Route: Bow Summit Viewpoint
Area: Alberta, Canada
Date of walk: 21st September 2024
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 4.2 miles
Ascent: 900 feet
Weather: Cloudy but bright, cold with some snow on the ground
It’s often the case that the journey to the start of a walk is a means to an end, but that wasn’t so today. Our road trip from Canmore to the Bow Summit parking lot was truly memorable and involved a section of the Icefields Parkway, one of the most spectacular road journeys in the world, featuring ancient glaciers, cascading waterfalls, dramatic rock spires, and emerald lakes set in valleys of pine and larch forests
After a number of stops to admire the marvels along the way, we arrived at the Bow Summit car parking area, which was packed. It took us a while to find a space, but we were aware that the first five minutes of our route was along the path to the Peyto Lake Viewpoint, a honeypot tourist destination. The lake is named after Bill Peyto (pronounced ‘pee-toe’ and not ‘pay-toe’) who came to Canada in 1887 and was a local legend who spent a lifetime exploring the area
We soon arrived at the lookout which has a wonderful view over Peyto Lake. The turquoise colour of the lake is caused by heavy glacial melting as remnants of nearby glaciers enter the lake. The debris, known as rock flour, is made up of minerals such as quartz and calcite. These minerals enter the lake and alter its hue, and cause the light to glimmer off the surface, resulting in the lake’s bright blue water. The lookout was a busy place, but the vast majority of visitors return to their cars and coaches from here. It was a relief to leave them behind as we continued uphill to our destination, the Bow Summit Viewpoint
It’s an easy ascent up a path which gradually deteriorates, but there are no difficulties. Near the top a fresh dusting of overnight snow made it a little slippery. The view from the summit was lovely, though inferior to the more popular view of Lake Peyto. Bow Summit Viewpoint is the highest point on the Icefields Parkway at 2,070m. From here we retraced our steps back to the start, and along the way we were entertained by sightings of pika, a small rodent like mammal, and red squirrel
Despite the hordes at the Lake Peyto Viewpoint it had been a wonderful walk, enhanced by the journey there and back. Click here to see a short video of our drive along the spectacular Icefields Parkway
Click on the icon below for the route map
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The Ralph Connor Memorial United Church, dating back to 1890, as we leave Canmore and set off along the Icefields Parkway to the start of our walk
There are various viewpoints along the Icefields Parkway - this is Morant’s Curve, where we waited in vain for a train to come along to complete the picture
Another brief stop to admire Herbert Lake...
We leave the Icefields Parkway to start the walk from the nearby Bow Summit parking area
A short easy walk brings us to the Peyto Lake Lookout
Peyto Lake, which is sometimes referred to as Wolf Head Lake for obvious reasons
Caldron Peak on the far side of the lake
We leave the lookout and set off for Bow Valley Viewpoint
Mount Jimmy Simpson as we follow the easy path through the woods
Looking back to Mount Patterson beyond Caldron Peak
Further along the trail
Observation Peak on our left
Looking back to Mount Patterson
Light snow on the ground as we gain height
A view along our path
The ridge leading up to Mount Jimmy Simpson
Bow Valley and the Icefields Parkway below, with Observation Peak beyond
The path narrows as we approach Bow Valley Viewpoint
We arrive at the viewpoint, which has a fabulous view over Bow Lake encircled by some towering mountains, including Bow Peak at its head
This marks the end of the trail for ordinary walkers
Gilly admires the view before we turn back and retrace our steps
Waterfowl Lake in the distance
An array of peaks on the far side of Bow Valley
We stroll back to the start of another wonderful walk, but there were more delights to come...
After returning to the car we continued north along the Icefields Parkway as far as the Saskatchewan River Crossing, seen here from the Howes Pass Lookout
We then headed back south to Canmore, pausing at various viewpoints along the Icefields Parkway - Mount Chephren and Lower Waterfowl Lake...
...Bow Lake and Crowfoot Mountain
...Crowfoot Glacier
Finally Mount Rundle from the classic Vermilion Lakes viewpoint. See below for a short video of the wonderful journey along the Icefields Parkway...
