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5.0
1,938 votes

Peyto Lake

Banff National Park, Alberta Alberta Canada

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Opens Sat 8a
  • Independent
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“beautiful glacier-fed lake”

Peyto Lake (pea-toe) is a glacier-fed lake located in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. The lake itself is easily accessed from the Icefields Parkway. It was named for Bill Peyto, an early trail guide and trapper in the Banff area. The lake is formed in a valley of the Waputik Range, between Caldron Peak, Peyto Peak and Mount Jimmy Simpson, at an elevation of 1,860 m (6,100 ft). During the summer, significant amounts of glacial rock flour flow into the lake, and these suspended rock particles give the lake a bright, turquoise color. Because of its bright color, photos of the lake often appear in illustrated books, and area around the lake is a popular sightseeing spot for tourists in the park. The lake is best seen from Bow Summit, the highest point on the Icefield Parkway. The lake is fed by the Peyto Creek, which drains water from the Caldron Lake and Peyto Glacier (part of the Wapta Icefield), and flows into the Mistaya River. "Peyto Lake really is that blue? Yes it is! Those amazing postcard pictures you see are not enhanced. In fact, it could be said that this is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Peyto Lake is located in Banff National Park approximately 40km’s northwest of Lake Louise. It can be best viewed from the Bow Summit along the Columbia Icefields Parkway. The lake gets it’s colour from the large amounts of glacier rock flour that flow into it during the summer months. The colour varies depending on the season and even with the time of day. The views from the Peyto Lake Lookout in Winter are just as stunning. Due to the abundance of snow in the winter season, the Bow Summit area makes for the perfect place to snowshoe and cross country ski." -http://banffandbeyond.com/is-peyto-lake-really-that-blue/

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Reviewed by
Joel Schat

  • Photographer
  • 237 Reviews
  • 541 Helpful
July 01, 2014
Rated

Oh man! The color isn't fake it actually looks like this!
Quick tip! If its the off season (not summer) you can drive up to the bus/handicap parking lot as its all empty anyways.

2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
KellyARoja

  • 51 Reviews
  • 3 Helpful
August 01, 2019
Rated 5.0

beautiful landscape even though it was raining unfortunately it was very crowded in the parking lot. The handicapped only parking lot was full of non handicapped people due to the rain. The walk down was also slippery and could not be accessed by handicapped member of our party.

1 person found this review helpful

Reviewed by
Sheila Blair

  • 14 Reviews
  • 1 Helpful
August 24, 2022
Rated 5.0

Breathtaking

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Reviewed by
Cmkaeser1

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
April 18, 2018
Rated 5.0

Short but somewhat steep paved hike up to the look out, and the view is gorgeous. A bit crowded, but wouldn’t give up an opportunity to see this view over and over again.

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Reviewed by
Haley

  • 28 Reviews
  • 56 Helpful
April 26, 2017
Rated 4.0

Unreal color, so beautiful and the hike up has wonderful wildflowers and trees. Was extremely crowded in September but there are hikes you can take that are not busy.

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Reviewed by
katiiiekat

  • 6 Reviews
  • 5 Helpful
October 08, 2015
Rated 5.0

Really amazing place! A must do for sure, and it's just right off the highway. Steep, but short paved trail takes you to the top lookout.

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Reviewed by
liza.power.90

  • 1 Review
  • 0 Helpful
November 06, 2014
Rated 4.0

It is wonderful... if you haven't been in the Rockies... those are to see!

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Peyto Lake

Banff National Park
Alberta
Alberta Canada
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Hours

Closed Now
  • Sun - Sat: 8:00 am - 8:00 pm

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