Hiking the Nublet, Mount Assiniboine Park
If you’re looking for the classic Mount Assiniboine view then hiking the Nublet is essential. It’s an easy day hike from either the Lake Magog Campground or from Assiniboine Lodge. Strong hikers can continue on to Nub Peak for the ultimate view in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park.
Hiking the Nublet happened for us in the second week of September after a big early season snowstorm came through leaving the area looking very wintry. Although it wasn’t much fun getting into the park the day before – due to horrendous driving out of Calgary, the payoff – incredible beauty of the snow covered peaks along with deep blue skies.
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Hiking the Nublet summary
Distance: 6.4 km or 4.0 miles round trip from Assiniboine Lodge as an out and back hike.
Elevation gain: 365 m or 1,198 feet
Time needed: 2 – 3 hours
Level of difficulty: Moderate
Best time to hike: June to September
Backcountry camping: Yes, at Lake Magog and several other sites not too far away.
Dogs allowed: Yes, on a leash.
Weather: Get the weather forecast before you start hiking the Nublet. As you can see we had a lot of snow the second week of September.
Permits: If you park your car at the Mount Shark trailhead or helipad, you will need a Kananaskis Conservation Pass.
Backcountry camping: If you want to camp in the park make backcountry reservations, well in advance as the Magog Lake and Og Lake campsites are very popular. Reservations can be made up to 4 months of your desired date starting at 7 AM PT on the first day that you want to camp.
Starting point for hiking the Nublet
We started our hike right in front of Assiniboine Lodge. If you’re camping at Lake Magog, it’s very easy to find the signed trail to Nub Peak. The distance between the lodge and the campsite is 1.6 km.
Within minutes of starting out on the trail, we ran into the bird pictured below. It seemed totally unafraid of us – and was probably far more interested in just trying to stay warm. The temperature first thing in the morning was -16°C – in September.
From this intersection, it was a steady climb to the ridge below the Nublet. The views as you’ll see in the photos left me with my mouth open in awe.
Easy route-finding hiking the Nublet
Once we got to the ridge, we had to break trail with snow knee-deep in places. But even with the trail snow covered, it was easy to find a route up to the top of the Nublet.
Our original plan had been to hike to the summit of Nub Peak. To get there, you must traverse an airy ridge from the Nublet which is really more of a scramble, but under snowy conditions I wasn’t feeling “it”.
Chances of falling were slim, but still it wasn’t in me to continue.
Plus, I wasn’t in the mood that day to hike for another three hours so after climbing about a third of the way along the ridge, I talked John into turning around. I don’t do that often, but after a wildly busy summer, I think I was just a little burnt out.
After hiking the Nublet, the return was a snap. I think we were back at the signed intersection in less than an hour – and in the two – three hours since we’d started hiking, the temperature had climbed enough that the snow started to melt.
Getting to the Lake Magog Campsite & Assiniboine Lodge
You have three options for getting to the Lake Magog Campsite – and Assiniboine Lodge. Two are difficult and one is easy but expensive.
Easy but expensive
Fly in via helicopter. It’s about a 10 minute flight from the Mount Shark Trailhead. From what I was told, you have to be staying at either the Naiset Huts or Assiniboine Lodge to get on a flight. It hasn’t always been this way, so I don’t know if I just got bad information.
Hike via Citadel Pass
Hike in starting at the Sunshine Trailhead. It’s accessed via a ride on the gondola from the Sunshine Village Ski Resort, located 18 km west of Banff.
From the resort it’s a 29 km one way hike – that many people split up by spending a night at Og Lake in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park in BC or Howard Douglas Lake Campground in Banff National Park. Reservations in Banff National Park open on January 27, 2025 at 8 AM MST. You can book online. In BC provincial parks reservations open up four months ahead of time.
Hike in from the Mount Shark Trailhead
Hike in from the Mount Shark Trailhead, located 38 km south of Canmore via the Smith-Dorrien Trail. Much of the hiking is tedious but it’s a shorter route – around 25 km one way. It too can be broken up by staying at the Bryant Creek Shelter. Once you get to Marvel Lake it gets more interesting.
In my opinion, the ultimate trip would involve hiking in from Sunshine Village, spending a few nights at the Lake Magog Campsite – hiking the Nublet and others in the area and then a hike out over Wonder Pass to the Mount Shark Trailhead. But you’d need to arrange a car shuttle or pick-up to do that.
Final thoughts
I feel like I have unfinished business in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park. I would like to return and explore the area in more depth – and summit Nub Peak.
Where to stay the night before you hike or heli into Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park
Canmore
If you’re coming from Canmore then you have lots of choice. Some of my top picks for the Canmore area include the following.
For a great B&B with delicious breakfasts and friendly faces, check out A Bear and Bison Country Inn.
If you’re after a hotel with a pool with a view and a hot tub, the Malcolm Hotel would be an excellent choice.
For budget minded travelers the Canmore Hostel downtown should fit the bill.
Sunshine Ski Resort
If you want to hike into the Mount Assiniboine area via Citadel Pass, book a night at the Sunshine Mountain Lodge. It would be a great place to stay.
