Parking
Use the Fish Creek trailhead near Lake Louise Ski Area. Skoki Lodge is about 11 km from the ski area by foot or ski, and that approach is not included in the 3.9-mile lakes outing.
Overview
About Myosotis and Zigadenus Lakes Trail
Why go
- A waterfall and two turquoise lakes on a short lodge-based route.
- The upper lakeside view looks back over Myosotis and its larches.
Heads up
- The 3.9-mile outing begins at the remote lodge, not the road access.
- A bouldering patch and rocky climb make footing uneven.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation2,136–2,248 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Banff alerts
- CautionSkoki-area grizzly bear warningMentions this trailUse extra caution on Skoki-area trails: a grizzly bear is frequenting the area, behaving boldly and curiously, and approaching people closely.Official details
- ClosureJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area closedJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area are closed to all traffic and travel through December 11, 2026, because construction work requires protecting public and workers’ safety.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Myosotis and Zigadenus Lakes 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.
See the Banff audio tour- 185 audio storiesacross Banff’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Brown Bear, Gray Wolf, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 162 trails, 90 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.”
Trail guide
Hiking Myosotis and Zigadenus Lakes Trail
A short outing from the lodgeThis is a 3.9-mile (6.
This is a 3.9-mile (6.3 km) out-and-back from Skoki Lodge to Myosotis and Zigadenus lakes, usually about 1.5 to 2 hours with roughly 430 feet (131 m) of climbing. It is a good side trip if you are already staying at the lodge or travelling through the Skoki backcountry. The route turns back at Zigadenus; it does not continue to a peak or make the larger Skoki Loop.
Getting to the startThe lakes walk begins at Skoki Lodge, a backcountry lodge about 11 km from Lake Louise Ski Area…
The lakes walk begins at Skoki Lodge, a backcountry lodge about 11 km from Lake Louise Ski Area by foot or ski. That approach is separate from the 3.9-mile lake outing, so do not use this as your car-to-car distance. Vehicle access starts near the Fish Creek trailhead by the ski area; the backcountry approach follows the Temple Access Road and park trails. Check current park access information before planning the approach or an overnight stay.
From the woods to MyosotisFollow the path toward Merlin Lake, then take the left branch at the fork onto narrower tread…
Follow the path toward Merlin Lake, then take the left branch at the fork onto narrower tread through dense woods. The trail opens into subalpine meadows with views of Skoki Mountain, then passes a waterfall and a short, easy bouldering section before reaching the plateau at Myosotis Lake. The path skirts the lake’s eastern shore, with larch forest along the water.
Up to ZigadenusFrom Myosotis, climb the rocky path to Zigadenus Lake.
From Myosotis, climb the rocky path to Zigadenus Lake. Look back from the upper lake toward Myosotis, its larch-lined shore and the headwall beyond; that paired-lake view is the payoff. Return to the lodge on the same corridor.
Names and footingThe lake names come from botanical words for forget-me-not and camas.
The lake names come from botanical words for forget-me-not and camas. The boulders below Myosotis and the rocky climb toward Zigadenus are the roughest footing. This is grizzly country: carry bear spray and know how to use it, make noise in brushy sections, and keep pets leashed.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Banff
123 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
69 sightingsMooseMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
466 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 9 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Banff. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
