Herbert Lake is an easy to miss stop — but once you're there, you’ll wonder how can it fly under the radar? It's a few minutes north of Lake Louise along the Icefields Parkway. It's a small, peaceful lake which offers gorgeous mirror-like reflections and stunning mountain backdrops.

There’s a small pull-off right off the highway, and from the parking lot, it’s only a few steps to the shoreline. On a still morning, the reflections of Mount Temple and surrounding peaks in the glassy water are unreal — it’s a favorite spot for photographers..

Herbert Lake is also a surprisingly great swimming spot in summer. The water is cold but not glacier-fed, so it warms up more than many nearby lakes. You’ll often see people diving off the logs or just floating. There’s no hike required, no facilities beyond the parking lot, and often far fewer people than the bigger names nearby.