Bow Lake is a stunning glacial lake and one of the first stops on the Icefields Parkway. It's known for its crystal-clear waters and breathtaking mountain backdrop. You an enjoy hiking trails around the lake or simply relax and take in the beauty of the surrounding nature. We've never had the time to do the hikes but with the lake being just 5 minutes from the parking lot, there's never been a reason to. There is the Bow Glacier Falls Hike which does go around the lake to a beautiful waterfall. We usually just walk a little by the lake and set up a small picnic in any of the free areas.

There are two parking lots, there is one right off the highway and a second one after the first pull out. We recommend driving all the way to the bow lodge area and stopping there. In summer months, there is also a cafe! This is a stunning sunset spot too!

In winter, this lake freezes over and becomes a popular snowshoeing area.