5 Lesser-Known Photo Spots Near Banff
When it comes to visiting the Canadian Rockies, there are an abundance of photo opportunities! Everyone seems to know about the iconic Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, so I want to share some of our other favourite spots that aren’t as frequented by tourists. Many of these recommendations are made with warmer temperatures in mind, so be careful if you are venturing out in the icy cold! Luckily, most of these spots only require you to walk a few steps from the parking lot, so you don’t have to worry too much about hiking.
We spent our most recent trip in Canmore at a cat-friendly hotel, and here are our five favourite photo spots from the trip:
Three Sisters Viewpoint
Quarry Lake
Wedge Pond
Herbert Lake
Cascade Ponds
Three Sisters Viewpoint
If you’re looking for lake reflections and gorgeous mountain peaks, this is the photo spot for you! While you might encounter a few other photographers here, you’re unlikely to be swarmed by a mass of tourists. This is a pet-friendly location that works great for sunrise and sunset.
Getting to the Three Sisters Viewpoint can be a bit tricky as there’s no marked path, and you have to be careful not to mistake the viewpoint with the Three Sisters Lookout as these are located in different areas.
To get to the viewpoint, park at the off-leash dog park and then carefully cross the highway towards the concrete bridge with a railway track. You’ll need to get underneath the bridge, but proceed with caution as trains actively use the tracks. You’ll find yourself in a dried up creek bed which you can follow down for several minutes. You’ll walk along the rocks for long enough to think you’ve gone the wrong way, and then the path will curve to the left. You should come face to face with a forested area and if you continue for a bit you’ll be met with a prominent trail that people use to reach the clearing.
Quarry Lake
If you’re looking for a nice spot to enjoy a picnic while taking in the mountain views, then Quarry Lake might be a great option! The lake is also a great place for paddle boarding and swimming. Unfortunately, this spot isn’t dog-friendly, although we were told we could walk around the lake with the cats after getting caught staring at the No Dogs sign. If you do venture here with your pup, you can opt to take the path to the right to check out the dog-friendly park that’s within walking distance.
To get to the lake itself, you only need to walk a short distance from the paid parking lot. There is an upper trail that will take you up a small hill overlooking the lake and a lower trail that leads directly to the picnic area.
Wedge Pond
Another spot for a stunning mountain reflection (it’s a bit of theme when you’re in the Rocky Mountains)! I’d recommend visiting during sunrise where you’ll get to see softly lit mountain peaks reflected in a pool of glass. There is also a chance to catch some mist dancing along the water’s surface which adds an extra level of magic.
Alright, so this location is a bit of a drive from Canmore as it exists within the Kananaskis Valley, but I think it’s worth making a trip here. The drive itself is incredibly scenic and we were lucky enough to pass some mountain goats on the way! Do note that to access Wedge Pond you’ll need to purchase a Kananaskis Conservation Pass, so you may also want to plan other stops within the area to make the most of your purchase. Pets should also remain leashed during your stay in this area!
Once you’ve parked, there is a bit of a downhill walk to the pond, although the trails are well-defined and it takes about 2 minutes, so I wouldn’t really classify it as much of a hike. There is also a trail that will take you around Wedge Pond which takes around 20 minutes. Don’t forget to pack a little something to eat as there are several picnic spaces in the area.
Herbert Lake
If you find yourself unable to secure a sunrise spot at Moraine Lake or feel overwhelmed by the crowds at Lake Louise, consider making your way to Herbert Lake. The water here is like glass in the early morning and you’ll be able to capture some great reflections of the distant mountains and forest surrounding the lake. What makes it even more serene is the lack of people. The last two times we visited, we had the place entirely to ourselves and so we enjoyed the peaceful silence with the occasional click from the camera shutter.
It takes less than a minute to walk from the parking lot down to the edge of the lake where you can snap your shots. At some points in the year the trail may be a bit muddy so consider wearing appropriate footwear! Once you’ve taken your initial shots, you can also follow a trail that leads around the lake, and even to a secret diving spot, but do be wary of wildlife as bears are known to be in the area.
Cascade Ponds
Located just a few minutes from central Banff, Cascade Ponds is a great place to go for a leisurely walk, set up a picnic, or paddle around. Many people seem to pass by this spot in search of Two Jack Lake or Lake Minnewanka, both of which are also lovely spots, but I’d highly recommend making the stop on a sunny day. The area is also pet-friendly and there are even shuttles in Banff that can help you to get here easily regardless of the season.
There are a number of photo opportunities just steps from the parking lot as Cascade Ponds feature a series of ponds (in case it wasn’t obvious), wooden bridges, the iconic Parks Canada red chairs, and a gorgeous backdrop of Cascade Mountain.
Hopefully you’ve discovered a new photo spot you’d like to check out in the Banff area after reading through all of this. There are so many other places waiting to be discovered, so don’t think you only have to hit the major tourist destinations to enjoy some great views. We’ve been to all of these locations a few times now and are always impressed by the beauty of nature. We hope that you can enjoy these spaces as well, but please remember to stay on designated trails and clean up after yourself!
And here’s the final word from Reinhardt: fthhhhhhh
