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Peyto Lake Overlook and Bow Pass Summit

Improvement District No. 9, Alberta

4.9/5
based on 10 reviews

Details

Distance

4.22 miles

Elevation Gain

863 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Brenda Lin

Heading out to Peyto Lake Overlook and Bow Pass Summit leads to breathtaking views of a glacier fed lake. This roundtrip out-and-back hike takes 2-3 hours and offers one of the best views in the Canadian Rockies.

Peyto Lake is a scenic location on the Icefields Parkway about 40 km (25 miles) north of the town of Lake Louise. Access to the viewing area for this magnificent area is immediately off the parkway and is well signposted.

From the parking lot at Bow Summit, a short paved trail leads to one of the most breathtaking views you could ever imagine. Skip the viewpoint wooden balcony where hoards of tourists are common during the busy summer season. Instead, follow the paved use trail straight ahead where eventually it meets the dirt trail into the forest.

Upon climbing the short 1.9 mile distance to the viewing point you are greeted by what many consider to be one of the best views in Canada. The lake is located in a convergence of valleys surrounded by magestic mountains and rich forests. The lake system is fed from the Peyto Glacier to the left of the view point and this gives the lake a magnificent blue color in the summer months due to the mineral content. This glacier is part of the extensive Wapta Icefield, which straddles the Continental Divide and extends into the northern reaches of Yoho National Park in British Columbia.

Grab a snack and take it all in. With views this magestic, you may not want to leave! But alas, if you must, retrace your steps back to the parking lot.

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Features

Hiking
Easy Parking
Family Friendly
Forest
Lake
Scenic

Peyto Lake Overlook and Bow Pass Summit Reviews

Drove Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper July 21st, we enjoyed excellent summer weather and blue skies. Getting an early start to be out in front of crowds we arrived to an almost empty parking lot about 7:30 am. Just over an hour drive from Banff very scenic along the parkway. The trail is easy and paved up to the lookout. We were initially discouraged by the large number of people at the lookout we could not get a clear view of the lake, but just be patient the tour buses do not stay long and we were able to have the lookout too ourselves before the next bus arrived.

One of the most surreal experiences of my life. When you initially hike to the boardwalk which overlooks the lake, you may encounter many tourists during the summer months, but when you take a brisk hike to another vantage point, the crowd diminishes. There are two perfectly set rocks to sit and soak in this amazing lake. Out of all the fantastic lakes in Alberta, this is one of the finest.

One of the most stunning views along the Ice Fields parkway.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

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