Improvement District No. 9

Of all the lakes in the Banff area, this was one of my favorites to get out on the water. Don't expect the bright blue glacial waters of some of the other lakes in the Canadian Rockies, but the water is pristine and it was one of the few places I went where it felt like it was all locals hanging out...

The trailhead begins directly behind the Num-Ti-Jah Lodge on km 37 of the Icefields Highway. The trail is well marked and winds along the shore of Bow Lake for the first 1.2km of the hike. Eventually you will lead up to a narrow gorge and onto the crest of a glacial moraine. There are only a few spo...

Boom Lake offers amazing views of Boom Mountain and the ridge separating Alberta and British Columbia. It is not as popular as many other hikes in the area, which means exclusion for anyone willing to explore the lake. The abundant wildlife in the area includes wolves, bears, mountain goats, deer, a...

Once at Moraine Lake, the directions to Consolation Lakes are quite clear. From the parking lot, head northeast past the rockpile, which provides fantastic views of Moraine, then follow the Consolation Lakes Trail for another 2.9 km (1.8 miles) past Taylor Lake until you reach the lake. Depending on...

Hector Lake is one of the larger lakes in Banff National Park. It is surrounded by the Waputik Range to the west, and offers pristine views of the mountains. Hector Lake is idyllic and peaceful. Most tourists drive past the trailhead on the parkway, which means the hike is not at all busy. An excell...