{"id":12641,"date":"2018-03-29T08:10:33","date_gmt":"2018-03-29T14:10:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=12641"},"modified":"2018-04-02T00:03:23","modified_gmt":"2018-04-02T06:03:23","slug":"bow-glacier-falls-banff-national-park-canada-8-2-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/?p=12641","title":{"rendered":"Bow Glacier Falls, Banff National Park, Canada (8-2-17)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part 1 of Day 3 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska!<\/em><\/p>\n

August, yet Banff was quiet and cool.\u00a0 Low clouds hid the mountains.\u00a0 Only a few people were wandering about this early in the normally bustling tourist town.\u00a0 Summer had vanished.\u00a0 It felt a little like fall with winter on the way.\u00a0 Lupe & SPHP left Banff heading W on Trans-Canada Hwy 1.\u00a0 (5:44 AM, 52\u00b0F)<\/em><\/p>\n

Not until Lupe was well N of Lake Louise on Icefields Parkway Hwy 93 did the clouds begin to dissipate.\u00a0 The sky was clear by the time she reached the picnic ground at Bow Lake.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lupe by a small stream that flows into Bow Lake near the picnic ground along the E shore. Photo looks WNW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After 2 days spent almost entirely on the road, Lupe needed to get out of the G6 and do something active for a while.\u00a0 The Canadian Rockies are a perfect place for that!\u00a0 One of the most beautiful short day hikes was right here at Bow Lake.\u00a0 With the sun out now, the morning would warm up fast.\u00a0 It was still early enough for Lupe to beat the hordes of tourists certain to appear before too long.<\/p>\n

SPHP drove over to the N side of Bow Lake, parking the G6 at Simpson’s Num-Ti-Jah Lodge<\/strong><\/span><\/a> (7:16 AM)<\/em>.\u00a0 The big gravel parking lot at the trailhead for Bow Glacier Falls was practically empty, but would be overflowing soon enough on a day like this.\u00a0 Before hitting the trail, Lupe went down to the N shore of Bow Lake.\u00a0 Wisps of fog lingered over the smooth, still waters.\u00a0 Lupe could see Bow Peak<\/span><\/a> (9,318 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> and part of the Crowfoot Glacier across the lake.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Before hitting the trail to Bow Glacier Falls<\/strong>, Lupe went down to the N shore of Bow Lake<\/strong> near Num-Ti-Jah Lodge. She could see Bow Peak<\/strong> (L) and part of the Crowfoot Glacier<\/strong> (R) beyond the far shore. Photo looks SE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bow Glacier Falls, Lupe’s ultimate destination, was already in view to the SW.\u00a0 From a distance like this, Lupe could even see part of the Bow Glacier, an arm of the massive Wapta Icefield, above the falls.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
From the shore of Bow Lake<\/strong> near the Num-Ti-Jah lodge, Lupe could already see Bow Glacier Falls<\/strong> (Center, in shadow) and Bow Glacier<\/strong> above it. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Bow Glacier<\/strong> & Bow Glacier Falls<\/strong> with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On her way to the trail, Lupe passed by Simpson’s Num-Ti-Jah lodge with its distinctive red roof.<\/p>\n

