Things to Do at Emerald Lake

Emerald Lake rewards both a quick photo stop and a full day. Here’s what’s actually worth your time at the lake and on the road in — the sights most guided tours build their day around.

Walk the shoreline loop

A flat, easy 5.2 km (3.2 mi) trail circles the lake, taking about 1.5 to 2 hours at a relaxed pace. It’s mostly level and well-suited to families, with changing views of the President Range across the water. On a multi-stop tour you’ll usually only have time for part of it — enough to reach the quieter far shore for photos.

Paddle a canoe

Canoe rentals run from the boathouse June to mid-October (about $100/hour). Gliding across the green water beneath the peaks is the iconic Emerald Lake experience, and mornings are calmest for mirror reflections. A few small-group tours include an optional canoe add-on at the lake. For a wider comparison of paddling the Rockies’ famous lakes, see Lake Louise canoe tours.

Emerald Lake Lodge

Reached by a footbridge from the parking area, Emerald Lake Lodge was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1902 as part of its campaign to draw travellers into the mountains. Even if you’re not staying, the lodge grounds, café and lakeside deck make a pleasant pause, and the setting on its own peninsula is part of the postcard.

The Natural Bridge

A few minutes back down the access road, the Natural Bridge is where the Kicking Horse River has cut a channel straight through a rock shelf, forming a natural stone span and a churning cascade. It’s a short, popular stop with viewing platforms — and it’s included on most guided Emerald Lake tours.

Takakkaw Falls (nearby in Yoho)

Also in Yoho National Park, Takakkaw Falls plunges 373 m (1,224 ft) — the second-tallest waterfall in Canada. It’s fed by the Daly Glacier and roars loudest in mid- to late summer. Access is via Yoho Valley Road, which is seasonal (generally open late June to early October) and closed to large vehicles on its switchbacks. Tours that pair Emerald Lake with Takakkaw — like the small-group canoe tour and the premium three-parks tour — are the easiest way to see both in a day.

Make it a full Rockies day

Most visitors combine Emerald Lake with the turquoise Banff lakes. The classic day tour adds Moraine Lake, Lake Louise and Johnston Canyon; to push north to Peyto Lake and the Columbia Icefield, an Icefields Parkway tour is the natural next step. Check live availability with free cancellation on the homepage.