Emerald Lake

Elevation: 1301 m
Elevation Gain: 115 m (cumulative)
Emerald Lake was named by the Canadian Pacific Railway for its vibrant color. The name “Emerald” was, however, not unique in the surrounding Rocky Mountains. In fact, nearby Lake Louise was also called “Emerald Lake” by Tom Wilson in 1882. Thanks to a CPR chalet which began operations in 1902, Emerald Lake has long been a tourist destination. Today, the CPR’s chalet is no more but well-to-do visitors can still enjoy a night shoreside at the Emerald Lake Lodge.
My Ascents:
August 3 2021
Trailhead: Emerald Lake Trailhead
GPS Track: Emerald Lake

My family often asks what I want in the leadup to my early August birthday. This is surprising since the answer has been, more or less, the same for the better part of 2 decades: a day in the mountains! Once upon a time, in the days of my carefree youth, that day would be an exclusive one. An obscure or difficult to ascend peak that would limit my party to those with the required stamina or technical abilities. Like most things in the 2020s, however, I’ve made efforts to make my birthday more inclusive. To that end, my birthday hikes have become family-friendly affairs with a focus on company (first) and scenery (second). I am (slowly) learning that good company is (usually) more pleasant than lofty summits. Perhaps I’m getting wiser in my old age… 🤣

Hoping to find a scenic spot that my family’s many generations could enjoy, I settled on Emerald Lake for the 2021 edition of “Matt’s birthday hike.” Emerald Lake is one of the prettiest places in the Rockies so I felt assured that the easy 5-km hike around it would prove pleasant. Upon leaving the trailhead, however, we were greeted by thick, noxious wildfire smoke instead of crisp, clear mountain air. While this didn’t dissuade the many tourists in pricy rental canoes, I must admit to being somewhat disheartened at the prospect of seeing little to nothing! 😒

As we started our hike (more of a stroll, really) around the lake, cedars provided a highlight in the lush forest. With visibility limited to about 1-km, landscape photography would be taking a backseat to macro photography today…

LEFT: Brianne pauses to read up on the dangers of the slide path on the lake’s northwest shore. Midway through one of the hottest summers ever, I assured her that we were in no danger.
RIGHT: While wildfire smoke limited our views, the lake’s north and west shores provided plentiful foraging opportunities for my little girls and I. If you can’t have scenery, you may as well have ripe Saskatoon berries! 🍒 😋

Penny enjoys her lakeside stroll with special guests (and honorary Hobbs family members): “Aunty” Di and Ripley.

LEFT: You know the smoke is bad when you see a dead tree and think: “Wow – I need a picture of this!” 😂
RIGHT: Penny amuses herself on one of the trail’s many “balance beams.”

At the BOTL (back of the lake), the silty Emerald River lazily winds its way into its namesake lake.

LEFT: While the trail along the lake’s north and west shores had proven sidewalk-like, the going on its south and east shores proved a little lusher and slightly more rugged.
RIGHT: Sadly, the north shore’s tasty Saskatoons gave way to inedible twinberry honeysuckle on the south shore.

LEFT: More macro photography. While “little things” like early morning dew can be pretty, this wasn’t exactly the birthday scenery I’d hoped for! 🙄
RIGHT: Despite the haze, the morning was still too warm for Crux’s liking. Fortunately, water is never far on a shoreline trail!

Taking advantage of a conveniently placed boulder to snap a photo of the entire birthday “party.” Thanks to each of you for putting your respiratory health at risk to hike with me! 😶‍🌫️

My little hikers loved their day with “Aunty” Di (almost as much as they loved terrorizing her canine companion Ripley).

What the devil is this?! Color?! As we rounded the lakeside loop’s ¾ mark, the sky began to clear! 🤯

LEFT: A family of loons swims by to provide their birthday regards.
RIGHT: While the suddenly sunny sky made Brianne happy, the concurrent warming drove our hot dog back into the lake!

LEFT: "Expert" hiker Penny provides a little assistance for her Nannie.
RIGHT: As the trail passed the Emerald Lake Lodge, Nannie and Crux had similar ideas when they stumbled upon a set of cozy seats…

Much-improved views of Emerald Peak (left) and the President (right) thanks to clearing skies.

LEFT: The twin summits of Walcott Peak (left) and Mount Burgess (right) make for a scenic backdrop to Emerald Lake’s, well, emerald 🟢 waters.
RIGHT: As the temperature rose, Grandma decided to take a page out of Crux’s book…

A good idea is a good idea!

Grandpa takes the cooling off a step further… 🤪

Taking the “babies” for a birthday swim!

A colorful panorama from knee-deep in Emerald Lake! 😍 Click to see larger.

LEFT: While Grandpa and I splashed about in the glacial waters, most of our (birthday) party preferred to stay dry like Penny and Nannie did.
RIGHT: As though the Emerald scene wasn’t colorful enough, this monarch butterfly elected to join us while we enjoyed select birthday snacks.

After a stroll, a swim and a snack, the time came for us to free up space in the busy parking lot. We came and, thankfully, we also saw! Thanks to the good company and the (better-late-than-never) views, August 3 2021 proved to be a very happy birthday indeed.