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Simpson’s Num-Ti-Jah Lodge is located along the N shore of beautiful Bow Lake, just off Icefields Parkway Hwy 93.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Loop near Num-Ti-Jah lodge with its distinctive red roof.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The first part of the trek to Bow Glacier Falls went W right along the N shore of Bow Lake.\u00a0 The easy, level trail gradually turned SW.\u00a0 The views were stunning from the very start.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
The Bow Glacier Falls<\/strong> trail started out from Num-Ti-Jah lodge with this gorgeous view of Crowfoot Mountain<\/span><\/a> (10,023 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (R) across Bow Lake. Part of the Crowfoot Glacier<\/strong> is visible on the L. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lupe sets out on the Bow Glacier Falls trail. The easy hike to spectacular Bow Glacier Falls<\/strong> (R) is one of the most popular short day hikes in the Canadian Rockies<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking SE across Bow Lake. Bow Peak<\/span> (9,318 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (Center) and Crowfoot Mountain<\/strong> (R) are in view.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The sharp peak a bit L of Center is Saint Nicholas Peak<\/span><\/a> (9,639 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>. Mount Olive<\/span><\/a> (10,256 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> is on the far L. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Wildflowers, Bow Lake<\/strong>, Saint Nicholas Peak<\/strong> & Mount Olive<\/strong> from the Bow Glacier Falls trail. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Loop a little farther along the trail with Bow Lake<\/strong> & Crowfoot Mountain<\/strong> in the background. Photo looks SSE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Getting close to the W end of Bow Lake<\/strong>. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By the time Lupe reached the W end of Bow Lake, Bow Glacier Falls had sunk out of sight behind a forested ridge.\u00a0 The trail now went SSW following a swift glacier-fed stream.\u00a0 The stream was braided where it flowed into Bow Lake.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Looking back toward Bow Lake<\/strong> from the braided stream. Cirque Peak<\/span><\/a> (9,820 ft.)<\/span><\/strong><\/span> (L) looms high in the distance. Lupe had climbed Cirque Peak<\/strong><\/span> <\/a>back on 7-27-14. Cirque Peak<\/strong> had been a great adventure, too, with an awesome view of Bow Lake<\/strong> and the Wapta Icefield<\/strong> above Bow Glacier Falls<\/strong>! Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Following the stream was super easy.\u00a0 The trail stayed close to the W bank, but never crossed the river.\u00a0 In some places cairns marked the way, but they weren’t needed, since it was always obvious where the trail was headed.\u00a0 Other than one short stretch where the stream forced the trail into the forest, the terrain was level the entire way to a set of stairs at the base of a forested ridge.<\/p>\n

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Lupe heads up the valley. The trail followed the W side of the gorgeous stream, never crossing it or venturing far from it. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking downstream back toward Bow Lake<\/strong>, a slice of which is now barely visible. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Another look downstream from only slightly farther on. Lupe had gotten an early enough start so she had the whole Bow Glacier Falls trail all to herself. She saw no one else at all the whole way to the falls. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Looking upstream now. The trail eventually climbs over the low forested ridge ahead. In fact, it can be seen starting up the ridge a little L of Center. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Loop getting close to the steps (Center) at the base of the forested ridge where the Bow Glacier Falls trail starts up over it. The stream flows down through a narrow gorge just to the L of the stairs. Photo looks SSW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lupe visits the downstream end of the narrow gorge the stream flows through on the way to Bow Lake. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The only steep section of the whole Bow Glacier Falls trail began with the stairs at the base of the forested ridge.\u00a0 During this climb, which didn’t take Looper long, the stream was only occasionally in sight.\u00a0 It could always be heard, though, rushing in a roaring torrent through a deep, narrow chasm nearby.<\/p>\n

Once up on the forested ridge, Lupe had a panoramic view of what lay ahead from a bare spot along the edge of the far side.\u00a0 Below her, two pale blue glacial streams joined forces to form the larger stream that disappeared immediately into the chasm.\u00a0 One of these smaller streams flowed down from snowfields hidden in an intriguing, mysterious valley to the S.\u00a0 The other stream came from Bow Glacier Falls, which was now in sight again at the far end of a large rocky amphitheater to the SW.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
At the end of the climb up the forested ridge, Lupe reached this barren high spot with a view of what lay ahead. Two streams could be seen coming together just before plunging down into the narrow chasm. The stream at Center flows down from snowfields in the mysterious valley to the S. The other stream (R) comes from Bow Glacier Falls. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
From the barren spot on the forested ridge, Bow Glacier Falls<\/strong> was in view again at the far end of a rocky amphitheater. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Bow Glacier Falls<\/strong> from the bare spot on the forested ridge with help from the telephoto lens. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Another look from the same spot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looking from the bare spot on the forested ridge into the intriguing valley to the S with lots of help from the telephoto lens. A trail could be seen going up this valley, but SPHP didn’t see how Lupe could get over to it. Mount Olive<\/strong> is on the R. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Continuing on, Lupe lost a little elevation as the trail descended the other side of the forested ridge into the lower end of the amphitheater below Bow Glacier Falls.\u00a0 Once in the amphitheater, it was a simple matter to follow the trail up toward the base of the falls.<\/p>\n

The Bow Glacial Falls trail became braided and ultimately disintegrated before actually reaching the falls, but the waterfall was always in sight directly ahead.\u00a0 The rest of the way, Loop sniffed and explored her way among rocks and two inch deep streams that trickled everywhere.<\/p>\n

