Skoki Loop | The BEST Two Night Backpacking Trip In The Canadian Rockies?

[@IsraelonFoot]

This deserves to have tens of thousands of views. Anyway, I love Banff but haven't hiked the back country YET. Is my fear of encountering a grizzly momma with her cubs unfounded...exaggerated?

[@HowestheHike]

Well gosh, that's very kind of you to say! It is a gorgeous gorgeous area. Please don't worry about bears. You have to know how to manage a bear encounter, that's absolutely imperative. And you have to carry a bear spray. But despite some of the horrific things that have happened over the years, the chances of you being injured by a bear on the trail are very very very slim. I sleep VERY soundly at night. But more to the point - live! Get out there! Experience this absolutely stunning beauty and live your life. The drive to the trailhead is more dangerous. Honestly. Thank you for the comment!

[@SLAMCGY]

Happy Birthday from “Terry” (Steve). Great video. We too experienced the cold first night at Hidden Lake and while we did not see a porcupine others showed us the grips of their poles having been chewed the night before. Hope to see you out on the trails!

[@HowestheHike]

Thank you Steve - and oh my God I'm SO sorry about the name brain slip! You would think after meeting you twice on the same trail I would have it down by now. I blame old age ha ha! Hope you guys had an amazing hike too :-)

[@stephjay1830]

Great video!! Do you need to book campsites ahead or can you just stay fcfs…planning for this year with 2 kids so unsure exactly where we will need to stop.

[@HowestheHike]

Thank you! You absolutely must book your campsites in advance. No first come first serve in the section of the park on a very popular trail. BUT - don't let that deter you! If you look back at my earlier videos you will see I did a lot of backpacking with my twin girls. My motto was to "book every campsite" along the way even if the distances were short. That way we could have a leisurely morning and afternoon evening - and a leisurely time on the trail in no rush. I highly recommend that if you're hiking with kids to take this approach. I'm not sure how old your kids are, but we certainly never regretted it! Hope this helps.

[@daveysdash]

I'm in Banff, heading for Kananaskis. HBD!!!

[@HowestheHike]

Enjoy! Keep me posted on your whereabouts in case we can get together!

[@xoxXCutiepieXxox]

Beautiful view of the mountains at camp 🏕 😍 🏔⛰️🏔⛰️🏔⛰️🌎🧭

[@HowestheHike]

It really is! And great weather!!

[@LifeIsBetterByTheBrook]

Happy belated birthday! My birthday is also in the summer (July) and I always try to be outdoors. My husband and I are hoping to be in Canada next summer. Hopefully, I can convince him to backpack this one or Chaba. Thanks for sharing!

[@HowestheHike]

Thank you so much! And happy belated birthday to you as well :-) I hope you do get up this way and if you do let me know! Maybe we all can walk a few kilometres together

[@LifeIsBetterByTheBrook]

@@HowestheHike That would be great!

[@HowestheHike]

Awesome!

[@randysandberg5615]

In 1968 we hiked to Baker lake and spent two nights there. We caught a huge 23" Brook trout and saw a wolverine. Hiking out we spent one night at Ptarmigan lake and endured a pretty hard rainstorm at night. I used a tube tent and that kept me dry. Great trip.

[@HowestheHike]

Pretty impressive to see a Wolverine! There used to be more in that area, but I'm not sure if they've moved on somewhere else. Would be interesting to know how different it looks in the video compared to what you remember

[@hikingmule]

What a way to celebrate your birthday. Congrats! I just completed the loop myself but stayed at Red Deer Lakes. Awesome experience. By the way, I love the explanations on how to properly hike and be kind to our environment.

[@HowestheHike]

It sure was a spectacular way to celebrate! I LOVED the Red Deer Lakes campsite when I passed it. It was always surprising to me that it was available most times when I looked to book some thing in the area, unlike the other campsites in the "loop". I prefer this to Baker lake as a campsite to be honest. And thank you so much for your kind words about my hiking monologues ha ha! It's always fun to share what I've learned with others and I always learn when others share with me. Glad you were out there in this wonderful place!!!!

