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Rockies :: Banff-Louise :: Little Temple

GPS Track

Panoramic view of Paradise Valley from summit of Little Temple. "Big" Temple left,  Sheol/Haddo/Aberdeen right

July 4, 2016

Dwarfed by its Big Brother unofficially named "Little Temple" is fantastic outing that avoids crowds on other busy trails radiating from Lake Louise and/or Lake Moraine trailheads.  Loop trip is possible and recommended. Described in Mike Potter'  "Ridgewalks in Canadian Rockies"  trip visits two sparkling back-country lakes and offers fantastic views of Paradise Valley from the summit.  Technically it is mainly off-trail hike with couple of brief class 2 steps and some easy route-finding.  There are many larches on the west ridge above Lake Annette as well as in Temple Lake cirque, so trip might be superior option to busy and over-hyped "Larch Valley" above Moraine Lake.

Start from Paradise Valley trailhead, few kilometers along Moraine Lake road; parking lot is on west (right) side.  Follow well defined trail to Annette Lake for about 1.5 hours of moderate to fast pace.  All junctions have official park signposts. Note that "group of 4 rule" kicks in after July 12 - for full details always check Parks Website.   Ascent ridge and objective is visible from Annette north shore.  Walk around the lake then angle up scree slope towards west ridge.  There are 2 options - less technical is to circle around to the right then follow long and tedious talus slope rising towards low saddle separating Big and Little Temple.  More pleasant option is to gain the ridge right away; there is some scrambling required, but it is mostly easy and steepest part is right at the beginning.  Higher up as terrain levels angle left and pick-up faint trail through larch forest.  If you lose the trail just aim up as direction is obvious.  Above the treeline final bit is hike up talus and broken ground to west and higher of 2 summits.  Views are phenomenal to say the least, but towering NE aspect of "Big Temple" steals the show.  Big steep snow gully is called "Anderson Couloir" -- it almost begs for some of these crazy skier movies found on YouTube!

For loop descent to Temple Lake retrace your steps back to the col, then angle down grassy gully towards the lake.  You lose ~450m vertical in the process. This gully is quite steep and might be slippery after the rain - hiking poles are huge asset.  Alternatively it is also possible to drop between 2 summits of Little Temple, then trash down directly talus towards the lake.  This is more lose and unpleasant so it can't be recommended.  Temple Lake is fantastic - sitting in larch dotted cirque, very quiet and still unspoiled.  In fall season when larches are turning gold mid morning on a bluebird day would offer fantastic photographic opportunity.  In summer meadows east of the lake are dotted with wildflowers and equally pleasant!   Pick up faint trail at east end of the lake. It is marginal but generally follows north end of creek draining Temple Lake.  In about 20-30 minutes it descends to wide and well defined Moraine Lake trail, sometimes also used by mountain bikers.  (Note that this junction is not obvious if you are doing loop in reverse and coming here for the first time. Use GPS track provided at top of this page;  this junction is at the bridge over "Temple Creek" some 30 - 40 minutes past the junction with Paradise Valley trail).  Turn left and hike out back to your vehicle.

Note:  As of summer '23 personal vehicles are not allowed on Moraine Lake Road;  Paradise Valley Trailhead is fairly close so best option is probably to walk, or bring bicycle

Gallery

Zoom on upper part of Paradise valley; Horseshoe Lakes center left