Katherine Lake

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Hiking to Katherine Lake will take you beyond the famed Helen Lake through fields of wildflowers beneath gigantic peaks. It is a great way to extend your day through the incredible scenery the area has to offer. This is an excellent option for those looking for a longer day hike with lots of views.

Route Description for Katherine Lake

Katherine Lake is a hike that is beyond the popular Helen Lake. This is a stunning area with glaciers, lakes, peaks, and an assortment of wildflowers. Try to visit this trail in peak flower season for spectacular vistas.

The first 3.0 km of this trail winds through old-growth forest. You will pass an avalanche path in this section that opens a clearing with great views of the Crowfoot Glacier across the valley. You’ll come across a viewpoint where Crowfoot Mountain, Glacier, and Bow Lake come into view.

A wide bench will carry you through wildflower meadows that burst with colour in the right season. After crossing Helen Creek, you will climb into an open area where you will find Helen Lake. This is the final destination for many people hiking here, but you will continue beyond to find Katherine Lake.

Continue from Helen Lake, following signs to Katherine Lake. Views of Dolomite shoulder, Cirque Peak, and Watermelon Peak will come into view here. Enjoy Katherine Lake before returning the way you came.

Getting to the Katherine Lake Trailhead

From Lake Louise, drive northbound, joining the Icefields Parkway (93N). You will be looking for the Helen Lake trailhead parking lot, which is 33.0 km north of Lake Louise. This hike is across from the Crowfoot Glacier lookout point on the right-hand side of the road.