A Guide to Aylmer Lookout Hike
The Aylmer Lookout Hike offers incredible views of Lake Minnewanka and is one of the best things to do in Banff National Park. Read our Aylmer Lookout travel guide, including tips on what to expect, trail description (you can also do a bike & hike combination), difficulty, length, how to get, trailhead, and we share with you tips on where to stay and how to stay safe.
Aylmer Lookout is a must-do hike in Banff National Park. Surrounded by majestic mountains, Aylmer Lookout offers one of the most stunning views of Lake Minnewanka and the best angle to enjoy its breathtaking blue color.
Sometimes things do not go as planned. This is exactly what happened to us during our second road trip to the Canadian Rockies.
No matter how carefully we planned our Canadian Rockies itinerary, no matter how in advance did we book accommodation, hikes, and transportation, in the end, a car crash and road closure for the whole day did not let us experience Berg Lake Trail in Mount Robson Provincial Park, and we were forced to change our plans.
At first, we were really disappointed that we won’t make it to our dream hike. Then we realized we should be really glad that we were not involved in the car crash, as there were only a few cars in front of us in the line, and we started to think of a backup plan.
We were lucky enough to reserve a last spot in the campground in Banff over the phone, which was quite a daunting task, then we drove along Icefields Parkway in one day to Banff, and then we had the last question to solve.
What are we going to do the next day? Luckily, Banff National Park is an absolutely stunning place with plenty of options, and in the end, our eyes were caught by a day-long trail called Aylmer Lookout Hike.
Aylmer Lookout Hike is not that well-known and popular as other attractions in the Banff National Park, such as Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise, Icefields Parkway, Peyto Lake, or Plain of Six Glaciers.
At least among international visitors. Mostly because of the trail's length and the fact that it’s not the loop but an in-and-out trail. And because there are so many more top hikes in the Canadian Rockies.
However, it is the only hike that will take you to the ultimate viewpoint from where you can admire Lake Minnewanka in its full glory.
What we loved the most about hiking in Banff National Park was that the area is a huge playground for all avid hikers, and we had endless options on choosing the best alternative based on our level of fitness and how far we wanted to get away from crowds.
At the end of the day, we were exhausted, but grateful we chose to hike to Aylmer Lookout.
If you are an averagely fit person looking for one of the best day hikes in Banff and want to get the most of the Lake Minnewanka area, keep on reading.
Aylmer Lookout Hike is really worth your time.
In this travel guide, we share our experience from Aylmer Lookout Hike with photos, tips on what to pack, what to expect, how much time you need, and practical information on how to get to the trailhead and where to stay in Banff.
Happy hiking!
TRAILHEAD
The trail to Aylmer Lookout starts at Lake Minnewanka parking lot, which is quite large, because the lake is a popular picnic and relaxing area, so you do not need to worry you won't find a space to park your car.
The Lake Minnewanka parking is free.
We found traveling in the Canadian Rockies with a rental car the best way to get around the area, mainly because public transport in the mountains is very limited.
HOW TO GET
In order to get to Aylmer Lookout Hike trailhead by car from Banff, follow Banff Avenue, cross Trans-Canada Highway, and this road will take you to Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive. Finally, this road will lead you to the parking lot.
By the way, Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive is a loop, so make sure to stop by at the Two Jack Lake on the way back.
From Banff, you will reach your destination in approximately 20 minutes.
If you are traveling from either Canmore or Lake Louise, drive along Trans-Canada Highway, and then turn either right or left retrospectively (depending on where you are traveling from) to Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive.
If you do not have a car, no worries, you can get to Aylmer Lookout Hike trailhead by public transport as well, but only during the summer season.
From mid-May to mid-September, Roam Transit runs daily buses between Banff and Lake Minnewanka every 30 minutes. A one-way fare costs 2 CAD.
By the way, Lake Minnewanka is not only about hiking and picnicking, but you can also take a Lake Minnewanka Cruise to enjoy its beauty from aboard a boat.
TRAIL LENGTH AND ELEVATION
If you plan to do the hike to Aylmer Lookout from the Lake Minnewanka parking lot and back in one day, you should know that this is an in-and-out trail and not the loop.
Aylmer Lookout's hike length is 12.5 km one way (25 kilometers roundtrip).
The elevation gain is almost 600 meters, and if you are only hiking, you will need seven to nine hours to finish it. It is also good to know that the trail gains most of the elevation in the last four kilometers, and the first part of the trail leading around the lake is mostly flat.
Here we have to mention that Aylmer Lookout Hike can be done as a combination of hiking and biking.
