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Bow Glacier Falls
Brief Description:
This open trail follows the shore of Bow Lake, goes over some ancient moraines, traverses the rocky rubble of newer moraines and leaves the hiker facing the towering Bow Falls that pour off of Bow Glacier and the Wapta Icefield.
Trail Access:
The trailhead is located at the Bow Lake/Num-ti-Jah Lodge parking lot, a 35 minute drive from Lake Louise on the #93 North, the Icefields Parkway.
Detailed Trail Information
| Duration | Distance | Level of Difficulty | Elevation Gain |
| short full day | 9.5 km / 6 mi | easy | 152 m / 500 ft |
The shores of Bow Lake begin as a mix of alpine meadow and wet willow meadow, but quickly take the hiker into subalpine forest of spruce and fir. The stunted subalpine fir trees by the water's edge tell the story of fierce winter winds that blast down the valley from the icefield above. At the end of the lake, the trail traverses open outwash plain where a stream coming from the Bow Falls has meandered many times back and forth, depositing lots of loose stone. The trail then climbs over two "bumps" in the landscape: ancient debris from glaciers that once filled the valley. The hills are home to whitbark pines, a rare tree that likes dry, sunny slopes.
The final push to the waterfall takes the trail into a newer moraine made of small to large size rocks. The trail can be challenging to trace, but a keen eye and a sure foot will prevail. Hikers can approach as close as they like to the waterfall.
In recent years this trail has not been maintained as well as it should be. Care must be taken with footing and some stream crossings without the aid of a bridge, might be necessary.
Trail Information Courtesy Of: Great Divide Nature Interpretation
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