Category: Dingo Vacations

Bow Lake & the Trail to Bow Glacier Falls, Banff National Park, Canada (7-25-13)

Bow Lake is located on the W side of the spectacular Icefields Parkway Hwy No. 93 in Banff National Park roughly 22 miles N of the junction with Trans-Canada Hwy No. 1.  Bow Lake is clearly visible from the Icefields Parkway which goes right past the E shore.  The trail to Bow Glacier Falls starts at the red-roofed Num-Ti-Jah lodge on the N shore of the lake.  There is parking, but no sign or official trailhead that Lupe and SPHP have noticed.  Just look for the trail heading W along the N shore.  It’s easy to find.

Lupe visited Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park on the morning of July 25, 2013, the 16th Day of her 2013 Dingo Vacation to the Beartooths & Canadian Rockies.  After seeing the falls, Lupe and SPHP returned to Banff National Park and headed N on the Icefields Parkway, Hwy 93.  There was still time for an afternoon trek.  On this hot summer day, SPHP had a good one in mind that doesn’t involve too much elevation gain – the trail from Bow Lake to Bow Glacier Falls.

Looking SE across Bow Lake. The Crowfoot Glacier is visible just right of center.
Looking SE across Bow Lake. The Crowfoot Glacier is visible just right of center.

SPHP parked the G6 near Num-Ti-Jah lodge located near the N shore of Bow Lake.  The lodge is within sight of Icefields Parkway Hwy 93.  It’s red roof is easy to spot coming up the Icefields Parkway from the S.  The first thing Lupe did was trot on down to the lake to check out the small beach near the lodge.

The Nim-Ti-Jah lodge located near the N shore of Bow Lake. The trail to Bow Glacier Falls starts from the lodge.
The Num-Ti-Jah lodge located near the N shore of Bow Lake. The trail to Bow Glacier Falls starts from the lodge.
Lupe on the beach at Bow Lake near the Nim-Ti-Jah lodge. There were actually quite a few people around at the beach on this hot summer day. SPHP suspects it is best to be part Canadian if you want to go in the water. The water comes from that glacier in the distance!
Lupe on the pebbly beach at Bow Lake near the Nim-Ti-Jah lodge. There were actually quite a few people around at the beach on this hot summer day. SPHP suspects it is best to be part Canadian if you want to go in the water. The water comes right from that glacier in the distance!  Bow Glacier Falls, where Lupe was headed, is seen just below the left side of the glacier.

Lupe cooled off a bit wading around in the cold water.  She had a big drink out of Bow Lake.  There were more people than SPHP expected to see at the beach, but it wasn’t a big crowd.  A few hardy souls were even in the water, mostly children who tend not to notice hypothermia much.  Lupe and SPHP set off on the trail to Bow Glacier Falls sometime between 2:00 and 3:00 PM.  The trail starts off heading W along the N shore of Bow Lake.

Looking S across Bow Lake at Crowfoot Mountain from the Bow Glacier Falls trail.
Looking S across Bow Lake at Crowfoot Mountain (10,023 ft.) from the Bow Glacier Falls trail.
Looking back to the E along Bow Glacier Falls trail along the N shore of Bow Lake.
Looking back to the E along Bow Glacier Falls trail on the N shore of Bow Lake.
Bow Lake in Banff National Park. Bow Glacier Falls is visible below the Bow Glacier, which is part of the Wapta Icefield.
Bow Lake in Banff National Park. Bow Glacier Falls is visible below the Bow Glacier, which is part of the Wapta Icefield.

There were quite a few people on the trail to the falls.  There were a couple of big scary dogs, too.  Lupe got by them when the big dogs decided to go for a swim in the lake.  The trail gradually curves toward the S as it proceeds along Bow Lake.  By the time it leaves the lake behind, the trail is heading SW.  There the trail enters a still nearly level area of gravel deposited by the Bow River.  The trail heads for a narrow gap at the S end of a small ridge ahead.  A steep set of stairs climbs up the small ridge on the N side of the gap.

