Bow Lake

Easy access after Peyto lake, clean and not too cold water for swimming. The trail around the lake is fun to do with lots of birds and some animals around. The view is fantasic and much more chill than Lake Louise with fewer people

Bow Lake is one of the largest lakes in Banff National Park. Laying at the base of Bow Summit, you can observe beautiful mountain scales set with this gorgeous lake. Bow lodge, once a private residence and sold in 1996, has a “Provisions” area and small patio where you can enjoy a sandwich, coffee or dessert. They have a parking lot and it’s a very short walk to the lake.

Easily reached by car with roadside parking and a viewing platform Bow Lake is a must-stop for any Icefields Parkway journey. Its striking glacial colors, peaceful atmosphere, and accessibility make it ideal for both brief visits and extended exploration. Whether you’re snapping a quick photo, paddling the turquoise water, or hiking toward the glacier, it’s a highlight that outshines its roadside appearance.

The area is much less crowded than other popular lakes, making it a peaceful and relaxing spot for a picnic along the shoreline. There are picnic benches available, and the lakeshore is perfect for photography, light strolls, or simply enjoying the view. Whether you want to soak up the scenery, snap photos. Bow Lake is an incredibly beautiful, glacier-fed lake in Banff National Park known for its vivid blue water and stunning mountain backdrop.

One of the most scenic and easily accessible lakes in these national parks. Parking is free and not as crowded as some of the other more famous ones, but this has equally stunning views. Park at the road side view point or take the side road to the parking lot by the the lodge.

Bow Lake is a stunning stop on the Icefields Parkway – calm turquoise water, dramatic mountain backdrop, and a glacier peeking in the distance. Come early in the morning for mirror-like reflections on the lake and fewer crowds. There’s free parking, picnic tables right by the shore, and a short, easy trail to stretch your legs. Pro tip: walk a little to the left of the main viewpoint for the best photo angle without people in your shot!

Scenic and easily accessible lake (you can drive all the way to almost the lake shore). We visited this place in May and the lake was still frozen but it still offered a breathtaking scenery with the snowy mountains in the background.

Bow Lake is absolutely stunning—an ideal spot for photos and soaking in the natural beauty of the Rockies. The water is crystal clear with that beautiful turquoise hue, and the surrounding mountain backdrop is picture-perfect. Easy to access and not overly crowded when we went. A must-stop if you're exploring the Icefields Parkway!

Bow Lake is one of the MUST-DO stops along famed Icefields Parkway. It's located right off the side of 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 reflective 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.

It's on the Icelands Parkway, between Banff and Jasper. There is a good sized spot to pull over and admire the beautiful colours from the minerals in the glacier fed waters. It's free. What more could you ask for? :)

This is a beautiful lake and a quick stop off the side of Icefields Parkway. You can walk down a steep hill to get the best view of the lake, but the view is good from the parking lot too. Like most other things on the parkway, expect decent crowds and tour buses. There's a nice mountain backdrop behind the lake and a view of a glacier on one side of the lake. It's worth stopping here for quick view.

Set your sights beyond the parking lot, and Bow Lake will turn out to be a delightful visit. Like many of the places in Banff National Park, there is likely to be difficulty finding a place for your car, but, happily, most of the visitors will not venture more than 100 meters away from the lodge to snap their selfies, and then move on. So, stroll through the lovely wetlands area and take a wander along the lakeside trail, leaving everyone else behind in a matter of minutes. Watch the additional mountaintops and glaciers come into view as you make your way along the lakefront, and enjoy the quiet. This place felt the most like we were able to separate ourselves from the rest of the tourists, even in high season. Enjoy.

Poor Bow Lake gets snubbed for its more popular and well known sister Lake Louise. But locals know this is the best kept secret in all of nature. I remember as we were driving to meet our engagement photographer I woke up in the car to see the snow covered mountains. I thought to myself it was the most beautiful place in the world. It felt so primally gorgeous and awe inspiring. We looked like we were inside a painting. There's a remote hotel nearby called the Num Ti Jah lodge. It seems like a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle ot the city and lose yourself in nature. Credit to Jody Goodwin Photography for the most dreamy engagement photos anyone could ask for!

This is a beautiful lake, no doubt, but hike past the lake and go see Bow Glacier Falls that are being fed by the Wapta Ice Field above. It's far less crowded, an extremely easy hike (spring/summer), and pretty short in the grand scheme. There's almost no elevation gain until you near the basin of the falls, and even then, it's hardly more than a dozen meters. To get to the falls and back, you're probably looking at roughly 5-7 miles, and a 2.5-3.5 hour hike.

My second favorite lake we stopped at! I feel like many people skip this one! It was pretty cloudy when we went so the water was not super blue but it was reflecting the mountains and clouds and was stunning. Also, cool history here with the lodge and stories of the area. There is a fun little walk that loops back to the parking lot and also pretty nice bathrooms here in the lot!

It is 30 minutes north of Lake Louise and an hour above Banff. It is about 5 minutes from Peyto Lake. If you are not driving up to Jasper, it makes sense to stop by both lakes at the same time. I stopped at Peyto Lake on the way up to Jasper and Bow Lake on the return drive back to Banff. As the name describes, it is basically two oval lakes that connect at the middle to form a bow shape. Naturally, it has the same beautiful blue and green colors seen at the other lakes. The mountains also contrast the lake perfectly. I recommend walking to the bridge behind the lodge. The views are amazing. You can see both sides of the lake from there. In addition, you can take the easy 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) with modest elevation change at 155 meters (509 feet) elevation gain to the Bow Glacier Falls if you wanted to add the popular hike to your trip. I passed on that hike but the Lake was definitely worth a 10 minute stop to soak in and enjoy. If you are visiting the Canadian Rockies and looking for recommendations, feel free to message me through Yelp and I can share my itinerary/ recommendations, which includes my Yelp reviews. The information for an electronic copy can also be found via my Yelp profile.

Bow Lake is off Highway 93, above Hector Lake. My friends and I visited the lake last March and the lake was still completely frozen. There weren't a lot of people, just us and a few cross-country skiers. You can hike to Bow Glacier Basin and the Bow Glacier Falls from here and also visit Num Ti-Jah Lodge. Crowfoot Glacier is just south of the lake. We hiked across the lake (snow up to our knees) and attempted to hike to Bow Glacier Falls, but turned back since we were hiking in avalanche territory. Remember, hikes are not maintained during the winter so be careful hiking out here. The scenery was beautiful as we walked across the frozen, snowy lake, surrounding my snow-peaked mountains. Great place to take pictures!