I hiked to Sentinel Pass for the first time in 1968.   As a teenager I was very impressed, whetting my appetite for more.    Since that time, we have hiked and run into the pass, up and back, run and hiked as a loop route (going out through Paradise Valley),  and once on the way to the summit of Mount Temple.  Its been a few years since we were up there, mainly because it is far too busy for us in the Lake Louise area, but we hope to do a shoulder season hike sometime again.

The hike starts at Moraine Lake.   From the parking lot, a signed trail bears west, with switchbacks up the steep forested slopes up to Larch Valley.    In fall the larches turn a golden color, another reason for a fall hike.   At 2.15 km a junction is reached.    The route going west (left ) continues up to Eiffel Lake and beyond to Wenkchemna Pass (we hiked that route in late fall one year on the way to Lake O’Hara).   The right turn continues for 3.2 km up to Sentinel Pass.    There are rough mountaineering routes to Eiffel Peak and Pinnacle Mountain, but the main trail winds up to Sentinel Pass, between Pinnacle Mountain (9420 ft.) and Mount Temple (11 513 ft.).

The final section of the Sentinel Pass trail winds up a steep headwall above alpine meadows and a tarn.

From Sentinel Pass, we can see down past the Sentinel (a pinnacle) and further down to Paradise Valley.   Farther north are a series of Great Divide Peaks – Mt. Lefroy, Mt. Aberdeen, and Mt. Victoria.   Looking back to the south, the Valley of the Ten Peaks stand, with Mt. Lefroy catching the eye.   Rising steeply above on the right is the rugged and steep Mount Temple.    We have climbed Temple, starting in the dark and getting to Sentinel Pass at dawn.    It is a long, steep, and rugged route.

For those hiking to Sentinel Pass and back, the return distance is 11.6 km with 800 m elevation gain, taking 5-6 hours.   From one of the times we have hiked this trail are a few photos, shared in a Google Photos album (with captions) – Sentinel Pass

Also provided here is a slideshow of these images: