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Emerald Lake

4.8 (43 reviews)

Emerald Lake Photos

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Howard L.

This is a stunningly beautiful lake, especially its striking emerald color. Many of the lakes in this part of Canada have a bluish-green color I learned due to the tiny pulverized rock particles in the water that the glaciers ground away over the eons. These suspended particles scatter light more strongly in the blue-green spectrum, and thus the lakes' striking appearance. This particular lake had the most striking color of all the lakes we saw and we saw quite a few awesome lakes. There is also an Emerald Lake lodge with a view of the lake that makes this a typically congested scenic stop given the additional lodge traffic. Canoe rentals are also available here.

Thaovi T.

Really enjoyed canoeing on this beautiful lake! It was so beautiful and peaceful. The water was so clear and emerald. The canoe prices ($100 Canadian per hour) are much lower than at Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. Was overall a great experience.

Left side view
Melchor D.

The view of this lake is so pristine and just out of this world. It's unbelievable seeing the reflection of the mountains and the sky while looking at the crystal clear water. Out of all the places we visited on our trip, this easily tops the lake Morraine and lake Louise. I would come back just to see this lake again.

Lynn N.

The Emerald lake trail is a must. It borders the lake and is a popular trail. You can venture to three other trails at the end of it. The views are beautiful any time of day. Parking is limited, so arriving before 8am to secure a spot is recommended. It's in Yoho National Park which has alot of other trails nearby. Spend at least a day exploring a couple trails in the area to take in the beauty of the mountains and lakes.

Belle A.

Phenomenal place to visit and get in touch with nature! So serene that it will melt away your worries and leave you without a concern in the world! It's absolutely beautiful and awe-inspiring! It is so quiet that you can hear the gentle breeze and nothing but the sounds of birds chirping when you canoe to the middle of the lake! Definitely worth a visit even if you're on a busy schedule! Take time out to slow down and take in the views!

This is Emerald Lake.
Seth A.

Emerald Lake is one of the primary highlights to see in Yoho National Park. Thing is...with so many incredible attractions within such a close proximity to this lake...when I had to make comparisons in the bigger picture...I found the setting here to be okay. That's not to say you shouldn't come and check things out. It's just...this area of the wondrous Canadian Rockies is filled with so many memorable spots to visit...Emerald Lake had no spectacular qualities. It's a lake, as the centerpiece/focal point, with a charming - rustic lodge situated beside it (called the Emerald Lake Lodge) and with activities to do such as hiking, kayaking and picnicking. Some details about Emerald Lake... Since I believe you only need 1 full day to explore Yoho NP... 1 - 2 hours is enough time to become acquainted with the surroundings. Emerald Lake is... - 39 kilometers west of Lake Louise Village. - 12 kilometers north of Field, BC - where the Yoho Visitor Center is located. - 7.5 kilometers north of Natural Bridge - another popular part of Yoho NP. If you are coming from Lake Louise Village (which I believe almost every tourist does), I'd suggest... 1. Yoho National Park Welcome Sign - take a picture. 2. Lower Spiral Tunnel - roadside stop to exit your car. 3. Town of Field, BC - walk around town and stop in at the Yoho VC. 4. Natural Bridge - overlook with a river flowing through a canyon ravine. 5. Come here to Emerald Lake. 6. Takakkaw Falls - best viewed in the afternoon time. 7. Wapta Falls - out of the way...a 47 kilometer drive south of Emerald Lake. Overall, I'd characterize Emerald Lake as a quiet, yet colorful lake (but only when the sun is out) with a singular snowcapped mountain peak set in the distance. It is a far cry from the sights along Icefields Parkway where the mountains are a sight to behold...but coming here is more of an under the radar getaway if you have the time. Still, even stopping by in the middle of June, the parking lot was full and I had to leave my car along the side of Emerald Lake Road and then walk 10 minutes to the entrance area. Upon arriving, there is a wooden boardwalk to hang out at and view Emerald Lake from. This part of seeing the lake was decent. If you'd like to get a more in-depth perspective, there's a flat/dirt hiking trail that circles around the lake. I walked it and the scenery was alright, giving you a chance to take some pictures and be among nature. In the end, if you're coming to Yoho NP for the day, then it's fine to come to Emerald Lake. It fits into the whole itinerary. But, from my pov...this place won't knock your socks off like witnessing more high profile - Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Bow Lake and Peyto Lake.

Sammie S.

Emerald Lake is found in Yoho National Park, actually not a bad drive from Lake Louise. This is another picturesque lake, free to visit aside from parking costs. Speaking of parking, get there early or you may have a good walk to the lake. We heard that renting canoes here is far more reasonable than at Lake Louise or Moraine Lake. Unfortunately we were later getting there than we wanted so we skipped this. There is a lovely looking restaurant on-site called Cilantro's, if you are looking to have a meal and enjoy the views. Reservations recommended as it was busy.

