Crowfoot Glacier

The spectacular Crowfoot Glacier can be viewed from a lookout point on the world-famous Icefields Parkway about 36 km (22 mi) north of Lake Louise. It’s a great place to pull over and admire the vista. The glacier gets its name from its three spurs that resemble a crow’s foot. (The lower toe melted away by the 1940s.) It sits on the northeast side of Crowfoot Mountain, overlooking Bow Lake. The glacier's runoff feeds into Bow Lake and the Bow River, which flows from Banff National Park through Calgary to the Alberta prairies. If you want to make a day of it, hike the Helen Lake Trail. The 12 km (7 mi) trail offers great views of the Bow Lake and Crowfoot Glacier. The trail is initially steep but levels off as it winds through alpine meadows dotted with wildflowers. It’s popular with runners, hikers and snowshoers.