Rockbound Lake Hike

Trailhead: Park at the Rockbound Lake trail head parking lot. Located a short distance SE of the Castle Junction highway intersection 31kms west of Banff. Banff National Park.

Description: The trail is usually snow free by late June however expect lot’s of mud at the meadows during early spring. Follow an old dirt road that slowly climbs through a spruce and fir forest. Within a short distance you’ll pass by the Silverton Falls trail intersection.

At approximately 5kms the old road narrows to a single trail with nice views of the Bow Valley behind you and Castle Mountains Eisenhower Tower to your left. Follow the trail as it enters the meadows located before Tower Lake. Once you arrive at Tower Lake, keep right and cross the bridge towards the headwall located below Rockbound Lake.

Follow steep switchbacks up the headwall for another 200m. Views below you towards Tower Lake are beautiful. Notice a strange enormous boulder that has several Fir trees growing on top. Once you arrive at the top of the head wall cross a short meadow where Larch and Engelmann Spruce trees can be found.

An exceptionally beautiful area in the fall when the Larch trees turn yellow. Rockbound Lake lies straight in front of you and lives up to it’s name as it is surrounded by towering cliffs of limestone and huge boulders on it’s west Shore. The lake is crystal clear and a beautiful shade of aqua blue. Adding to the vista is a waterfall located on the back side that is tumbling several hundred meters from Castle Mountain above.

Rockbound Lake’s southeast shore is a large gradual flat bed of limestone that is well worth exploring. If you still have more energy continue another 2.5kms to a high point above Rockbound Lake. Follow the lake shore to your right and locate the trail that leads straight up the side of a rockslide below Helena Ridge. Once you reach the cliff face the trail turns left and works it’s way up to the ledges above Rockbound Lake.

Stay on the trail as it steadily climbs to a high point with a rock cairn on top. This is a perfect spot to have your lunch and soak in the stunning views below and around you. Experienced scramblers can continue on to the summit of Castle Mountain.

I was told Rockbound Lake offers good Brook Trout fishing. However I did not see any fish rise or swim by. You’ll need a fishing license to try your luck check regulations for closures. Pictures below were taken in August. This Is Bear Country.

Bow Valley Parkway Map PDF