Early June was the perfect time to complete the Sherbrooke Lake hike in Yoho National Park, fewer crowds and a snow free trail made for optimal conditions to enjoy this absolute gem of a lake. Rated as easy by Parks Canada, the trail winds through the forest with limited views until you get towards the gorgeous blue lake.
The Sherbrooke Lake hike is an absolute hidden gem in Yoho National Park, it is a gorgeous blue-green colour and surrounded by towering peaks. There is a trail which continues along beside the lake, although we enjoyed even the first vantage point when the trail dips down to the lakeshore. My only regret, not having a picnic to enjoy at the lakeshore. That being said, the bugs were quite big even in early June at the lakeshore.
Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission on any purchase made, at no additional cost to you. This helps me keep the blog running, so thank you for your support!
Table of Contents
The Sherbrooke Lake Trailhead
The Sherbrooke Lake hike is clearly signposted and has a small parking lot right off Highway 1. Note that if it is full, you can’t park on the Highway and should continue on to a different activity in the park.
The trailhead is 11 km from the town of Field, however it is not possible to access the trailhead while travelling Eastbound on Highway 1 as it is divided. Continue on a further 2 km and turn off at the Lake O’Hara turning. You can then get back onto HIghway 1 going West to access the trailhead.
If you are coming from Lake Louise, it is a much more simple process, heading West on Highway 1 for around 15 km and it is clearly signposted on the Highway shortly after the Great Divide Lodge.
The Sherbrooke Lake Hike
Distance: 4.3km one way
Elevation: 280m gain, 75m loss
Time needed: 3 hours return
When to hike: This is a summer hike, best done from early June to October.
Trail conditions: We always check the trail conditions on the Parks Canada website before we head out.
At the end of the top carpark is the trail sign, we stopped and checked it out before heading along the trail past it. There is an older picnic shelter ahead but we turned and walked up the stairs and through the gate. Just past the gate is where we found one of the oldest outhouses I’ve ever seen in a national park in Canada. Usable but cozy would sum it up perfectly.
From the fence, the Sherbrooke Lake hike was clearly signposted and easy to follow. We slowly gained elevation along a well maintained path, watching our footing for tree roots. We quickly got to a trail junction. Right went down to the Great Divide Lodge, left went to Sherbrooke Lake, an easy fork with a sign so we couldn’t go wrong.
After the fork, the Sherbrooke Lake hike started to get a little steeper, we carried on through the forest with little in the way of views. Met lots of other people on the trail. We started out later in the day and the morning crowd was on the way back to their cars. There was a fair amount of elevation gain and at times it was steep but mostly easy going.
Before we knew it, we were at a second trail fork on the Sherbrooke Lake hike. The right trail heads up to Paget Lookout, an old fire lookout which offers stunning views over the Valley and for those with more leg strength, they can continue past the lookout to complete the Paget Peak scramble. We took the left fork for the Sherbrooke Lake hike. This is where we encountered our first and only snow patches. Nothing that wasn’t easy to navigate and would likely be gone before the following weekend.
The Sherbrooke Lake hike is fairly flat after the junction and it was easy to make some time, but never fear, the trail once again started to climb, we were still in the trees, still climbing, with very little for views. On the plus side, there were wildflowers popping up all over the side of the trail here which made for a nice distraction.
Eventually the Sherbrooke Lake hike levels out, there are some boardwalk sections cutting over wet stretches to prevent any damage and peekaboo views of the surrounding mountains. We started to see glimmers of blue through the trees and we knew the lake was coming up shortly.
The trail opened up and we headed left, down the gravel to the lakeshore. A gorgeous vantage point with plenty of large rocks to sit on and enjoy the surroundings. I will say there were some big bugs here. Despite not encountering any prior to this moment, there were some big mosquito’s at the lakeshore, bug spray would have been optimal at that moment.
For those so inclined, if you backtrack to the main trail there is a clear and well used trail which continues on through the forest along the lakeshore. We decided to head back though as we also wanted to complete the Paget Lookout trail while we were in the area.
Things We Took On The Hike To Sherbrooke Lake
Day Pack – Whenever we are hiking in the mountains, we always carry a day pack, for water, food and layers, in case the weather changes quickly.
Hiking Boots – Although this trail could be done in trail runners, in early June when we did the Sherbrooke Lake hike, there was muddy and snowy sections and waterproof hiking boots were key to a good day.
Hiking Poles – For the steeper sections of the trail, hiking poles really save my knees, especially on the way down!
Bear Spray – The Sherbrooke Lake hike is in bear country, pack bear spray and know how to use it.
Camping Near Sherbrooke Lake
Monarch – A first come first serve campground just off of Highway 1, this campground is primitive but offers some gorgeous mountain views.
Kicking Horse – Just up the road from Monarch, the Kicking Horse campground is completely reservable. A beautiful spot to stay with hot showers and flushing toilets.
Takakkaw Falls – Walk in camping with some sites offering up views of Takakkaw Falls or the surrounding glaciers. Provided carts help you carry your things from the car to the campground along a well maintained wide trail.
Lake Louise – Soft sided and hard sided campgrounds in Lake Louise offer up a central location for exploring everything Yoho and Banff National Parks have to offer.
Places To Stay Near Sherbrooke Lake
Lake Louise
There are lots of options for places to stay in Lake Louise. Our favorite spots are the Mountaineer Lodge with their included breakfast to set you up for the day or for the more budget conscious traveler, the HI Lake Louise Alpine Center is an awesome hostel with private and dorm rooms.
Field
There are limited choices in Field for accommodation, check out the Truffle Pigs Lodge, even if you don’t spend the night, the onsite restaurant is the perfect spot for a tasty meal to fuel your day. A more expensive option is Emerald Lake Lodge, think cozy cabins with wood burning fireplaces right next to the lake, one of our favorite winter escapes.
What Else To Do In Yoho National Park
- Emerald Lake
- Paget Peak
- Takakkaw Falls
- Hoodoo Trail
- Backpacking the Iceline trail
- Wapta Falls
- White Water Rafting (just outside the National Park boundary)
- Lake O’Hara