Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Canada

Alberta

Peyto Lake via Peyto Lake Access Trail — Banff National Park

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

Canada

Alberta

Peyto Lake via Peyto Lake Access Trail — Banff National Park

Easy

4.5

(2)

hikers

Peyto Lake via Peyto Lake Access Trail — Banff National Park

00:44

2.51km

70m

Hiking

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: October 27, 2025

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Banff National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

Get Directions

145 m

Peyto Lake Access Trail

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

This short but scenic trail leads from the Icefields Parkway to one of the most photographed viewpoints in the Rockies — Peyto Lake. The well-maintained path climbs gradually through subalpine forest before opening onto a wooden viewing platform overlooking the lake’s famous wolf-head shape. It’s a quick, accessible hike suitable for most visitors, though early mornings or evenings offer the best chance to avoid crowds.

Tip by

767 m

Banff National Park

Highlight • Natural

Established in 1885, Banff National Park is Canada’s first and most visited national park, spanning more than 6,600 km² of mountains, forests, and glacial lakes. It’s home to some of the country’s most famous landscapes, including Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, and Peyto Lake. Whether you’re hiking alpine trails, spotting wildlife, or exploring mountain towns like Banff and Lake Louise, the park showcases the very best of the Canadian Rockies.

Tip by

1.25 km

Peyto Lake

Highlight • Lake

Located in the northern section of Banff National Park, Peyto Lake is a glacier-fed lake renowned for its vivid turquoise colour and distinctive wolf-head outline. Fed by meltwater from Peyto Glacier, the lake’s striking hue comes from rock flour suspended in the water. The viewpoint above offers one of the most iconic photo spots in the Canadian Rockies, especially in summer when the lake glows brightest.

Tip by

2.51 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

1.90 km

585 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

1.90 km

601 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Today

Saturday 18 July

14°C

4°C

48 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 22.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

Want to know more?

This route was planned by komoot.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Edit route

Download GPX

Move start point

Embed on a website

Report an Issue

Report restricted access

Nearby routes

Moderate

4.9

670

Bow Glacier Falls Trail – Banff National Park

02:29h

9.04km

140m

Easy

4.9

176

Peyto Lake – Banff National Park

00:42h

2.43km

60m

Moderate

4.8

173

Yoho Valley Trail & Twin Falls Trail loop — Yoho National Park

04:48h

16.4km

430m

Moderate

4.5

146

Chephren Lake Trail — Banff National Park

02:43h

8.01km

140m

Easy

5.0

Hector Lake Trail

01:15h

4.51km

80m

Easy

4.5

Peyto Lake via Peyto Lake Access Trail — Banff National Park

00:44h

2.51km

70m

Hard

Bow Peak Trail — Banff National Park

05:03h

12.7km

920m

Easy

Hector Lake Campground Trail — Banff National Forest

01:12h

4.31km

80m

Moderate

5.0

Mosquito Mountain Route — Banff National Park

02:45h

10.0km

160m

Easy

4.8

791

Peyto Lake Viewpoint – Bow Summit Lookout Plateau loop from Bow summit

01:58h

6.33km

250m

Moderate

4.8

783

Peyto Lake Natural Viewpoint – Bow Summit Lookout Plateau loop from Bow summit

02:05h

6.68km

260m

Easy

4.4

564

View of Peyto Lake – Peyto Lake Viewpoint loop from Bow summit

00:23h

1.35km

30m

Peyto Lake via Peyto Lake Access Trail — Banff National Park

Peyto Lake Access Trail

Banff National Park

Peyto Lake

Nearby routes

Sign up or log in to keep exploring this route

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️