Egypt Lake Gear List
Egypt Lake (campground E13) is 12.4 km one way from the Sunshine Village parking lot over Healy Pass, so the kit is what you can carry up a pass and what the campground gives you at the top. Parks Canada's Banff backcountry page asks every party for bear spray, a first aid kit, a satellite emergency device and a trip plan, and suggests two nights at Egypt Lake.
The walk in over Healy Pass
Start at Sunshine Village
The route starts at the Sunshine Village parking lot. Parks Canada lists the Sunshine Shuttle from Banff in summer, for the trip from Banff to the trailhead.
12.4 km each way
Parks Canada gives 12.4 km one way via Healy Pass. Pack for a full day of walking in and the same out.
Two nights
Parks Canada suggests staying two nights at Egypt Lake, which leaves a day in the area without moving camp. The limit is three consecutive nights at any one campground.
Safety gear for a camp this far from the road
Bear spray
Parks Canada says to carry it where you can reach it, not packed away, and to know how to use it.
Satellite emergency device
Listed as a must-carry for Banff's backcountry. An inReach, SpotX or Zoleo fits; a personal locator beacon or satellite phone is listed as optional.
First aid kit and training
Carry a kit, and have at least one person in the party with wilderness first aid training.
Trip plan and permit
Leave your plan with someone reliable, and carry a copy of your backcountry permit.
What E13 gives you and what you bring
Food lockers or bear poles
A designated campground has lockers or poles. Put food, garbage, toiletries and cooking gear in them, and hang food from the storage cables.
A stove
Parks Canada says to carry a portable fuel or propane stove and cook in the designated cooking area. Fires are allowed only in shared metal rings, and not every campground has one.
Water treatment
Boil, filter or chemically treat all water. Carry a filter or treatment device and a bottle of at least 1 liter.
One tent per pad
The limit is 4 people and 1 tent per pad, and 10 people and 5 tents on one reservation.
The permit you carry
Backcountry permit
A permit is mandatory for an overnight trip. Parks Canada's Banff fee page lists $15.00 CAD per person per night.
Gear questions for Egypt Lake
How far is Egypt Lake from the trailhead?
Parks Canada gives 12.4 km one way from the Sunshine Village parking lot, by Healy Pass.
Do you need a bear canister at Egypt Lake?
No. Parks Canada's rule for bear-resistant containers covers random camping areas. Egypt Lake is a designated campground with lockers or poles, per its backcountry page.
How many nights can you stay at Egypt Lake?
Up to three in a row at one campground. Parks Canada suggests two nights at Egypt Lake.
Sources
Checked against the agency pages above on October 30, 2026. This page names no products, and it lists what the agency says, in our words. Check the agency page for rules that changed since.
In an emergency in Canada, call 911.