Emerald Lake is a popular tourist destination for many, and it’s easy to see why. The water’s stunning colours and secluded location make it a perfectly picturesque spot. While living in Banff, only an hour’s drive away, experiencing this one-of-a-kind location was a must on my to-do list.
I was lucky enough to visit this marvellous site twice, once during the summer and again during winter.
While we’re currently advised to refrain from non-essential travel, this is the perfect time to gather inspiration and ideas for future visits…. So, come escape with me and discover this must-see destination!
Discover Emerald Lake
In British Columbia’s Yoho National Park, Emerald Lake is the largest body of water of the park’s 61 lakes and ponds. Surrounded by many towering mountains, you’ll enjoy remarkable views of the President Range, Mount Burgess and Wapta Mountain.
The lake’s high elevation means it freezes over from November to early June, with the iconic colour making its appearance in summer. While the setting is relatively secluded, it was easy to get to from the Trans Canada Highway – but if you didn’t know it was there, you could easily drive by not knowing the beauty that just passed you by.
A little history…
Famous mountain guide Tom Wilson came upon this secret paradise in 1882 while tracking a team of horses that had escaped him. Due to the water’s extraordinary blue-green colour, he dubbed it Emerald Lake, although this wasn’t the first lake he gave that name to!
The other Emerald Lake that Wilson named was renamed shortly after to honour Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria. As you may have guessed, that lake is now the ever-famous Lake Louise! It wasn’t just a body of water named to honour the Queen’s fourth daughter. The actual province of Alberta itself was named after her as well.
Experiencing the lake in summer
I visited Emerald Lake with my best friend in August 2019. Together, we made the hour-long drive from Banff quickly and uneventfully. I had high hopes of spotting a bear, but no such luck!
As we planned the visit spontaneously, we knew we were taking a bit of a gamble arriving later in the day when the crowds were likely bigger. Luckily, fortune was on our side, and after circling the parking lot once, we spotted a space.
As the lake came into view, we stopped in our tracks, awestruck. The vibrant colour of the water was unlike anything I’d seen before, and paired with the mountains and forest areas surrounding us, it created quite a stunning setting.
After taking a moment to soak in our surroundings, we walked the 5.2 km trail circling the lake, with the breaks in trees offering new water views. While the first half of the path was paved, the portion near the back of the lake became more uneven, so if you’re taking a stroller, I’d suggest turning around halfway rather than trying to tackle the terrain.
Following the walk, we rented a canoe at Emerald Lake Canoe Rentals & The Boathouse Trading Co. for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Paddling offers a completely different perspective on the landscape, and we soaked in the panoramic views from the middle of it all while our canoe gently rocked back and forth above the emerald waters.
The water’s vibrant colour comes from sunlight reflecting off of “marl” at the bottom of the lake bed, a mixture of calcium carbonate and clay. While the colour is known to be most intense in early summer, we weren’t disappointed with the sparkling colours we saw in late summer.
Seeing Emerald Lake during this season was entirely spectacular – the views will surely stop you in your tracks, making this a must-see spot for your West Coast travel destinations.
Revisiting in winter
My winter experience at Emerald Lake differed drastically from our summer excursion, with the serene, quiet, peaceful, and colourless winter landscape.
During the drive, an avalanche blast stopped us on the highway for nearly an hour. We listened to the explosions, followed by a roar of snow echoing throughout the valley, sending puffs of white soaring upwards in the sky.
Upon arrival, an Emerald Lake Lodge shuttle bus took us to their main lobby so we could check in for our stay. After dropping off our belongings, we stopped to take everything in: Snow blanketed virtually every area, bleaching the landscape.
While the lake was frozen, hiding its iconic blue-green hue, it didn’t detract from its beauty. This was the most peaceful place I’ve ever visited—so quiet you could hear your heartbeat, as thick blankets of snow muffled outside sounds. The fact that we didn’t see any other vacationers during our stay added to the serenity: it felt like we had the place to ourselves!
The lake’s sheltered location means no cell reception, so we enjoyed a relaxing, technology-free escape.
Very few restaurants, grocery stores or gas stations are nearby, so plan accordingly! Cilantro Restaurant is one of those few restaurants located right there on the lake.
While ski and snowshoe rentals were available, we opted for a warmer way to pass the time—wine, charcuterie, a warm wood-burning fire, and striking views of Emerald Lake as the moon reflected off the white snow.
Our two trips to Emerald Lake created two completely different experiences, each unforgettable in its own way—and both highly recommended!
