Peyto Lake is a beautiful turquoise lake resembling a wolf’s head in Banff National Park. As one of the most popular stops along the Icefields Parkway between Banff and Jasper, Peyto Lake is absolutely worth seeing if you have the time on your trip.
It may look small in photographs, but the vastness of the landscape and the Lake going off into the distance will literally take your breath away!
While Peyto Lake is a bit less busy than Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, you might still have to jostle for a good view at the observation deck. With that said, there are some optional hikes you can take around Peyto Lake to find a less crowded viewpoint.
Unlike Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake is open and accessible all year round. It is still quite beautiful in the winter time when frozen, and while thawing out in the spring.
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Peyto Lake Directions
Peyto Lake is located on the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) between Lake Louise and Jasper. Currently, the only way to get there is by driving, unless you book a tour that stops there. You can’t see the lake from the highway, but the turn off is well marked with signs and there’s a parking lot.
- From Jasper: Peyto Lake is 188km (about a 2-hour drive) from Jasper along the most scenic mountain drive you can imagine, the Icefields Parkway! From the town, just head South on Highway 93. It will take to all the way to Peyto Lake.
- From Lake Louise: It’ll only take you about 40 minutes to drive from Lake Louise to Peyto Lake, as they’re only 44km apart. From the Town of Lake Louise, head Northeast on Highway 1 for about 5 minutes until you see the signs for Highway 93 (Jasper/Rocky Mountain House). This is the Icefields Parkway, an absolutely breathtaking drive that you can take for another 35 minutes to Peyto Lake.
- From Banff: It takes about 60 minutes to drive straight from Banff to Peyto Lake, skipping Lake Louise. The two are 107km apart along Highway 1.
- From Canmore: It takes about 1.5 hours to drive straight from Canmore to Peyto Lake, skipping both Banff and Lake Louise on Highway 1. They are 123km apart.
Peyto Lake Map
Because Peyto Lake is inside Banff National Park, you will need a Parks Pass to visit. The pass is good for both Banff and Jasper, if you’re planning to visit both.
Parking at Peyto Lake
Parking is usually not quite as crazy as it is at places like Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, unless you happen to arrive at the same time as a tour bus! (They don’t stay long, though.) It has its own small parking lot with newly updated washrooms.
There’s a short (300 meter) walk from the parking lot to the main Peyto Lake lookout. It’s uphill and quite steep at certain points, but it’s paved and not quite challenging enough to call a hike. There’s also a drop-off point at the upper parking lot that lets you skip the Peyto Lake access trail altogether.
Is Peyto Lake Accessible?
Peyto Lake is a wheelchair-friendly stop along the Icefields Parkway! There are handicap parking spaces at the top of the access trail if you continue driving past the main parking lot. (With that said, the upper parking lot is not always cleared of snow in the winter time between December and May.) The Peyto Lake viewing platform is wheelchair accessible, as are the washrooms.
Quick Facts about Peyto Lake
- Peyto Lake sits in the Waputik Valley. The mountains you see around the lake are named Caldron Peak, Peyto Peak, and Mount Jimmy Simpson.
- Peyto Lake is at an altitude of 1,860 meters (6,100 feet)!
- Peyto Lake’s depth is approximately 90 meters (295 feet).
- The Lake is about 2.8km in length, and you can hike around it if you like.
- You can bring your dog(s) to Peyto Lake, but they have to be on leash!
Insider Tip: ❄️ Bring a jacket or a sweater with you, even in the summer time! Peyto Lake’s elevation can make it chillier than Banff or Lake Louise. It’s not unheard of to get snow here even in July!
Facilities at Peyto Lake
With Peyto Lake being such a popular tourist destination, Parks Canada invested in renovations between 2019-2020 that are now complete! There are updated washrooms at Peyto Lake, including an accessible one. They also expanded the parking lot to accommodate more private vehicles and tour buses.
The Peyto Lake viewpoint is above the lake, so there’s an observation deck just a short walk away from the parking lot. You don’t have to stay on it! It’s easier to get a good view (and photo) of Peyto Lake if you walk past the deck.
Best Time to See Peyto Lake
Truly, there’s no bad time to see Peyto Lake! It’s gorgeous on sunny days and stormy weather, in the winter and summer.
With that said, the turquoise blue colour will be the most vibrant between June and September. Because it’s at such a high elevation, Peyto Lake is frozen from mid-November to mid-June. You can still see the shape of the lake while it’s covered in snow, but you wont see the famous blue hues.
Personally, September is my favourite time to visit Peyto Lake. It isn’t frozen over yet, but you start to see a dusting of snow on the mountains, really perfecting the view!
Best time of day to visit Peyto Lake: While you might be able to beat the crowds by visiting Peyto Lake in the early morning or late evening, it’s absolutely stunning at midday, too.
Prints are available of this image in our online store.
Spending the Day at Peyto Lake
Peyto Lake is a quick stop for most visitors. If you’re just planning to visit the observation deck and take a few pictures, it’ll only take about 30 minutes.
There’s a few longer hikes you can do around the lake if you really want to soak in the views at this scenic location.
And if you’re up for some outdoor activities, there are enough things to do at Peyto Lake to make a day trip out of it! Here are some ideas:
- Hiking in the summer time
- It’s a great place to stop for a picnic
- Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter
- Photography (of course!)
- There are no canoe rentals at Peyto Lake, unlike Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. But you could technically bring your own canoes, kayaks or stand up paddleboards if you’re willing to hike them down about 1.5km from the parking lot to the lake itself. (Another good spot for canoeing that’s much easier to get to is Bow Lake, about a 5-minute drive from Peyto Lake.)
