Devil’s Thumb Trail – Lake Louise

The Devil’s Thumb Trail is one of the most challenging and rewarding hikes in Lake Louise. An add-on to the Lake Agnes and Big Beehive Trail, it’s not a hike I’d recommend for anyone who is nervous with exposure. Experienced, confident hikers who make it to the top are rewarded with one of the most impressive viewpoints in the Lake Louise area.

From the top of Devil’s Thumb, you can see Lake Louise and Lake Agnes at the same time, along with the Big Beehive, Little Beehive, Mount Temple, the Plain of Six Glaciers and the surrounding peaks that make this part of Banff National Park so unforgettable. There are not many viewpoints where you can take in so many famous Lake Louise landmarks from one spot.

To get to the trailhead, you need to hike the Lake Agnes Trail and most of the Big Beehive Trail, which are two of the best hikes in Lake Louise. The add-on Devil’s Thumb hike is a great option for strong hikers looking for something more adventurous.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through what to expect on the Devil’s Thumb Trail, including where the unmarked trail begins, how difficult it is, what the views are like and whether this hike is the right fit for your Banff trip.

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Is the Devil’s Thumb Trail Right For You?

How Long is the Devil’s Thumb Trail?

The Devil’s Thumb Trail via Lake Agnes is approximately 12.4 km (7.7 miles) return, starting from the Lake Louise lakeshore. This distance includes the hike up to Lake Agnes, the climb toward the Big Beehive, and the extra section up to the Devil’s Thumb viewpoint.

If you wish to add on the short trail to the Big Beehive viewpoint, the total distance grows to 13.4 km (8.3 miles).

How Steep is the Devil’s Thumb Hike?

The Devil’s Thumb Trail gains roughly 939 m (3,081 feet) of elevation, with much of the hardest climbing coming after Lake Agnes. Once you leave the main Big Beehive route, expect steep, loose sections with rock steps, roots, shale and gravel underfoot.

If you wish to add on the short trail to the Big Beehive viewpoint, the total elevation gain to 13.4 km (8.3 miles).

How Hard is the Devil’s Thumb Trail?

The Devil’s Thumb Hike is a difficult Banff National Park hiking trail. It is best for experienced hikers who are comfortable with steep trails, rough footing and some exposure. It is not a good choice for anyone with a fear of heights, and we would not recommend it as a casual Lake Louise add-on unless you already feel strong on mountain trails.

How Long Does It Take to Hike Devil’s Thumb?

Most hikers should allow around 4 to 6 hours to complete the Devil’s Thumb Hike, depending on pace, trail conditions and how long you spend at Lake Agnes or the viewpoints. We recommend giving yourself plenty of extra time, as the upper section is slow going and the views are well worth stopping for.

For reference, Celine and I are fast hikers. The last time we hiked the Devil’s Thumb Trail, we completed it in under 4 hours (starting and ending at the Chateau Lake Louise, and including a stop at the Big Beehive lookout).

If you’re at the top of the Big Beehive switchbacks and are considering the Devil’s Thumb add-on hike, you may be interested to know that from here the Devil’s Thumb hike took us an extra 90 minutes.

Alternatives to the Devil’s Thumb Hike

If the Devil’s Thumb hike isn’t right for you, don’t worry as there are plenty of excellent hikes in Banff National Park for all skill levels.

If you are looking for something a little easier, there are several excellent moderate Lake Louis hikes nearby. In addition to the Lake Agnes Trail, and the Big Beehive Trail (both of which are amazing hikes), one of my favourite hikes in Banff National Park is nearby. The Plain of Six Glaciers Trail leads hikers upstream of Lake Louise towards a dramatic glacier-filled valley!

For more selection, don’t miss our list of hikes in Banff National Park sorted by difficulty.

Devil’s Thumb Trail Highlights

Reaching the Devil’s Thumb Trailhead

To reach the Devil’s Thumb trailhead, you must first hike the Lake Agnes Trail to the Big Beehive. This is one of the famous Lake Louise tea house hikes and one of the best hikes in Banff National Park.

I won’t discuss these hikes in detail here, but for a complete picture of the Devil’s Thumb hike, I encourage you to read our posts on the Lake Agnes Trail and the Big Beehive Trail.

The Devil’s Thumb trailhead is located on the plateau once you reach the end of the switchbacks from Lake Agnes to the Big Beehive. There is no trailhead sign for the Devil’s Thumb hike, so make sure you have the trail map downloaded into your phone before you head out for the day.

The First Steep Climb on the Devil’s Thumb Hike

The Devil’s Thumb Trail begins through a dense forest of fir and larch trees. It’s a winding trail through the trees with plenty of rocks and roots. Almost immediately, you can take a short spur trail to the right for some pretty amazing elevated views of Lake Agnes.

It doesn’t take long before the Devil’s Thumb hiking trail starts to go uphill. It doesn’t fool around and gets steep fast. You’ll need to climb up a series of rock steps, some are quite tall and require some fancy footwork to get up. Many of the rocks are quite dusty, and therefore slippery, so a pair of trustworthy hiking boots with good grips is recommended.

