10 Lakes in Banff You Can Hike To
It’s no secret that the Canadian Rockies have a ton of gorgeous lakes. Many, like Bow Lake, Waterfowl Lakes, and Lake Louise, are easily accessible and require no more than a short walk from the parking lot to reach. However, for those who want to get on the trail, there are plenty of beautiful lakes in Banff that you can hike to. Get your legs moving on one of these amazing trails!
Lakes in Banff You Can Hike To
Rockbound Lake
- Length: 16.8 km
- Elevation Gain: 760 meters
- Duration: 4 – 7 hours
Rockbound Lake is one of the best lakes in Banff to hike to. It’s also one of the longest hikes on this list, so it’s ideal for people who don’t mind spending some time on the trail.
The trail spends a lot of time in the forest, but once you ascend steep switchbacks, you finally arrive at Tower Lake before continuing to Rockbound. Two lakes for the price of one! Continue past Tower Lake to another series of switchbacks until you reach Rockbound Lake, which is flanked by steep cliffs and offers extraordinary views. During the larch season, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful yellow larch goodness all around the lake!
If you want to get above Rockbound Lake, like in the photo above, there’s a steep trail to the hikers right when looking directly at the lake. Head up there for more amazing views!
Arnica Lake
- Length: 9.3 km
- Elevation Gain: 720 meters
- Duration: 3-5 Hours
Arnica Lake is 10km out and back hike that feels like it can go by quickly when you’re hiking the trail. It’s well worth the effort, especially if you visit Banff during the larch season in September, when the whole area is surrounded by stunning larch trees that turn golden in the last few weeks of September.
Arnica Lake is a relatively simple hike in Banff that is a bit off the beaten path of your typical tourist trail. As you hike to Arnica Lake, you’ll pass the beautiful Vista Lake—another two-for-one on this list. If you get to Arnica Lake and still want more, continue hiking to Twin Lakes.
Consolation Lakes
- Length: 6.5 km
- Elevation Gain: 150 meters
- Duration: 2-3 hours
Consolation Lakes is a family favorite because it is an easy hike that can be paired with a visit to Moraine Lake. It’s an excellent step up from just walking along the famous Moraine Lakeshore Trail or the Rockpile Trail. The terrain to Consolation Lakes is more difficult than the Rockpile Trail, at around 7km round trip and with a 165-meter elevation gain. There’s also a short section that crosses over a boulder field—great for those after a light hike adventure!
Along the hike, you get views of the scree slopes from the Tower of Babel. The hike then passes through the old-growth forest where wildlife is frequently seen.
Once at Consolation Lakes, you’ll get tremendous views of the backside of the Ten Peaks, Mount Babbel, and Mount Fay from the lake.
Lake Agnes
- Length: 6.8 km
- Elevation Gain: 385 meters
- Duration: 2-4 hours
The hike to the Lake Agnes Teahouse is a classic Banff hike. The famous hike begins at Lake Louise and provides access to stunning natural landscapes over the brilliantly blue lake.
It finishes at a historic teahouse right on Lake Agnes. At the Lake Agnes Teahouse, you can reward yourself with a tea and a pastry. After your treat, enjoy the surreal alpine lake set inside a valley formed by the peaks of Mt Saint Piran, Niblock, and Whyte. If you are eager for more, you can continue hiking to the famous Beehives!
Chephren Lake
- Length: 7.7 km
- Elevation Gain: 80 meters
- Duration: 1.5 – 3 hours
Chephren Lake sits at the base of Mount Chephren along the Icefields Parkway. It requires a short hike from Waterfowl Lakes Campground to reach the lake. Considering the hike is 7 km and 80 meters, not many people venture out to it, meaning it is often pretty quiet.
The best news? Once you arrive at the lake, you’ll be met with yet another picture-perfect glacial lake. The hike up to the lake is pretty mild, however it can often be pretty muddy, so if you’re going to hike to this lake make sure to bring appropriate footwear!