The green patch where an avalanche went through
Vannisa T.

This will be one of those places you talk about with your friends, but have a hard time describing or even doing it justice with photos. Our camera cannot capture the true beauty or magnificence even with photoshop and color grading. This is near Moraine Lake which is a stunner on its own, but make a trip to this lake. You'll need google maps. Make sure to download it to help plot your map and location because you will lose signal. Parking is very limited and when we were driving in we saw shuttles going by, cars on the sides of the street, but we felt lucky. We drove up and happened to find a spot near the entrance. The noise of hikers and visitors will soon be drowned out by the natural white noise of the rushing creeks and trees swaying. There is a cute gift shop that you can also rent a canoe to go onto the lake. We opted to walk around it and just enjoyed the scenery. Many families were here with their parents and kiddos enjoying a bbq or picnic. I would love to come back just to see this in different times of year. It is enchanting and dreamy.

Emerald Lake, Yukon, British Columbia.
Tom T.

If you visit Juneau you might get the itch to take a ride along the Klondike highway to see the sights and visit the local towns. Given the close proximity of Alaska to British Columbia, you'll find yourself wandering into Canadian territory. At South Klondike Highway # 2, not far from Whitehorse, Yukon YT Y0B Canada, at mile 73.5 miles (117 km) from Skagway, Alaska, you'll find the Emerald Lake. It's a sightseers destination in and of itself. Emerald Lake is noteworthy for its intense emerald green color that stems from light reflecting off white deposits of marl, a mixture of clay and calcium carbonate, at the bottom of the shallow waters of the lake. The colors and setting will astound you. Stop by on a trip to Carcross. You won't regret it and, you can't miss this site. It stands in plain view along side the Klondike highway.

From the canoe
Bertrand L.

Rented a canoe right as they opened and got to the middle and far side of the lake within an hour. Best view in the house of the environs of the Canadian Rockies. Wonderful turquoise water due to the sediment flour from the glaciers that is so unique to the area. Hike around the lake interesting with a dry side to start and a really wet side coming back. Went a bit farther toward the basin and was treated with the raging waters coming down. Wonderful experience.

View on hike
Allison S.

Emerald Lake Lodge was definitely an experience. I know that the purpose is to disconnect and be with nature, but the rooms are SO outdated for the price, which would be my only reason for a four star review rather than a five star review. Everything else on the grounds was pretty amazing. Do not sleep on the on-site restaurant as this was one of the most amazing meals I have ever had. There is a hot tub area onsite as well which was pleasant after a long day. Everyone that works on the grounds is very accommodating and helpful. I would prefer to have a mini refrigerator in the room. We stocked up on some food / alcohol prior to arriving as we didn't plan to leave for a few days and were a little bummed out we had no where to put anything. We basically had to throw all our cheeses/ dips we bought out and drank all our beer warm. We went during NHL finals and another person in our party was *insistent* upon watching a game, so there is a TV in the clubhouse to watch games if you're with a sports fan during a big game. Overall, it was amazing to stay there as it's just so dang beautiful and really get to connect with everyone as there is no WiFi, etc. My only criticism is that I felt like I was staying in a motel 6 for $20 a night when in reality it was very expensive! Would go again, though.

Jacqueline T.

This was a pretty lake to stop at in Yoho National Park. Parking was a bit of a pain when we got there around 12, but we managed to grab a spot as someone as pulling out. The lake wasn't nearly as green as I was expecting it to be based on the name. It was a pretty teal color though. There's a hike around the lake, but we didn't do it because we didn't think the views would be much different and it was raining. I think it's worth a quick stop to see this lake.

Please walk ib the correct side of the bridge. Cars use that bridge.
Alyanna C.

Alberta has some beautiful lakes, and Emerald Lake is definitely part of that collection. The water is very still with a beautiful turquoise color - no filters necessary when taking your photos. If you're ever in Yoho National Park, this is definitely worth a stop. Canoeing is also much cheaper here than Lake Louise ($60 /hr vs $100 /hr). I did enjoy the trail around the lake. It's an easy trail that goes around the lake so you can see it from all angles. Some areas of the trail let you see the wild flowers, making for some beautiful meadows with the mountains in the background. Fair warning there are quite a few mosquitos out when it's warm, so bring bug spray! Parking was a little difficult when we came - although not nearly as busy/crazy as Lake Louise and Morraine Lake, the parking lot was already full by noon and we had to park along the side of the road. Not too bad, but just something to consider when exploring here in the summer. I'll have to come back when the weather use clear and not smokey from wildfires to truly appreciate it, but even then ther color was amazing.

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Emerald Lake Reviews in Other Languages

Review Highlights - Emerald Lake

I visited Emerald Lake at the end of August while at Yoho National Park for a day trip from Banff.

