June 21 – Bow Glacier Falls

Once again it pays to be early. We arrived at 9 and got one of the last few parking spots. When we got back, the cars were parked along the access road all the way out to the highway.The trail itself wasn’t too busy because most people just stop for a look at the lake.

The hike to Bow Glacier Falls is 8.9 km and climbs 180m in elevation. Most of it is very flat. Only near the very end do you do the very steep climb. You first walk around the edge of Bow Lake, across the alluvial fan (I think it is called), over all the gravel that has been washed down from the glacier. Finally the stream from the glacier cuts through a narrow gorge. That is where the climbing begins. You climb to a lookout on a huge bowl and then down into the bowl and back up to near the base of the falls.

We just went as far as the lookout on the bowl and decided that a slightly long distance view of the falls was good enough. Our legs thanked us when we got back. Our hike was 7.6 km and climbed 108 m.

 

There is a lodge at the start of the trail that looks very new. That red roof sure stands out from a long, long distance.

But what amazing weather!  It was sunny, with clear blue skies and no wind. Which meant that Bow Lake was a perfect mirror.

It was hard to make any progress on the hike because we wanted to take so many pictures.

The photosphere.

Jennie liked this twisted up tree.

The photosphere.

Heading up the gravel.

At one point the trail climbs over a point of land. On the way back we realized we could have stayed on the gravel and avoided this.

Back down to the gravel.

The photosphere.

Everything is narrowing down to the gorge ahead.

The stairs to climb up the side of the gorge.

But first check out the entrance.

A small waterfall could be seen.

Up we go. It was a tough climb. Very steep with huge steps and all of them at odd angles. 

And then along a very narrow trail cut into the hillside that Jennie was not too thrilled with.

There is a trail that branches off to climb up this valley to the glacier at the end.

And the viewpoint that was our stopping point and lunch spot.

At this point we could see some of the trail as it continued but were still not sure where the falls actually were until someone pointed them out.

Tiny ants continuing on.

A closeup of the falls. We had thought they were just more snow until we knew where to look.

The photosphere.

After a long rest we headed back.

At the junction with the trail that went up to the glacier all I could see was a viewpoint to the gorge and a massive boulder lodged over the gorge so I went down for some pictures.

And the rock.

The photosphere.

I wondered where the trail was. Then these guys came along.

Over they go. I can now see the slightly brown trail mark across the rock. Then they headed up the far side of the gorge.

I went back down to see if I could get over to the other side but it looked a bit too scary to be worth it.

Looking down the gorge.

At a viewpoint slightly farther down the trail I could look up at that rock.

Back down we go.

Back at the lake the wind had picked up just enough so no more reflections.

This morning.

Now.

Looking back we realized that we had been able to see the falls all along.

Then back to the car, the 1/2 hour drive back down the Icefields Parkway to home, some ice cream reward and a nap.

Another wow day.