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Classic!

The name of Six Glaciers comes from the hanging glaciers of Mountains: Lefroy, Victoria, Eberdeen, Lower Victoria and Lefroy glacier and the hanging glacier on Pope’s peak. We tried to count them all, but we were too busy taking a million and a half pictures.

This is a very popular trail, but the crowds subside the further you walk around the lake. The lake is glacier-fed and gets its beautiful colour from silt deposits or rock flour that enter the lake, giving it that famous turquoise hue. Fairmont Chateau Louise definitely adds to its popularity, but we figured it would be somewhat more enjoyable with Peyto Lake reopening after two years. And boy was it ever!

To start, ignore the Lake Agnes Trail on your right and stay on the Plain of the Six Glaciers Trail or simply keep on the Lakeshore. Once you reach the opposite shore and the stunning glacial valley, it is much uphill from there. We stopped and put on microspikes as it got icy out of nowhere. This is a heavily trafficked trail and, therefore, well maintained. It becomes a bit rougher the further along you go and stops being officially maintained just past the Tea House (which was closed for the season, so no chocolate cake for us). You won’t have much trouble even there, especially if you have navigated along scree slopes before. It is not technical at all. So don’t panic.

Basically, you are ridge-walking, eventually ending up on a somewhat steep scree dead-end from where you will observe the Abbot Hut (named for Philip About, who fell to his death on Mt. Lefroy), and an occasional avalanche if you’re lucky. It is an incredible sound! You can hear them all the way by the lakeside.

Conditions were perfect, larch madness was over, and I secretly enjoyed the snow-covered ridge, although I am not ready for winter.

Trail wisdom

Hiking solo and hiking with others, often with different levels of skills and abilities than your own, are complete opposite experiences. They are both fun and serve different purposes. You will build friendships along the trail, and you will unplug, so choose your experiences and just allow what is. Whenever I am in the mountains, I feel at home, and nothing can ever compare when I am there. This is regardless of whether I am there solo or with my friends. I find a group of four is a perfect size. But the bigger the group, the harder it is to manage the expectations. Too many cooks spoil the broth or soup. So relax and do what feels best for you. Choose you. And choose your three musketeers.

Know Before You Go

Best time to go

The fall in the Canadian Rockies lasts the whole three days, so the best time to go is probably May through September. It is a bit cooler in October and most likely snowing on the plains, but you will be rewarded with less of those summer crowds.

Parking

Good luck finding a spot! It’s like winning a lottery, and vehicles are turned around when the parking lot is full. So I think shuttles are the best option.

What to pack for the Plain of Six Glaciers trail

You know, the usuals. Plus micro-spikes. As the season shifts, wind, rain and snow come out of nowhere, so I keep my layering game on point and comfortable. Plus, if you know me, I am always cold.

  • Day Pack
  • Puffy Jacket
  • Layers
  • Hiking Boots
  • Wool Socks
  • Mitts/Hat
  • Hiking Poles
  • Food (sweet Jesus we could assemble a charcuterie board with everything we bring)
  • Bear spray?( hibernation time, 125 days of lethargic sleep, nice)
  • Navigation
  • Headlamp
  • First Aid
  • Sunscreen

The hike to the Plain of Six Glaciers

Distance: 16.14km

Difficulty: moderate

Elevation Gain: 547m

Time: 5 hours 23 min (clearly I am not the fastest)

LNT

Pack it in, pack it out! SO SIMPLE.

  • Plan Ahead and Prepare
  • Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
  • Dispose of Waste Properly
  • Leave What You Find
  • Minimize Campfire Impacts
  • Respect Wildlife
  • Be Considerate of Other Visitors 

Happy Trails!