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Lake O'Hara

Lake O'Hara

(2 reviews)

Lake O'Hara is a beautiful, well-preserved lake that is tucked away within Yoho National Park, and…read moreis a wonderful place to get in a good hike and enjoy the beautiful scenery without the hustle and bustle of loud tour buses and disruptive tourists. I visited in early July and the weather was quite warm, so you won't need any heavy jackets. A simple t-shirt should suffice. Shuttle bus passes up the mountain to view the actual lake are hard to get a hold of, so be prepared for a 11km (~6.8 miles) uphill hike. There aren't any rest stops until you hit the 10 or 11km mark where the campground area is, so be sure to use the restroom beforehand and fill up on water accordingly. There may be more spots on the shuttle for a ride back down depending on the demand, but the bus only leaves every 2 hours (2:30pm, 4:30pm, 6:30pm) and tickets are $10 cash per person. I saw a mama bear and her cubs crossing the path on my way down while I was inside the bus, so bears really do walk onto the trail! Bring bear spray with you as a safety precaution if you're unfamiliar with how to deal with wildlife. Overall, I really loved Lake O'Hara and its serene waters and breathtaking surroundings. I want to go back already!

This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can stay at either a lodge, cabin or campground. The…read morecampground reminded us of a United Nations meeting as we may have been the only English-as-first-language speakers. From Lake O'Hara we climbed trails to gorgeous Lakes Oesa and Opabin. Breathtakingly beautiful.

Bow Lake - Amazing hiking trail around this beautiful lake

Bow Lake

(11 reviews)

Bow Lake is one of the MUST-DO stops along famed Icefields Parkway. It's located right off the side…read moreof the road, 37 kilometers (or 23 miles) north of the Lake Louise area. And...it's situated just past Crowfoot Glacier. So...if you do stop at Crowfoot Glacier, be prepared to immediately stop again here at Bow Lake. Interestingly, I found Crowfoot Glacier to be absolutely wonderful, in terms of the incredible snowcapped setting from a quick pullover perspective. Now...here at Bow Lake, you still receive those wondrous snowcapped mountain viewpoints...but I had anticipations that the lake would be colorful and turquoise green/blue...and that was not the case, which disappointed me a little because of my sky high expectations. Yet...looking back at my photos and reflecting...I still have to give Bow Lake 5 stars no matter what! The scenery here would put many other lakes to shame throughout the world! The atmosphere was beautiful. It's just...this whole area in and around Lake Louise, even further south in Banff and just being along Icefields Parkway offered many glorious moments being in nature...I think I got spoiled by it all! Lol. I had this unblemished, postcard image in my head of Bow Lake, especially since there was fresh snow and ice floating in the water. So, when I didn't view any coloring to it (which would have been the pinnacle of it all!), it still remained terrific regardless of a slight letdown I may have had. A little north from Bow Lake is stunningly magnificent Peyto Lake. And...Peyto Lake has a short walk to a viewpoint (less than 1 mile) where you're standing "above it all" and it's there....where you'll discover those incredibly turquoise green waters. Now, lol, I know I'm being critical but, I do want to mention a few factors about maybe why, the waters weren't turquoise at Bow Lake... I visited back in late afternoon time and with the position of the sun in the sky...the surroundings weren't ideal for picture taking. My face was shadowy, which I'm trying to say that I was looking into the sun. I believe now thinking back...I would have been better served coming here in the morning time. This way, the sun could be at my back and help lighten up the backdrop and possibly offer that colorful effect into the waters. Another factor... Coming to Bow Lake, all you have to do is pull into the parking lot and walk a short distance to the edge of the waters. It's simple. But, now being nit picky about my exploring, lol...I think Bow Lake could have been perfect if I viewed it from an overlook perspective, where I'm looking down on the landscape. I find (in my travels) that seeing something at eye level doesn't always do justice. I guess maybe that's why they created gondolas and sky trams? Another element was...since it was already late in the day bordering on early evening, maybe I never gave myself enough exploring time around the lake to find those colorful perspectives. I think, just, when you compare Bow Lake to Peyto Lake, the comparisons much favored Peyto Lake, in my eyes. Ultimately, while writing this...Bow Lake is still fantastic and very, very worthwhile for stopping at while driving Icefields Parkway. Some last extras... - Here at Bow Lake, you can start the trailhead for Bow Glacier Falls - a 9 kilometer roundtrip hike that was recommended by other tourists. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to hike it. - I used 20 - 25 minutes to casually walk over to Bow Lake's edge and admire the views. There's nothing like taking in sights of snowcapped mountains among nature. - Make sure to stop at Crowfoot Glacier before you arrive here...and stop at Peyto Lake once you leave here. - This section of Icefields Parkway is probably the most scenic you'll find along the journey from downtown Lake Louise north to Jasper...and vice versa. - Remember, if you can...visit here in the morning time. - Lastly, I came to Bow Lake in the middle of June, 2022...and the conditions were perfect outside without rain or wind. Also, there weren't many tourists around for the season yet, so I'm glad I got a head start seeing the popular attractions without all the congestion. Alright, well, this is Bow Lake, located along Icefields Parkway within the Lake Louise area of Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada.

