Herbert Lake

Herbert Lake is a small roadside lake near the Lake Louise end of the Icefields Parkway. It's an easy extra stop for a leg stretch, picnic or possible swim, not a destination hike. The turnoff is about 6 km north of the Lake Louise exit and comes up quickly after you join the parkway, so watch for the day-use entrance. A Parks Canada pass is required to drive the parkway.

The easy shoreline circuit is about 1.6 km, roughly a half-hour walk. It gives you a closer look at the tree-lined water without turning the visit into a long hike. The day-use area has parking, picnic tables and outhouses. Treat it as a picnic stop and bring your own food.

Swimming and paddling are allowed here. Reports of water temperature vary, so keep a dip optional rather than planning on a warm swim. If you bring watercraft or related gear, Parks Canada's Clean, Drain, Dry requirements and self-certification permit apply.

The lake's signature view is its forested shoreline and nearby peaks reflected across still water. For a reflection, try early morning and wait for a lull in the wind; calm water sharpens the view, but it isn't guaranteed. Walk a little along the shore loop for a less interrupted angle.