Kananaskis
If you want to hike or heli in from Kananaskis Country, the most convenient place to stay – and it’s a lovely one with all meals included is Mount Engadine Lodge.
If you want a hostel situation about 45 minutes away, check out the Kananaskis Wilderness Hostel.
If you want to camp the night before, read A Complete Guide to Camping in Kananaskis.
Further reading on things to do in the Mount Assiniboine area
- 10+ Must Do Backpacking Trips in Kananaskis Country
- Smith Dorrien Trail – Highway 40 Road Trip
- A Hike into Sunshine Meadows, Banff National Park
- Best Kananaskis Hikes for Mountain Lovers
- 18 of the Best Banff Hikes You Can Do in a Day
Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest page.
Hi,
Odd question. If I sent you a picture of Mt. Assiniboine, would you be able to tell me along which trail it came from?
Thank you,
Robert Szypulski (Bert)
Hi Robert. Possibly. And if not I have a blogger friend who has done the loop up from Citadel Pass so she would probably know.
Hi,
I just finished reading the blog on the MT Assiniboine Nub hike since I’ll be going in June. I am also taking a Hell ride in ($175.00) and will NOT be staying at the huts or lodge, only the campground, so it’s OK to just fly in.
For me, its a two day time saver, which I can use @ YOHO earlier in the week!!(Hopefully Abotts Pass…..).
Love your BRIGHT website …..great simple writing, info and wonderful photos.
@Steven That’s definitely the best way to utilize your time. Do hike out via Wonder Lake as that’s a nice way to end the experience. Thanks for your lovely comment.
As you captioned one of your photos — “Beautiful everywhere you look”. Fab photos of your hike. It really does look like a steep pitch as you get close to the top of the Nublet. I think you were wise to turn around before going on o the summit of Nub Peak — if you’re not feeling it, why take a chance?
Thanks for taking me along on your snowhike in Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park. It made me want to light a fire and curl up with a book! My favorite image was of the fluffy bird.
Absolutely breathtaking views! A pretty chilly start to the day, just seeing the temperature made me shiver.
We will have to remember this hike if we are in that area but hopefully it will be in warmer weather.
Ruth
Whoa, -16 C in September?! We’re so spoiled here in SoCal – my neighbor and I were just griping about the fact that it’s in the 80s this week when we were hoping for more autumn-like weather. Poor us! That poor bird! What a beautiful, wintry hike! Did the lake freeze over? It’s such incredible shades of blue.
@Dana The snow left almost as quickly as it came though it is back for the winter season now. By mid-afternoon John and I were verging on hot while hiking.
interesting shots with the lakes unfrozen and all that snow. Good on ya for taking it on!
@Jane It was the last adventure I was doing for my book so I had to go no matter what the weather and in the end I’m glad for the snow because of how pretty it looks.
Oh Leigh you are such an intrepid adventurer and I love your hikes. Here particularly like the view over the Cerulean Lake and across the Nublet – wow, the pristine nature and clarity of these views are just incredible. And so much snow – in September.
@Johanna That snow did disappear and then there was another month of amazing fall weather. It certainly added a wintry touch but it also made the area very beautiful.
While it started out freezing seeing you hiking in shirtsleeves by the end of the day with Mount Assiniboine towering over you was extraordinary. Thanks for sharing this unique and breathtaking place.
@Elaine We were actually on the hot side by mid-afternoon. Couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the thermometer first thing and thankful I wasn’t camping.
I was reading this and literally said out loud, “Gawd, they have the most beautiful mountain lakes in the world.” Amazing. Also, and I can only “judge” this from pictures but Mount Assiniboine looks a lot like the Matterhorn don’t ya think, Leigh?
@Mike Mount Assiniboine definitely deserves the comparison to the Matterhorn. It is one of the most glorious areas in Canada that I have visited – which is saying something.
Beautiful Canada! Was just in Calgary last week. My daughter lives there!
@Carol Lucky you with a reason to visit the nearby Rockies.
Beautiful, but really cold view. Never been there, but would love to hike it! Looks like a wonderful trail!
@Aleah By mid-afternoon all we needed was a long sleeved T-shirt and then over the next few days it warmed up from there.
Beautiful views in the Canadian Rockies are part of the awe. This would have been way too chilly for me – we’ve visited in summer. Thanks for sharing.
@Betsy We had hoped for summer weather as this was September but we just happened to end up in a massive snow storm.
I have unfinished business in Mt. Assiniboine as well, your photos have me just itching to go back. About 20 years ago, we hiked in via the Shark trailhead on a pretty good day; however, the next day it poured rain all day and we spent most of the day in the tent. The weather remained abysmal so we got fed up and hiked out in one long day back to the Shark trailhead, I was never so happy to reach the car in the parking lot. What a gorgeous area, love your photos.
@Marsha Thank you so much. I will be back either next summer or the summer after when I know a ridge of high pressure is in the area.
Another epic Canada adventure with jaw dropping views. The snow covered views definitely made up for the tough drive.
@Ted It all worked out in the end but it was definitely a gnarly drive to get there.