Hiking the Magical Valley of the Five Lakes in the Canadian Rockies

Looking for more fun trails in Jasper National Park?
Check out the incredible Edith Cavell Meadows or the amazing Maligne Canyon and Maligne Lake. For a great place to camp, check out Whistlers Campground, just ten minutes away.

CURRENT INFO

A map and reviews for the Valley of the Five Lakes Trail are available on the AllTrails website. Check out the Jasper National Park website with Parks Canada for more information. When planning a trip to the Canadian Rockies, I recommend the guidebook Moon Canadian Rockies: With Banff & Jasper National Parks.

GOOD TO KNOW

• All visitors must pay the national park entrance fee or have a valid annual Parks Canada Discovery Pass to park at the Valley of the Five Lakes Trailhead. Check the Jasper National Park website for current information.
• This hike is one of the most popular in Jasper National Park, so I recommend arriving early, ideally before 9am on a nice day. Most visitors stick with the 3-mile loop, so the longer hike around First Lake is noticeably less crowded.
• The Valley of the Five Lakes Trail is open from roughly June through October.
• Pets on leash are welcome.
• A vault toilet is available at the trailhead.
• Take a photo of the trail map at the trailhead or download an online map, such as the one available on AllTrails, ahead of time. There is good signage along the trail, but with so many options it can be a little confusing.
• Wear shoes or boots with good traction. Although most of the trail is fairly level, there are a few short steep sections with slippery loose rocks and dirt. Watch for mud if it has recently rained.
• Always follow Leave No Trace principles.

HIGHLIGHTS

The Valley of the Five Lakes is famed for the exquisite colors of the individual lakes, which sit like iridescent gemstones nestled within the evergreen forest. The mesmerizing colors really shine on a clear, sunny day, but are strikingly beautiful even under cloudy skies.

THE KIDS’ TAKE

The three-mile jaunt around the Valley of the Five Lakes is ideal for families. It’s not too long or difficult, but still active enough to feel like a “real” hike. And those lakes! Their fabulous colors are a delightful surprise for kids of any age.

We did the five-mile loop, which is a nice option for kids accustomed to longer hikes. This route gives you the chance to explore more of the shoreline along First Lake, the largest of the lakes, and escape the crowds. Much of the additional length is spent hiking through the woods, and there’s an uphill climb at one point, so it won’t appeal to everyone. For shorter legs and attention spans, stick with the three-mile loop, which hits all the highlights.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE

It’s easy to spend a week or more in Jasper National Park. In addition to our hike through the Valley of the Five Lakes, we enjoyed the trek to Edith Cavell Meadows and through Maligne Canyon. For those looking to get out on the water, a paddle on magnificent Maligne Lake should not be missed. Looking to give river rafting a try? Several companies offer a range of guided rafting trips, including good beginner options. Our family loved our trip down the Athabasca River with Maligne Adventures.

There are many camping opportunities along the Icefields Parkway, many within a ten-minute drive of the Valley of the Five Lakes. We stayed at Whistlers Campground, the largest campground in the Canadian Rockies. With top notch washrooms, showers, and easy access to many sights within Jasper National Park, it’s a great home base.

Jasper townsite has you covered when it comes to basic supplies, groceries, gas, lodging, laundromats, cafes, and restaurants. A few of our favorite places in town include Jasper Brewing Co., Andromeda Coffee, and BeaverTails. In case you’re wondering, BeaverTails is a Canadian chain selling fried pastries (similar to elephant ears or fry bread) with all manner of tasty toppings. If you’re looking for something more refined to satisfy your sweet tooth, try the almond croissant at Andromeda Coffee.

We’d made it through a few smoky days in Jasper National Park, and this morning it seemed our luck was finally taking a turn for the better. Yes, there were clouds overhead, but they were real, honest-to-goodness clouds, not the dull grey haze of wildfire smoke. Maybe, if we were extra lucky, we might even catch a glimpse of sun.

Hoping to take advantage of any possible sunlight (and avoid the likely imminent rain), we drove ten minute from our campsite at Whistlers Campground to the trailhead at the Valley of the Five Lakes. After consulting the trail map, we followed the path into the woods, where the dusty trail meandered through the trees before crossing a small marsh.

Once across the marsh, we were greeted by a trail sign pointing in enough directions to make my head spin. Although most visitors do a short loop hike through the Valley of the Five Lakes, it’s possible to connect with a variety of other trails in the area. In fact, you can even hike all the way to the Jasper Townsite. Our initial goal was much closer: Fifth Lake, a mere 1.9 kilometers away.

As we made our way to Fifth Lake, we passed a small, boggy pond. “This isn’t it!” I called out, just in case anyone had any doubts. Sure, it was pretty, but we expected more from a place named the Valley of the Five Lakes.

The trail grew more challenging as we approached Fifth Lake. While the downhill section is short, it’s easy to lose your footing in the loose dirt. I noticed a few other hikers with trekking poles, and admired their foresight.

Fifth Lake has a way of sneaking up on you. Trees obscure the shoreline, and my first glimpse provided a mere hint of its beauty. Finally, as I walked out onto the shore, I saw clouds reflected in its calm waters. Never ones to take in the scene quietly, the boys immediately jumped onto the dock, shouting in glee.

“Hey! Too loud!” I called. The boys were already eagerly running up the trail to the next lake, while I attempted to soak in a few moments of serenity.

The sun broke through the clouds as we approached Fourth Lake, turning the edge of the water a brilliant emerald green. It’s dazling hues like these that make the Valley of the Five Lakes one of the most popular hikes in Jasper National Park.

Just beyond Fourth Lake, Third Lake beckoned. By now, I imagine you’ve gotten the naming system down. Fifth Lake, Fourth Lake, now Third… such unimaginative names for such a magical place. How about a little more creativity here, Parks Canada?

It’s probably no surprise to learn that our next stop was Second Lake. By now the trail was getting busier, which was unsurprising considering this was the clearest weather we’d seen in days.

After Second Lake, we came to the grand finale, First Lake. This is the largest of the lakes in the Valley of the Five Lakes, and it’s also the point where most people turn back toward the trailhead to complete the three-mile loop. But not us! Wanting to explore further, we continued on the trail alongside First Lake. The path leads through the forest, but there are several side trails leading to the lake. We followed one rough trail down to the shore and discovered the perfect spot for a lakeside lunch break.

The trail along First Lake draws nearer to the lakeshore as it continues, offering more sweeping views. Past the lake, it delves back into the woods, and grows considerably rougher and muddier. At one point, we even lost the main trail, as it was so overgrown. Fortunately, with some sleuthing of our own and a little help from my AllTrails map, we were soon back on track.

Eventually, we came to a sign that confirmed we were on the right path. From here, you can head toward Jasper and Old Fort Point, or turn back for the Valley of the Five Lakes Trailhead. We chose the latter, and the trail quality quickly improved. It also grew steeper, as it climbed to the top of the hill on the opposite side of First Lake.

Once we reached the top, the going was easy, although erosion made some areas slick. After a peaceful walk through the forest, we rejoined the main trail that led to the parking lot. To see so many more hikers on the trail again was a bit of a shock, and we also noted that dark grey clouds were beginning to gather overhead.

We hurried toward the trailhead as the sky darkened, and, as luck would have it, we arrived at the parking lot just after the first raindrops began to fall. Perfect timing! Our luck had held, and our hike through the Valley of the Five Lakes was a rousing success.