Observation Peak
Home Up Mt. Jimmy Simpson Observation Peak Cirque Peak Mt. Andromache Paget Peak Mt. Field

 

Observation Peak – Bow Summit Area

ObserRte.jpg (64910 bytes)

TS - True Summit believe it or not - see next photo

FS - False Summit but still an awesome spot!

ObserSum.jpg (48470 bytes)

TS - True Summit in better perspective. This photo taken from Mt. Jimmy Simpson.

Observation Peak

Scramble: Class 1 – Steep Hiking, Some Use of Hands

Altitude: 3,174m (10,410 ft)

Elevation Gain: 1,100m (3,608 ft)

Ascent Time: 2 1/2 – 3 1/2 Hours

Best Season to Scramble: End of June to October

Highlights

This scramble offers beautiful views of Bow Lake and the Wapta Icefield. It has a short approach and well worth the effort. Lots of scree but you can pick your way for the best footing.

Getting There

Head west out of Calgary on the TransCanada highway # 1 to Lake Louise 187km (116.9 miles). Continue west on the TransCanada for another 2.5km and take the Icefield Parkways / Jasper exit (highway 93) going north. Head north 39km (24.4 miles) to the Bow Summit area. Just before the left hand turn into the Peyto Lake viewpoint there is a right hand turn onto a gravel road. Take the right hand turn onto the gravel road and drive a few hundred yards to a spot where the road is impassable. From this spot you are looking right at the slopes of Observation Peak.

Route Description

From the gravel road parking spot take a look at the various gullies on the face of Observation Peak. There is more than one way up but our route goes up the right hand gully. Head down the road for a few minutes and just before the road turns left head off right towards a meadow area. As you head right angle through the trees to gain the lower drainage of the chosen gully. When you gain the drainage head up to its highest point, then climb right up a short steep slope to exit the gully. From here you angle left and up a break in the upper cliffs then a short ridge scramble to the lower peak. From here you will see the true summit down a short connecting ridge and 20 minutes further north. Go straight north from the connecting ridge and not up the rounded hump as this hump is lower than the true summit. Find the summit cairn and register.

 

1