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.

Driving the Icefield Parkway from Banff to Jasper is an exciting, lake filled, waterfalls…read moreeverywhere, giant glaciers experience. Peyto Lake pronounced (PEE toe) was one of our first stops on the drive. Although we did not have time to hike down to the lake which I would have preferred we did stop at the look out. It was not crowded thank goodness so we could take lots of photos. The lake is fed from a glacier that you can see over the lake. The color is a striking turquoise blue from the rock dust carried by the melting glaciers. Some say the shape looks like a wolf. I didn't see any shape as I was too mesmerized by the lakes beauty. So glad we stopped and I can't wait to return to hike it and be out there alone.

Same thought with Peyto Lake; too many tourons that only want an Instagram picture and climbing…read moreover railings and acting a fool. 3rd world country stuff here. If you take the trail off the beaten path, you can hike for miles without another person and get some peace and quiet to yourself! The overlook is a 2/5 for me, the trail is a 5/5!

Stunning and powerful waterfall! Gravity and force from mist and/or spray comes into contact with…read morehair and face. Easy walk. There are many vantage points for taking photos and videos. If arriving midday or afternoon, expect to see vehicles lined up on both sides of the road.

Gorgeous waterfall! A must-see for this national park. Plenty of parking available. Restrooms…read moreavailable as well. The path up to the falls is paved. You can see the waterfall very well from the bridge, but we walked all the way up. It was pretty crowded at the base of the falls. There are plenty of areas off the path to take photos with less people in them. The glacier-fed water is beautiful! A milky-blue color. That with the mountains and trees, the colors are so vivid. We also saw a mountain goat on the hillside and a rainbow in the mist. Highly recommend!

This hike is listed on a number of local websites and tourist brochures, and after talking to…read moresomeone at a visitor information center, my husband and I decided to try it out. All the descriptions list this hike as "easy", and as someone who is in pretty good shape but not an experienced hiker, I would have described this trail as being of "moderate" difficulty. The area is a little remote, and I would have felt more comfortable with bear spray or bear bells to scare off any locals. There is a small parking lot in the area, and the trail is located at the wooden trailhead sign (not the wider vehicle path heading into the forest in the opposite direction). The trail is steep and narrow in a number of sections, so much so that I wondered if we had the wrong trail at one point, and in one area the trail snakes along side of a slope with a fairly significant drop on one side and a sharp upslope on the other. Good hiking shoes are highly recommended for extra traction and stability. That being said, the views of the falls at the end are spectacular. The waterfall is roaring, powerful, and totally awesome. The return trip took us just about two hours, with about 15 minutes at the falls themselves. It's a great shorter hike, and only 20 minutes from Radium Hot Springs.

Serene, tranquil and picturesque views of waterfalls, glaciers and lake. Easy hike and walk…read more I saw a ground squirrel running twice. Do not approach and feed any wildlife. Too quick for me to capture a photo moment. I loved hiking and walking round trip at Moraine Lake. Stunning! Great cardiovascular exercise from head to toes. Designated areas for benches. If I lived closer, I'd be here often. Highly recommend.

After spending time at Lake Louise, our shuttle took us over to Moraine Lake. Seeing both of these…read morebeautiful lakes in person was awesome. Moraine Lake is only open during the summer season and requires a park shuttle to reach. It can get really crowed here. Moraine Lake is at an elevation of 6,181 ft and is situated in the Valley of Ten Peaks. There is an info sign in the front that shows you where the ten peaks are. Moraine Lake has a beautiful torquiest blue color to it. The color comes from the sunlight bouncing off the rock sediment in the lake and the surrounding glaciers. The water comes from the snow that melts in the glaciers. Moraine Lake has no dam and has not been altered by humans. The views of the lake are incredible. Because of the crowds, I hiked up to a higher point on top of a rock pile to get a better view. It was cloudy when I was here and it added to the beauty of the photos that I took. I really enjoyed my brief time at Moraine Lake and hope to come back and explore it a little more next time.

