Facts
| Distance: | 36 km (22.4 miles) round trip |
| Start Elevation: | 1,440 m (4,724 ft) |
| Max Elevation: | 2,280 m (7,480 ft) |
| Elevation Difference: | 840 m (2,756 ft) |
| Total Elevation: | 1,584 m (5,197 ft) |
| Time Required: | *5-8 hours roundtrip |
| Season: | Late June - September (depending on snow) |
* Note: These are running times not hiking times. The fastest times are for someone with a 10km road pace of under 6:30/mile or 4:00/km.
Details
| 0-2.7 km | Climbing dirt trail |
| 2.7 km | Intersection with Johnston Canyon/Ink Pots Trail |
| 5.4 km | Ink Pots |
| 7.6 km | Turn right for Mystic Pass |
| 13.3km | Mystic Pass |
| 17.4km | Campsite |
| 20km | Warden's Cabin |
| 29.6km | Edith Pass |
| 32km | Forty Mile Creek Bridge |
| 36km | Norquay Ski Lodge |
Links
Overview
An amazing run. Great mix of trail and scenery. If you're looking for a great introduction to a long run in the Rockies, this is it.
Several options are available to mix it up.
It's considered to be a hard 2-day hike so pulling it off in 5+ hours of running is a pretty exciting feeling. Don't forget to enjoy the scenery though!
Trailhead
Starts from Moose Meadows Trailhead or Norquay Ski Area parking lot depending on which direction you are going.
You could start from Johnston's Canyon Resort but you'll be running through a ton of slow walking tourists and it's not recommended.
Car: Drive out to Johnston Canyon Resort and keep going for 1.4 km until you see Moose Meadows parking on your right. Park or get dropped off here to start the trail back to Banff. By starting here you will avoid the craziness of all the tourists at Johnston Canyon. By the time you hit the Ink Pots trail most of them have disappeared.
If going in the other direction make sure you have a car waiting here and drive up to the Norquay Ski Area parking lot to start the run.
Run: You could run up or down Lower Stoney Squaw at the start or end of the loop but really 5 hours is plenty of running so a car at both ends is highly recommended.
Public Transit: Not Applicable
Mystic Pass Trailhead
Banff Townsite, 
Moose Meadows Parking Lot, 
Norquay Parking Lot
Trail
I can't think of a better mix of trail, singletrack, roots, rocks, stream crossings, snow, steep ups and downs and incredible scenery. This is a classic run.
Connector Options:
Lots of options, run the trail in either direction.
Use the connector to Edith Pass and come out on the 1A.
Route
| Google Maps | Google Earth | MotionBased | GPX
Elevation (Round Trip)
Photo Gallery
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Safety
You're in bear country. Take the regular precautions, carry bear spray and make lots of noise.
This is a long trip and once you are in you don't have any options to bale out. Make sure you are capable of a 5-8 hour run before you attempt this.
Tips
Either use 2 cars (one at Johnson's Canyon and one at Norquay) or get someone to drop you off at the start.
You can run this either direction and it is going to be great.