One of my favorite early season options to get outside is the hike to Boom Lake. It’s a great early season option when the sun is shining but most of the trails aren’t snow free.
There will be no summiting mountains or going camping this week for me (I draw the line at negative 7 degrees overnight!) this left me with quite the challenge on what to do the other day. I poured through the internet looking for trail conditions and weather forecasts and came up with one solution…..hike to Boom Lake.
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The Hike To Boom Lake
The hike to Boom Lake starts by gently heading up through the forest for 5.1km before you get to the lake. With 185m of elevation gain this trail is neither going to get your heart rate up or make you break out into a sweat and if I am totally honest the trail lacks views and interest as you are in the forest for the whole way. The main delight to this trail is breaking out to the lake at the end, Boom Lake. Surrounded by towering mountains, in the snow out there alone, the silence is like nothing you have ever experienced.
Before heading out on any trail always check the trail conditions, this helps you plan your footwear and also know if a trail is closed or unmaintained before you head out. Conditions for the Boom Lake trail can be found here.
We were lucky, once we completed the hike to Boom Lake we found we had the whole lake to ourselves and the ice was thick enough to walk out onto a short way (but proceed with caution!) Note it is not safe to travel to the other shores or visit the ice falls, these lie in avalanche paths. Since it was a chilly day we packed out some chicken noodle soup and our backpacking stove and had a hot lunch in solitude and sunshine.
Overall the hike to Boom Lake is a quick and painless one with a great reward at the end. In the shoulder season you will most likely have the place to yourself and it makes the perfect hike for a snowy day, out of avalanche terrain and not knee deep in fresh snow!
The Boom Lake Hike Trailhead
If you are heading from Banff or Lake Louise to hike to Boom Lake, you’ll be taking Highway 1 and turning off on to the Highway 93S for Radium Hot Springs. Once on Highway 93S it is a short 7km drive to the Boom Lake trailhead.
If you are driving North on Highway 93S from Radium Hot Springs, it is just under 100 kilometers from the town to the trailhead parking lot to hike to Boom Lake.
Regardless of which direction you are coming from the trailhead is clearly signposted from the Highway. There are picnic benches and toilets in the parking lot.
Other Winter Hikes
Things You Might Need To Hike To Boom Lake
I found hiking boots a must for completing the hike to Boom Lake, I wore my favorite La Sportiva Raptor 2 boots, these kept my feet warm and dry and the snowy trail and had enough grip in the slushy snow.
I did pack my Yaktrax in my pack in case the trail was slippery and had I started out earlier in the day before the temperatures had warmed up I likely would have needed them.
The hike to Boom Lake is in bear country, so make sure to carry bear spray and know how to use it.
Places To Stay Nearby
Looking for something a little nicer, check out the Castle Mountain Chalets on the junction of Highway 93 south and Highway 1. These cute cabins are a great base for exploring the mountains while having a little more space than a typical hotel room. There is a small shop on site too, a great spot to stop and grab a post adventure snack or drink if you need one.
Heading South you end up in the town of Radium which has lots of accommodation options and makes a great base to explore the Columbia Valley. Check out the Bighorn Meadows Resort and Golf Course for a modern and comfortable spot just outside of town.
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