain it is and forever more shall be.

This is an accurate description of hiking in the Canadian Rockies- we’ve done it extensively the last 3 years and love it (Did Lake Ohara and Jasper’s Skyline this year), but we have ascribed a term, “Canadian Switchback” to describe some of the inclines and descents we have encountered. It was coined 3 years ago in the far outback of Banff (five days in) when we had just spent 3 hours going across a marsh/delta/stream bed adventure [a remnant of the horrendous floods of 5-10 years back] where the trails have not yet been reestablished. We finally get to the far side of the valley and I kid you not, the trail goes straight up the side of the mountain to the pass (800’ up in \< 0.5 miles). We finally make it and start down the other side thinking “for sure they must have switchbacks on this side” but nope it is straight down. I had to “crawl” on all fours backward down a couple of sections. Halfway down there is a god-damn tree right in the middle of the trail. They chose to cut off the lower branches rather than make a switchback. Thus Canadian Switchback was born- when there really should be a switchback but Canadians and their ungodly powerful quads just didn’t seem to think the same way! And screw you too, Mr. Tree.

Next time you are out that way, I highly recommend the Iceline Trail in Yoho. It is well maintained! (albeit a bit crowded) but the views are ridiculous and the 3 glaciers you hike in front of are really cool. Although I recommend doing the full loop, there are obviously some ways to shorten the hike as needed. I think the Iceline Trail beats all hikes in the Canadian Rockies with the exception of Berg Lake/Snowbird Pass (in Mt. Robson Provincial Park) for beauty and just awesomeness.

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**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2018, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-banff-national-park-next-week-what-should-be-on-the-bucket-list/818842/43 "2018-08-13T19:32:10Z")

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Canadian switchback it is. It was awful but Bullshit Mountain is now part of family lore. Seriously, it was unsafe and not marked

Iceline trail sounds awesome!

We probably will go somewhere closer to home. The 13 hour drive home was loooooooooooooooong on Saturday. Great experience and glad we did it though.

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**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2018, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-banff-national-park-next-week-what-should-be-on-the-bucket-list/818842/44 "2018-08-14T02:16:08Z")

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> [@China\_Guy](#):
>
> Monday climbed Ho Ling peak. Used to be called “Chinaman’s peak” but renamed later for the actual individual. It was nearby but outside of the park. Actually, it was terrible. The trail was not maintained and very confusing. Crossed lots of slate outcrops that, IMHO climbing experience (which ain’t shabby) was downright unsafe. I should have known better but got sucked into "well, we’ve already climbed 30 minutes, and ignored the guy that said “the trail gets worse”. We kept going. only 1000 meter elevation climb but went’ straight up. The view from the top was good but not worth the shitty climb (I’ve climbed a lot of peaks with spectacular views, and this was merely a “good” view). Coming down really sucked as the trail was complete shit, lot’s of slippery slate, and my youngest twin (13 years old),doesn’t do well on uneven surfaces. So, even though it was a one person wide trail, I had to hand hold her down. At the same time, coach her exuberant twin that doesn’t like being coached to come down safely, and then also talk 18 year old big sis was “bad” ankle became bad during the hike. The mountain was immediately dubbed “Bullshit Mountain” and has already become part of family lore.
> 
> Seriously, it was a shit, unmarked and poorly maintained trail that an 80 year old volunteer at the Banff Information center recommended. I was seriously kicking myself for not throwing in the towel 1/3 of the way up, and literally pretty concerned I wasn’t gonna get all 3 girls down safely. That said, Bullshit Mountain it is and forever more shall be.is

I’ve summited HA Ling peak about a dozen times and I guess it is a bit rustic, although pretty par for the course for trails around Canmore and Banff. I’m not surprised it was recommended to you - it’s the trail I always suggest to out of town guests, but it is sort of grindy in the middle.

If you’re ever back, try Johnson’s Canyon. The first 2k or so are paved up to the lower falls, and the next 6 or so k up to the Ink Pots is a gravel pathway. I’ve seen people in wheelchairs or pushing strollers make it up so it could be a better choice if anyone in your group has mobility issues. It’s really beautiful as well and long enough to be interesting, and feel a little bit like exercise if that’s something you’re keen for. 🙂

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**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\
**Post date:** [August 14, 2018, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/going-to-banff-national-park-next-week-what-should-be-on-the-bucket-list/818842/45 "2018-08-14T20:49:39Z")

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> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#):
>
> I’ve summited HA Ling peak about a dozen times and I guess it is a bit rustic, although pretty par for the course for trails around Canmore and Banff. I’m not surprised it was recommended to you - it’s the trail I always suggest to out of town guests, but it is sort of grindy in the middle.
> 
> If you’re ever back, try Johnson’s Canyon. The first 2k or so are paved up to the lower falls, and the next 6 or so k up to the Ink Pots is a gravel pathway. I’ve seen people in wheelchairs or pushing strollers make it up so it could be a better choice if anyone in your group has mobility issues. It’s really beautiful as well and long enough to be interesting, and feel a little bit like exercise if that’s something you’re keen for. 🙂

My youngest twin is on the autism spectrum. While in pretty good shape, she doesn’t do well on uneven surfaces, so it was pretty hairy getting down from Ha Ling in one piece.

Johnson’s Canyon sounds great and I put it on my list if we make it back out there.

Hope the forest fires have been brought under control!

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