- Wildlife watching! Look out for hoary marmots, bighorn sheep, black bears and sometimes even grizzly bears in this area. Birds like Clark’s nutcrackers are common near Peyto Lake.
If you’re going past the observation deck, we recommend carrying bear spray with you. For more tips, check out our guide to bear safety:
Hikes Around Peyto Lake
Note: if you’re using an app, you’ll have to download the trail map to use offline before you visit. There is no cell service in this area until you get to Lake Louise. It’s a good idea to bring a GPS or use a hiking app, as many of the trails near Peyto Lake are unmarked and quite confusing.
| Hike Name | Trailhead Location | Trail Length (Round Trip) | Elevation Gain | Time to Complete | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peyto Lake Upper Viewpoint | Peyto Lake observation deck | 1.3 km | 78 meters | 30-60 minutes | Easy |
| Bow Summit | Peyto Lake observation deck | 6.8 km | 300 meters | 2-3 hours | Moderate |
| Chephren Lake | 12 minutes north of Peyto Lake | 8.2 km | 254 meters | 2.5 hours | Easy |
| Hike down to Peyto Lake | Peyto Lake observation deck or parking lot | 3.2 km | 78 meters | 30 minutes | Moderate |
| Observation Peak | Gravel road across the street from Peyto Lake parking lot | 8.2 km | 1067 meters | 5-7 hours | Difficult (Scramble) |
| Caldron Peak | Peyto Lake observation deck | 22 km | 1678 meters | 8-10 hours | Difficult |
Fishing at Peyto Lake
Surprisingly, you can fish in many of the lakes in Banff, including Peyto Lake. The fly fishing in particular is fantastic! You can find mountain whitefish, cutthroat trout and broadhead bass in the cool blue waters.
Fishing season is open from July 1st to October 31st, and it’s catch and release only. Synthetic lures must be used as natural bait is banned in the Park to avoid introducing invasive species.
Fishing permits are available online. You can also buy a permit from one of the Visitor’s Centers in Banff, or from most of the sporting goods stores. If you live in Alberta and already have a provincial permit, you’ll still need the one specific to Banff National Park.
Children under 16 are allowed to fish in the Park with no permit, as long as they are supervised by someone over 16.
Can you Swim at Peyto Lake?
You can if you’re super brave! Like many famous lakes in the Rocky Mountains, Peyto Lake is glacier-fed, bringing its temperature down close to freezing even in the summer time.
If you want to swim, plan to take a very short dip (less than 10 minutes) to avoid hypothermia. And make sure you bring a towel and dry clothing to warm yourself up afterwards!
What is so special about Peyto Lake?
The shape of a wolf’s head distinguishes this Lake from other (equally majestic) lakes of the Canadian Rockies. You’ll also be amazed by the expansive landscape and sky that surrounds it. Like Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake is a stunning, glacier-fed turquoise blue colour. It’s undoubtedly one of the most special spots in the Rockies.
This lake was named after William (Bill) Peyto, a famous early explorer, trail guide, and park warden of the Bow Valley area. Pronounced “pee-toe”, but even some of the locals here say “pay-toe”.
Seeing the Aurora (Northern Lights) at Peyto Lake
If you’re just visiting Banff for a few days, you’ll have to get pretty lucky to see the Northern Lights at Peyto Lake. They’re pretty rare, and require clear viewing conditions (as in no clouds!)
You can sign up for Aurora Watch to send you an e-mail when the geomagnetic activity is high. This doesn’t guarantee that you’ll see the lights, but it gives you the best chances!
Be prepared to get to the Lake between midnight and early morning before sunrise. You’ll want to stay at a hotel or campsite close to the lake so you can get there quickly in the middle of the night if you get an alert.
Where to Stay Near Peyto Lake
Most travelers along the Icefields Parkway will probably stay in either Banff or Jasper, depending on which direction you’re heading. But if you want to catch a Peyto Lake sunrise, it’s possible to stay a little closer to Peyto Lake. Many of these options have a more woodsy, remote feel than the Jasper or Banff hotels, but they’re still fairly close to civilization!
Hotels Near Peyto Lake
The closest hotel to Peyto Lake is the Lodge at Bow Lake, about 20 minutes away. Bow Lake is another absolutely gorgeous destination in the Rockies, and a great place to spot grizzly bears! (This Lodge used to be known as Num-Ti-Jah.)
Your next closest options are in Lake Louise, about a 35-minute drive from Peyto Lake. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is located right at the Lake Louise lakeshore, and is like a castle. Understandably, it’s on the expensive side!
Camping Near Peyto Lake
There’s no camping directly at Peyto Lake, but you have quite a few options nearby.
The Silverhorn Creek campground can be reserved in advance, or you can check with them as they quite often have spots available that day.
Mosquito Creek and Waterfowl Lakes campgrounds are also close to Peyto Lake, and available on a first come first serve basis.
The Next Stops on Your Road Trip
Here are some more stops to consider, depending on which direction you’re heading:
Heading towards Banff:
- Bow Lake (5 minutes)
- Lake Louise (30 minutes)
- Moraine Lake (30 minutes)
- Morant’s Curve (35 minutes)
- Johnston Canyon (1 hour)
- Castle Mountain (1 hour)
Heading towards Jasper:
- Mistaya Canyon (20 minutes)
- The Big Bend (45 minutes)
- Athabasca Glacier (1 hour)
- Mount Edith Cavell (2 hours)
