Calgary hiker dies falling from Mount Temple in Banff National Park

Calgary hiker dies falling from Mount Temple in Banff National Park

Mount Temple is one of the most difficult hikes in the park

A 65-year-old Calgary man died at Mount Temple in Banff National Park after slipping and falling on the trail, according to Parks Canada.

The federal agency’s Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay field unit said the incident took place at about 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Justin Brisbane, a public relations and communications officer, said Parks Canada rescuers responded to the area.

“The man was hiking with a group at the time of the incident, who were able to call for help,” said Brisbane in an email.

“Visitor safety specialists responded via helicopter, located the individual and deployed a heli-sling to airlift him to a staging area, where he was pronounced dead.”

CBC News reached out to RCMP for additional information, but they were unavailable before this story was published.

Mount Temple is one of the most difficult hikes in Banff National Park. In July 2022, a man died when he lost his footing climbing the mountain. A 70-year-old hiker died in September 2019 on the steep mountain.

And a Saskatchewan man was killed in January 2024 on the north face of Mount Temple during a backcountry skiing trip.

Parks Canada warns people to only hike Mount Temple in the summer. It’s about a 16-kilometre round trip hike, and the summit is 3,543 metres.

Greg Colgan is a journalist for CBC in the Bow Valley. He was previously the editor of the Rocky Mountain Outlook in Banff and Canmore. He has also worked for media outlets in Ontario and has experience covering topics such as sports, politics, housing and development, courts and arts and entertainment. He joined CBC in 2025. He can be reached at greg.colgan@cbc.ca.