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Recommended Routes

1) Sunshine to Mt. Shark trailhead, 5-6 nights in the tent

0km
most important details for planning in bold

Sunshine parking lot trailhead
bus or hike 6.2km (3.9mi)
6.2km
Sunshine Village
+Rock Isle (Garden Path) loop 5.7km (3.5mi) sidetrip
hike 6.1km (3.8mi)
12.3km
Howard Douglas campground
1
night
hike 8.3km (5.15mi)
20.6km
Porcupine campground
1
night
hike 14.9km (9.26mi)
35.5km
Lake Magog campground
close to Mt. Assiniboine Lodge & heliport

+ 6.7km (4.2mi) sidetrip Sunburst Valley / Nub loop
+ 8.7km (5.4mi) sidetrip Og Pass/Windy Ridge
+ 8.4km (5.2mi) return sidetrip to Wonder Pass
2-3
nights
hike 10.7km (6.65mi)
46.2km
Marvel Lake campground
1
night
hike 3.9km (2.4mi)
50.1km
Big Springs campground
hike 9.4km (5.85mi)
59.5km
Mt. Shark trailhead
distances taken from Classic Hikes in the Canadian Rockies

Night 0 - Banff (or Canmore)

Most hikers start and finish in Banff, Alberta. This is the main transportation hub for the Canadian Rockies.

Night 0 - Banff

Catch the bus from Banff to Sunshine Ski Resort.

Night 1 at Howard Douglas campground

  • explore Sunshine Meadows

Night 2 at Porcupine campground

Nights 3, 4 (& 5?) at Lake Magog campground

  • explore Assiniboine area
  • must-see day hike is the 6.7km (4.2mi) Nub loop
  • must-see day hike is the 8.7km (5.4mi) Og Pass/Windy Ridge
  • optional very difficult scramble to Hind Hut
  • helicopter from Assinibone to Mt. Shark (or Canmore)

If you decide to hike out rather than helicopter add an extra night at Marvel Lake or Big Springs campground.

Critical step — arrange transportation from remote Mt. Shark trailhead out to wherever you need to get to.

Night 6 at Banff (or Canmore)

Hard-core hikers could save a day hiking all the way from Howard Douglas to Magog 23.2km (14.4mi), 8+ hours of walking).

You want 3 nights at Magog, if possible, as the Assiniboine day hikes are gorgeous.

It is a good challenge to walk out rather than helicopter. Remember that you can send your packs out on the chopper & hike without a pack all the way to Mt. Shark in one day.

IMG_0618
Helicopter view.



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This page last modified Thursday, November 10, 2005