There are quite a few aspects we like about the Helen Lake Trail in Banff National Park, but we’ll provide you two here at the beginning of this guide.
Initially, bursting forth from the treeline into the high meadows at 7,000 feet above sea level is one of our single favorite moments on the trails in the Canadian Rockies. The second stretch of the hike has wildflowers, lush green valleys (with marmots!), and rocky ridges surrounding you beautifully.
Secondly, there is the possibility of lengthening the outing with climbs like Cirque Peak for magnificent panoramas of the surrounding landscape, if your energy allows.
It makes an excellent early stop on your journey along the Icefields Parkway, and is likely our second favorite hike on that drive (the first being Wilcox Pass thanks to its great views of the Athabasca Glacier from above).
In this guide, we will cover everything necessary to independently hike the Helen Lake Trail yourself. We’ll start with logistics – where to park, and other details to ensure a smooth trip – and then provide a trail report based on our experience hiking the trail.
Our aim is to adequately prepare you for hiking success by the end of the guide so you can hit the trails safely and with confidence, informed about the terrain and what to anticipate.
Sound good to you? Let’s get into it.
P.S. As Americans write this guide, and most readers also come from America, distances are described in feet and miles in the guide below. Attempts were made beforehand to include both measurements in the guides, however they ended up very confusing with too much detail, so miles and feet are used especially as they are most familiar. Converting to kilometers and meters using an online calculator is straightforward if needed.
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post, like hotel links, are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, we make a little bit of money if you click through and book. That being said, we would never recommend something to you that we don’t stand behind 100%.
Table of Contents
Hiking the Helen Lake Trail: Trail Details
- Length: 7.2 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,600 ft.
- Season: July – October
- Trail Type: Out and Back
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Dog Friendly? Yes
- Pass Required: Parks Canada Admission OR Parks Canada Discovery Pass
- Starting point Location
How Difficult is the Hike to Helen Lake?
The hike to Helen Lake is moderately challenging, at least for us.
The intriguing part about this hike is that the forested section, where you’ll do a majority of the climbing, alternates between stretches of trail that are basically level, and stretches that are really, really steep.
There are a few sections where the grade significantly increases, and the trail is full of rocks or tree roots, so durable hiking boots will be your best companion (Alysha loves her Columbia Newton Ridge boots, an excellent choice for a first hiking boot).
Once you’re through the forested section, roughly halfway through the hike, you emerge out into the alpine meadows where Helen Lake sits, and the rest of the way is a gentle incline up to the lake, with excellent views in all directions.
One of our favorite perspectives of the lake is from the far side of the lake about halfway up the switchbacks, which requires some extra work to achieve. That climb is short but intense, but still fits into the moderate group, we believe.
The hikes beyond Helen Lake to further destinations such as Dolomite Peak, Cirque Peak and Lake Katherine are rather more difficult due to the climb on the far side of the lake (which must then be re-ascended if descending into the valley on the opposite side to reach Dolomite Pass).
Getting to the Helen Lake Trailhead
The Helen Lake Trailhead runs along the Icefields Parkway, directly opposite the Crowfoot Glacier viewpoint and the shore of Bow Lake.
It lies 23 miles (roughly 30 minutes) north of Lake Louise, and 57 miles (a little over an hour) from the city of Banff.
Parking at the Trailhead for the Helen Lake Trail
The parking area at Helen Lake can accommodate roughly 20 vehicles, give or take a few. It was around half full at 7:30am upon arrival, and we ended up being the earliest reaching the lake (some of the cars must have been backpackers).
There is a pit toilet at the trailhead.
There is one additional thing that we think merits noting about parking here: we saw many, many people stopping into the parking lot to use the restroom (resulting in a 5-7 person queue to use the toilet).
Those individuals also occupied valuable parking spaces (or simply parked in the center of the lot), and left after 5-10 minutes. If you arrive from midday through the afternoon, don’t despair upon seeing the full parking lot – there’s a possibility some people are departing shortly.
The Best Time to Hike the Helen Lake Trail
Like many of the best hikes in Banff National Park,the Helen Lake hike is best done in the summer and early fall, roughly July through October in most years.
However, there is one factor here for the summer and fall, and that’s smoke from nearby wildfires, which will continue to be an issue for the foreseeable future.
