Steep and committing hike to an alpine summit above Lake Louise.

Statistics

3 - 4

hrs

881

m

881

m

12

max°

Difficulty

FATMAP difficulty grade

Difficult

Description

From the Chateau and the beginning of any hikes at Lake Louise, you can look up and see a wall of mountain peaks.

Their summits look far away and inaccessible, but Mount Saint Piran is one that you can actually reach on a hiking trail.

It’s the one that rises directly above Lake Agnes and its teahouse, and is the easternmost in the string of peaks north of Lake Louise. The hike begins as if going to Lake Agnes, along with the throngs of other hikers bound there.

Near the lake, you’ll turn onto the less-busy trail to Little Beehive, then turn again onto the nearly empty trail that switchbacks up the rock-strewn face of Saint Piran.

It is a straightforward hike once the snow has melted, but very steep.

At the top, you’ll have sublime views over the lake far below, and the surrounding taller mountains. The prime season for this hike is June to September, on any day that the weather is good.

Avoid any days with risk of storms because most of the hike is completely exposed above treeline.

In the early season and late season, the route is likely to have snow, so you should bring traction devices and possibly other equipment, depending on conditions. Sources: https://www.summitpost.org/st-piran-scramble/165478