Lake Agnes and Mountain Views Along the Trail

At top of the first set of rock steps, take a moment to look back for an amazing view of Lake Ages and the Tea House through the larch trees. In fall, when the larch needles are golden color, it’s especially beautiful. I wouldn’t necessarily include the Devil’s Thumb Trail on the list of the best larch hikes in Banff, but it’s right next to the Big Beehive hike, which is on the list!

To your left, you’ll be treated to incredible views of Fairview Mountain, Temple Mountain with its distinctive glacier cap, as well as Haddo Peak and Mount Aberdeen, who also share a glacier.

I love hiking trails which run along a very steep slope. At this stage of the Devils Thumb Trail, there’s a dramatic rock wall above on the right, with a steep drop off on the left. We do not recommended this hike to anyone with a fear of heights. You’ll be rewarded with some amazing views of Lake Louise; it’s a beautiful vantage point at the far end of the lake looking back towards the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Plain of Six Glaciers Views from the Devil’s Thumb Trail

The views just keep getting better as the Plain of Six Glaciers comes into view. The trail is flatter here, making it more easy to enjoy the scenery, which in my opinion are some of the best views in Banff National Park.

After 600 m (2,000 feet), the Devils Thumb hiking trail becomes steep again as it starts to make its 180° turn toward the top of the thumb. The trail is very steep here, with shale and gravel beneath your feet. It’s very slippery here, so be careful. Thankfully there are some well placed tree roots which you can grab for extra stability and support. It’s hard work up this section, so if you need a break you can always stop and soak in the amazing glacier views.

Reaching the Alpine Zone and the Pass

You’ll enter the treeless alpine zone after hiking 800 m (2,600 feet) on the Devils Thumb Trail. From here you can simultaneously see the top of the thumb as well as hear the rushing river in the Plain of Six Glaciers below. This is a special spot indeed.

Another 100 m of hiking and you’ll find yourself at the pass. The massive rock chimney looms high overhead on your left, and you can see far to the mountains in the distance, but you can’t quite see Lake Agnes yet.

The final ascent up the Devils Thumb Trail winds uphill through a field of bowling ball sized rocks. This last section is nice and flat, allowing you to look all around at the scenery as you approach the final viewpoint.

The View from the Top of the Devil’s Thumb Hike

Lake Louise comes into view first. I live here and I still can’t believe the water colour in Lake Louise is real, and it’s way more beautiful from up high!

Just a little further along the trail and Lake Agnes comes into view, allowing you a rare chance to see both Lake Louise and Lake Agnes at the same time!

The reward for hiking the top of Devil’s Thumb is not just the lake views. You can see literally everything in the Lake Louise area from up here: you can see the Little Beehive, the Big Beehive (including the switchback trail to get there), the Lake Louise Summer Gondola, Temple Mountain and the mighty impressive mountains and glaciers from the Plain of the Six Glaciers.

There are not many viewpoints in Banff National Park where you can see so many famous landmarks at once. If you are an experienced, capable hiker, you’ll be in awe of the views from the top of the Devil’s Thumb hike.

Devil’s Thumb Trail Map

It’s pretty easy to follow the very popular hiking trails to Lake Agnes and up the Big Beehive switchbacks. Once at the top of the switchbacks, the Devil’s Thumb trail is unmarked. I recommend you have a digital copy of the trail map on your phone.

If you’d like a digital map of the hike along with the ability to track your stats (distance, elevation gain, etc.), I personally use and recommend the AllTrails hiking app. Cell service cant be relied upon in this area, so be sure to download your trail map(s) prior to leaving.

There are two trail maps to choose from in AllTrails:

Devil’s Thumb via Lake Agnes Trail (excludes the Big Beehive viewpoint)

Devil’s Thumb and The Big Beehive (includes the Big Beehive viewpoint)

How to Get to Devil’s Thumb

If you wish to visit the Lake Louise area, the very first thing you need to do is to learn about how to get there. Due to overwhelming demand, the Lake Louise lakeshore parking lot will fill up fast in the summer and likely before sunrise. Chances are extremely high that you will be unable to find a parking spot at Lake Louise and will need to find an alternate way there.

As early as possible in your Banff planning, make sure you read How to Get to Lake Louise first. Then, if you wish to book a shuttle, follow-up by reading about the Lake Louise shuttle bus. It is vital that you know this information so you do not miss out on visiting Lake Louise during your trip to Banff.

Devil’s Thumb Hiking Safety Tips

Before we get into Devil’s Thumb safety tips, it’s important to be honest about the nature of this hike. If you feel like you need a detailed list of safety tips to feel comfortable attempting Devil’s Thumb, this may not be the right trail for you.

Devil’s Thumb is best for hikers who already have experience on steep, loose, exposed mountain terrain and are confident making good decisions without relying on step-by-step guidance.

Before hiking the Devil’s Thumb, we recommend checking the latest Parks Canada trail reports, especially if you are hiking early or late in the season. Parks Canada does not usually list Devil’s Thumb as its own individual trail report, but the Big Beehive trail report can help you understand current snow, mud, wildlife, or closure concerns before committing to this challenging Banff hiking trail.