Last updated on August 30th, 2024 at 02:57 pm
If you are looking for an easy, peaceful hike in Banff National Park, check out the Smith Lake hike and added bonus, add on the short detour to Copper Lake to snag two lakes in under half a day on the trail! I’d personally never really heard about these lakes or the fact there were well trodden trails to get them, until I spotted them on a trail map at the Marble Canyon trailhead. I knew then that I wanted to check them out.
A few weeks later we were heading back from a camping trip at Redstreak campground in Radium and so we decided to pull off the highway and check out the trailhead. The sun was shining and after checking out a few trail stats, we decided it would be a fun way to spend the afternoon. It turns out the Smith Lake hike was a perfect spring trail in Banff National Park.
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The Smith Lake Hike And Copper Lake Add On
Distance To Copper Lake: 0.7km one way
Distance To Smith Lake: 1.6km one way
Both the Smith Lake hike and the Copper Lake hike start from the same trailhead and it is clearly signed from the parking lot. Cross over the bridge and creek and shortly after there is a junction. We went left at this junction initially, towards Copper Lake.
The trail to Copper Lake is easy and mostly flat, it winds through the forest but it is easy hiking. It’s a short 700m to the lake from the trailhead and worth doing while you are in the area. The lake is beautiful although there wasn’t much space to sit and enjoy the view. The highway traffic noise is somewhat loud here too.
From Copper Lake, backtrack along the same trail, when you get to the junction, go straight if you are coming from Copper Lake, if you are coming from the parking lot, its a right, for the Smith Lake hike.
The trail starts by following the same route as the Twin Lakes hike, however pretty quickly there is a turn on the left which is signposted for the Smith Lake hike. A short climb and the trail levels out for a while and goes through the forest. You’ll pass a few small ponds along the way, these are not the main event, keep following the trail.
There is a fair amount of elevation gain considering the short distance on the Smith Lake hike. But the trail is easy to follow and quite wide in some spots and makes for easy travelling. The higher we got the more snow we encountered on the trail in early May, however nothing unpassable for us.
The last hill is the steepest and seems to go on for quite a while but as it levels out at the top you get the first glimpse of Smith Lake. The trails up here get a bit more braided, we kept left along the top of the lake, before there was a very steep trail which took us down to the lake.
The end of the Smith Lake hike is at the lake, there is a flat spot here perfect for a picnic on a sunny day. There is also a trail which continues along beside the lake but seems to stop at the very end of the lake.
To complete the Smith Lake hike, it’s back up the steep hill before a fast hike back down through the forest back to the car.
Where Is The Trailhead
The Smith Lake hike trailhead is fairly easy to find, it is signed for the Twin Lakes hike and is right on the junction of Highway 1 and Highway 93S, through a gate. Note, the gate can be closed during winter, so this trail is best done when the gate is open after May 1st.
It is around a 31 kilometer drive from Banff via Highway 1, or just over 100 kilometers from Radium Hot Springs via Highway 93S.
Gear You Might Need
The Smith Lake hike is fairly easy, I still wore my La Sportiva Raptor 2 hiking boots to complete this trail. They are comfortable, lightweight and waterproof, which was perfect for the soft snow sections!
Even though the hike is short, take a day pack and carry a picnic, the flat area at Smith Lake is the perfect spot to enjoy some mountain views and a lunch in the sun.
A lot of this hike is in the trees, however once at the lake you are in the sun, I wore a sun hoody, as I do for most hikes. It’s lightweight, quick drying and protects me from the sun. I love the OR Echo womens sun hoody and it comes in lots of colors and patterns.
Don’t leave home without your bear spray, keep it accessible and know how to use it. We didn’t see any signs of bear activity when we hikes the Smith lake hike but that can change quickly.
Other Hikes Nearby
Places To Stay Nearby
In the summer there are a number of campgrounds near the Smith Lake hike, these include the campground at Marble Canyon, as well as campgrounds along the Bow Valley Parkway such as the Johnston Canyon campground.
For those looking for something a little more comfortable, a short 5 minute drive from the Smith Lake hike trailhead is the Castle Mountain Chalets, a cute spot to base yourself for mountain adventures in Banff and Lake Louise.
There are plenty of hotel options in the town of Banff, such as the new Hotel Canoe and Suites, which just opened after years of rebuilding and upgrades.