Beyond the lake now, Bow Glacier Falls trail heads for the gap at the S end of the small ridge ahead. Bow Glacier Falls is visible above the small ridge.
Beyond the lake now, Bow Glacier Falls trail heads for the gap at the S end of the small ridge ahead. Bow Glacier Falls is visible above the small ridge.
Looking NE back at the stream from Bow Glacier Falls on its way to Bow Lake. A small section of Bow Lake is visible through the trees. The bottom of the stairs leading up the small ridge is in the foreground.
Looking NE back at the stream from Bow Glacier Falls on its way to Bow Lake. A small section of Bow Lake is visible through the trees. The bottom of the stairs leading up the small ridge is in the foreground.

As the trail climbs the stairway, it can be seen that the stream from Bow Glacier Falls is passing in a torrent through a very narrow, but deep gorge just to the S of the trail.  The gorge is so narrow that near the top there is a huge boulder wedged high up between the edges of the gorge.  The boulder spans the gorge creating a natural bridge.  People cross this boulder to a side trail that heads S into a gorgeous valley leading to St. Nicholas Peak, Mount Olive and part of the Wapta Icefield.

(Note:  Later in the day, on the way back from Bow Glacier Falls, SPHP really wanted to go explore this wonderful valley to the S, but crossing the boulder looked just too scary.  Although the boulder was very large, it was rounded, not flat.  It really wasn’t all that tricky, but the roaring water gushing through the narrow chasm below gave SPHP visions of Lupe’s claws being unable to hang onto the solid rock of the boulder, and Lupe falling into the raging torrent to be lost forever.  No valley, no matter how wonderful, was worth a chance of losing the sweet dingo.  If SPHP had thought of exploring this valley earlier, it would have been easy to just cross the stream below Bow Glacier Falls and head for this valley.)

The wonderful valley to the S that SPHP was too chicken to let Lupe explore.
The wonderful valley to the S that SPHP was too chicken to let Lupe explore.

Once on top of the small ridge, Bow Glacier Falls is in clear view ahead.  The trail drops partway back down the other side of the ridge and then steadily climbs through a mostly barren rocky area.  This area is roughly the same size as the area between Bow Lake and the small ridge.  The climb steepens as the trail nears the falls, but it’s pretty easy.  It never gets all that steep.  The trail ultimately disappears among the rocks near the base of the falls.

Lupe reaches Bow Glacier Falls.
Lupe reaches Bow Glacier Falls.

Lupe at Bow Glacier Falls, Banff NP 7-25-13Lupe and SPHP climbed up very close to the falls, had a snack and photo session, and then climbed even higher until almost in the falls itself.  Lupe and SPHP lingered there for a while enjoying the sound of the water and the amazing world on display.

SPHP took this photo looking NE from Bow Glacier Falls. It wasn't until writing this post on 8-2-15, that SPHP realized this is a photo of Cirque Mountain, which Lupe climbed on 7-27-14 during her 2014 Dingo Vacation.
SPHP took this photo on 7-25-13 looking NE from Bow Glacier Falls. It wasn’t until writing this post on 8-2-15, that SPHP realized this is a photo of Cirque Peak (9,820 ft.) which Lupe climbed on 7-27-14 during her 2014 Dingo Vacation.  (She went up the long slope at the right.)  Click this red link to view the post on Lupe’s ascent of Cirque Peak which includes a view of Bow Lake, Bow Glacier Falls and the huge Wapta Icefield from the summit!

There was almost no one left on the trail by the time Lupe made her return trip to Bow Lake and Num-Ti-Jah lodge.  Lupe and SPHP drove a short distance to the SE along the Icefields Parkway Hwy 93 to a picnic ground located on the E side of Bow Lake.  Here Lupe and SPHP spent the rest of the evening having a very pleasant time looking at the mountains and watching the sun sparkle on Bow Lake as it slowly sank behind the glorious Canadian Rockies.

Early evening at Bow Lake from the Bow Glacier Trail.
Early evening at Bow Lake from the Bow Glacier Trail.  The picnic ground is located among the trees across the lake along the shore seen on the left side of this photo.  Photo looks SE.
Crowfoot Glacier above Bow Lake.
Crowfoot Glacier above Bow Lake.

Bow Lake, Banff NP 7-25-13Links:

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Takakkaw Falls, Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada (7-25-13)

The Takakkaw Falls parking lot is at the end of Yoho Valley Road about 14 km from Trans-Canada Hwy 1.  Yoho Valley Road is accessed from Trans-Canada Hwy 1 a few miles NE of the little community of Field along the Kicking Horse River.  Yoho Valley Road is paved, but has a couple of exceptionally sharp hairpin curves.  Taking long vehicles (motorhomes, trailers) up this road is inadvisable.