Beautiful and scenic stop along the Highway of the lake. Amazing blue colour that is so clear and…read morereflective of the mountains and tree. The mountains in the background with snow peaks adds to the majestic view. Definitely a great stop to take photos that's quick and easy.

Yoho National Park - Emerald Lake

Yoho National Park

(18 reviews)

Even though my trip to Canada mostly cantered around Banff, my tour bus did take us into Yoho…read moreNational Park for a part of the day. Yoho is the smallest of the four contiguous national parks. The other ones are Jasper, Kootenay and Banff National Parks. Yoho is an interesting name for a National Park and comes from the Cree language. It means "awe and wonder". After a stop at Lake Louise and Moraine, we ended up finishing our day at Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park. One of the things that I enjoyed about this park and lake was that it was less crowded than Banff and the other two popular lakes. I ended up walking the nature trail around beautiful deep-green Emerald Lake. I enjoyed the views and came across a plaque about the fossil-bearing deposits of the Burgess Shale in the area. Sadly, Emerald Lake was the only area of Yoho National Park that I was able to explore. Hopefully I am able to see other areas like Takakkaw and Wapta Falls, Lake O'Hara and the Natural Bridge next trip.

After spending most of our week stay exploring Banff and Kootenay National Park's, we decided to…read morecheck out Yoho as well. We stayed at a timeshare in Radium Hot Springs, which was a perfect central location for exploring all three! Yoho was less busy than Banff and Kootenay, which we appreciated after almost a week of crowded stops. Our drive up to Golden was gorgeous in the Fall. We then headed over to Field, to visit Takakkaw Falls and Emerald Lake. Both were gorgeous! We even had lunch at The Emerald Lake Lodge during our visit. You can rent canoes on Emerald Lake. It's cheaper and less crowded than the more popular Lake Louise in Banff National Park. We also stopped to visit Natural Bridge. The glacial blue water was absolutely beautiful. My husband enjoyed the Spiral Tunnels stop more than I did. He found all the placards interesting. It would have been cool to see a train enter or exit the tunnel, but it didn't happen during our visit. Overall, we enjoyed our time here. It was much more relaxing than the busier ones. Don't sell this national park short. If you have extra time, it's definitely worth a visit!

Lake Minnewanka

Lake Minnewanka

(26 reviews)

There is nothing more beautiful than visiting a glacial lake in the middle of Banff National Park…read more This lake was one of our first stops for viewing and hiking. Lake Minnewanka is 142 meters deep (465 feet) and 21 kilometers (13 miles) long. It is the closest lake to the town of Banff and it is the largest lake in the park. The color of the lake is so striking with jewel tones of emerald, it is so clear and clean. The beautiful color comes from the glacial meltwater. Minnewanka means "Water of the Spirits" and there is a legend that when the Stoney people would travel in the neighborhood of the lake, they could hear voices of the resident spirits. The lake offers plenty of recreation opportunities such as picnicking, hiking, taking a cruise, renting a canoe or kayak, rent a motorboat, or fishing for lake trout and mountain whitefish, and relaxing lakeside. Swimming is not recommended as the water is pretty frigid. The most unique thing about this lake is the town of Minnewanka Landing. In the early 1800's, it was once a thriving resort town. When the lake was dammed in 1941 to provide power to Banff and Calgary the water rose and now all that's left is a ghost town underwater. We decided to take a trail and hike. We were there in September and we were cautiously aware that bear season was approaching. We did not hike too far just about five miles around the lake's perimeter and returned as we had no bear spray. The scenery with the surrounding mountains was absolutely stunning and gorgeous. I believe the trail was the Stewart Canyon - Aylmer Pass Junction. On our way out, we got to see a couple of big horn sheep roadside. So cute! So much to see here and a great way to start our trip in Banff National Park. Love CANADA!!

I know Moraine Lake and Lake Louise get all the glory, but I actually really liked Lake Minnewanka…read more It was less crowded and there were more things to do. They had boat cruises and you could rent a canoe, kayak, or motorized boat. Also, it was convenient and fast to take the Roam Transit 6 bus here. Also, it seems like all the wedding photoshoots were here since it's less crowded and you don't have to hike very far to get really great pictures. My tip - just follow the wedding photographers, they know the best spots to get good shots. The pier was just nice to hang out and take pictures as well.

Emerald Lake - hiking - Updated May 2026

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