ELEVATION GAIN: 815 meters LENGTH: 10 km round trip This past Sunday we decided to check out Boom Lake. We took the familiar drive past Banff to the Hwy. 93 turn off at Castle Junction. From there, the trail head is 5 minutes down the road on the right side (Boom Creek Picnic Area). This is a relatively easy hike with gradual ascends and wide trails. Its a great hike for beginners. The views along the hike are nothing too special. Mostly dense forest and a couple of small streams. After hiking for about 5 km's you will reach the lake. The trail leads directly to the lake and there isn't much room/ a very good look out, so I would advise heading right along the shore. You'll have to hike over some rocky terrain, but you should be able to find a nice viewpoint. We only spent around 30 minutes at the lake before heading back down. I probably wouldn't do this hike again or recommend it. The lake is pretty, but in my opinion, there are other lake bound hikes that are much more scenic.
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ELEVATION GAIN: 545 meters LENGTH: 10 km round trip Chester Lake was officially one of my favorite hikes of 2016. It's a short & sweet 5 km's to the lake, with outstanding views in every direction. Fall colors were just starting to peak through and the sky looked amazing. From what I understand, this is one of the more popular hikes in the area, and therefore can attract more crowds. The trail head for this hike is located at the Chester Lake parking lot right off the Smith Dorrien Trail. The trail to Chester Lake starts on the far NE corner of the parking lot. The trail itself is wide and easy to follow. Its a bit steep at points, and there are a few switchbacks. The trail eventually opens into an amazing mountain valley. It flattens out for a while and brings you directly to the far end of Chester Lake. The ridge on the far side of the lake was our mission. We scrambled up the face of the ridge and took in some amazing views at the top. This portion of the hike isn't necessary (and to be honest, there is no easy way down from the ridge). You can, however, follow the trail along the left side of the lake and continue on to the 'Elephant Rocks.' This is a great little detour if you still have energy. Follow the trail back to the lake, and head back down the way you came. What I loved so much about this hike was the amazing views you get in every direction. Our views were sweetened by the colors of fall and the big Alberta sky. Happy Trails! |
Of all the paths you take in life make sure a few of them are dirt. John Muir Archives
September 2017
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