Iceberg Lake Scramble

Trailhead: Park at the Num Ti Jah Lodge located on the north side of Bow Lake approximately 40kms north of Lake Louise on the Icefields Parkway. Banff National Park.

Description: Iceberg Lake is located above Bow Falls below the Bow glacier on Wapta Icefields and is considered a moderate to difficult scramble involving some cliff edge exposure. Recommended for experienced hikers and scramblers.

Locate the Bow Falls trailhead behind the Num Ti Jah Lodge near the shore of Bow Lake. Follow the lakeshore trail while enjoying beautiful views of Bow Lake, Bow Glacier, Bow Falls and the Wapta Icefields. Shortly after the trail begins to climb take the signed natural bridge trail on your left.

The natural bridge consists of a large boulder wedged in the river canyon which is the start of another trail that leads to the Canadian Alpine Club’s Bow Hut Hostel. Carefully cross the natural bridge and follow the trail a short distance until it turns south towards Bow Hut. Drop down to the drainage, cross the creek and aim for the far left side of the moraine beside Bow Falls.

Follow a worn scree trail up to the headwall and locate a cliff ledge leading to your left. The ledge is somewhat hard to see when standing below at the creek. Carefully travers the ledge. The first 70m or so is easy going until you reach a short 3 meter narrow section that offers solid ground and good handholds. Once you pass this short section the worst is over.

Continue on up and over a few easy treed cliff bands until you reach a flat section below the moraine. Resist the urge to follow the moraines ridge to the top. The upper top back side of the moraine is loose and it turns into a 300m drop to the bottom of the falls. Aim far left of the moraine ridge and cairn you see at the top. Once you top out on the moraine, Iceberg Lake lies in front of you. There may be a registry located in the cairn. This Is Bear Country.

Bow Valley Parkway Map PDF