Boom Lake Trail - an Easy Hike in Banff

The Boom Lake trail is part 1 of my 2 part “hike Boom Lake, Taylor Lake, and O’Brien Lake in 1 day” post; you can find part 2 here. The Boom Lake trail is an easy hike in Banff that’s good for all ability levels, families, and solo hikers. The trail takes you through Banff’s beautiful alpine forest and lets out at the magical Boom Lake.

Before I tell you all about what to expect on the Boom Lake Trail it’s important to note that Banff is a National Park which means you’ll need a Park’s Pass. You can buy them at the Park gates, online, or at the visitor centre.

Now, let’s go hiking!

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How To Get To Boom Lake Trail

In case you decide to do part 2 of this hike (Taylor Lake & O’Brien Lake), I’ve marked the Boom Lake trailhead AND the Taylor Lake trailhead below. You’ll need 2 cars to do a car drop.

The Boom Lake trail is located in Banff National Park right near the famous Lake Louise. You can read more about my favourite hike at Lake Louise here.

The Boom Lake trailhead is located 30 minutes from Banff along highway 93. There are no shuttles that take you to the Boom Lake trailhead, so if you don’t have a car you’ll have to rent one.

The Boom Lake day-use area (where you park) has a bathroom and picnic tables.

About Boom Lake Trail

Distance: 10.8km
Elevation gain: 572m
Rated: easy
Type of trail: out & back (point to point if you hike part 2)
Estimated time: 4hrs

Don’t let the distance scare you! The Boom Lake trail is a long one, but the elevation you gain along the way is at a very gentle grade. You therefor barely feel the effort you’re putting in.

The trail is heavily trafficked and well marked, making this a great hike if you’re interested in solo-hiking. The terrain is simple to navigate and does not contain much exposed roots and rocks. This holds true until you get to the lake, which is surrounded by a rock field.

You’ll cross a few tiny streams along the path and walk over a newly renovated boardwalk closer to the lake.

A couple things to note about the Boom Lake trail:

It’s buggy – bring a bug suit. I prefer bug suits over bug repellent because they’re totally chemical & waste free
Bears – there are both black bears and grizzlies in Banff National Park. It’s wise to bring bear spray for protection
Mud – the trail can be quite muddy. make sure you have proper Gore-tex footwear. I use the Scarpa Kailesh boot (men’s version) and I absolutely love them. They’re great in any type of terrain, on day-hikes, and multi-day backpacking excursions.

More: hiking trails in Banff National Park

More: backpacking in Banff National Park

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Hiking Boom Lake Trail

The Boom Lake trail starts at the Boom Lake day-use area. You’ll see a trail sign, the Boom Lake trailhead is directly behind it. There’s honesty not a whole lot to say about the Boom Lake trail! It’s very straight forward and easy to follow.

Along the way you’ll see a few side trails – don’t take these unless you’re headed to Taylor Lake. You’ll be in the trees for the entirety of this hike, so the only views you’ll get along the way are the occasional sneaky opening in the trees.

Do keep an eye out for the cutest painted rocks along the way! They’re scattered on the trail and there’s a few around Boom Lake’s shore.

Right before you reach Boom Lake you’ll cross a newly renovated boardwalk.

Boom Lake

Once you arrive at Boom Lake you’ll quickly discover there’s not many places to sit and chill because the entire shoreline is covered in a rock field. If you want to hangout for the day here, bring camping chairs (these ones are excellent for hiking and backpacking; they’re small and lightweight).

^Also make sure you hike on a nice day! My hiking partners and I hiked on a cold and rainy day. We were super keen to get out and explore, but the rain did make the trip slightly less enjoyable. Mainly because it took away some of the views.

You’ll find one notably large rock along the shore which is the best photo-op.

You can also continue to hike around Boom Lake. There is a very lightly beaten down path that leads through the trees. You may be able to find some pink/orange trail markers, however it’s mostly bushwhacking because this path is not well travelled at all. You’ll pass by a hill, then come to another tiny open spot in the trees which allows you to see the other side of Boom Lake.

According to a good friend of mine (who also created Banff Buzz), this is the best place to fish at Boom Lake! Just make sure you know about all the Park rules and regulations for fishing in Banff.

Continue reading for: part 2 (Taylor Lake & O’Brien Lake), tips for a successful Boom Lake hike, essential hiking gear for Banff, and the best places to stay in Banff.

Looking for More Banff Adventures?

Banff is an adventurer’s & view seeker’s paradise. If you’re planning a trip to this gorgeous Canadian Park, you can start with this step-by-step guide designed to help you plan the perfect Banff itinerary.

Alternatively, check out this page with all my Banff resources.

Banff Hiking Resources

On this page you can find all my Banff trail guides. A few signature hikes in Banff are these easy trails, Tunnel Mountain, Sulphur Mountain, Lake Louise, and Johnston Canyon. If you’re only in Banff for a few days, start with those!

A few of my personal favourite hikes in Banff are Mount Bourgeau, Sentinel Pass, Tower of Babel, the Banff Skoki Loop, and the Sulphur Mountain Traverse Route.

More Banff Resources you Might Find Interesting:

Want to continue your Canadian Rockies expedition outside of Banff? Check out my trail guides & travel resources for British Columbia and Kananaskis Country as well as Jasper, Waterton, Yoho, and Kootenay National Parks 🙂

Part 2: Taylor Lake & O’Brien Lake

I hiked Boom Lake on one day & Taylor Lake and O’Brien Lake another, however you do have the option to hike both of these trails in a single day. Keep in mind the trailheads are far apart though so you will need to do a car drop (find the Boom Lake trailhead and Taylor Lake trailhead on my trailhead map).

More: How to Hike Taylor Lake & O’Brien Lake (Part 2)

Hiking To Taylor Lake FROM Boom Lake

Keep an eye out for the sign (hiker’s right) on the Boom Lake trail that marks the side-trail for Taylor Lake. It will be located midway between the trailhead and Boom Lake; it will clearly state which direction is for Boom Lake vs which direction is for Taylor Lake. Before taking this route, make sure you check out Boom Lake because the Taylor Lake side-trail will lead you away from it! Within 2.5km of following the trail you’ll arrive at the beautiful O’Brien Lake! For a more detailed description of the Taylor Lake trail, check out part 2 of my “how to hike Boom Lake, Taylor Lake, and O’Brien Lake in one day” guide.

For reference this is the actual route, however it does not include a stop at Boom Lake, so make sure you include Boom Lake in your itinerary!

MORE: TAYLOR & O’BRIEN LAKE

Tips For A Successful Hike

Check out part 2 of the Boom Lake Trail; Taylor Lake & O’Brien Lake
Start the Boom Lake Trail early to avoid the crowds – this is a very popular hike in Banff
Bring fishing equipment (make sure you’re following the Park’s guidelines for fishing)
Bring a picnic and backpacking chairs to enjoy Boom Lake’s scenery

There’s one big rock along Boom Lake’s shoreline, this is the best photo-op
Look for the painted rocks with inspirational quotes along the way
Hike Boom Lake on a clear day. If you hike on a foggy day the mountains will be covered and there isn’t tons to see
Continue to walk along Boom Lake’s shore through the overgrown trail to view different parts of the lake