Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

Spectacular Views of Peyto Glacier and Peyto Lake

V isiting Banff National Park in Alberta without driving on Icefields Parkway is like swimming without water — and Bow Summit is amongst the highlights of places to visit along Icefields Parkway because of its views of Peyto Glacier and Peyto Lake.

Spectacular Views of Peyto Glacier and Peyto Lake

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

Snow covers the ground — and, to a lesser extent, the trail itself — for greater than nine months out of the year at Bow Summit…

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

…and the day of my visit was no exception, as the snow was at least two feet deep in some spots — despite the ambient temperature being warm enough to wear no coat or jacket.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

After a short hike of 15 minutes on an asphalt path — give at least another ten minutes if it is covered with ice and snow — with a mild grade from the parking area, this is the view from the lookout platform near Bow Summit which awaits all visitors.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

Bow Summit overlooks Peyto Lake.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

The elevation at Bow Summit is 6,969 feet — which is the highest point on Icefields Parkway.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

At one time, the entire valley area was covered with glacial ice, which has receded approximately two kilometers over the past one hundred years.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

Bow Summit is the watershed divide between the Bow River and the Mistaya River.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

This view faces north northwest towards the Mistaya River, with which Icefields Parkway runs parallel.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

The namesake for the lake and the glacier was Ebenezer William “Bill” Peyto, who was a pioneer, mountain guide, and early park warden of Banff National Park. Originally a native of Scotland near Banff — from which Banff National Park gets its name — Peyto emigrated to Canada.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

Peyto Glacier is now merely a “tongue” of the larger Wapta Icefield.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

Taking a steep trail down to the generally inaccessible Peyto Lake is possible; but be forewarned that the lake is too cold in which to swim — and the trail itself takes at least an hour round trip. Most visitors do not opt to take this trail.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

Melted water running off of Peyto Glacier becomes Peyto Creek, which feeds into Peyto Lake…

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

…as does water from melting ice and snow trickling down the surrounding mountains.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

Peyto Glacier is located on the Continental Divide, where water either flows west to the Pacific Ocean or east to the Atlantic Ocean.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

Timberline Trail — which I did not take past lookout platform, as it was not crowded when I visited — is towards the right out of the photograph if you want to hike through the woods to Bow Summit. If you decide to take this hike, give yourself a couple of hours each way along some rocky terrain along the edge of the land above the trees. You can also hike a few hundred feet along this trail to a clearing with a view of Peyto Lake if the lookout platform does get too crowded.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

The weather vacillated between overcast and partly sunny — and like other areas of the Rocky Mountains in Canada, the weather can change quickly at Peyto Lake.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

At an elevation of 1,880 meters, Peyto Lake is 2.8 kilometers in length; and its area is approximately 5.3 square kilometers.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

Ice is still present in parts of Peyto Lake.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

Significant amounts of suspended rock particles in the water from the glacier — known as rock flour — flow into the lake during the summer, which gives the water in the lake the appearance of being a bright turquoise color.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

Mistaya River is on the left; and Icefields Parkway is on the right — both as they trail off into the distance north northwest of Peyto Lake.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

Enjoy breathtaking views of the Waputik Range off in the distance from the lookout platform at Peyto Lake.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

Mount Patterson is located on the left past the end of Peyto Lake.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

The peak of Mount Patterson is part of the Waputik Range of mountains in which Peyto Lake is located.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

Caldron Peak cradles much of the west bank of Peyto Lake.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

Peyto Peak — which is located only approximately one kilometer east of the border between the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia — is the mountain on the left towards the background.

Peyto Glacier and Bow Summit
Photograph ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

Bow Summit receives up to 20 feet of snow annually, as snow can fall here any day of the year.

Summary

Do not miss Peyto Lake and Peyto Glacier on your visit to Banff National Park — but take snacks and water with you just in case you want to hike — or simply stay for a while, as you can stay as long as you like.

Mostly anyone can negotiate the paved asphalt trail to the lookout platform which overlooks Peyto Lake — assuming that there is no ice and snow covering the path — but be aware that the trail ascends on a mild grade. Other than what are referred to as “dry toilets”, there are no facilities available on site.

Peyto Lake is located just off the west — or southbound — side of Icefields Parkway approximately 45 kilometers northwest of Lake Louise.

Other than admission into Banff National Park — which has been suspended for 2017 while Canada celebrates 150 years as a confederation — there is no admission fee to visit.

All photographs ©2017 by Brian Cohen.

  1. We loved Peyto Lake and most of the other lakes. I couldnt believe the 50 shades of blue. Thank you again for all the tips you provided. Was helpful in planning esp since we had a little one with us.

    1. I am thrilled to read your comment, Preet!

      I had no idea that you had a little one with you. I hope that your whole family enjoyed the trip.

      Were there a lot of crowds during your visit?

  2. Nice to see the wonderful pictures of the Peyto Lake area. I worked on Peyto Glacier in the summers of 1966 and 1967 as a graduate student from Western University. I actually did swim in the lake…in a wet suit. It was freezing!

    I just wanted to point out that not all waters on the eastern flanks of the Rockies reach the Atlantic. Peyto Lake actually flows into Peyto Creek and then Mistaya River. The Mistaya eventually discharges its water into the North Saskatchewan River which joins the South Saskatchewan to the east forming the Saskatchewan River. The Saskatchewan River proceeds to Lake Winnipeg which drains into the Nelson River which delivers the meltwater of Peyto Glacier into Hudson Bay. The International Hydrographic Organization declared Hudson Bay to be part of the Arctic Ocean. Others however, say it is a marginal sea of the Atlantic.

    Oddly, the Milk River flows from the Rockies of Montana northeast into Alberta and then south again into Montana, eventually entering the Missouri River system. This water ends up in the Gulf of Mexico., part of the Atlantic.

    I have returned to see Peyto Glacier and Peyto Lake a number of times. In the last fifty years since I lived in a hut beside the glacier, it has changed remarkably. It was difficult to believe it was the same glacier on my last two views. One medial moraine (a ridge of gravel and till in the middle) used to dominate and now there are numerous ones. It is much smaller and the snout or end has advanced back up the valley a long way. More bedrock is exposed high on the glacier where ice appeared. This is inevitable as our climate warms. It is hard to believe that scientists predict that all glaciers in Western Canada will be gone in fifty years.

    By the way, the view from the top of Peyto Glacier and its sister Bow Glacier, part of the Wapta Icefield and on the Great Divide, afford magnificent views into Yoho National Park in British Columbia.

    Thanks for a reminder of the beauty of the area.

    Brian Markle, Fenelon Falls, ON

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