Lillian Lake

Elevation: 2027 m
Elevation Gain: 492 m
Lillian Lake is a popular day hike and backcountry camping destination in Kananaskis Country. Located in subalpine terrain below the Galatea Lakes, its waters combine with theirs to create Galatea Creek. Despite the hike’s popularity, the origins of Lillian Lake’s name are unclear. While the name became official in 1964, Federal and Provincial Geographic records fail to note who Lillian was and why a lake was named for her.
My Ascents:
October 3 2020
Trailhead: Galatea Creek Trailhead
GPS Track: Lillian Lake

Years ago, when Brianne was on maternity leave with our, then, infant girls, she had the irritating habit of sneaking off for mid-week hikes while I was stuck at work (the nerve)! I don’t consider myself a jealous spouse but I always ended up an envy-tinted shade of green when she was out enjoying the Rockies while I languished in my windowless office. As a result of her alpine “infidelities”, she got to hike to a few spots that I’d yet to. Among these, was Lillian Lake which she hiked to with a good family friend in 2018. Fortunately for me, Brianne has no aversion to repeating hikes (unlike this particular dolt) so, with unseasonably warm fall weather forecast, we decided to right one of her past "transgressions" and hiked to Lillian Lake together as a family on October 3, 2020.

As we pulled into the Galatea Creek parking lot at 10 am, I was immediately struck by 3 things:
1) With its clear views towards Mount Kidd’s twin summits, this has to be one of the prettiest parking lots around.
2) Wow is this spot busy! Despite the relatively early hour, the large parking lot was already overflowing with cars parked on grass and up and down the side of the highway nearby.
3) With clear blue skies and vibrant fall colors on full display, I picked a terrible time to forget my camera’s memory card at home! Fortunately, cell phone cameras have come a long way…

From the parking area, we followed the popular trail as it descended 30 vertical meters and crossed the Kananaskis River on a bouncy (!) suspension bridge. In addition to being fun, the bridge also proved scenic thanks to the view downstream towards Mount Kidd.

LEFT: Brianne and 3-year-old Penny enjoy one of the many bridges that cross Galatea Creek over and over and over again on the way up to Lillian Lake. Two years earlier, they’d enjoyed the same hike before Penny could even walk!
RIGHT: With its mossy boulders and miniature waterfalls, the hike up Galatea Creek proved entertaining for the whole family.

LEFT AND RIGHT: Lovely views as we hike up alongside the charming little creek.

With its many waterfalls and crowds, this is not a trail that you want to hike with a full bladder! 🤣

Brianne and Mera follow the re-established trail as it passes through a rubble field that was left behind in the wake of 2013’s devastating Kananaskis flood.

Higher up, the trail briefly leaves the cozy creekside and side-hills up more open slopes to its north…

…Before returning to and crossing the creek yet again. If you’re planning a family hike and your little one likes bridges, this is the trail for you!

LEFT: While the bridges kept the kids entertained, the colorful autumn views kept Brianne and I satisfied.
RIGHT: Mount Kidd’s south summit comes into view. Many years ago, I crossed the trail’s first 7 bridges on my approach to this peak.

Bridge # 821. Just kidding. There were 11 bridges on the hike to Lilian Lake making for a return total of 22 creek crossings. It only felt like 800+ on the hike back down when we were tired! 🤣

LEFT: About a kilometer before the Lake, the trail steepens. Here, Brianne was lucky that 4-year-old Mera pulled her up. Sadly, I benefited from no such assistance as 3-year-old Penny napped on my back.
RIGHT: 7 km from the trailhead, we reached Lillian Lake’s scenic outlet. On the left, an unnamed rocky high point (GR224359) towers above while the hanging valley to its right is home to the Galatea Lakes.

GR224359 fills the panorama from Lillian Lake on a sunny October afternoon. Click to see larger.

LEFT: Lillian is a lovely color but the lake’s forested surroundings eliminate the possibility of sweeping mountain views. While the lake is nice, it is not the prettiest part of the hike up Galatea Creek. Rumor has it that the more distant Galatea Lakes are prettier but, with a 3-year-old and a 4-year-old in tow, we knew that a 14 km return hike would be long enough as is!
RIGHT: Forest or not, Mera was thrilled to find the lake and celebrated our arrival by balancing over wobbly logs to reach a rock where she literally jumped for joy (all while her, sometimes, overprotective Mom, literally, had a panic attack).

Enjoying the lake with my 2 eldest “children.”

Crux may not scramble anymore but he still enjoys a cool swim in a mountain lake on a hot day!

Brianne and the girls enjoy lunch on one of the lake’s plentiful benches. While the lake was a busy place, there were many benches and beaches from which it could be enjoyed. I typically shy away from popular hikes but it was good to see so many people out enjoying a beautiful afternoon in K-Country.

LEFT: Lovely Lillian. It’s not the prettiest lake in the Canadian Rockies but it’s not chopped liver either.
RIGHT: Rocky Mountain monkeys climb stumps in pairs! 🙉

Lillian Lake reflections on a surprisingly hot October afternoon.

After a hearty repast (granola bars!) at the lake, we snapped a quick selfie and started our 7 km trek back towards the trailhead.

LEFT: Penny chases her big sister down the well-travelled trail, allowing us to briefly make good time. Sadly (for me), she depleted her energy reserves about a kilometer below the lake and ended up back on my back a short time later.
RIGHT: Mera and Mom negotiate a rocky drainage on descent. Despite its simple nature (my 4-year-old literally did it without thinking), this step seemed to cause hikers all sorts of difficulties, leading to inexplicable bottlenecks.

When the trail left the creek’s confines, we were treated to fine views (like this one of the Wedge) down-valley.

Crossing, yet another, bridge, Mera and her Mom begin to grow weary. A 14 km day is no small feat for a 4-year-old and, as we neared the trailhead, we were glad that we didn’t push her little legs to go any farther!

LEFT: As we descended, we passed through pockets of cool air that collected near the creek. Normally, these are unwelcome in October but, on this day, the temperature reached 25 C and we were happy for a reprieve from the hot afternoon sun!
RIGHT: ONE. LAST. BRIDGE. As we crossed the scenic suspension bridge, we were all ready to change out of our boots and call it a day.

With the day’s many creek-crossings behind us, we powered up the final 30 vertical meters and returned to the, still-packed, trailhead 6.5 hours after we’d first left it.

Mount Kidd provides, what may have been, they day’s best view from the parking lot! With boots removed and heavy 3-year-olds off backs, we made the quick drive to the nearby Stoney Nakoda Resort complex where we treated ourselves to ice cream and soaked in the late summer sun. 🍦 😎

With weather this fine, we just couldn’t bring ourselves to head home and opted, instead, to spend the night camping at beautiful Bow Valley Provincial Park. As the sun set spectacularly around us, we enjoyed the summer-like evening together as a family. Thank God I wasn’t stuck in the office while the rest of my clan hiked and ate ice cream on this amazing October day! 🙏