Bow Lake

Bow Lake in the Canadian Rockies is one of the smaller lakes in Banff National Park. It is the source of the Bow River and lies along part of the Great Continental Divide, which creates the border between Alberta and British Columbia. As with all of the lakes lining the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park and Jasper National Park, Bow Lake boasts spectacularly colored water and top-notch mountain scenery. One of the most interesting features of these Rocky Mountain Lakes is their differences in color. Some are green, some are bright blue, and sometimes (after a major rain) some of them are brownish. The lake’s colors might even change with the weather. As you continue north along the Icefields Parkway, you will have several different views of the bright-blue waters of Bow Lake, as it lies quite close to the highway. The lake is a great place for a picnic and a stroll, and is especially beautiful at sunrise when the sun shines off of the water and Crowfoot Mountain.

Practical Info

Bow Lake is part of the Icefields Parkway and is at an elevation of 6,300 feet (1,920 meters above sea level). The lake offers impressive vistas of Wapta Icefield, Bow Glacier, Mt Thompson, and Crowfoot Glacier/Crowfoot Mountain. There is a basic picnicking area with plenty of parking, tables, fire boxes, and public restrooms.