Parking
Limited, unlined paved parking at Vista Lake viewpoint on Highway 93 South. Use the designated area; highway shoulder parking is prohibited.
Overview
About Vista Lake Trail
Why go
- A short route to a lakeshore destination
- Changing lake views along the descent
Heads up
- A steep, narrow path makes the return tougher than the distance suggests
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,592–1,711 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Banff alerts
- 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
- ClosureBaker Lake and Hidden Lake campgrounds closed to campingCamping is prohibited at Baker Lake and Hidden Lake campgrounds through December 1, 2026, because a grizzly bear entered campsites and investigated tents and gear; the closures reduce risk to…Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Vista 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.
See the Banff audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Vista Lake and the Climb to Arnica Lake0:00 / 0:22
“Vista Lake viewpoint is coming up, the trailhead for Arnica Lake beneath Storm Mountain's cliffs. Allow about five hours for the return hike, descending to Vista Lake before a sustained climb through larch forest.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Boom Lake: A Forest Walk to the Cliffs
- The Painters Behind the Museum
- The Life in Pink Snow
- The Road Deal That Made a Park
- 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 Vista Lake Trail
A short hike to Vista LakeVista Lake Trail is a 2.8 km (1.
Vista Lake Trail is a 2.8 km (1.7 mi) out-and-back from Vista Lake viewpoint on Highway 93 South. The walk takes about 1.5 hours and drops 110 m to the lake before you turn around. It gives you Vista Lake without committing to the longer Arnica Lake route.
The way downThe narrow path drops through forest on mostly hard soil, with exposed roots and rocks.
The narrow path drops through forest on mostly hard soil, with exposed roots and rocks. Its typical grade is 11%, with short stretches reaching 33%, so the descent is easy to underestimate. The route reaches the lake’s north shore; the return follows the same trail uphill.
Getting startedParking at Vista Lake viewpoint is limited and unlined.
Parking at Vista Lake viewpoint is limited and unlined. Use the designated lot; parking along the highway is illegal and unsafe. Dogs are allowed on Banff summer trails unless a trail restriction says otherwise, and must stay leashed and under physical control.
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.
