Are you looking for an easy day hike near Canmore where you’ll hike to a beautiful alpine lake? Then add Chester Lake Trail to your list of places to visit in the Kananaskis and Canmore area.
Located in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park near Kananaskis, this beautiful and easy hike takes you through the forest to an alpine meadow below Mt Chester.
This is a perfect trail if you’re looking for something not too difficult and not too long but still with a rewarding view of the Canadian Rockies.
It’s also a great hike to do if you’re near Canmore and don’t want to drive too far.
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Everything you need to know about Chester Lake trail
The Chester Lake trail takes you through some dense pine forest for the first section of the hike.
After a while, it opens up into a beautiful mountain meadow where you will continue along until you reach the dazzling Chester Lake.
The Lake is the endpoint of this specific trail but there are still plenty of peak and summit hikes that start from the base of this lake.
For a nice and relaxing hike, the base of Chester Lake is the perfect place to enjoy a nice lunch and even snap some pictures.
The backdrop of the mountains behind the clear lake makes for some incredible photos.
If you’re feeling adventurous you can walk around the lake and behind you’ll be able to spot a waterfall, be careful though as bears have been spotted in that area quite frequently.
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is known for bear sightings on many of its well-known hikes so check in advance before heading out on the trail.
Here are all the advisories associated with Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.
This trail is highly recommended for bigger groups, families, dogs, and anyone looking to get out and see some of the beautiful hiking near Canmore has to offer! 🙂
Practical information about Chester Lake Trail
Distance: 9.3 km return / 5.8 miles return
Elevation: 433 m / 1420 ft. elevation gain
Type: In-and-out back
Length: 2-3 hours return
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Park Pass: Kananaskis Conversation Pass
Annual Trail Closure: May 1 – June 29 (due to wildlife conservation)
More information: Check out AllTrails
Click here to see a map of the beginning of the Chester Lake Trail.
Hiking Tip: Look up the trail on AllTrails before starting your hike 🗺️. You can find important trail information such as recent wildlife sights and trail closures. Check out the free version here or get a 7-day free trial of AllTrails+ here.
Here’s a picture of the beginning of the trail
Starting the hike at the Chester Lake parking lot
The trail starts right at the Chester Lake parking lot which is very convenient since there are toilets and picnic tables right at the beginning.
The parking lot does get full though since there are quite a few hikes that start near the beginning of the trail.
You can see the trail map for Chester Lake to make sure you’re starting at the right spot. The hike itself is pretty straightforward forward but there are a few ways to go about the hike so it just depends which trail you take.
At the end of the day, either way you go will be roughly the same distance and the total for the full hike will be around 9 kilometres.
All the trails are quite similar and lead to the same place. You can always take one of the trails up to the lake and a different one back down.
Through the forest up towards Chester Lake
The middle section of the hike isn’t the most breathtaking. You’re basically going to be completely surrounded by pine trees for the most part without many views.
The trail is quite wide and easy to follow but can get really muddy when it rains. Make sure to wear your hiking shoes!
There really isn’t a whole lot of elevation on this hike and that’s why we’d rate it as moderate. This whole middle part you’re basically walking on what feels like a flat trail with a tiny bit of elevation.
Slowly but surely the pine trees will open up and mountains will come into view. That means you’re getting close to the lake and there isn’t much left in the hike!
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Taking in the view of Chester Lake
As you get closer and closer to the opening you’ll realize you’re almost there and the lake is nearly in sight.
Once you turn that final corner where the lake comes into view you’ll understand why this hike is so highly recommended.
The meadow where Chester Lake is located is absolutely stunning. The whole backdrop of the lake has mountains surrounding it.
The main mountain you can see is Mount Chester and that’s definitely one of the best hikes in the area if you’re looking for a challenging hike to do.
Mount Chester overlooks the lake and the forest who hikes through and the views from up there are incredible.
In the distance, you’ll also see The Fortress and Gusty Peak. Two other awesome peaks to bash out in the area if you come back to this area.
We’re being serious when we say there are some amazing hikes in Kananaskis!
Back from Chester Lake to the carpark
This hike is an in-and-out hike so you do hike in and out the same way but if you look at the trail map you can see the trail can actually be done as a loop trail.
It won’t make a big difference but you will get to walk on a slightly different trail.
Both of the trails are through the forest and have similar paths/distance. Sometimes it’s nice to see something a little different even though it’s similar.
If you do want to do Chester Lake as a loop trail it’s best to follow this trail map for Chester Lake.
The hike is nicer to do counterclockwise to get the best views.
What to bring on the Chester Lake trail
One of the most important things to bring on the Chester Lake Trail is sunscreen and a big bottle of water, hopefully reusable of course (LifeStraw bottles).
We hiked Chester Lake and the weather was super rainy but we’ve hiked in Kananaskis during the summer and it gets HOT!
We also just throw everything imaginable that way we may need into backpacks. Everything from a tripod to a power bank to all the food we may need for the day.
The nice thing is that this hike isn’t too long so if you do by chance forget something in your car it’s not that far of a journey back.
Canmore isn’t that far of a drive either (30 minutes) if you need to go to the grocery store or grab something.
Packing list for Chester Lake trail:
- Water! We always fill up our LifeStraw bottles before hikes and even during them when we can. Make sure to fill it up beforehand.
- Sunscreen is highly recommended when hiking in Canada during the summer. In the summer months you’ll roast when you’re up by the lake.
- A power bank is always nice to have on any hike you do! You don’t want a dead phone halfway through a hike.