This is a top notch national park. Not huge, but plenty of trails to walk on. Very friendly…read morerangers. Limited interpretive content. Great scenery, especially plant life. Not as crowded as other national parks in area. A place worth checking out.

Mount Revelstoke National Park of Canada! I believe hiking to Miller and Eva Lakes are the two…read moreprimary focal points for experiencing this beautiful, yet under the radar park. To arrive at them, you must drive the Meadows in the Sky road about 26 kilometers or 16 miles up to the summit area parking lot. After you exit your car... - Hike 5.5 kilometers or 3.5 miles to reach Miller Lake. - Then hike another 8/10th's of a kilometer or 1/2 mile to get to Eva Lake. Either way, the two lakes pair perfectly together. You can't go to one and not visit the other, lol. Along the way on the trail, it's not really elevated. You mostly descend down a dirt pathway into an alpine bowl of trees and shrubberies within the forest. It's a pleasant setting among nature. And it wasn't hot or cold along the way when I hiked in late June. The conditions were perfect. Miller Lake and Eva Lake are both similar in that they offer some of the most untouched, undisturbed surroundings you can encounter, anywhere! The reflections in the waters are pristine, symmetrical, masterpiece works of art!! Here were some of the differences between the two lakes... According to what I noticed, you can't walk around Miller Lake. There's a giant boulder you can stand upon and get 360 views. Basically, there's not much maneuverability to capture that ideal photo moment. Whereas at Eva Lake, you walk around the entire lake as it's bigger and offers more of a playful area in nature to enjoy the scenic sights. Eva Lake is more open in terms of landscape. There are panoramic vista point views of the mountains in the background as you stroll the perimeter of the lake. So...Eva Lake gives you the best of both worlds. Miller Lake sort of sits in an enclosed lower bowl tier and when I stopped by, the sun was partially hidden by the forest growth and hindered some sensational picture instances. At Eva Lake, there were benches afforded to hikers to sit down on. Also, visitors were swimming in Eva Lake as well. In total, with hiking to and from the lakes and spending brief time at each of them and with driving back down Revelstoke Mountain, the entire experience took 7 hours. Btw, back at the trailhead for Miller and Eva Lakes, you have Fire Lookout House which is a unique landmark worthy of exploring for a little. Fire House Lookout appeared to be a popular destination among visitors. Right next to Fire Lookout House is Heather Lake...another charming lake with some green coloring to it and perfect reflections of alpine trees glistening off the waters. Both Fire Lookout and Heather Lake are within the heart of Mount Revelstoke activity so you're not really going out of your way to see more sights after the moderately difficult Miller and Eva Lakes Trail. Lastly, for those with a real sense of adventure, next to Miller and Eva Lakes is a continuous pathway for 4 more kilometers or 2.5 miles to Jade Lakes, but I skipped it so I don't know how it appeared. If I had an assumption, I'd say Jade Lakes would be worthwhile as well. Just thinking off my head at this moment, Jade Lakes may have snow covering on the trail year round. This is my impromptu thought, but I'd inquire with park rangers before trekking to Jade Lakes and setting off for the day. Mount Revelstoke National Park! No one has talked about it, but if you're a parks fan and lover of nature...I would certainly suggest paying a visit here and you'll be rewarded with quality time spent in the great outdoors.

