Rockies :: Icefields :: Hector Lake

Looking across snow covered Hector Lake from west side;  Noseeum Peak and Andromache left, Hector to the right

March 4, 2021

Hector Lake is major body of water on west side of Icefields Parkway as one drives north of Lake Louise.  If is often overlooked in favor of longer and more popular objectives on east side (Hector, Andromache, etc.)  Short trail leads to official Parks campground at east side of the lake;  it can be reached in less than an hour.  Exploring further is possible, but much more involved as crossing of multiple channels of Bow River at Hector outlet is difficult task.  This is main reason why west side of the lake is much more often visited in winter.  

Parking is at small pullout on west side of Icefields Parkway, ~18km north of Trans-Canada Highway (N51 34.800 W116 18.560).  It will be before signed tourist viewpoint, so if you reach that one coming from Lake Louise, you have gone too far.  It is particularly tricky to locate in winter as snow banks completely obscure the pullout.  Watch for cars parked on shoulder.  Follow the trail for ~20min to crossing of Bow River (sign).  This crossing can be impassable during high water and is best left for second half of the summer.  Gentle meandering trail reaches back-country campground in another 15min;  roughly 2.4km from the road.

If planning excursion to west side of the lake in summer conditions couple of options exist.  Hauling canoe or inflatable raft is one, but should be tried only if weather is not calm.  On foot hikers have often utilized log jam (might not be there anymore!) not far from Hector Lake outlet;  it is still tricky with water reaching mid-thigh level.  Once on the west side marginal trail exists to Lake Margaret drainage;  this route is sometimes used for technical scramble of Pulpit Peak.  Other option that includes moderate bushwhack is hike to "Pulpit Tarns";  this route can also be used as access to Pulpit Peak but despite being technically less difficult, involves much trashing on boulders and steep talus slopes.  See here for more details.  In winter most frequent option is "Little Pulpit" (see bottom of this page), or crossing of frozen Hector Lake to flats on east side under Mt. Balfour, and ascent of "BowCrow" peak (very long day).

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