Hotels near Cory Pass Loop

The Cory Pass Loop is the toughest maintained day hike within 20 minutes of Banff: a 13 km loop with 915 m of elevation gain, 6 to 8 hours, and genuinely difficult. From the Fireside day use area the trail attacks a dry, south-facing slope with no water and no shade, gaining most of its height in the first 5.5 km. Cory Pass itself is a narrow notch at roughly 2,350 m squeezed between Mount Edith and Mount Cory, with the limestone fin of Mount Louis standing straight up across Gargoyle Valley.

The descent into Gargoyle Valley and out via Edith Pass is the section people underestimate: loose scree, a steep gully that holds snow until late July, and 7.5 km of rough ground back to the car park. Walk it in the direction described, which puts the sustained climb on the ascent and the awkward footing on the way down. There is no mobile coverage for most of the loop. This is the one route on this list where turning back is a reasonable outcome, and where trekking poles genuinely change the day.

Pro Tip: Fill two litres of water per person before leaving Banff - there is no reliable source until Gargoyle Valley at about 8 km. Check the Bow Valley Parkway travel restrictions for 2026 before you drive, since seasonal cycling and wildlife closures can affect access to the Fireside trailhead.