Jimmy Simpson Jr. Trail Guide: A Dazzling Hike in Canada

There are times when a hike turns out far greater than you can ever imagine. For the Jimmy Simpson Jr hike in the Canadian Rockies, we lucked out, and it dazzled us.

My friends and I were looking for a nice sunset hike and landed on attempting Jimmy Simpson Jr off the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park. What we got was more than just nice.

It turned out to be one of the most spectacular views I’ve seen in my multiple trips to the Canadian Rockies. Seeing all the glaciers and waterfalls, plus the entire Bow Lake, was simply 10/10.

For those looking for a challenging hike that has a major payoff, the Mount Jimmy Simpson Jr trail is right for you!

Hiking Guide to the Jimmy Simpson Jr. Trail on the Icefields Parkway

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My Experience Hiking Jimmy Simpson Jr.

We dilly-dallied a bit longer than we anticipated at nearby Peyto Lake, starting the hike just around 4:30pm. While sunrise wasn’t too early in late September, it still set by 7:30, so we didn’t have much time to get up.

Though in our heads, we only had a hike of ~2.5 miles. How long could it possibly take?!? Looking back at it now, that was entirely wishful thinking.

For the first half mile, it’s a lovely flat walk along the Bow Lake Shore. You’ll see a trail heading into the forest. In 2024, it was recognizable, but not obvious. I can’t speak to what it’s like in 2026.

From here on, it’s up, up, and up. It was unrelenting and exhausting. I’m not sure why I was so tired that day, but over the next 0.75 miles, you gain 800-900 feet of elevation. So it’s definitely steep, and the trail, again, isn’t well defined. (I recommend hiking poles, btw.)

Eventually, you’ll break out of the trees and have views of Bow Lake. This next part loops back towards the lake and forces you up a small but steep gully. Here, you’ll emerge with wide-open views of the lake, mountains, the Icefield Parkway, and glaciers.

This is honestly a pretty dang good view, and if you want to make this your turnaround spot, no one would blame you.

It took our group 75 minutes to get here, which might be 1.5 miles from the trailhead. We took a bunch of photos before continuing up even higher. Here, you’ll get better views of Bow Glacier Falls and the turquoise Icerberg Lake.

I was blown away. It’s definitely one of the best views I’ve ever hiked to in Canada. At a certain point, we realized we wouldn’t make it to the top of Jimmy Simpson Jr. without hiking down in complete darkness. As a group, we stopped going up and enjoyed the majestic views.

The trail didn’t look too challenging the rest of the way. Just a lot of elevation gain, dirt, and rocks to climb up. But pretty standard for anyone looking to reach the peak in the future.

Heading down was muuuch easier, taking us around 40 minutes to reach the shore again. While we might not have reached the summit, the views up top provided us with plenty to cheer about.

Related:
Top things to do in Banff
2-days in Yoho National Park
2-days in Jasper National Park

Photos from the Jimmy Simpson Jr. Trail

Hiking Gear I Recommend

Here’s what I suggest for this trail and hiking around Banff.

• Hiking Poles
• Sun Hoody
• Puffy Jacket for the top
• Rain jacket, just in case
• Wool Socks
• Hat
• Bear Spray
• inReach Device

What other hikes are in the area?

If you’re looking for more good trails in the area, you’re in the right place. Granted, I haven’t done these, but they look pretty rad and get my hiking seal of approval.

• Helen Lake and/or Cirque Peak
• The Onion
• Bow Hut Route
• Mount Jimmy Simpson
• Observation Peak
• Noseeum Peak Trail
• Dolomite Pass

Lodging Options Nearby

The best lodging in the vicinity is around Lake Louise. There are some campgrounds on the Icefields Parkway, but not much else.

Solo/Younger Travelers: HI Lake Louise Hostel—I’ve stayed here twice, and it’s been awesome. It’s one of the best-located hostels, and for the price point, it’s super affordable!
HI Lake Louise Hostel – HI Banff Hostel
Mid-Range Options: Mountaineer Lodge – Deer Lodge – Lake Louise Inn
Luxury Options: Emerald Lake Lodge – Chateau Lake Louise – Baker Creek by Basecamp

Final thoughts on hiking with Jimmy Simpson Jr.

For being a short hike (and for us barely even hiking), the Jimmy Simpson Jr. trail lives rent-free in my head. We had fantastic conditions, and the views up there blew me away. It’s safe to say I’ll be back in the alpine as soon as possible!

Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.

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