The stunning color of Peyto Lake in Canada's Banff National Park, which may be described as emerald, turquoise, or blue, results when sunlight is scattered off of suspended glacial silt (rock flour).

This silt is generated when rocks beneath a glacier's surface are ground by the glacier's movement.

Color of the water varies by season, time of day, and angle of incidence.

However, it seems that July and August are typically the months with the most eye-catching colors.

Photo taken on July 22, 2019.

Banff National Park, Alberta Coordinates: 51.4968, -115.9281

This vibrant blue glacier fed lake, located about 40 km (25 mi) north of Lake Louise in Banff National Park, is a popular stop for visitors travelling along the famed Icefields Parkway. Throughout the summer months glacier rock flour flows into the lake, which gives the water it's breathtaking color.

Admire the azure waters of this glacier-fed lake and its dramatic mountain backdrop.

Peyto Lake's bright turquoise colour is caused by rock particles, which flow into the lake as nearby glaciers melt under the summer sun. The breathtaking view of its aqua-blue water and the snow-capped mountains behind it attract crowds of visitors to the Peyto Lake Lookout every year. The view is just as stunning in winter, when the countryside is covered in a thick blanket of snow and the lake has frozen over.

One of the easiest ways to get here is to hire a car in either Banff or Lake Louise and take the Icefields Parkway northbound. The views from the road are spectacular and the journey is just 40 kilometres from Lake Louise and 100 kilometres from Banff.

Park in the car park next to the motorway and walk the 10 or 15 minutes to Peyto Lake Lookout; the path is paved and should be manageable for almost everyone. The wooden platform at the lookout juts out from the mountain edge and provides the best views of the lake below, as well as the peaks, valleys and lush forest surrounding it.

There is a second car park nearer the lookout but it's reserved for disabled parking and tour buses. If you fancy a bus tour, there are plenty of day trips to Banff National Park organised by local tour companies and almost all take in Peyto Lake Lookout.

The large number of summer bus tours that stop here can make the lookout incredibly crowded. If you get here before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m. it's likely to be quieter; at other times it can be hard to get onto the viewing platform at all. If it's too busy just continue along the trail to the Bow Summit Lookout. It's a 3-kilometre walk, which deters some visitors, so it's a calmer spot to get some snaps of this famous view.

Few people visit the lake itself. However, if you want to hike to the water's edge, simply take the trail down from Peyto Lake Lookout. Be aware that hiki

Peyto Lake is the most famous lake in Banff National Park you've probably never heard of before. It's a turquoise blue glacier-fed lake 40 km north of Lake Louise and a popular stop on the famous Icefields Parkway. The brilliant display of blue is fed by the Peyto Glacier high above the lake and part of the Wapta Icefield.

The viewpoint is one of the most spectacular in all of Banff National Park and a super popular spot for photographers. Peyto Lake, in our opinion, competes for beauty with Moraine Lake without as many visitors. There is little mystery as the lake's viewpoint is a must for things to do in Banff.

Similar to many other glacier-fed lakes in Banff National Park, Peyto Lake is a brilliant blue. This is a natural phenomenon found in many glacier lakes as the glaciers grind rock down into the rock flour, carried downstream into the lake. This rock flour then refracts the light and gives off a vivid blue or teal color.

It's a breathtaking sight to see, and there are several blue lakes around Banff National Park, such as Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, Emerald Lake, Sherbrooke Lake, Bow Lake, and Hector Lake, all accessible to most visitors.

The Lake is named for Bill Peyto, an early guide in the park back in the early 1900s. Peyto Lake sits at 1880m in elevation in the Candian Rockies. It's fed by the Peyto glacier and has a max depth of around 90m.

After the glacier waters flow out of Peyto Lake, they create the Mistaya River before merging into the North Saskatchewan River at Saskatchewan River Crossing. If you're wondering how to pronounce the name, it is pea-toe.

Peyto Lake is located off the Icefields Parkway or 93N. The highway begins just off the Trans-Canada Highway #1, a few minutes West of Lake Louise. From there, it's another 40km to the Bow Summit and Peyto Lake Lookout parking lot. Watch for signs off the Icefields Parkway, and the turn-off will be on your left coming from the Trans-Canada or Right from Jasper.

The walk to the viewpoint begins from the far end of the parking lot to the West. There you will find an information sign and washroom facility. The hike up to the Peyto Lake Lookout takes around 10-15 minutes uphill. For elderly or disabled visitors, this is an upper parking lot that follows the signs for buses and handicapped parking. There is also a drop-off point to eliminate the walk.

Midsummer, the viewing platform that overlooks the lake gets very, very busy. So, you should be prepared to share it hordes of tourists from bus tours and just about every other tourist. The crowding does make it difficult to take in the views. However, Parks Canada is currently rebuilding the platform, so we're eager to see what they unveil in 2021 to help alleviate the crowding.

Before reaching the viewpoint, several braided trails cut through the trees to the right. Walk down this hill until you reach the opening with unobscured views. This is likely where you've seen the majority of photos from the lake. It's prevalent on Instagram. The terrain here is pretty hazardous with lots of drops and loose rock so mind your step.

The alternative is to follow the trail past the first viewpoint to the second viewpoint. There is no official platform here but a large clearing higher in elevation that offers tremendous views with a fraction of the visitors.

As always, a great way to avoid crowds is to arrive in the early morning or evening. Even in midsummer, we've managed to catch the sunset at the viewpoint by ourselves, granted that's at 10:00 p.m.

You can also walk down to Peyto Lake, which will take you between 30-60 minutes and dip your toes in and hike back up. Almost no one does this, so you're sure to have Peyto Lake almost all to yourself.

Can You Swim in Peyto Lake?

You can swim in any of the Canadian Rockies lakes, but the question is, do you want to? Peyto Lake is a glacial-fed lake meaning it is just above freezing. It rarely gets above 5C. That means you're likely only going to stay in for a few minutes at most - even in the summer!

It's a great experience and fun to say you have done it, but I guarantee you you won't be staying in the water for long!

When is the Best Time To Visit Peyto Lake?

The best time to visit Peyto Lake is from June to September. The Peyto Lake Lookout is open year-round, unlike Moraine Lake, and is most popular to visit in the summer. Spring arrives around May/June and is a tremendous time as the lake melts, and you can witness tons of wildflowers. In summer, the lake remains full and is always a great visit. In the Fall, late September to October, there are almost no larch trees, so fall colors are not present.

You can still access the viewpoint in the winter, and it's worth a look if some snowshoers or skiers have cleared a trail through the snow. Otherwise, wintertime access is limited to the more adventurous and experience on skis or split boards. The lake will also be frozen and covered in snow, so you can not witness the gorgeous blue.