| [+]

A glacier-fed alpine lake in the Canadian Rockies, Peyto Lake sits high on the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park. Its colour comes from fine glacial rock flour carried down from the Peyto Glacier. In summer the water turns an intense turquoise that seems to change with the light. From the Bow Summit viewpoint, about 2,088 metres above sea level, the lake spreads out below in a shape often compared to a fox’s head. Snow-streaked peaks frame it, and the forested floor of the Mistaya Valley stretches beyond.

The lake is named after Bill Peyto, an early mountain guide and trapper. It has long been associated with the pioneering spirit of the Rockies. Mistaya comes from the Stoney Nakoda word for grizzly bear. The name is a reminder that this is working wildlife country, and visitors should treat it with respect.

A short paved path climbs through subalpine spruce and fir to the upper platform. A longer trail leads on to the higher Bow Summit lookout. The air is thin and cool and smells of resin. Come early or late in the day for quieter light and fewer crowds. A valid Parks Canada pass is required, and the seasonal snowpack usually keeps the viewpoint closed until early summer.