In my last post I shared about my adventures hiking in Mount Revelstoke National Park, setting up camp at the Lake Louise campground, and attempting to fall asleep our first night of tent camping. I say attempt because we happened to be situated right next to a shipping train route. When I tell you the train was hollering all night long, I mean allllll nigggghhttt looonnnggg.
I did not sleep well this first night, but there was no time to dwell on a lack of slumber. Our first day in Banff we decided to do a double – hike the short trail down to Peyto Lake, and then hop over to Helen Lake and say hi to her. We started with Peyto because while there is a path hiking down to the lake, most people take the easily accessible paved path to see the overlook. This makes for a very crowded spot after 0900.
For good reason, this was one of the most stunning colors of blue I have ever seen.
We had the entire lookout to ourselves for a short while, which was something I don’t imagine many people get. As always, the early bird catches the view without throngs of other people around. From here we made our way to the trail, and I do not anticipate many people go down this trail. For one, it was steep as hell. For two, it’s not marked well. You’ll only really see it if you’re actively looking for it.
Thankfully for us we were looking for it and we made our way, down, down, dowwwnnn to the lake. This hike is only 2.5 miles round trip, with a gain of 1050ft. This may not sound like much, but going straight up 925ft of that in 0.80 miles hits the buns with a burn much like a scorched s’mores marshmallow.
The view from below felt like we were deep within the mountains. We wandered around this open plain for a bit before making the climb back up. I’m being dramatic about the climb, it was certainly steep, but nothing we couldn’t handle. It was a good wake up, and a good warm up with the chilly morning air.
By the time we made it back to the main path we had to dodge so many people I felt like a fish swimming up stream. We clearly came at the right time because we missed all the tour buses. This is one of the more popular spots within Banff, and while it’s worth the visit, coming early is a must.
With our first hike tucked in our shoes we headed towards our second, and longer destination of the day. Banff has so many hikes off the main roads making driving from one location to another incredibly easy. We chose to hike the Helen Lake Trail, and other than a nice photo of a lake on AllTrails we had no idea what to expect.
The sign at the trail head told us this trail lead to a myriad of other off shoots, the closest one being the Dolomite Ridge. I had read a review on AllTrails stating the extra journey to the ridge was well worth the effort, but Caitlin and I decided to get to Helen Lake and decide from there if we wanted to keep going.
A no pressure approach, the kind that always pushes me to keep going.
The start of this trail was coo coo bananas. We quickly discovered that Canada doesn’t believe in the switchback system, and after a night of shit sleep we were both moving slow up what felt like another vertical climb. The hike started through open woods with minimal views, and while I enjoyed the challenge I found myself bored with the surroundings.
Just when I thought this was going to be a lackluster experience, the trail flattened out and the landscape widened. It only got better, and better, and better from here.
We made it to Helen and saw only one other party savoring the view. They asked us if we had binoculars, because on the peak in the above photo there were two tiny human specks at the top, and two coming down the trail. Turns out this was Cirque Peak, and was the most mild peak we ended up seeing within Banff.
Banff doesn’t mess around with the sketchy peaks.
We watched people coming down while debating if we wanted to continue along the trail to the ridge (not to be confused with the peak, no shot we were climbing up that.) I was feeling good, and I had plenty of juice in the tank. I credit this to the constant flow of adrenaline in my blood thanks to the awareness of the surrounding wildlife. I was on slight edge for this hike, hoping not to come face to face with Smokey Bear.
We eventually decided to “send it” and go up the ridge a bit and see what we thought.
A couple was coming back down as we passed, and we chatted with them briefly. They assured us the ridge was well worth the trek, so we eagerly continued on. Chatting with strangers along the way during our hikes became one of my favorite memories of this trip. Each interaction was brief, but a wholesome reminder that people are kind.
The views we saw on this ridge will live in my memories for a lifetime. I am still dreaming of this day, and it will likely be one of my all time favorite hikes. I was enamored. The 360 degree views of the changing landscape is a mental photograph I will forever be thankful for witnessing. It’s moments like this that remind me why I hike.
The hike ended up being 9.5 miles, and took us 5:24 hours with breaks and view savoring. This turned out to be my favorite hike of our quick trip to Canada, one I would happily do again. About a mile from the car it started to rain, and we were good and soaked by the time we finished. The rain was looming as a possibility for this day, but overall we avoided the bulk of it.
I would have jumped in a lake and hiked back dripping just to see these views.
I quite enjoyed seeing Peyto and Helen both from above and from below. Such differing perspectives.
