Boom Lake - Intermediate - 5.1 km

JASPER AREA | LAKE LOUISE AREA | Boom Lake | Baker Creek | Lake Louise Shoreline | Moraine Lake Road | Tramline | Pipestone | Whitehorn | BANFF AREA | CANMORE NORDIC CENTRE | KANANSKIS COUNTRY

Access and parking: Boom Creek picnic area on the Banff-Windermere Highway (Highway 93 south), 7 km southwest from Castle Junction on the Trans-Canada Highway.

Length and classification: 5.1 km (one-way), Moderate.

Description: The Boom Lake ski trail follows the route of the hiking trail from the parking lot to the east end of the lake. Located at elevations higher than 1700 m, the trail is almost guaranteed plenty of snow from late November to mid-April, and to be skiable both earlier and later than most other trails in the park.

The trail crosses a footbridge at the picnic area and makes a series of switchbacks. It then climbs much more gradually for the rest of the way to the lake. For most of the way the trail is quite wide, but just before the lake it narrows considerably. As you ski along, note how large the subalpine fir are in this area. Later, at the avalanche zones just before the lake, note how they are torn up, tossed around and broken. This scene of destruction is testimony to the enormous power of avalanches.

Boom Mountain is on the south side of the lake. The two mountains forming the backdrop to the lake are Quadra. and Bident. To return to the parking lot, follow the same route.

Hazards: The trail crosses several avalanche zones at its far end.