Parking
Use the hiker parking lot by Waterfowl Lakes Campground off the Icefields Parkway; Parks Canada identifies this access as 57.5 km north of the Lake Louise junction. Parking is limited in summer, so arrive early when possible.
Overview
About Waterfowl Lakes Shoreline Trail
Why go
- Sunrise/sunset reflections are excellent from the Upper Waterfowl shoreline
- Easy junction access to extend to Chephren Lake or Cirque Lake
- Upper Waterfowl offers a better on-the-water experience than roadside Lower Waterfowl
Heads up
- Small dirt pullout parking can fill quickly in summer
- Trail signs mingle with Chephren/Cirque routes—easy to drift off your target
- Extremely short—more of a scenic stroll than a true hike
Waterfowl Lakes Shoreline Trail is an easy, high-reward walk to the vivid turquoise shoreline of Upper Waterfowl Lake, with open views toward Mount Chephren and the surrounding Canadian Rockies. It is a good short stop for families, casual walkers, and anyone who wants lake scenery without a strenuous climb.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy goMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,662–1,682 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Banff alerts
- ClosureLake Louise area trails and access areas closed for wildlifeMentions Lake Louise, referenced in this guideThe Bow River Trail, Louise Creek Trail, lower Tramline Trail, and Great Divide Trail parking area are closed because the closure prevents wildlife from being displaced from an essential travel…Official details
- ClosureRed Deer River valley bottom closed for ceremonial bison harvestThe Red Deer River valley bottom is closed to the public during an Indigenous ceremonial bison harvest taking place through November.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Waterfowl Lakes Shoreline 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 trailhead
A Quiet Shoreline Walk at Waterfowl LakesListen
“You're approaching the Waterfowl Lakes Campground. A great tip here is that an easy walking trail begins right from the campground itself.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Banff After Dark: Stargazing and Aurora 101
- Waterfowl Lakes and Mount Chephren
- Waterfowl Lakes Viewpoints
- Handling a Wildlife Jam
- 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.”
Trail guide
Hiking Waterfowl Lakes Shoreline Trail
The experienceStart at the hiker parking lot by Waterfowl Lakes Campground, just off the Icefields Parkway.
Start at the hiker parking lot by Waterfowl Lakes Campground, just off the Icefields Parkway. Follow the mostly flat natural path through the forest and along the lakeshore to the open Upper Waterfowl Lake viewpoint. The route is an out-and-back of about 1.1 miles (1.8 km) round trip and usually takes roughly 30 minutes, depending on how long you linger by the water. The stored map line represents the physical corridor once; the listed distance is the walk out and back.
At the junction near the lakes, signs also point toward the longer Chephren Lake and Cirque Lake hikes. Stay on the shoreline route for this short outing. Glacial silt gives the lake its striking color, while still mornings and evenings can bring clear reflections of Mount Chephren.
Is it for you?This is a scenic leg-stretcher rather than a destination hike.
This is a scenic leg-stretcher rather than a destination hike. Expect natural surfaces, roots, and little elevation change. Bring time for photos, and arrive early in summer if you want the best chance of finding space in the limited hiker parking area. The campground and practical access to this shoreline route typically close from October through May.
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.
