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Bow Peak

Banff National Park

Popular Ski Tour Venue

Ski Touring Easy

Distance
6.6 km
Ascent
558 m
Descent
559 m
Duration
3-4 hrs
Low Point
2.1 km
High Point
2.3 km
Gradient
30˚
Bow Peak Map

Bow Peak is probably the most well known Ski Touring spot in the Bow Valley. It's where nearly every single AST 1 course takes place, and so it's never lacking in new groups heading out. The area tends to get snow early being higher, and further North than Banff and Canmore. It's not uncommon to get good turns here in November. Often wind carries snow into this area so it's often better skiing than it looks.

Description

A old road heads up to the treeline making ascents straightforward. At treeline things get a bit more challenging, both figuratively and literally as the terrain is rated ATES Challenging.

A lateral moraine with some trees runs south east, and the best ski lines are found between the wider trees facing east. The lateral moraine ridge ends in a wide open slope.

There are runs further up in the alpine, but it is rare the avalanche risk is low enough to make these doable. The steeper western side of the area is tempting, but this tends to get blasted by wind, and is rarely good skiing.

Difficulty

Easy

Wide gentle slopes at around 20 degrees or less.

Low Exposure (E1)

1 out of 4

Exposure is limited to that of the slope itself. Getting hurt is still likely if the slope is steep and/or the snow is hard.

Remoteness

1 out of 4

Close to help in case of emergency.

Best time to visit

between November and February

Features

  • Tree Skiing

Equipment required

  • Skins

Similar routes nearby

Guidebooks in this area