invme Place
EverywhereChange city
All cities · Everywhere →
EN
ENEnglish RURussian FRFrench DEGerman ITItalian ESSpanish PTPortuguese PT-BRBrazilian Portuguese ES-MXLatin American Spanish FR-CACanadian French EN-GBBritish English UKUkrainian PLPolish JAJapanese NLDutch KOKorean SVSwedish DADanish NBNorwegian FIFinnish CSCzech HEHebrew ELGreek ZH-HANTTraditional Chinese HUHungarian RORomanian HRCroatian SKSlovak SLSlovenian ETEstonian LVLatvian LTLithuanian BGBulgarian TRTurkish

Peyto Lake

Lakes ·Lake Louise
4.83.4K
#3Lakes in CanadaTravelers' Choice 2026
Make a plan here Directions

Sign up free — See who's going and message them.

More photos 11

1 / 11
Peyto Lake — Vivid turquoise water winding between dark forest and mountain walls eleephotography · CC BY 2.0 · edited
Peyto Lake — Vivid turquoise water winding between dark forest and mountain wallsPeyto Lake — Mountain peaks and evergreen forest surrounding the lake at sunsetPeyto Lake — Peyto Lake and its forested valley beneath a bright summer skyPeyto Lake — Turquoise lake seen from a rocky overlook above the treesPeyto Lake — Shallow turquoise water and a submerged rock beneath steep peaksPeyto Lake — Blue lake framed by evergreen forest and distant mountain rangesPeyto Lake — Rocky mountain ridges and turquoise water viewed from the trail lookoutPeyto Lake — Snow covered mountains and forest surrounding the winter lakePeyto Lake — Close view of turquoise water beneath a steep forested slopePeyto Lake — Visitor looking out over Peyto Lake and the surrounding mountainsPeyto Lake — Turquoise lake curving through a broad forested mountain valley

Why go

  • The view from Bow Summit, the highest point on the Icefields Parkway and the best view of the lake.
  • Peyto Glacier and Peyto Creek, the glacier and stream that feed the lake.
  • The Mistaya River, which starts at the lake's outflow and flows northwest.

What's in season

  • NowNov – JunThe lake is usually frozen and snow-covered from mid-November to mid-June.

Season and conditions

  • In summer, melting glacier water carries rock flour that gives the lake its turquoise colour.

Facilities

  • Parking Parking areas at the lake, finished by Parks Canada.

Shorts

History

The lake takes its name from Bill Peyto, an English-born mountain guide and trapper who guided explorers in the late 19th century. He was nicknamed "Wild Bill" and was one of the first wardens of Banff National Park. In 1896 the topographer Walter Wilcoux explored the area and named the lake after him.

  1. late 19th centuryBill Peyto works as a trapper and mountain guide, guiding explorers in the Canadian Rockies.
  2. 1896Topographer Walter Wilcoux explores the area and names the lake after Bill Peyto.
  3. 1911The Geographic Board of Canada approves the name Peyto Lake.
  4. 2021Parks Canada finishes the viewpoint, trails and parking areas.

How to get there

  • CarDrive the Icefields Parkway. The lake lies about 40 km north of Banff, in Banff National Park.

Sources: Peyto Lake - Wikipedia · Peyto Lake - Wikipedia · Lac Peyto - Wikipedia · checked 25 Oct 2026

Where
Lake Louise

Plan from here: Evening walk →

Questions and answers

How do I get to Peyto Lake from Banff?

Drive north on the Icefields Parkway. Peyto Lake lies about 40 km north of Banff, inside Banff National Park.

Is there parking at Peyto Lake?

Yes. Parks Canada finished the parking areas at the lake in 2021, together with the viewpoint and trails.

Where is the best view of Peyto Lake?

Bow Summit, the highest point on the Icefields Parkway, gives the best view of the lake.

Can I fish at Peyto Lake?

Yes, with a special park fishing permit. All catches must be released back into the water.

How invme works
  1. See who's going — faces, not ticket counts.
  2. Write to someone who shares your interests — no swipes, no matches, no paywall.
  3. Pick the event or the place to meet at — and go together.
Join free

Reviews on invme

Sign in to review
Comment
Loading comments…
Own this place? Claim it →