You can cycle along Lake Minnewanka for 8.5 kilometers, then leave the bike at the junction, hike to the hill on foot, return to the intersection, and then bike back to the parking lot.
This option will save you two to three hours, plus you will avoid walking the section along the shore, which offers only scattered views and feels quite long, especially on the way back.
Of course, if you think that 25 kilometers long trek is too much for you, you can walk only a part of it, and once you start feeling tired, retrace your steps. Although, we must say that the best views are really from the top, not sooner.
On the other hand, it is also possible to extend the hike to Aylmer Pass, which, altogether with Aylmer Lookout, will give you approximately 30 kilometers.
DIFFICULTY
One thing is certain. Aylmer Lookout is not the easiest hike in Banff National Park.
It is for sure doable, we saw a few older hikers along the way, but you should be at least moderately fit to finish this track and, most importantly, enjoy it. The hike is quite challenging, mainly because of its length, both physically and mentally.
Especially the walk back to the parking lot requires some mental effort.
Being said that, if you already did either Cory Pass or Bourgeau Lake to Harvey Pass hike, the trail shouldn't surprise you much.
AYLMER LOOKOUT HIKE
We started the hike early in the morning, but it was already pretty hot. So, not that early as we could have.
We parked our car and followed the crowds to the shore of Lake Minnewanka. We walked past public toilets on a paved trail, which soon changed to an unpaved one.
Also, before you reach the trailhead, you will see signs, so it is really easy to follow the trail.
STEWART CANYON
Once you get on Aylmer Lookout Trail, it is impossible to get lost because you will walk along the shore for the whole time (there is no other intersection), and once you reach the junction, it will be clear you must turn left and climb uphill.
After 1.7 kilometers, we reached Stewart Canyon, the first photo stop on the trail, where you can take a rest in a shadow.
In fact, Stewart Canyon is rated as an easy hike in Banff National Park, and it's a nice walk even for families with kids.
AYLMER LOOKOUT TRAIL
Then we crossed a wooden bridge, and the dirt trail led us along the beautifully blue lake for another approximately six kilometers.
The path leading through the forest offers every now and then wonderful views, which was for us a great motivation to keep going. The trail to the junction is more or less flat, with a few short sections leading either uphill or downhill.
Be cautious, as it is possible to see here wildlife.
After 8.5 kilometers, we finally reached the junction. From here, we knew we must prepare ourselves for a grueling climb.
First, we crossed a creek (fill here your water bottle if you are running out of water), and then we slowly started the ascend with a bear spray ready as the signs around made us a bit nervous.
If not sure about water quality, use either SteriPen or water bottle with integrated filter.
Try to avoid using single-use bottles to lower your plastic footprint when possible.
The next approximately 2 kilometers are quite hard.
You will have almost no views as you are walking in the forest, you will be sweating, and if you are like us, every crackling noise will make you jump. But keep going; the reward is close enough.
Try using trekking poles to take some of the pressure off of your knees and relieve pain.
In about 45 minutes, you will reach another intersection.
You can either walk straight to Aylmer Pass (we did not go there as it would add another 5 kilometers to the whole trek, and we did not have that much time) or turn right to Aylmer Lookout.
Even if you're thinking about the extension, we would recommend visiting the lookout first, then retrace your steps, and carry on towards the pass.
This is what we did. The path is less strenuous from the junction, views are opening up slowly, and the true highlight is only a short walk from here.
Once you reach the viewpoint, all the hard work and fatigue will wear off.
We promise. Aylmer Lookout provides absolutely breathtaking panoramic views of Lake Minnewanka and the mountain range behind it (Mt. Inglismaldie and Mt. Girouard), so enjoy your time here, have a snack, lie down on the grass, and listen to the silence. At that moment, life could not have been any better.
Lake Minnewanka is an enormous lake, quite different from smaller lakes in Banff National Park such as Moraine Lake or Lake Louise.
Due to its size, it reminded us a little bit of Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park, but here you get much better views of the lake.
We spent on the lookout for about an hour, but then we knew it was time to return to our car. So we reluctantly got up and set off.
The trail back to the junction led (obviously) downhill all the time, so it was an easy walk, but the real challenge came when we reached the trail along the lake's shore, as we did not have much energy left, and our only motivation was to get to the parking lot.
But in the end, we got to our car, tired, happy, and with a picture of Lake Minnewanka in front of our eyes.
WHAT TO PACK
Aylmer Lookout Hike is a challenging track, and it will take you several hours to finish it, so you should pack accordingly.
