The Valley of the Five Lakes is located just a few kms away from the town of Jasper. It offers some spectacular views of the bottom of the valley in a relatively easy 4.5km hike for the complete loop.
Each lake offers its own character and beauty so hiking in anticipation of seeing the next lake will keep you going if not the beautiful surroundings of nature. On average, prepare for about a 2 hour hike with some stopping along the way to view the lakes.
This hike was one of the first hikes we went on upon arrival in Alberta, so to see the natural beauty of these lakes were just thrilling for us. While I don’t recall which order I saw the lakes in, I do remember the first time I saw that beautiful jade- and blue-coloured lake in front of me, I was in awe. I couldn’t believe a lake could be so colourful.
This lake below was the longest of the five lakes. I crouched down to get a low perspective of the lake so that I can still see the details of the rocks in the foreground. The beautifully clear water enables us to see right to the bottom of the lake, in addition to being able to see the reflection of the sky and clouds in the background.
Parks Canada had placed these red Adirondack chairs in select areas throughout the national parks within Canada. These were the first chairs that we came across. I think it’s a great way to explore the many tourist destinations that Canada has to offer, as they are always placed in an ideal location.
The colours of these lakes are surreal, and that’s what attracts many people on this hike. The trails can get crowded during peak times so if you want to avoid the crowds, go earlier in the day. Fortunately for us, we stayed at a lodge not too far from here so we were able to hike this first thing in the morning.
For a relatively easy hike with a lot of eye-candy, the loop at the Valley of the Five Lakes is a perfect destination in the morning. The beautiful surroundings will make you want to see more of what Jasper National Park has to offer, and thus is a great introduction to the park.
What was your experience at the Valley of the Five Lakes like? Let me know in the comments below.