Round trip: 7 kilometres
Elevation gain: 520 metres
Location: Yoho National Park (east of Field)

An old fire lookout located partway up Paget Peak rewards hikers with sweet views of the Kicking Horse River, the Continental Divide and the Rocky Mountains.

Paget Lookout Hike. Photo by Sébastien Launay.

Find the trailhead at the Sherbrooke Lake parking lot, off the Trans-Canada Highway. The trail starts off easy, gently gaining altitude in the subalpine woods. Then the path narrows and steepens, switchbacking up the mountainside. Mount Ogden and Sherbrooke Lake are particularly eye-catching to the west.

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Arrive at the lookout, now a day-use shelter. Bask in the mountainous views. Then turn around here, unless you’re prepared to tackle the peak—a much higher and farther objective. Note: kids under 8 are not allowed on this trail, and youth 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

Stephen Hui is the author of Best Hikes and Nature Walks With Kids In and Around Southwestern British Columbia, a new guide to 55 hiking trails in B.C. and Washington.

His first two books, 105 Hikes and Destination Hikes, were #1 B.C. bestsellers.

Learn more: 105hikes.com

Stephen Hui

Stephen Hui