- Bring some lunch for a nice picnic for when you make it to Chester Lake. It’s a great place to relax and enjoy the view.
Also, this is a great list of hiking gear that you may need on a hike!
Even if you’re just doing an easy day hike in Alberta you should always be prepared!
The best affordable camera for beginners
If you’re looking for the best and most affordable camera for beginners, check out the Sony Alpha a6000 Camera.
This is the camera we’ve been using for years and still use to this day.
It’s perfect for travelling and super easy to use – even if you’re a beginner.
Camping in Spray Lakes
Spray Lakes Provincial Park is located very close to Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. If you’re looking to stay the night you can camp out at Spray Lakes Campground. It’s an unserviced campsite with 50 spots and you will almost always be able to find a spot unless you come quite late in the evening or on a long weekend.
We’ve never seen it full though so you should be ok. Otherwise there are tons of other campsites in and around Canmore. You might even stumble upon some magical spot yourself.
Here are the directions from Chester Lake Trail to Spray Lakes campground.
If you want some more information on the Spray Lakes Campground then this site has some great info.
🏕️ Not into camping? Check out this list of the best hotels in Banff instead!
How to get to Chester Lake Trail
From anywhere in Calgary
- It’s roughly a 2-hour drive from Calgary to Chester Lake Trail.
- The directions can be found here.
- You have a few options on how to get there from Calgary too. You can also drive to Canmore first and then go from there.
From anywhere in Canmore
- It’s roughly an hour drive from Canmore to Chester Lake Trail.
- The directions can be found here.
- Definitely recommend having a 4×4 because the amount of potholes.
Before you hike Chester Lake
Although this is an easy hike you should always plan ahead when you go hiking. Know the route and check the weather forecast. It makes your trip so much easier and safer to plan ahead of time.
Here you can see the weather for Spray Valley National Park.
But before even doing that, it would be a great idea for you to check if the trails are open or if there are any warnings on it. It’s nice to know if a grizzly and her cub have been spotted on the trail recently. If that’s the case, you can do some other hikes near Canmore or even some hikes in the Kananaskis area.
Leave no trace
When you go hiking (and do other outdoor adventure activities), always remember to follow the 7 principles of leaving no trace.
This means:
- Plan ahead and prepare.
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
- Dispose of waste properly.
- Leave what you find.
- Minimize campfire impacts.
- Respect wildlife.
- Be considerate of others.
Hiking Tip: Look up the trail on AllTrails before starting your hike 🗺️. You can find important trail information such as recent wildlife sights and trail closures. Check out the free version here or get a 7-day free trial of AllTrails+ here.
Other related questions about Chester Lake Trail
How long of a hike is Chester Lake Trail?
Chester Lake Trail is 9.3 kilometers return.
Although this might seem long, there isn’t a lot of elevation on this trail which actually makes this hike easy to moderate.
You can do the hike in 2 to 3 hours depending on your fitness level and how many breaks you take.
Can you swim in Chester Lake?
Yes, you can swim in Chester Lake!
On a hot summer day, this is the perfect place to cool down.
Just keep in mind that this is an alpine lake where the snow runoff from the winter season feeds into the lake. This means that the water is very cold!
You may also like…
- A Grizzly Bear Encounter in The Wild – Lake Louise
- 5 Amazing Hikes in Kananaskis Country You Must Do
- Hiking the Iconic Vision Quest Near Nordegg
- Grizzly Peak – Quick and Challenging Day Hike in Kanaskis
- Fun and Challenging Black Rock Mountain Hike Near Calgary
Recap of the Chester Lake hike
- There are bathrooms in the parking lot.
- Bikes are allowed on the trail but only on the first 2 km of it.
- Chester Lake Trail is for day use only. This means that you cannot go camping here but definitely drive back to the Spray Lakes campground and enjoy a night or two there while hiking in the area.
- The trail is open during winter for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.
Enjoy this beautiful hike and if you have any questions about the trail or how to get there then please reach out to us!
You can reach out and DM us on Instagram @redwhiteadventures or leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you right away!
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This looks like such a cool hike! I went to the Canadian Rockies two summers ago and fell in love with it. Banff is so beautiful! 🙂
It was pretty cool! Definitely a good one to start off with after being gone for a year 🙂 Banff truly is beautiful – I can’t wait to explore more of this area!
– Jo
Whoah, before reading this post I had no clue you needed bear spray at all (or that such a thing existed)! Good to know, living in Canada! I have been to the east side of Canada, and hopefully, one day I’ll get a chance to visit the west, and then I’ll definitely give this trail a shot. I suck at hiking, but easy 10 km sounds promising! 😀
Yeah, it’s a little scary thinking about, isn’t it? I didn’t know about bear spray either but now I’m really happy we have one! Let us know if you ever go to the Western part and we’ll give you our best insider tips and tricks 😉
– Jo
Oh my gosh how beautiful! I really need to make my way to that part of the world soon. Canada looks beautiful ?
Hey Charu,
If you find yourself in Canada then let us know! We will be travelling too and looking to meet up with fellow travellers! 🙂
– Dom
Ah, reading that bear spray was necessary makes me nervous! I’m sure as long as you have it, you’ll be fine. The views are worth the risk! Great tips 🙂
You’ll be ok! Most people never encounter a bear on the trail – neither Dom or I have seen one after many hikes and barely any of our friends have. It’s just good to have it in case you need it. Better safe than sorry, right? 🙂
– Jo