Trail head C-Leve Cirque
July 28th Monday 2014
On a very hot day we set off to C-Level Cirque in Banff National Park. The trail head is up the Lake Minnewanka Lake Road just after the Bankhead Exhibit turn off. On the Gem Trek map it is marked as Upper Bankhead.The map also gives the distance as 3.9 km and the Parks sign above as 4.2 km.My GPS only came up with 6.0 km return.The trail is an easy trudge up through the woods past fenced off mine shafts and an old mine building. C-Level refers to the the mine shafts C-Level is high.There is no A-Level hike, just the old Bankhead mining town at Lower Bankhead.
Trail through woods
On a hot day the trees give plenty of shade and the trail is nice and wide.
Old Mining Lamp House
This building is at the top of the first uphill section.
Cascade mountain at Cirque
On the way up there are a couple of peek a boo views of Lake Minnewanka. Then the grand view of the Cirque under the massive rock face of Cascade Mountain. The picture above show a path on the right which allows for better views of the Bow Valley as you ascend.
Just past the end of the official trail a faint trail goes further
Not much of interest higher up but for those who like to go see what’s around the next corner you can go on.
Distance return 6.0 km Time return 3 hrs Elevation Accumulated gain 544 m Elevation to Summit 590 m Summit height 2020 m
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