Top 10 Viewpoints in the Canadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies straddle Alberta and British Columbia, with Banff, Jasper, Yoho, and Kootenay national parks forming the core UNESCO World Heritage area. These ten viewpoints cover the four parks and the classic Icefields Parkway driving corridor between them.
1. Moraine Lake Rockpile — 1,887 m
The Valley of the Ten Peaks reflected in turquoise Moraine Lake — the defining Canadian Rockies image. Short climb up the glacial moraine at the lake's outlet. Access by shuttle bus only (private vehicles banned since 2023). Open mid-June to early October.
2. Lake Louise from the Beehive — 2,250 m
A four-hour return hike from Lake Louise village to the Big Beehive viewpoint above the lake. The teahouse en route serves traditional alpine fare. The view down to Lake Louise with Mount Victoria across the water is the classic Lake Louise composition.
3. Peyto Lake Viewpoint, Icefields Parkway — 2,070 m
The S-curved turquoise lake fed by the Peyto Glacier, viewed from a purpose-built boardwalk above the lake basin. 15-minute walk from the Bow Summit parking. The lake's intense colour peaks in July-August as glacial flour content rises.
4. Mount Edith Cavell, Jasper — 1,750 m
The Path of the Glacier loop trail (1.6 km) leads to a moraine viewpoint beneath the Angel Glacier and the 3,300-metre north face of Mount Edith Cavell. Open July to October. The face is one of the most dramatic single mountain views in the Canadian Rockies.
5. Athabasca Glacier Toe, Columbia Icefield — 2,000 m
The accessible glacier toe of the Athabasca Glacier on the Icefields Parkway. Ice walk tours or self-guided to the glacier-edge viewpoint. The Columbia Icefield discharge — six major glaciers feeding three oceans — surrounds the toe.
6. Bow Lake from Num-Ti-Jah Lodge, Icefields Parkway — 1,920 m
The historic red-roofed lodge sits at the edge of Bow Lake, with the Crowfoot Glacier rising directly across the lake. Drive-up; the lakeside walk is short and level. Best in morning when wind is calm and the lake reflects.
7. Sulphur Mountain Gondola, Banff — 2,281 m
Eight-minute gondola from Banff town to the summit, with a boardwalk ridge walk and 360-degree views over the Bow valley and the surrounding mountains. Year-round operation. The most-visited Banff viewpoint.
8. Spirit Island, Maliquíne Lake, Jasper — 1,200 m
Reached only by boat tour from the Maligne Lake boat launch (about 14 km each way). The tiny tree-covered island in the lake with the Hall of the Gods peaks behind is one of Canada's most-photographed scenes.
9. Lake O'Hara from Cathedral Lakes, Yoho — 2,170 m
The high alpine basin above Lake O'Hara, accessed only by reservation shuttle (or 11-km walk). Multiple short walks from the lodge reach views over Lake O'Hara, the Opabin plateau, and Lake Oesa.
10. Wedgemount Lake, Whistler region — 1,920 m
Just outside the four-park UNESCO core, this turquoise alpine lake reached by a 7-km steep hike from Whistler-Pemberton is the most-photographed Coast Range viewpoint. The Wedgemount Glacier rises directly above the lake.
Explore on the map
The Canadian Rockies viewpoints cluster on the Icefields Parkway between Lake Louise and Jasper, plus the Banff and Jasper townsites. Filter by park, drive-in vs. hike-in, and elevation on the interactive map.