If you are looking for a great day hike in Banff National Park, the Twin Lakes hike ticks most boxes, four gorgeous lakes, insane mountain views and enough elevation to give you some beautiful views of the surrounding peaks and valleys. The Twin Lakes hike is also a highly popular Fall hike since there are lots of larch trees on the higher portions o the hike, which turn a bright gold colour come the Fall.
Another joy of the Twin Lakes hike is that it can be done in a day, as an overnight trip or the first night of a three or four night thru hike in the Canadian Rockies. The four lakes which you see along the Twin Lakes hike also means you get great views at numerous points along the trail, so if the weather turns or you start to feel tired, you can turn around and still have had some gorgeous views.
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About The Twin Lakes Hike
Distance: 16km return to Lower Twin Lake
Elevation gain: 715m
Elevation loss: 315m
The Twin Lakes hike starts by a fairly easy and steady descent from the parking lot, the trail is skinny in parts but otherwise a fairly easy trail down to Vista Lake. It is only a 1.2 kilometre hike to the initial lake with 120 metres of elevation loss. Vista Lake is a gorgeous green colour, even on an overcast day like we had. The trail cuts along above the lake giving beautiful views almost the entire way down to the lake. Once at the lake there are a few spots where you can stop by the lake to enjoy it. When we hiked it, it was raining by the time we got down there so we kept on going.
Continuing on the Twin Lakes hike, the trail cuts across the outflow of Vista Lake and from there it is a steady climb through the forest. There are few views to start out but hiking in the trees gave us a little break from the rain. There are a few wooden bridges on this initial section of the twin lakes hike and be warned, they can be very slippery when wet!
As the trail gains elevation, the trees thin and you get some absolutely incredible views of the valley as well as glimpses of the imposing Storm Mountain. The trail here is thin, with lose rocks and varies between a slight gradient to a much steeper gradient. It continues to climb almost the whole way to Arnica Lake. Just before the lake the gradient levels out and you get your first look of Arnica Lake.
The Twin Lake hike skirts the edge of Arnica Lake, enjoy the small section of flat trail here, stop at the lake for a break and take in the gorgeous views. If you are lucky enough to do the Twin Lakes hike in fall, you’ll find Arnica Lake surrounded by gorgeous golden Larch trees.
After Arnica Lake, there is more elevation gain. This section of the trail was steep and very muddy since it had snowed a few days earlier. We completed the Twin Lakes hike in early October and the larch trees were past their prime, however a week earlier and this section of the trail would have been glowing with golden larch trees. Which is one of the reasons the Twin Lakes hike is so popular in fall.
The trail crests over the top of the hill, giving a glimpse into the valley ahead, it is then a consistent descent through the forest to Upper Twin Lake. Hop across the rocks of the lake’s outflow and you’ll find the campground. There is a small bench by the lake, a perfect spot to enjoy lunch.
To complete the Twin Lakes hike, follow the signs, through the campground, past the tent pads, the trail starts to descend once again and it’s a short one kilometre hike down to the Lower Twin Lake. This was my favourite lake and we had it all to ourselves. It was pretty wet around the lake but it was still and pretty with a waterfall cascading down the rocks at the back of the lake. This is the turn around point for anyone completing the Twin Lakes hike, it’s back up the hill before the long descent down to Vista Lake and then up to the parking lot.
Where Is The Twin Lakes Trailhead
The Twin Lakes hike trailhead is fairly easy to find, a 40 kilometre drive from Banff, heading West on Highway 1 before turning off at Castle Junction to head South on Highway 93 towards Radium Hot Springs.
The trail is signposted and on the left of the Highway, look for the sign that says Vista Lake and it is the small parking lot right beside the highway. During the peak summer months and larch hike season, arrive early, to avoid disappointment since the parking lot is only small.
Other Options For Hiking The Twin Lakes Trail
If you are looking to extend the Twin Lakes hike adventure it is possible to camp at the Upper Twin Lake, reservations must be made through the Parks Canada reservation site. There are only 5 tent pads and it’s a popular spot to stay, especially in the fall when the larch trees are in full golden glow.
If you are interested in a multi day hike, the Twin Lakes hike can be extended, spend a night at the Twin Lakes campground and then head over to Shadow Lake, you can spend a night here or at Ball Pass campground. Then continue on to Egypt Lake for a night and out to Sunshine Village via the Healy Pass trail. This is a popular option for backpackers especially for an incredible larch hike.
Items You Might Need To Complete The Twin Lakes Trail
To complete the Twin Lakes hike, I recommend wearing sturdy hiking boots. I wore my favourite, La Sportiva Raptor 2 boots. They were perfect for trekking through the mud and snow and the goretex kept my feet dry and warm all day.
I also like to hike with poles and the Twin Lakes hike has plenty of elevation to contend with, poles were really handy for heading up but mostly for the down on the way back, they help save your knees and prevent me from slipping over on the muddier parts of the trail.
If you are heading out on the Twin Lakes hike after rain or in the fall, I’d recommend wearing gaitors, I have to say, the trail heading from Arnica Lake to Twin Lake was very muddy and our pants were fairly covered in mud, gaitors would have been great for helping keep them clean and dry.
There aren’t many spots to stop and sit along the Twin Lakes hike. If you want a more comfortable rest break, take a seat pad or a lightweight chair, especially if you are hiking in the spring or fall and don’t fancy sitting on the cold wet ground when you want to stop for a break.
