Google Map

Rockies :: Banff-Louise :: Stoney Mountain

GPS Track

Opening and Sulphur Mountain Viewpoint ~10 min before Stoney Trail Highpoint

November 6, 2020

Many years this forested bump east of Banff townsite was called "Stoney Squaw".  Summer of 2020 brought new found era of political correctness and "Squaw" has been dropped.  It is one of 2 easy accessible peaks in Banff area (the other being Tunnel Mountain).  You drive directly below it on Trans-Canada. It is an easy, mostly forested walk starting from Norquay Ski Area parking lot and whole thing takes little more than an hour.  There are some options including loop return with bit of wondering on official Lower Stoney trail,  that eventually descends to Buffalo Paddock below Cascade Mountain and Trans-Canada Highway but it is used mainly by mountain cyclists.

Drive up sharp switchbacks from Banff west overpass to Mount Norquay Ski Resort.  Trailhead is on the right (south) side of huge parking lot, right at the beginning - so if you don't plan on loop return, don't drive further up.  This is also trailhead for more adventurous objectives, such as Cascade Amphitheater and Mountain,  Forty Mile Creek backpack, Elk Lake, etc.  Stoney Trail heads into the forest to the right side of Cascade Amphitheater Trail Table and is mostly forested in its entirety.  Going is easy, although there are some rooty sections. In about 30 mins trail reaches small ridge and makes hairpin turn (hikers sign points in right direction).  Opening with nice views of Sulphur Mountain and general Banff area is reached in another 10 minutes.  Trail then turns left and reaches Stoney Mountain "Summit", which is just forest enclosed rocky plateau with openings east towards Palliser Range peaks, rising east of Lake Minnewanka.  Imposing Cascade Mtn. is to the left and scramble crux exposed traverse can readily be studied from here. 

Return the same way, or for variety continue east and complete loop.  This alternate return is completely forested and offers no views.  Initial drop from Stoney "summit" is poorly defined, but good trail soon develops and descends to marked Lower Stoney Junction (Waypoint 2 on GPS Track) within half an hour.  Out of curiosity I followed this trail down the cutline to Trans-Canada / Buffalo Paddock junction  (Waypoint "3 - Cascade Junction" on GPS Track), but this extension offers little except for bit more exercise.  It is probably better to simply drop down open grassy hill to Mount Norquay ski lodge, then walk back to the car

Gallery