Mt. Niblock - Lake Louise

Photo from Lake Agnes courtesy of Michael Teekens

Upper Slopes with Lk Agnes and Lk Louise in view

Mt. Niblock

Scramble: Class 2 – Steep Hiking, Use of hands, Route finding, Some exposure

Altitude: 2,976m (9,761 ft)

Elevation Gain: 1,260m (4,133 ft)

Ascent Time: 3 – 4 Hours

Best Season to Scramble: July to September

Highlights

This scramble begins on the popular Lake Agnes tea hut trail but heads up the slopes at the back of the lake for a definite adventure. There’s route-finding through a waterfall cliff band, steep ledges to the col, a narrow traverse along pinnacles and a very small summit. From the top you can see the final slope for the Mt Temple scramble which is the big daddy of all scrambles.

Getting There

Head west out of Calgary on the TransCanada highway # 1 to the Lake Louise town-site 187km (116.9 miles). If your base is Banff head west on the TransCanada for 56km (35.0 miles) to the Lake Louise town-site. There is only one exit so keep your eye out for it. Go straight through the town-site and up the hill to the Lake Louise hotel parking lot (around 4-km more). Park in the lower or upper parking lot. Washrooms are in the parking lot.

Route Description

From the parking lot head counterclockwise around the lake past the Chateau Lake Louise watching for the Lake Agnes trail sign. The Lake Agnes trail heads right and up a wide well groomed trail for 3.4km to the lake and teahouse. Take the trail to the back of the lake and head right with the cliff bands and col leading to Mt Niblock in your sights. Approach the waterfall cliff-bands from the right and go up the scree cone and find your way through from this point. From here move left of center over ankle twisting rubble to approach the slope to the col from a left to right route. From the col head right, over a narrow section and circle to the left around the buttress and work your way to the summit along the left side. Quite narrow the last section with some exposure.