This is a bucket list photograph. Peyto Lake, the “bluest” lake in the Rockies. This photo is also a good geological learning opportunity.
First off, the water becomes a cloudy teal thanks to “Rock Flour,” or sediment from glacial erosion. Next, take a look at the right side of the photo. Notice how the valley is a “U” shape? Glacially formed valleys have this distinct “U” shape while valleys formed from moving water are “V” shaped (and are often more narrow). That “U” shape is called a glacial trough.
This is the highest part of the breathtaking Icefields Parkway. There are two parking lots here, one for the handicapped and tour buses and the other a bit further away. Being on a motorcycle and taking up only a little amount of space, I parked in the closer tour bus lot. From there it is just a short walk to the Bow Summit viewpoint.
