Parking
Start at Canyon Day Use for the published 3.5 km one-way route. Parking capacity and overflow details were not verified.
Overview
About Lower Lake Trail
Why go
- A lakeside route with views of the Spray Range.
Heads up
- The return follows the same shoreline corridor; it is not a lake loop.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Peter Lougheed map
Full mapElevation1,669–1,718 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
4 active Peter Lougheed alerts
- ClosureTrail closures and Three Isle detourThree trail sections remain closed; stay out of closed areas and follow the signed Three Isle detour to reach the open backcountry campgrounds.Official details
- CautionBear activity near Elpoca and ValleyviewFrequent bear activity has been noted along Valleyview Road from Elpoca Day Use Area south to Highway 40, near Little Highwood Pass and Valleyview Day Use Areas; use bear precautions.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Peter Lougheed Tour Guide
Your drive to Lower Lake Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Peter Lougheed Provincial 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 Peter Lougheed audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Canyon Day Use: The Lake and the Lost Trail0:00 / 0:28
“You're nearing Canyon Day Use Area, a picnic and boat-launch stop on the north shore of Lower Kananaskis Lake.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Peter Lougheed Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Peninsula Day Use: The Short Viewpoint Walk
- South Lawson Peak: The Ridge Above the Lakes
- Discovery Centre: Exhibits and Meadow Bears
- Pocaterra Warming Hut: A Ski-Day Shelter
- 41 audio storiesacross Peter Lougheed’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Canada Lynx, Black Bear, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 66 trails, 41 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Lower Lake Trail
A shoreline walk, not a lake circuitLower Lake Trail follows the shore of Lower Kananaskis Lake from Canyon Day Use to the Bill…
Lower Lake Trail follows the shore of Lower Kananaskis Lake from Canyon Day Use to the Bill Benson Trail near William Watson Lodge. It is 3.5 km one way; walk back to Canyon for 7 km total. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours. The payoff is a lakeside walk with views of the Spray Range. This route does not go all the way around the lake.
Follow the longer Lower Lake routeStart at Canyon Day Use and follow the shoreline south to the Bill Benson connection, then…
Start at Canyon Day Use and follow the shoreline south to the Bill Benson connection, then retrace the same path. The separate Lower Lake Interpretive Trail also starts near Canyon, but it is a short forest walk rather than this longer lakeside route. This trail is described as moderate; detailed footing, grade, crossing and shade notes are not available, so plan around the distance and the limited route information.
Start and practical notesBegin at Canyon Day Use to match the published distance; the route also connects near William…
Begin at Canyon Day Use to match the published distance; the route also connects near William Watson Lodge. Dogs are allowed on leash no longer than 2 m. The group-size limit is 35; organized or commercial outings should check permit requirements. Parking capacity and overflow details are not documented.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Peter Lougheed
132 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
17 sightingsCanada LynxMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
30 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
69 sightingsMooseMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
176 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
19 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 8 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Peter Lougheed. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
