Bow Glacier Falls Trail

Bow Glacier Falls Trail is about 9.1 km (5.65 mi) round trip from the Bow Lake day-use parking area to the mapped end of the falls approach and back. It starts with an easy lakeshore walk, climbs through forest on a steep set of wooden steps, then opens into a glacier-shaped valley below the falls. The whole walk is moderate, but the climb and loose ground make it more than a casual lakeside stroll. I’d make time for it if you want the lake and the waterfall in one outing. Allow about four hours with stops; the views along the way are part of the reason to go.

From the parking area beside Num-Ti-Jah Lodge, follow the shoreline toward the glacier valley. This opening stretch is the gentlest part of the hike, with bright turquoise water and Crowfoot Mountain across the lake. The shore is a nice place to pause before the work begins, and the route keeps close to the water before turning inland. Bow Lake is fed by meltwater from Bow Glacier, which gives it that striking blue-green color.

Beyond the lake, the route enters forest and follows the inlet stream. Wooden stairs help with the steeper rise, but the grade is concentrated and the dirt and gravel can feel loose underfoot. Take your time on the way down; loose dirt and gravel can feel slippery, especially when wet. Overall, it is a moderate hike, though the stair section is the part that will make you work.

Above the trees, the valley opens into pale gravel and a glacier-carved boulder field. Bow Glacier Falls pours down the rock wall at the end of the approach, with the stream tracing the outwash plain below. This is a good place to look back at how the route has moved from lake shore to forest to open alpine terrain. For a photo, keep some of the stream or rocky foreground in the frame; it helps show the scale of the falls and the broad basin around them.

The saved route turns around at the mapped end of the approach, then returns the same way. Don’t scramble off the path over loose boulders to get closer to the waterfall. Rockfall is a serious hazard around the falls and rockwall, and material can travel into the area below. Stay clear of the wall and follow any posted restrictions. The falls are impressive from the approach; getting nearer isn’t worth stepping into unstable ground.

Use the Bow Lake day-use parking area beside Num-Ti-Jah Lodge on the Icefields Parkway. The path begins from the shore-side access, not at the falls marker on a map. Parking can fill on busy days, so allow time to find a space. This is a full out-and-back: once you reach the falls approach, you have the same lakeshore and climb to retrace on the way to the lot.