First, you need to have a lot of water, so a reusable water bottle is a must (take at least two liters per person, but it is possible to refill the water from a stream along the way) and a snack.
Then, it is essential to have appropriate clothes depending on the weather forecast, such as a fleece jacket, hiking pants, rain jacket, and a rain poncho.
We also recommend you wear hiking boots as walking 25 kilometers in sneakers would not be that comfortable.
A comfortable daypack, travel camera, or phone, and sunscreen should also go without saying.
It is always necessary to realize that weather in the area can change any minute, and you should always carry extra dry layers, just in case.
We always carry a down jacket, which is really warm and light, even in summer, just in case.
It is not worth it to underestimate weather elements in the Rockies.
LAKE MINNEWANKA AREA SAFETY
Another item you need to pack, which is closely connected to safety, is a bear spray.
Lake Minnewanka is a natural habitat and core area for grizzly bears, which means that this area is super-important for bears as a food source, and it is a place where they raise their cubs.
Therefore, you should be cautious when hiking in the area between berry season, which lasts from June through September, because encounters with bears can happen here.
Lake Minnewanka area has some seasonal trail restrictions.
Between July 10 and September 15, you should follow special rules when hiking to Aylmer Lookout for your safety.
First of all, even though the trail along Lake Minnewanka's shore is open for both hikers and bikers, cycling is not permitted during this time.
Also, dogs even on the leash are not permitted beyond Stewart Canyon Bridge, and you should hike in a tight group of at least four people.
Always have your safety in Bear Country in mind, and never take risks.
Most of the time, you can share the trail with bikers, so pay attention to avoid injury.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
BEST TIME TO HIKE AYLMER LOOKOUT TRAIL
We hiked to the viewpoint at the beginning of July and had a wonderful time. You can do the hike all year round, but everything depends on the snow situation.
In the Canadian Rockies, it is not unusual that the snow falls in late October and lasts till the end of April, and sometimes the trail, closer to the top, can be impassable.
Therefore, we recommend you to plan your visit and this hike either in the shoulder season, which would be late April and May and then September and October, or in the summer season (June till August) when the weather is a bit more stable, and your chances for higher temperatures are the best.
Even though the Rockies are flooded with visitors in the summer, you do not have to be afraid of crowds when hiking the Aylmer Lookout.
Since the hike is quite long and some parts are strenuous, you won't meet many day hikers along the trail.
We met some people on the trail along Lake Minnewanka, some of them were heading to the campground near the junction, but we were absolutely alone on the section leading from the junction to the lookout.
WHERE TO STAY IN BANFF
Banff is a famous mountain town, where it is hard to find a reasonably priced room, especially between June and September, when the season is in full swing. But in the end, every type of traveler should be able to find a place to stay.
As we were traveling on a budget with a rental car and sleeping in a tent this time, we searched for the campgrounds, but there are plenty of hostels, hotels, lodges, and B&Bs, which suit every budget.
We've handpicked the three best hotels in Banff in every budget category.
If you have more time, you can check out our more thorough guide on Where to Stay in Banff.
Budget | HI-Banff Alpine Center - From dormitories to private rooms with private bathrooms, this accommodation offers perfect comfort only a couple of minutes' drive out of Banff's center. For those of you, who want to save on food, we have great news; the public kitchen is available on this property. Also, all guests will receive a free bus pass for the local transport.
Mid-range | Banff Inn - Perfectly located hotel is a great place to stay both in the summer and winter. Except for modern rooms, guests can enjoy a hot tub, steam room, sauna, and functional facilities such as luggage storage and ski storage.
Luxury | Fairmont Banff Springs - An iconic hotel from 1888 is a national heritage site, and if you decide to make a reservation here, we promise you will have the best experience ever. Except for the amazing rooms, the hotel is exceptional for a lap pool and heated outdoor pool. Services are top-notch here, and if you can afford it, we highly recommend you to stay here.
CAMPGROUNDS
In case you are looking for a backcountry experience, or you want to split the hike into two days, it is also possible to sleep in a campground near the junction (Aylmer Pass Junction Campground), keep your stuff there, and then climb uphill without camping gear.
Otherwise, there are two campgrounds at Two Jack Lake on Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive.
Two Jack Lakeside has 74 sites and offers a regular camping experience for standard prices, Two Jack Main Equipped Campsites (32 sites) is quite expensive, but you don't have to bring your own camping gear.
Needless to say, it's always recommended to ask what's included in the price.
Of course, Tunnel Mountain Village is a huge campground in the town and a great place to stay in Banff.
Moreover, make sure to read our Canadian Rockies Camping Guide.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
