Hector Lake | Alberta Photo Spot

Hector Lake is a peaceful glacial lake surrounded by the Pulpit Peak, Mount Balfour, Crowfoot Mountain, and Bow Peak of the Canadian Rockies. The lake was named after a geologist James Hector. Mount Hector is towering over the lake on the opposite side of the Bow River. The Hector Lake Trail starts not far from the village of Lake Louise. It’s a peaceful hike about 5 km (3 mi) long, but it does involve wading across the Bow River. The water in the river is freezing and can be high in spring and early summer. Therefore it’s recommended to hike this trail from July through September. For the weather and trail updates, contact the Lake Louise visitor center. There is also a beautiful viewpoint looking out over the lake from along the Icefields Parkway. (Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada)