My Top Ten: Lakes of the Canadian Rockies
A trip to the Canadian Rockies should be on everyone’s bucket list. Whether summer or winter, skiing or hiking the sights are truly amazing. So amazing that like cathedrals and castles in Europe, mosques and pagodas in Asia – you can become a little complacent.
Oh look, another glacier.
Mountains, mountains, mountains…
Do we really want to drive/walk/hike out to see another lake?
It is maybe not as bad as that, but after seeing about 25 lakes, rivers, waterfalls, creeks, glacial springs over our 5 days in The Rockies we certainly became a bit harder to impress. But moving on, here are my top ten!
1. Moraine Lake
For a full review of this stunning glory, click here. Needless to say, it was the last lake we saw but quickly went straight to the top of the list. Well worth the drive from Lake Louise and battling the busy parking. Yes it was that busy.
2. Maligne Lake
This spectacular lake is located a few hours drive away from Jasper, but it is quite famous. We opted to do the cruise up to the lake’s end to see the glaciers up close and get a snapshot of the famous ‘Spirit Island‘. Canada at its finest.
3. Peyto Lake
Peyto Lake is located along the icefields parkway, the highway that links Banff and Lake Louise with Jasper. It’s a short, easy walk from the road, a walk that rewards you with a view of the sparkling blue lake in the shape of a wolf’s head.
4. Lake Louise
It’s famous, and for good reason. Easy to find and easy to love, and if you have the dosh you can stay at the hotel on the lake’s waterfront. Not us poor folk.
5. Medicine Lake
On the way to Maligne Lake you pass Medicine Lake. Its quite shallow and easy to appreciate as the carpark puts you right at the lake’s edge.
6. Vermillion Lakes
These are a series of lakes just outside of Banff, with easy access to boardwalks from the road. The reflection is amazing, even though we were there on an overcast day. It would be brilliant to be there when the sky is bright blue.
7. Patricia Lake
Just outside of Jasper is two small lakes, Patricia Lake and Pyramid Lake. We headed up to explore them just as the sun was setting.
8. Bow Lake
This lake isn’t far from Peyto Lake on the Icefields parkway. I was jealous of people just mucking about in canoes! We definitely wanted another day or two to explore the area between Jasper and Banff, there is just so much you want to stop and see.
9. Cavell Lake
We found this lake by seeing a glimpse of greenish blue through the trees on our visit out to the Mt Edith Cavell glacier. A bit of bush bashing later we were on the banks of the greenest lake I have ever seen.
10. Herbert Lake
This lake was one of the first we saw as we begun the drive up the Icefields Parkway and it can easily be seen from your car as you dart past. I just loved that blue colour!
Which lake is your favourite out of the ten featured?
PIN ME!