We initially visited Banff in mid-September, and experienced smoke so thick that we really couldn’t see anything when we drove the Icefields Parkway for the first time. About half of our days were hazy.
So, we thought we`d visit in the early summer (first part of July), before the wildfire season really intensified. Well, we experienced similar conditions, with smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketing the area for our entire time in Jasper.
According to reports, wildfire season spans around half the year presently in areas like the Rocky Mountains, meaning weather conditions conducive for blazes are potentially common for an extended stretch, making preparedness important.
We frequently use IQAir to check air quality and projections, though it will likely vary day to day.
Are Dogs Allowed on the Helen Lake Trail?
Yep! We hiked to Helen Lake with our dog, Lupine, and she delighted in it. Here’s proof:
While canines are permitted, they necessitate being leashed at all times within the park boundaries, and you require packing out any trash (read: canine waste) with you. We have Ruffwear saddlebags for Lupine so that she can carry her own water, snacks, and waste removals.
Things to Know Before You Hike the Helen Lake Trail
Here are a few aspects to keep in mind before embarking.
Access to Banff National Park`s attractions necessitates a Parks Canada Pass. There are two options – purchasing a pass for the required number of days, or obtaining a Discovery Pass, providing admission to all Canadian national parks for one year. At a high level, the Discovery Pass proves economical for visits of seven days or longer, though family passes may influence the calculations in individual situations. Both versions can be purchased at entrance kiosks or prearranged online.
You’re hiking at elevation. Remember that you currently find yourself at an increased altitude in the Rocky Mountains (the parking area here is at around 6,400 feet above sea level, and you’ll reach approximately 8,000 feet by the end of the hike), so if you’re coming from sea level, the hike is likely to feel somewhat more difficult than you may be used to. This is why we advise starting with an easier hike first to allow your body to adjust, and tackling the more challenging hikes later in your trip. You can read more in our Banff itineraryor Canadian Rockies itinerary (which includes Jasper and Yoho).
You will be traveling through an area inhabited by bears. Both black and Grizzly bears live in the Rocky Mountains region, and while we did not encounter any up close on hiking trails, thankfully, they are present. One of our main recommendations is to make consistent audible noises along trails – Matt was known for improvised singing as we hiked – to avoid unexpected meetings. You will also want to carry deterrent spray, which can be obtained in local towns if flying, as it cannot be brought on aircraft. Be sure to check with your lodging, as many of the highly rated places to stay in Banff National Park will lend some to guests.
Thunderstorms are common in summer afternoons. As if another motive was needed to begin hikes early, we encountered thunderstorms nearly daily between noon and 4pm. Hiking above the tree line, you`ll want to start descending by the time they arrive.
Trail closures tend to occur commonly in the Canadian Rockies. Largely because of wildlife activity or weather conditions. Check here for present conditions.
The Helen Lake Trail: A Complete Trail Guide
Now that we’ve covered most of the information we believe is useful for you to know before starting on the trail, let’s discuss the trail itself!
The hike to Helen Lake follows a fairly straightforward route, but I will separate it into three clear sections to help you better understand where you are on the trail.
Those three sections are:
- The Forested Ascent
- The Open Meadows
- Hiking to the Far Side of the Lake (for the views!)
For each, we’ll give you the distance and elevation gain you’ll cover, a trail description to help you understand what to anticipate, and, of course, some images we’ve taken.
At the conclusion, we’ll put forward three good options if you’re seeking to expand your hike. Full disclosure – we haven’t done those expansions, but we’ve performed the research to figure out what it takes to get there.
The Forested Ascent
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Distance: 2 miles // Elevation Achieved: 1,000 feet
This initial stretch of trail starts from the trailhead, enters the forest, and instantly begins an upward climb.
This section alternates between pleasant straightforward sections that are virtually flat footpaths meandering through the woods, and more challenging terrain.
Then you`ll find yourself ascending a steep, root-filled stretch of pathway that has you breathing heavily and wondering why you subject yourself to this. Then it smoothens out again, and the cycle repeats.
While some sections involve steady inclines, other flatter parts provide a good balance throughout the hike.
Along the early section, there were a few stream crossings where we got our feet a little damp, but nothing too daunting.
During the second mile of hiking, views to the south and west periodically opened up, including a couple spots with beautiful scenery over the valley and the azure waters of Bow Lake.
