On July 19, 2025, Joan and I had a long, jolly breakfast at our hotel with Val & Bob, with whom we'd stayed in Canmore many times until they retired from hosting a B&B. Then we loaded up the car and headed into Banff National Park; our hiking goal today was the Castle Mountain Lookout, known for its fabulous views and steep climbs. The trailhead is just off Highway 1A, the Bow Valley Parkway. (Click on any image to enlarge.)
The trail began wide and gentle, then progressively narrowed and steepened. At one spot early on, spectacular 2013 flood damage crossed the route.
We kept a good pace for the workout, encountering lots of folks coming and going. We also noticed flowers deliberately laid in the trail in several places.
Then we met a woman headed downhill with a large dog. She explained that she had
recently lost her husband; we didn't ask, but assumed she was leaving floral tributes on his
favorite trails.
Higher up, there were occasional gullies to traverse.
We had come at the right time of year for mountain blooms, it seemed. Sedum lanceolatum is known by the names lanceleaf or spearleaf stonecrop.
After a final flat stretch through the woods, we reached the old fire tower site, of which only a few foundation blocks remain. The panorama looking down into the Bow Valley was tremendous, revealing the Trans-Canada Highway and the Canadian Pacific Railway route to the Pacific.
Zooming in, one can see one of the wildlife overpasses that dot the Trans-Canada through the national parks.
On our way down, Joan and I met a family from India. They asked how much further it was to the viewpoint for the castle; we explained that there was a marvelous viewpoint, but no castle.
Joan and I were pleased with our hike; the climb was definitely a workout. We then drove to Cathedral Mountain Lodge, at the foot of Kicking Horse Pass, for dinner and the night.