After a shower, a meal, and settling back into the campsite we decided to go for a short walk around the Lake Louise campground. Somehow we both still had energy in the tank. I blame excitement of a new location. We knew the rain was meant to continue into the following morning, so we planned to spend the first half of the day in the town of Banff playing tourists to wait it out.
We ended the night with a few games of Uno in the tent. I won the majority of them. But who’s counting.
Bear sightings: 0
Next up: Banff the town, and a visit to Yoho National Park
Q: Do you have extra energy when traveling, or does it have the opposite effect?
Blissfulbritt 
29 thoughts on “Banff Day One: Peyto, Helen, and the Dolomite Ridge”
Sheree
Wonderful scenery and that lake is truly aquamarine in colour
Brittany
I couldn’t believe the color of blue, I did not edit it that color! It looks almost fake in real time.
Rootchopper
It’s from glacial snow melt. Saw it in North Cascades NP and couldn’t believe my eyes.
Brittany
Amazing. I’ve seen other glacier snow melts, but none this blue. Nature is epicccc.
Looking for the Light
Extra energy and towards the end, exhaustion is the backdrop.
Brittany
YES! That’s me too. Even if I am tired, it’s masked by energy. If that makes sense? Hahaha. And then a good crash when it’s alllll over.
Roy McCarthy
Awesome scenery, brilliantly captured Britt. Yes I see the railway on the map, great fun listening to it through the night. Do the bears take any notice of the bear spray? Are there competitive trail races through this sort of terrain in the US?
Brittany
Thank you! I didn’t see a single bear thankfully, they must have known I had spray. LOL. If there are bear encounters they definitely are deterred by it, I’ve seen some videos of people spraying them.
I’m sure the US has some trail races comparable to this area of Canada, and I know shortly after we left Banff had a half marathon. Otherwise I don’t know much about the trail running or even biking in Canada.
jenellep
love the pics and the write up.
Brittany
Thanks!
Rootchopper
BBB = Banff Burning Buns! LOL 😂
Brittany
LOLOL. That’s exactly what it was.
Diana
Oh my gosh! I’ve seen Peyto Lake, but never hiked down and definitely didn’t do this other hike. Adding this one to the list for when I make it back to the Canadian Rockies. The reflections in your photos are amazing!
Brittany
Thank you!! I REALLY hope you make it to the Dolomite Ridge, so incredibly worthwhile.
Susan Strasser, Blogger & Memoirist
wow
mariezhuikov
Those views did seem worth the hike! I love your insight into Canada not believing in switchbacks! 🙂
Brittany
That’s sure what it felt like! I suddenly felt spoiled for my hiking trails in Washington. They’re steep at times, but the switchbacks make them much easier to conquer!
It’s not all of the U.S. though, I hear the east coast doesn’t have a lot of switchbacks either.
Amy
That gorgeous blue… HOLY MOLY. I’m sure it was even more stunning in person! That kind of elevation without any switchbacks sounds brutal. I’d probably need a chocolate bribe or something to make it through. 🙈 Such incredible views on your second hike!! I can see why it was your favorite of the trip!
Brittany
I can’t think of many other lakes I have seen THIS color of blue. The earth is so cooooool.
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gpavants
Hi Brittney,
Banfff. Sounds wonderful. Seeing bears has levels of excitement. But from far away.
Gary Gary Avants Forbear Productions * *garyavants66@gmail.com garyavants66@gmail.com
Brittany
YES, from afar. OR my favorite…from a CAR. I have seen bears in national parks before inside my car, and that was ideal.
gpavants
Yes, someday we will see Yogi and Boo. ( Get the reference?)
Gary Avants Forbear Productions * *garyavants66@gmail.com garyavants66@gmail.com
Brittany
I sure do! I grew up watching that show. 😆 I’d be ok seeing bears like them.
gpavants
Smarter than the average bear.
Gary Avants Forbear Productions * *garyavants66@gmail.com garyavants66@gmail.com
Duncan
Those views are spectacular, enough to instill wanderlust in just about any homebody. Congrats on your uno prowess, it was good while it lasted!
Also I find I wake up on vacations with less energy then I do when I am home, but the new sights and experiences can help keep me interested, as long as it isn’t an overly social day
Brittany
I suspect having a girlfriend who likes to go nonstop while traveling helps to keep you going, even when your body is screaming to stop. 😉
Barbara Wilson
some day….bucket list to see that blue color in person !!
Brittany
You will love it. And no excuses about bum knees from you know who. Peyto Lake is wheelchair accessible. 😉