The morning after Lupe’s big day going from Emerald Lake all the way up to the high point of the Iceline Trail in Yoho National Park, SPHP didn’t have any concrete plans for the day.  SPHP thought maybe Lupe could go check out the Lake O’Hara area.  Neither Lupe nor SPHP had ever been there before, and Lake O’Hara has a fabulous reputation.  There were plenty of trails to explore in the area, too.

After breakfast at a picnic area along the Bow Parkway, Lupe and SPHP headed back into British Columbia on Trans-Canada Hwy No. 1.  When Lupe and SPHP left Hwy 1 and got on the road to Lake O’Hara, it ended almost immediately at a couple of large parking lots filled with cars.  A sign said access to was restricted to a shuttle bus ride (none in sight and bound to be expensive) or walking 13+ km (all uphill) to where the shuttle bus drop off point was.   Lupe may have had it in her, but after the previous long day, SPHP did not want to hike uphill that far just to get to a starting point.

Instead, Lupe and SPHP went to Takakkaw Falls.  On the previous day, Lupe and SPHP had spectacular distant views of the falls from the Highline and Iceline trails.

Takakkaw falls from the Iceline Trail the previous day (July 24th).
Takakkaw falls from the Iceline Trail the previous day (July 24th).

This time, Lupe was going to get up close and view the mighty Takakkaw Falls from below.  It was a short walk from the parking lot to a very nice footbridge over the Yoho River.  An easy trail led to the base of the falls.

The great footbridge across the Yoho River leading to Takakkaw Falls.
The great footbridge across the Yoho River leading to Takakkaw Falls.

According to Wikipedia, the highest point of Takakkaw Falls is 302 meters or 991 feet above its base, although there is really only 260 meters or 850 feet of true free-fall.  Now matter how one looks at it, Takakkaw Falls is an impressive waterfall, especially on a hot summer day when the Daly Glacier (an arm of the Waputik Icefield) that feeds it is melting fast.

Lupe below Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park in British Columbia.
Lupe below Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park in British Columbia.

Takakkaw Falls, Yoho NP, 7-25-15

Lupe enjoys the cool mist at the base of Takakkaw Falls on a hot summer day.
Lupe enjoys the cool mist at the base of Takakkaw Falls on a hot summer day.

Lupe and SPHP took the trail up to just below the base of the falls.  The cool mist felt great.  The G6 had said it was 79 degrees F already back at the parking lot.  The clear sunny day was going to be a scorcher by Canadian Rockies standards.

Refreshed by the cool mist, SPHP temporarily felt inspired to take Lupe up the Yoho River valley.  Perhaps Lupe could go up to the Yoho Glacier or climb back up to the fabulous Iceline Trail again by another route?  There were plenty of trails to explore, but they involved a lot of elevation gain.

Although Lupe and SPHP started up the Yoho River valley, it was not to be.  Away from the cooling spray of Takakkaw Falls, SPHP soon started to wilt under the hot sun.  Lupe had the energy and enthusiasm to go on, but despite the glorious scenery SPHP did not.  SPHP’s sore feet and hot perspiring body clamored for an easier day.  Maybe it was time to move on and go see something different; something that wasn’t going to involve so much up.

So Lupe and SPHP turned around shortly after starting on the trail up the Yoho River valley.  Returning to the G6, SPHP drove drove back to Lake Louise Village. There SPHP gassed up the G6 to full before heading N on the Icefields Parkway, Hwy 93.  Lupe and SPHP enjoyed a pleasant air conditioned drive up to Bow Lake.  SPHP knew there was a beautiful trail with only modest elevation gain from the lake to Bow Glacier Falls.

Bow Lake in Banff National Park.
Bow Lake in Banff National Park.

A trail without a lot of elevation gain to another cool waterfall sounded like just the ticket.  SPHP did have the energy to do that.  Which is why Lupe’s next post will be about her successful journey to see Bow Glacier Falls.

Links:

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Iceline Trail High Point, Yoho National Park, Canada (7-26-14)

Want more Lupe adventures?  Choose from Lupe’s 2013 Beartooths & Canadian Rockies Adventure Index, Dingo Vacations Adventure Index or Master Adventure Index.  Or subscribe free to new Lupe adventures.