Peyto Lake

Peyto Lake's bright turquoise colour is caused by rock particles, which flow into the lake as nearby glaciers melt under the summer sun. The breathtaking view of its aqua-blue water and the snow-capped mountains behind it attract crowds of visitors to the Peyto Lake Lookout every year. The view is just as stunning in winter, when the countryside is covered in a thick blanket of snow and the lake has frozen over.

One of the easiest ways to get here is to hire a car in either Banff or Lake Louise and take the Icefields Parkway northbound. The views from the road are spectacular and the journey is just 40 kilometres from Lake Louise and 100 kilometres from Banff.

Park in the car park next to the motorway and walk the 10 or 15 minutes to Peyto Lake Lookout the path is paved and should be manageable for almost everyone. The wooden platform at the lookout juts out from the mountain edge and provides the best views of the lake below, as well as the peaks, valleys and lush forest surrounding it.

There is a second car park nearer the lookout but it's reserved for disabled parking and tour buses. If you fancy a bus tour, there are plenty of day trips to Banff National Park organised by local tour companies and almost all take in Peyto Lake Lookout.

The large number of summer bus tours that stop here can make the lookout incredibly crowded. If you get here before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. it's likely to be quieter at other times it can be hard to get onto the viewing platform at all. If it's too busy just continue along the trail to the Bow Summit Lookout. It's a 3-kilometre walk, which deters some visitors, so it's a calmer spot to get some snaps of this famous view.

Few people visit the lake itself. However, if you want to hike to the water's edge, simply take the trail down from Peyto Lake Lookout. Be aware that hiking there and back will take a good few hours.