The hike to the waterfalls and the hike to the Inkpots are two different tales..but both…read morespectacular. The hike to the falls are on a paved or finely-crushed gravel path, or on a causeway that walks you above the water. Either way, it is a relatively easy walk for most able-bodied persons. The falls are spectacular, but be prepared...in August, it will be busy with people, and you will spend a lot of time brushing elbows as people head the other way. And, at lower falls, there will be a 45 minute wait to look at the falls through a natural window opening in the rock. Personally, I'm not in the "selfie" crowd, so I will make better use of my time. Upper falls is another few minutes up the trail, and is equally powerful. Obviously, since water flows downhill, you are hiking uphill from the parking lot to see the falls. Continue past the upper falls, and now you are on the way to the Inkpots. This is where you will really start working. It is wide, well marked, but with much less humanity...we were never completely alone, but usually we didn't have anyone within 50 yards of us. It is about 3.5 mi from parking to the Inkpots, and it is uphill 2/3 of the way from the falls to the Inkpots, before descending back downhill to the river and Inkpots. The Inkpots were not as colorful as I had hoped, but they were an interesting natural phenomenon that we wanted to see. There are some benches, no toilets, and the river runs nearby. the walk back was 1/3 uphill and 2/3 downhill to the falls before the final (and crowded) stretch to the parking lot. Speaking of parking, we arrived at 8:20AM and were lucky to grab the last parking spot. It fills up quickly. More parking is nearby, but it adds to your walk. A cafe/store at the start of the trail sells food, coffee, and souvenirs. Bathrooms are also near the cafe. This is a must-see destination at Banff, but in peak season, arrive early- with good hiking shoes, if going to the Inkpots- and bring your food, water, bear spray, and camera. Our round trip was 7.8 miles in 3.5 hours.

We're excited to have an early morning start. Ample time to hike Johnston Canyon Lower Falls. Our…read morebiggest surprise included entering and exiting the cave. Amazing waterfalls! Would love to return and hike Upper Falls in the future.

Beautiful and exhilarating, the Canadian Rockies in general, and The Three Sisters in particular…read more When asked, a local tour guide said their individual names are Faith, Hope and Charity. Very nice. The second tour guide disagreed, saying their names are Big Sister, Middle Sister and Little Sister. I found this was repeated on Wikipedia ... and is there any higher authority? Why, yes, the lady at the Canadian Tourist Information Kiosk, who said the locals, the real people who live here, refer to the Three Sisters as Beebee, Ceecee and Deedee. So, what's in a name? The Three Sisters, by any name, are Beautiful and Exhilarating. Five-Stars.

As gorgeous as they are iconic - The Three Sisters stand guard over, no that's not right... The…read moreThree Sisters are all about fun, not protection. They're an icon for a town that exists for outdoor recreation and natural beauty. While The greatest cities in the world are know for and defined by their skylines, none of them even come close to Canmore's. Whether you'd prefer to enjoy them while camping, hiking, biking, or enjoying a glass of wine with a fine meal, Faith, Charity and Hope will make your experience all that much better.

Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park is a wonderful alternative for canoeing if the boathouses at…read moreLake Louise and Moraine Lake get too busy. What really stands out is the value; the canoe rental rates are significantly more affordable here than at the other major lakes. The staff that operates the boat house and the attached gift shop were wonderful, incredibly friendly, and helpful. While the lake is certainly less crowded than its more famous neighbors, parking can still a challenge. Expect to spend around an extra 20 minutes to park, and be prepared to walk a short distance from your spot to the water's edge. Once you're there, it's well worth the effort. There are also several beautiful, easy-to-moderate trails circling the lake to explore the scenery on foot after your paddle. Cilantro on the Lake restaurant can get busy, but The Window walk up food counter is quick, and perfect for grabbing some food for a picnic in the canoe. Highly recommended for a more relaxed and less crowded scenic mountain experience!

I go to see three beautiful lakes on my first day in Banff National Park. Our last stop was at…read moreEmerald Lake in Yoho National Park. Yoho National Park is one of the four contiguous national parks in Canada's Rocky Mountains. Emerald Lake is a freshwater lake near the town of Golden. The lake has a emerald green color to it and is enclosed by mountains of the President Range. I had a nice time here. I did some of the hiking trials and saw a little bit of wildlife along the way. This lake is less crowed than Louise and Moraine lakes which I enjoyed. I enjoyed the views while hiking and came across a plaque about the fossil-bearing deposits of the Burgess Shale in the area. I grabbed lunch at the Cilantro on the Lake restaurant before heading out. There are canoe rentals at Emerald Lake if you want to get out on the water.

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.