Parking
Use the hiker parking lot by Waterfowl Lakes Campground on the Icefields Parkway, 57.5 km north of the Lake Louise junction. A valid Banff National Park pass is required; parking and campground facilities are at the trailhead.
Overview
About Chephren Lake Trail
Chephren Lake is an out-and-back forest hike to a turquoise glacial lake beneath the walls of Howse Peak and Mount Chephren. The route leaves the Waterfowl Lakes Campground hiker parking lot, crosses the Mistaya River on footbridges, then follows a signed path through forest to the lake. The full visitor distance is about 8.2 km (5.1 miles) round trip; the stored line represents the physical one-way corridor, about 4.0 km (2.46 miles), rather than duplicating the return. Parks Canada lists 140 m of elevation gain, 75 m of elevation loss, and roughly 3 hours round trip.
The trail is often muddy, with roots and wet ground; the lake shore offers mountain views but limited dry seating. This is an out-and-back, not a loop around the lake.
Park at the hiker parking lot by Waterfowl Lakes Campground along the Icefields Parkway, 57.5 km north of the Lake Louise junction. A valid Banff National Park pass is required; no trail-specific permit is needed. Dogs are allowed on leash. Bring waterproof footwear and insect repellent, and expect slippery sections and no wheelchair access.
Why go
- Spectacular views of Howse Peak and Mount Chephren at the lake
- Modest elevation gain with a clear destination
Heads up
- Often muddy with roots and wet sections
- Forest cover limits views until the lake and lakeshore seating is limited
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,657–1,768 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Banff alerts
- ClosureRed Deer River valley closed during ceremonial bison harvestThe Red Deer River valley bottom is closed to the public during an Indigenous ceremonial bison hunt taking place through November, for public safety during the harvest.Official details
- ClosureJohnston Canyon closed for constructionJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area, including the washrooms and P1 parking lot, are closed to all traffic and travel through December 11, 2026, for construction work to ensure public and worker…Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Chephren Lake Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Banff National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this area
Banff After Dark: Stargazing and Aurora 101Listen
“The park doesn't shut down after sunset; some of the best views are at night. If you're here from May to August, look south for the bright core of the Milky Way.”
Plays on the road 0.3 km from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- A Quiet Shoreline Walk at Waterfowl Lakes
- Waterfowl Lakes Viewpoints
- Waterfowl Lakes and Mount Chephren
- Harlequin Ducks: Whitewater Specialists
- 178 audio storiesacross Banff’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Brown Bear, Gray Wolf, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 177 trails, 236 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“…Loved the commentary as you drove thru. I’m sure the app can do more than I know but the tips were very helpful. I’m gonna use it when we go to Banff next month.”
Wildlife
Wildlife in Banff
122 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
150 sightingsBrown BearMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
44 sightingsGray WolfMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
12 sightingsRiver OtterMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
67 sightingsMooseMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
465 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 9 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Banff. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
