Top Lakes to Visit in Banff National Park

Alright, so I am so excited to share my experiences on this epic trip through Banff National Park in Canada. I want to show a few of the top lakes that i found to visit in Banff National Park. They are amazing glacier fed lakes that make the trip of a lifetime.

When did I go?

Banff was calling my name in July of 2019 and it seemed like the perfect time of year to go for decently warm weather. It was still chilly at times but nothing that a hoodie couldn’t handle.

Where did I enter the park?

I entered the Park on the east side of the Canadian Rockies, driving the Trans-Canada Highway from the city of Calgary, which by the way was an awesome city to visit and explore. Big cities are not my favorite, but as I’m sitting here; I reminisce and can’t wait to go back!

Lake Minnewanka

Lake Minnewanka was the first lake that we visited once inside of Banff. We didn’t stay long but the time spent there was memorable. What a beautiful lake it is. It is the second longest lake in the mountain parks of the Canadian Rockies. This picture only shows a fraction of the size of this lake.

You can rent boats and canoes, or bring your own and have a day on this lake. They also have a small cruise boat that you can ride and see the lake from a different view. There are many hikes around the lake as well.

Lake Louise

Lake Louise blew my mind! I didn’t think the colors were real on the photos I had seen online. It is well known for its turquoise blue hues in the water.

You get there and it is eerily quiet, even with hundreds of people looking and taking photos. I felt instant peace and calm rush through my mind and body standing next to this lake, as well as utter excitement. It is a place of fantasy, inspiration, spirituality and awe.

If you visit, you can stay at the lake in the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. You can also rent canoes and paddle them on the lake. Or take any of the several hikes surrounding the lake.

Read the full post: LAKE LOUISE

Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake is just as beautiful as the others if not more so. The blueness of this water was even more so than Lake Louise. It is in the Valley of the Ten Peaks and fed by glacier water. That is what makes these lakes so blue.

Make sure you find some hiking trails while visiting, in order to get a great view of the lake and peaks in the distance. Another awe inspiring place to see in your lifetime and very close to Lake Louise, so you might as well see both in the same day!

Check out the full blog: MORAINE LAKE LOOKOUT

Peyto Lake

Another gorgeous lake to check out is Peyto Lake. Really, any lake you find in Banff is probably going to be a beautiful blue color. Getting to Peyto lake is easy just off the Icefields Parkway. Park and walk a short distance through the trees to this beautiful overlook.

This particular lake is named after a dude named Bill Peyto as the name suggests. He was a trail guide, park warden, and trapper long ago in Banff National Park. He had a sweet big mustache too!

Read the full post: PEYTO LAKE

These are just a few of the lakes that you can go see and experience while visiting Banff National Park. They were all so beautiful, but if I had to choose my favorite, it would probably be Moraine Lake due to its gorgeous shade of azure blue.

I can’t wait to go back someday and take some longer hikes through the park, as well as do some rock climbing and snowboarding. I wouldn’t mind exploring some more of the many lakes throughout the park too. Thanks for the memories Banff!

To learn more about the Banff area national parks you can visit the official website here.