15 Things to Know About Visiting Bow Lake in Banff (Alberta)

 Bow Lake is one of the many lakes that line the Icefields Parkway and a popular stop for visitors to Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It’s no secret that the Canadian Rockies are not short of spectacular vistas and lakes.

Bow Lake is one of our top recommendations for a stop to stretch the legs on the Icefields Parkway. A short walk along the lakeshore trail is a family-friendly hike, or you can enjoy longer hikes around Bow Lake for a more complete day. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you don’t miss Bow Lake. Here’s all you need to know about this beautiful Banff lake.

Visiting Bow Lake

Bow Lake is a tremendous stop on the Icefields Parkway and one of our favorite Banff lakes to enjoy. While it’s not a large lake in the scope of the world, it is big for the Canadian Rockies.

In the Banff summer months, when the lake thaws, it turns a dizzying blue from the glacier melt of the Crowfoot Glacier and Wapta Icefield.

The sheer rock wall of Crowfoot Mountain, the hanging glacier, and the expansive Wapta Icefield provide an innate way of humbling all who gaze on the landscape.

Bow Lake sits at an elevation of 1920 meters and spends most of the year locked away in ice. This makes it a popular spot for winter activities like snowshoeing and ski touring. The lake acts as the source of the Bow River, a notable river in Banff National Park that flows through Banff, Canmore, and Calgary.

We love Bow Lake in the summer and have spent a lot of time exploring the area as there are several peaks and hikes. There are a plethora of options for hikers, scramblers, and mountaineers around Bow Lake.

Bow Lake also has an excellent picnic site with picnic benches along the shoreline just off the Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93), the perfect stop for lunch. It’s also an awesome spot to hang a hammock and relax along the shoreline.

Along its shore lies Num-Ti-Jah Lodge (now called The Lodge), a historic site built by one of Banff’s early mountain guides, Jimmy Simpson. The mountain above the lodge that sits at the North end of the Lake is also named after the man, Mount Jimmy Simpson.

Mount Jimmy Simpson is a wonderful objective for rock climbers or scramblers as there are multiple routes, and views from the summit are sublime.

Directions to Bow Lake

Bow Lake is located off the Icefields Parkway or 93N. The highway begins just off the Trans-Canada Highway #1, a few minutes West of Lake Louise. From there, it’s another 35 km to Bow Lake. You can find the exact location on Google here.

Watch for signs for Num Ti Jah Lodge (The Lodge) off the Icefields Parkway, and the turn off will be on your left coming from the Trans-Canada or on the right from Jasper.

Bow Lake is nearby Peyto Lake, so if you are heading to Peyto Lake it’s best to combine the two!

When is the Best Time To Visit Bow Lake?

The best time to visit Bow Lake in Banff is from June to September. Spring arrives around June and is a tremendous time as the lake melts. You can witness tons of wildflowers and a brilliant blue lake.

In summer the lake remains full and is always a great visit. In the Fall, late September to October, there are almost no larch trees, so fall colors are not present. If you plan to go hiking around the lake, the best time is from July to mid-September.

Once the lake locks into the winter come November, it can make for a fantastic place to snowshoe along the lake surface. The lake will be frozen and covered in snow, so you can not witness the gorgeous blue. Be cognizant to not approach the slopes of Crowfoot Mountain or any steep slopes as avalanches in the area are very common.

Bow Lake makes for a great photo stop along the highway in the winter, there’s an amazing bridge there that gives picture perfect photos. Otherwise, wintertime access is limited to the more adventurous and experienced on skis or split boards.

Things To Do at Bow Lake

With the dramatic rock wall face of Crowfoot Mountain, hanging glaciers, and the vivid blue, Bow Lake it’s one of the most popular stops for photographers to Banff National Park.

The classic shot is to park near the Num Ti Jah Lodge and take photos near the small footbridges at the water’s edge. It’s a stunning Alberta lakes scene. We think evening light is best if you’re a photographer planning out your photographs; the photo above was taken about an hour before sunset.

Hike

There are several tremendous hikes around Bow Lake. We’ll get more into the hikes further on in the post. The parking lot also provides access to the ACC Bow hut for backcountry and mountaineering trips.

Bow Glacier Falls

Hike to the origin of the Bow Glacier Falls (not to be confused with Bow Falls) for some outstanding views and a gorgeous Banff waterfall. It’s a pretty relaxed hike that spends the majority of time along the shoreline of Bow Lake.

However, the views from along the Bow Lake are spectacular, and at its finish, hikers witness the birth of a vital river in Alberta from the Wapta Icefield high above. It’s a great hike for those driving the Icefields Parkway as it only requires a few hours and gives a chance to stretch the legs.

• Difficulty: Moderate
• Elevation: 266 meters
• Distance: 8.7 km
• Time: 2 – 4 hours