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Beyond the forested ridge, the Bow Glacier Falls trail winds its way up toward the base of the falls. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Looper on her way through the rocky amphitheater to the base of the falls. Even though the trail eventually disintegrated, Bow Glacier Falls was always in sight all the rest of the way. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Getting close!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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This was Lupe’s 2nd visit to Bow Glacier Falls. She had also come here on her 2013 Dingo Vacation to the Canadian Rockies.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Bow Glacier Falls, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada 8-2-17<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

An hour and twenty minutes after leaving Num-Ti-Jah lodge at Bow Lake, Lupe arrived at the base of the falls.\u00a0 Not a soul was around.\u00a0 Due to her early morning start, Looper hadn’t seen anyone else on the whole trail.\u00a0 The coveted solitude wasn’t likely to last long.\u00a0 The Bow Glacier Falls trail is so accessible, easy, and scenic from start to finish that it is one of the most popular short day hikes in the Canadian Rockies.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Due to her early morning start, Lupe arrived in time to enjoy Bow Glacier Falls<\/strong> all by herself. She hadn’t seen a soul on the whole trail, and no one had beat her here. Photo looks SW.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Of course, the first thing to do was to climb up next to the falls about as high as seemed reasonably safe.<\/p>\n

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Lupe next to Bow Glacier Falls<\/strong>. The roar of the rushing waters was tremendous!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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An American Dingo poses dramatically at the base of Bow Glacier Falls<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Another look including the top of the falls.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Zoomed in on Looper.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Bow Glacier Falls was spectacular, but the views back down the valley were amazing, too!<\/p>\n

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The views back down the valley from Bow Glacier Falls<\/strong> were amazing! Observation Peak<\/strong> (L) and Cirque Peak<\/strong> (Center) are in the distance. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe and SPHP scrambled around a bit more to get a little higher.\u00a0 The terrain wasn’t that difficult, but some of the rocks were very slick with water trickling down over them.\u00a0 Loopster did manage to get somewhat higher than before.\u00a0 The difference in elevation was enough so the Carolina Dog could now see the W end of Bow Lake.<\/p>\n

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By scrambling around a bit, Lupe managed to get a little higher than before. She could have gone even farther, but SPHP decided this was good enough. Most of the rocks higher up were wet and slippery.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lupe as far up as she went at Bow Glacier Falls<\/strong>. She climbed up here a couple of times during her nearly hour long visit. From this high up, she could see the N end of Bow Lake down the valley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Climbing a little higher had brought the N end of Bow Lake<\/strong> (Center) into view. Observation Peak<\/strong> (L) and Cirque Peak<\/strong> (R) are seen in the distance. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Lupe stands on a ledge next to a precariously constructed cairn. Lupe and SPHP took a 30 minute break on this ledge.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lupe climbed about as far up as the Carolina Dog could reasonably go.\u00a0 Most of rocks above her were wet and slippery.\u00a0 SPHP decided she had gone far enough.\u00a0 Bow Glacier Falls flows down from an unseen upper lake located below Bow Glacier.\u00a0 It would have been great fun to get up above the falls to see the upper lake and the glacier, but a solid line of cliffs ruled out any possibility of doing that.<\/p>\n

Amid the grandeur of the Canadian Rockies, Lupe and SPHP took a 30 minute break on the dry parts of a rock ledge.\u00a0 The day had warmed up nicely.\u00a0 Lupe didn’t have a care in the world.\u00a0 SPHP filled 3 water bottles with water from the Bow Glacier which had tumbled over the falls.\u00a0 Lupe munched Taste of the Wild, and enjoyed being petted.<\/p>\n

The glorious solitude lasted longer than SPHP expected it would, but inevitably people were seen coming up the trail.\u00a0 The time had arrived to think about moving on.<\/p>\n

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Lupe perched for a final time back at the high point of her journey to Bow Glacier Falls<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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All told, Lupe and SPHP enjoyed an incredible 50 minutes of solitude at Bow Glacier Falls<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After 50 minutes of glorious solitude at Bow Glacier Falls, Lupe and SPHP started down.\u00a0 Lupe paused along the edge of the falls once or twice for photos, then it was time to hit the trail.\u00a0 People were getting close.<\/p>\n

