Bow Lake Scenes

Bow Lake is one of my favourite places in the Alberta Rockies. The variety of seasons represented by the photos included in this post is testament to my many visits there. Bow Lake is located along the Icefields Parkway which runs between Lake Louise and Jasper and is little more than an hour distant from our home in Canmore.

Cradled among surrounding peaks and fed by the Bow Glacier, Bow Lake is the source of fresh water for the City of Calgary, situated 220 km to the east. The Bow River flows from the lake and passes through Banff, Canmore, Calgary and Lethbridge on its way to joining the South Saskatchewan River, 587 km to the east.This picture was taken early on an October morning in 2008. Snow is expected at this time of the year at this elevation, about 6300 ft above sea level. The lake has not yet frozen, so we get a glimpse of the stony lake bottom through the crystal clear water.

Included with this photo are some of my favourite shots of Bow Lake. The photos were taken at various times of the year (August, October and May) to illustrate the range of photographic opportunities that abound at this great site. You may be surprised to note that the snowiest picture, the one showing the lake still frozen was taken in May! Spring takes a long time coming at this altitude.

I look forward to further trips to Bow Lake; I know I can always count on something new and picturesque. My next goal: Bow Lake in wildflower season.