Mount St. Piran

A hiking peak on the northern side of Lake Louise, often considered the counterpart to Mount Fairview on the south shore. Mount St. Piran (2,649 m) was named in 1894 by Samuel Allen for the patron saint of Cornwall.

Trail. The route branches off from the Little Beehive trail and consists of well-engineered National Park switchbacks. Despite proximity to heavily trafficked Lake Agnes, St. Piran is often deserted; providing a wilderness escape from crowds. The summit is a large, flat plateau with a rock shelter and 360° views.

Geology. The peak is formed from the St. Piran Formation (Gog Group); Cambrian quartzite named by Charles Doolittle Walcott in 1908, the same unit that forms the Big Beehive and Little Beehive. Pink, purple, and white quartzites form the prominent red cliffs at the far end of Lake Louise. See Gog Group and Lake Louise Geology.