Bow Summit and Peyto Lake

It was very snowy when we went so we couldn't see the full view of the lake 😅 the trail was still pretty easy, just a slight uphill for the most part. I'm sure the view from the viewpoint would've been great too but it was basically almost all white from the snow lol

My boyfriend and I wanted to visit Peyto Lake, but we also wanted to go higher for more breathtaking views. Bow Summit was the next hike on our list. I must admit, Bow Summit proved to be a bit challenging, but the views were undeniably worth the effort. It wasn't as popular as Peyto Lake, likely because Peyto is an easier hike in comparison, while Bow Summit is moderately categorized. Check out the videos my boyfriend took to see what to expect on Bow Summit and Peyto Lake as well as the scenic drive!

Just 50 mins from Banff this is a must see experience. We arrived at 9:45 am and there was plenty of parking. It was maybe 3/4 empty. When we left at 12:30 pm it was completely full. To the point where the trail to the Peyto Lake viewpoint was quite slow.

The view from the platform was amazing but if you hit the loop you can also see it from the upper viewpoint with much less crowds.

Off the loop is the Bow Summit trail which is worth your time if you have an 90-120 mins to spare. The path is well marked and maintained but it’s straight up so quite demanding. But the view at the top of Bow Lake and Crowfoot glacier is worth it. You can also see a small sliver of Peyto Lake as well. Spent about 30 mins at the top soaking it in. Incredibly experience.

Hike up from the lower/main parking lot (0.6 km) or hike down from the upper lot to get to the viewpoint.
The upper parking lot is reserved for tour/charter busses and cars with handicap tag. Hike down from the upper lot is handicap accessible.
They've now built a proper viewing deck, which is usually very crowded, although some visitors go under the deck built over the rocks.

At first it makes you question if this is an actual hike.. however once you pass the observation deck, which by the way is breathtaking— You can proceed about 1-2 hours of hiking to the summit. Gets kinda iffy at the end with tight trails and loose rocks, however it wasn’t bad. It’s busier than most trails, like powderface and so on, however still worth it. You get up close with some snow, and next to a waterfall. There’s a few ponds up there too.