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Loop begins her descent.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Final moments at gorgeous Bow Glacier Falls.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/a>A hiker in one of the first groups Lupe passed on her way down told SPHP that a side trail existed that went all the way up Mount Jimmy Simpson<\/span><\/a> (9,731 ft.)<\/span><\/strong>. The side trail left the main trail down at the forested ridge, and wasn’t hard to find. That sounded great!\u00a0 SPHP was interested immediately.\u00a0 Lupe should do that today, right now!<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loop on the way through the rocky amphitheater heading back down to the forested ridge. Observation Peak<\/span><\/a> (10,413 ft.)<\/span><\/strong> (L) and Cirque Peak<\/strong> (R). Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Mount Jimmy Simpson<\/strong> from near the forested ridge. A hiker had told SPHP that a side trail to the top of Mount Jimmy Simpson<\/strong> left the Bow Glacier Falls trail at the forested ridge, and that it would be easy to find. Lupe and SPHP spent half an hour looking for it, but managed not<\/strong><\/em> to find it. All the side trails seemed to dead end in the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Searching for the trail up Mount Jimmy Simpson, Lupe and SPHP tried several side trails on or near the forested ridge.\u00a0 None went far.\u00a0 They all quickly faded away in dense forest on steep slopes.\u00a0 Hmm.\u00a0 The hiker had said the correct side trail was easy to find.\u00a0 Easy perhaps, if one knew exactly where to look.<\/p>\n

By now, throngs of hikers were heading up to Bow Glacier Falls.\u00a0 SPHP asked some of them if they knew anything about a trail to Mount Jimmy Simpson?\u00a0 No one, not even experienced professional guides leading large groups, had a clue.\u00a0 Few had even heard of Mount Jimmy Simpson.\u00a0 Disappointed, SPHP gave up on the idea.<\/p>\n

Lupe remained cheerful, however.\u00a0 The trek to Bow Glacier Falls had been perfect!\u00a0 The scenery was stunning the entire way, and she’d had a lot of fun sniffing around and getting some exercise.\u00a0 Now on on the way back, she was getting to see and do it all over again.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Loopster back at the bare spot on the forested ridge where she had a great view of the mysterious valley to the S. The lighting was better now than earlier in the day, but she still couldn’t see what was hidden around that tantalizing corner at the far end of the valley. Photo looks S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Getting close to the stairs leading to the lower valley. Photo looks NNE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Cirque Peak<\/span><\/a> (9,820 ft.)<\/span><\/strong><\/span> (Center) on the way back to Bow Lake. Photo looks NE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before noon, Lupe was back at Num-Ti-Jah lodge.\u00a0 Even with almost an hour spent relaxing near the falls, and the failed search for the side trail to Mount Jimmy Simpson, the whole trek to Bow Glacier Falls and back had taken only a little over 4 hours.<\/p>\n

The trail to Bow Glacier Falls had been a grand time.\u00a0 The American Dingo had enjoyed a wonderful needed break from the G6, and seen a favorite part of the glorious Canadian Rockies again.\u00a0 She was now ready to continue the long journey N on the way to her next adventure.<\/p>\n

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Looking back at Bow Glacier Falls<\/strong>, now far in the distance, from Bow Lake<\/strong> shortly before reaching Num-Ti-Jah lodge and the G6 again.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Related Links:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Bow Lake & the Trail to Bow Glacier Falls, Banff National Park, Canada (7-25-13)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Cirque Peak, Banff National Park, Canada (7-27-14)<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Want more Lupe adventures?\u00a0\u00a0Choose\u00a0from\u00a0Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>,\u00a0Dingo Vacations Adventure Index<\/strong> <\/span><\/a>or Master Adventure Index<\/strong><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Or subscribe free\u00a0to\u00a0new Lupe adventures<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Part 1 of Day 3 of Lupe’s 2017 Dingo Vacation to the Yukon & Alaska! August, yet Banff was quiet and cool.\u00a0 Low clouds hid the mountains.\u00a0 Only a few people were wandering about this early in the normally bustling tourist town.\u00a0 Summer had vanished.\u00a0 It felt a little like fall with winter on the … Continue reading Bow Glacier Falls, Banff National Park, Canada (8-2-17)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12622,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[835],"tags":[8,105,32,74,73,30,31,106,104],"class_list":["post-12641","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2017-yukon-alaska","tag-omniten","tag-american-dingo","tag-banff-national-park","tag-bow-glacier-falls","tag-bow-lake","tag-canada","tag-canadian-rockies","tag-carolina-dog","tag-lupe"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/adventuresoflupe.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_5876.jpg?fit=1651%2C1238&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12641","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12641"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12641\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15019,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12641\/revisions\/15019"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12622"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12641"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12641"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresoflupe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12641"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}