[@BryanBB2007]

Nice video! I went solo in in 2011. Did a hike up to Lake Agnes the night before to stretch out my legs. Camped two nights at Hidden Lake. First night previewed Boulder Pass and Ptarmigan Lake being all charged up for the adventure. Day two I day hiked to Deception Pass and up onto the shoulder of Fossil Mountain and considered going for the top but was mindful of timing and hung out for awhile with some grazing mountain sheep. A beer at Skoki Lodge was my goal and got one. Had a nice chat with the manager/cook Katie who sent me back out onto the trail with a big slice of honking decadent chocolate cake that vanished in a high energy flash. Kind of hungry! She recommended going up through Packer's Pass through Myosotis and Zigadenus Lakes. Passed by the REAL fork in the trail on the way to the route. Had a good night sleep back at Hidden Lake waking to a good dusting of snow. Hiked back down. Sunny throughout. Quite satisfied with my hike.

[@HowestheHike]

Thank you for the comment and watching the video and for sharing this amazing bit of your own history on the trail! I enjoyed that very much :-)

[@garyheinzelman6784]

Again with a fantastic video that floods my memory bank. Baker Lake was always my warmup hike for the rest of summer. Did it in 74 and 75 but came in via Baker Creek…..had a couple of deep creek crossings that were always fun. Each time there I saw a wolverine. In 74 the lake still had ice on it and it was honeycombed but the wolverine still crossed it only falling through a couple of times. Had to laugh at the porcupine story…..first evening there one chewed on my new pair of hiking boots while I was down fishing at the outlet. I chuckled even more when you said he’s called Gary…..guess a part of me remains there. I didn’t do the full loop like you but spent my time at Baker, Ptarmigan, Redoubt lakes, plus Little Baker and others right there. Never saw many people when there and actually saddens me to see the accommodations made. Understand why….but I preferred it all as rustic as possible.

[@HowestheHike]

Thanks again Gary! We did not name the porcupine after you of course, but I think it's fitting :-) given this is your old area of travel! The Wolverine is elusive these days and we have only ever seen one on Snake Indian pass on the north boundary. Otherwise it's a privilege if you are lucky enough to run into one - from a distance ha ha. I agree with you on the changes, but realize they are necessary to preserve the area with so many backpackers going through it. I am starting to trend a lot more to the remote places but use these more popular hikes as a few extra night in the woods between those. Always great to read your comments! Thank you again.

[@sdpeteadventures239]

Porcupine, happened to my daughter and I at the Molar Creek campground. Middle of the night rubbed up against the tent right by my head, freaked my right out.

[@HowestheHike]

I bet it did! They are fearless too!!

[@scrambles8819]

Great video! It's crazy that you're talking about the likelihood of seeing a grizzley, as it was on the Skoki Loop last year that we ran right into one on trail.

[@HowestheHike]

That's very ironic and very rare actually! I think most people worry about bears in camp at night which of course is very very very rare. I did PAY for my comments on this last hike on the Clearwater red deer circuit last week. I met a very aggressive and defensive grizzly bear on Divide Pass!! (I was solo) Some of that will be on the video that will come out in a month or so but I think I have to stop talking about bears ha ha! I think they hear me :-)

[@annerichardson4170]

Amazing. Happy Birthday ! What a glorious place to celebrate you on your special day. Love it.

[@HowestheHike]

Thank you so much! It was indeed :)

[@barryparris91]

What a great place to celebrate a birthday!

[@HowestheHike]

Thanks - sure was!!

[@ricklarry4212]

Spectacular views on this one, Stu. Towards the end the smoke cleared out and you had bluebird skies. The panorama of the Canadian Rockies was superb, views you only get from hiking. You are really on a roll this year. Thanks for sharing.

[@HowestheHike]

Even though this is a busy trail, the views are very difficult to beat. It's just a stunning place to walk. Thank you so much for your kind comments. Yes, this year is probably one in a lifetime :-)