Mount Sarbach Lookout

Trailhead: Park at the Mistaya Canyon parking lot approximately 72kms north of Lake Louise on the west side of the Icefields Parkway. Banff National Park.

Description: Locate the trailhead at the north west corner of the Mistaya Canyon parking lot. Follow the old lookout access road down towards Mistaya Canyon. Work your way through the crowds then cross the bridge over the canyon turn right and ascend the river bank.

Continue on a short distance until you reach a signed junction. Take the market Sarbach Lookout trail heading south along the top of the Mistaya River. Continue on through a mature spruce and fir forest then past a few marshy sections where the trail starts to ascend a few kms towards the lookout.

Once you arrive at the lookout work your way right. No trail here however views towards Howes Pass and Glacier Lake are stunning. From the lookout you can also pick up a trail heading to your left that turns into a difficult scramble over steep and loose rock up Mount Sarbach. Sarbach Lookout was once a fire lookout from 1943 to 1971. The wooden tower and cabin have long been removed however a few weather station pieces are still there. This Is Bear Country.

Bow Valley Parkway Map PDF

Icefields Parkway Area Map PDF