These are superb places to take a break from the climbing, grab some provisions and water, and admire the scenery.
Emerging into the Open Meadows
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Distance: 1.5 miles // Elevation Achieved: 400 feet
Roughly two miles into the hike, around a bend—both literally and figuratively—you emerge from the treeline into the subalpine meadows that make this trail unique.
Emerging from the forest too means that the perspectives start to accessible up, and there are jaw-dropping views to be had in all instructions. Like behind you, so don’t fail to turn around as you climb.
This stretch of trail is a very gradual grade, gently climbing through the marmot-filled meadows. You’ll be accompanied by the relentless squeaks of the ground squirrels that claim this territory home, who Lupine was infatuated with.
Almost exactly a mile into this stretch you’ll encounter Helen creek, which you can cross over using the convenient wooden bridge. Before crossing, be sure to pause and gaze up the trail.
It offers beautiful views with the cascading creek levels and bridge close by, and mountains appearing grand in the distance.
Once you cross the creek, the trail widens as you pass through the valley created by Crystal Ridge on your left and Helen Ridge on your right. Straight ahead is Cirque Peak (covered in our “extending your hike” section below).
Below Cirque Peak is the lake, which you cannot quite see over the rise until you are directly above it.
There is a magnificent perspective of the lake from the nearby edge, with Cirque Peak towering over the far shore. The huge bulk of individuals on this trek achieve here, stop and appreciate the lake, and turn around.
However, we believe the finest views are from the opposite side of the lake looking back towards Crystal Ridge.
Hiking to the Far Side of the Lake
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Distance: 0.5 miles // Elevation Achieved: 350 feet
If you want to regain those perspectives overlooking the lake, you’ll hike along the right (eastern) side of the lake to the base of the switchbacks, which you can see winding their way up the hillside across the lake.
The views along this stretch are splendid, and we’d go as far as the point where the trail abruptly switches back after four miles and at an elevation of eight thousand feet above sea level. From there, you have a nice vista of the lake, surrounding mountains, and the valley below that was traversed.
Extending Your Hike: Dolomite Pass and Cirque Peak
From the winding sections at the far end of the lake, one is essentially halfway to reaching the ridge top where a trail intersection containing numerous extension options will be found.
For those with extra energy reserves, several extensions from Helen Lake are worth the added exertion.
We stopped at the lake because it was our first summer of intense hiking with the dog, and we weren’t quite sure how she’d handle 7-10 miles per day for an extended period (spoiler: she was more than happy to hit the trail every day).
We encountered many hikers along the route who were heading up to either Dolomite Pass or Cirque Peak.
Here are three choices for extending your hike.
The initial pair follow an identical route, heading in a northeasterly direction towards Dolomite Pass. Bear in mind that this implies you’ll have to descend down into the valley on the opposing side of the ridge…which signifies you also must come back up.
The final choice – Cirque Peak – involves intense climbing at the end as it transforms into a scramble. If unstable footing and minimal route finding make you uncomfortable, we`d suggest sticking to the other two options.
Katherine Lake(10.3 Miles / 2,800 ft. Elevation Gain): Of the three options presented, this trail is the most readily accessible. After reaching the ridge overlooking Helen Lake, hikers will descend into the valley on the opposite side to arrive at the northern shore of Katherine Lake. Travellers will leave the lush, green meadows surrounding Helen Lake behind for the rugged, rocky alpine environment that thrives above 8,000 feet.
Dolomite Pass(13 Miles / 3,700 ft. Elevation Gain): About a mile further past Katherine Lake, you will arrive at Dolomite Pass which requires significantly more climbing to reach. However, this allows entry deeper into the alpine environment, substituting rocks for grass. The terrain is rugged and rocky, but there are excellent perspectives back towards Katherine Lake and Cirque Peak.
The Cirque Peak trail (10 Miles / 3,600 ft. Elevation Gain) begins by continuing left after reaching the top of the switchbacks, initiating a steep climb to the summit of Cirque Peak. This involves doubling the elevation gain achieved so far over about a mile. The last stretch to reach the top requires scrambling upwards – utilizing both hands and feet similar to rock climbing. I found this guide helpful, featuring images and route details assisting with navigating the scrambling section.”
