Banff Trip: Paddling Emerald Lake

The first paddle of the trip was scheduled close to base camp. However, our second day’s paddle started with a drive. Emerald Lake is a bit over an hour from Banff, so we were up a bit before the sun. We strategically left early so we could beat the crowds and get spots in the parking lot by the lake. Even with our early start, we got the very last available trailer spot.

As we were starting to unstrap the boats, we heard the pre-teen of our group asking the local expert of the trip for his help carrying “her” kayak… which was a wonderful moment. We loved hearing her enjoyment of paddling fan-favorite, “Sandy,” and we admired her initiative to get her boat unloaded and to the lake. It was quite a haul from that last trailer spot all the way to the lake, but she just asked for help carrying the 46-pound kayak. Though if memory serves, he may have just picked it up himself and carried if for her.

Immediately after launching, I saw something moving on the surface of the water. I paddled closer and to find a juvenile swallow. I scooped it out of the water with my paddle and set it on a nearby dock. It was very lethargic from being in the cold water and I hoped some time in the sun on the dock might revive it. Since it wasn’t there when we got back, I like to think it warmed up and flew away.

Stunning Scenery

There was no shortage of scenery on our Banff trip, but paddling Emerald Lake stands out. The combination of the mirror-like water and the mountain peaks (both close and distant), with their snowfields, glaciers, waterfall, and avalanche chutes was breathtaking. Like all of the lakes we paddled in the Rockies, it has enough glacial flour to show up as brilliant turquoise in the right light. I highly recommend adding this to your paddle destination wish list when you can.

Unfortunately, you will have to wait until at least March 2025 to bring your own kayak. Whirling Disease was detected at the lake, so Emerald Lake and all other lakes in Yoho National Park are currently closed to personal watercraft. In the meantime, you can rent a canoe at the lake for $100 an hour.

Paddling with Our New Friends

We are paddling with the same group we were with at Two Jack Lake at the COTDP Jamboree. After paddling Emerald Lake, several of us decided that it was so good we would do it again. Some of us took the opportunity to try a different kayak. After our second lap around the approximately 2.5 mile lake, we took a short excursion under the bridge to the hotel. We paddled into a finger of the lake we hadn’t paddled yet. Quite a few people looked down over the side of the bridge as we went under. Apparently, it isn’t common to see a large group of kayaks going under the bridge all at once.

After the Paddle

When we went to load up the parking lot was crazy. The lot was gridlocked with cars looking for a parking spot in the already overfull lot. We helped each other get packed up in the loading zone. It was an adventure dodging cars trying to maneuver around one another in the parking lot.

After everyone was loaded up we headed back to downtown Banff for “halfie hour”. We found our new favorite tacos at Anejo, and got to know each other more. We also made plans for the next day, and shared the stunning photos we had taken.

After our food and drinks, we scooted over to the boat wash station to get all of our kayaks through before they closed for the day. We were prepped for the next day’s adventure, but that is a post for another day.

Header image credit: Lawrence Carter