Helen Lake
- Length: 12 km
- Elevation Gain: 533 meters
- Duration: 3-5 hours
Helen Lake is a stunning lake and must stop along the Icefields Parkway that requires a 6km hike, one way, on a moderate trail. The trail is well-maintained and absolutely stunning, with views of the mountains. If you go in July and August, you’ll find blooming wildflowers everywhere! Once at the lake, enjoy a packed lunch and watch for hoary marmots all around.
Boom Lake
- Length: 10.5 km
- Elevation Gain: 175 meters
- Duration: 2-4 hours
Boom Lake can be reached via an easy hike and feels somewhat undiscovered compared to the other lakes around Banff. It’s a sub-alpine lake set beneath the dramatic mountain face of Boom Mountain on the border with Kootenay National Park in British Columbia. A pristine forest surrounds the lake, and you can even spot a large hanging glacier at the far end of the lake. Like to fish? Bring a rod and cast a line (make sure you have your fishing license for Banff though)!
Egypt Lake
- Length: 26 km
- Elevation Gain: 1396 meters
- Duration: 8-10 hours
If you’re up for a long day or hike or want to camp right next to a lake, Egypt Lake is for you. At over 20km, it is considered a long day hike. However, there is a popular backcountry campground here where you can stay and enjoy the views a little longer. The campground must be reserved in advance. Once at Egypt Lake, it’s possible to get above the lake by scrambling up to Pharaoh Peak!
We know this is a super long day out for most people, and it’s possible to “cheat” it a little and take the Sunshine Meadows Gondola up to avoid some of the elevation gain on the trail. The gondola operates from the end of June to mid-September.
Taylor Lake
- Length: 12.6 km
- Elevation Gain: 595 meters
- Duration: 4-5 hours
The trailhead for Taylor Lake is located right off the Trans Canada Highway and is a popular year-round hike. The trail up to the lake is easy to follow, though be forewarned, it is a bit boring until you make it to the lake itself! The vast majority occurs in the forest, so there aren’t many views until the end. But once at the lake, you’ll find great views of Mt. Bell.
We’ve been to Taylor Lake in the larch season and in the winter for some ski touring, but it also makes a great snowshoe or winter hike. It’s a popular larch hike in late September as thousands of larches surround the lake.
Once at Taylor Lake, you can enjoy a picnic under Mount Bell or continue on the trail and visit the nearby Panorama Meadows.
Boundary Lake
- Length: 3 km
- Elevation Gain: 100 meters
- Duration: 1-2 hours
Boundary Lake is aptly named as it sits at the base of Mount Athabasca and on the boundary of Banff and Jasper National Parks. The hike to the lake is short—just 20 minutes! If you’re looking to visit Banff without the crowds, this short hike is far from the hordes of tourists at the nearby Columbia Icefield Centre.
It’s a great spot to have a snack and hang out under the glacier. A nice trail loops around the entire lake if you feel like more of a walk!
Plan Your Trip to the Canadian Rockies
- We now have an interactive map! With over 300 stops around the Canadian Rockies, our personal map is your one stop shop to an epic trip here.
- Recommended Experiences: There are many things to do in the Rockies, but our top recommendation is the Banff Gondola – a must do experience! Want to get up close and personal with a glacier? We cannot recommend this Icewalks tour enough!
- Planning your visit to Moraine Lake and don’t want to deal with the Parks shuttles? We recommend using Moraine Lake Bus Company or booking this Radventures tour!
- Hotels in the Rockies: There are many places to stay, from luxury hotels to wilderness cabins. See all our favorites here.
- Get Around: We suggest renting a car to get around. You can search for rental cars on Rentalcars.com. For a campervan trip, you can check prices and compare on Outdoorsy.
- We can help you plan your 2025 trip to Western Canada! If you’re feeling overwhelmed by planning we can assist! We’ll PERSONALLY go over your itinerary, hop on a 1 on 1 phone call, or create a bespoke itinerary just for you! See our services here.
New in 2025! We just released our local guide to the Canadian Rockies! Discover 300+ hidden gems, hikes, and cabins not found in your typical guidebook. We’re offering a 10% off intro offer using code BLOG10 at checkout!
