Escape the Crowds
A short but uphill climb above rocks and stones get your heart pumping. You climb up, and up, finally reaching the top of the cliff, and the scene opens. Still, emerald waters inspire complete tranquility in even the most restless of souls. You are here and this is your moment.
This picturesque blue-green, horseshoe-shape lake located off Icefields Parkway in Alberta, CA seems often missed, making a stop here more peaceful and serene than most experiences in Banff and Jasper.
Although it takes less than a half hour to hike Horseshoe Lake’s circuit, you’ll want to allot extra time here to enjoy the beauty, relax, and explore.
We were in Alberta for a National Parks trip. It was Canada Park’s 150th Anniversary and they were offering free Parks Passes. Having never been to Canada before, I thought this was as good an opportunity as ever.
We started in Banff, and journeyed up to Jasper for a portion of our trip. Horseshoe Lake is a little spot on the Icefields Parkway near the famed Athabasca Falls. I forget how I heard of it, maybe briefly mentioned in a Banff tourism guide as a “must-see” spot, yet still not given nearly half the amount of print as most of the proclaimed Canadian “gems.” Usually, the less I hear about something, the more intrigued I am, so after hitting the falls, we made sure to keep a sharp eye out, as the guides warned it’s unmarked from the road and easily missable.
Our visit was in the spring, before it warmed up and the crowds came in, so we had the entire place to ourselves. There are cliff warnings at the trailhead, and as soon as the short path up through rocks opens to the lake, you are awarded with fantastic views of high cliffs overlooking the water. This leads me to believe the lack of signage from the road is due to safety concerns over cliff-jumping in the summer months once the air really warms up.
The crystal clear, yet shockingly colorful water was ice cold in May, but it’s beauty makes it impossible to resist. If you’re not one for swimming, Horseshoe Lake still offers rocks perfect for relaxing and soaking up the sun. There is no picnic area, no toilet , no benches, and I have not found a space in the world more serene or tranquil.
