Hiking to the Beautiful Eva and Miller Lakes in Mount Revelstoke National Park

Located in the beautiful Revelstoke National Park you’ll find the hike to Eva Lake and Miller Lake. This trail takes you on a 16-kilometre journey through the meadows, pine forest, and past some big rock slides.

This hike is one of those where it’s also about the journey – not just the destination.

Since the hike starts already above 1800 meters you’re going to be in for some amazing views of the mountains and the national park before reaching Eva and Miller Lakes – two incredible alpine lakes that make the long journey absolutely worth it!

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What you need to know about hiking Eva Lake near Revelstoke

In this post, we dive into everything you need to know before hiking to Eva and Miller Lakes and exploring Mount Revelstoke National Park.

We will go over how to get to the trailhead (a beautiful drive up from Revelstoke), what you can expect once you’re on the trail, and share some awesome photos of the view and the lakes!

This is a full-day activity as it does take about an hour to drive to the trailhead from Revy + the hike itself is quite long.

Make sure you give yourself enough time to complete it and enjoy the national park. And once you’re done, you can stop by one of the awesome restaurants in Revelstoke or one of the breweries in town.

Here’s a picture from the start of the Eva Lake hike

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.

Starting at the Balsam Lakes carpark 

As you drive up the Meadows in The Sky Parkway (the road from Revy to the trailhead) you’ll do a ton of zig-zags where you’ll get some great views overlooking the valley.

As you get closer and closer to the trailhead, a few parking lots will start to pop up. We recommend parking at the Balsam Lakes car park as there’s quite a bit of room there so hopefully, you can get a spot. 

Parking at Balsam Lakes adds a few extra hundred meters to the hike but there are toilets at this car park and you also get the chance to see the Balsam Lakes.

As you make your way to the actual trailhead (pictured above) we’d recommend a quick 5-minute detour to the historic fire tower either before starting the hike or after you complete it.

The two-story tower was built in 1927 and has been used to this day as a watchtower for fires (we’ve included a picture of it further down this post).

This two-story cabin gives you a panoramic view of the entire area and it is actually in great condition. The views from the second floor are just incredible!

Walking among the Meadows in the Sky

One thing we liked about starting at this altitude is the fact that you don’t have a crazy ascent through dense forest with minimal views as you get on a lot of other hikes.

Don’t get me wrong, there are tons of awesome hikes around Revelstoke but on the Eva Lake Hike, the fact that you start at this altitude opens you up to some incredible views right from the start.

As you walk past the meadows in the sky you’ll get some awesome views of the surrounding mountains. This section of the trail is very open and you’ll be able to see quite far on a clear day.

In recent years it’s also been a popular area for bears to roam so it’s always good to be bear-aware. We talk about that later in the post as well.

This first section of the hike is relatively flat with only a bit of undulation on a hard-packed dirt trail.

Because of the type of hike it is, we do recommend bringing hiking poles if you have them. It is a long hike and hiking poles will save your knees over the span of the 16 kilometres you’re about to embark on. 

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Through the rockslides towards Miller Lake

As you get out of the meadow and start to make your way more into the national park, the landscape changes. It’s one of the things we love about the Eva Lake hike. 

There are a few sections where you walk through some boulder fields which were caused by land and rockslides in the past.

The views are still quite open and beautiful, but you have to go from one terrain to another, making it quite an exciting hike.

Being surrounded by massive mountains we felt like little ants walking among these boulders.

There is no technical bit or scrambling involved but from time to time you’ll walk over some mid-sized rocks that have ended up on the trail. Make sure you watch your step and you’ll be fine.

There are a few of these sections as you make your way first to Miller Lake and then to Eva Lake before completing the round trip back to the car park.

The last stretch up to Miller Lake

Finally a bit of uphill! That’s why we all love to hike and smash peaks right? But it does feel like the first section of the hike doesn’t have a whole lot of uphill until you make your way to Miller Lake.

The trail itself is really easy to follow as there aren’t many side trails or opportunities to get lost.

There is pretty much only one T-intersection where, to the right, it leads you to Miller Lake, and to the left, it leads you to Eva Lake.

You can do it whichever way you want but we decided to go to Miller Lake first as it’s the closer one. 

It’s a short 10-15 minute hike to the alpine lake from the T-intersection and then you’re in for a real treat!

You’re not going to see it until the last second as you have to hike through a bit of forest on a nice easy-to-follow trail (this is a very popular hike) to Miller Lake.

Good to know: There’s a porter potty by Miller Lake 🚽

Enjoy the views at Miller Lake

Once you get to Miller Lake, you’ll see that every step you’ve taken to this point was absolutely worth it!

This stunning alpine lake feels like it changes colour from every different angle – whether the sun is shining or not. 

Miller Lake has a beautiful gemstone colour to it and as you walk around the lake and onto the little ‘island’ in the middle, you’ll be blown away by how beautiful this spot is.

This is a great place to enjoy your lunch if you haven’t already eaten everything you’ve packed by now!

The lake is surrounded by mountains and it gives a sense of peace and calmness while you’re hanging out by it. At least that’s how we felt on a warm and sunny September afternoon.

Fun fact: The Lake was named after A.E. Miller (the school principal in Revelstoke at the time) who hiked up to the lake in 1906.

Make your way to Eva Lake

As you know, there’s not one but two alpine lakes to visit on this beautiful hike in the national park.

Once you’ve enjoyed the views at Miller Lake, it’s make your way back to the T-intersection. Once you get there, you’ll continue straight onto the way you haven’t gone yet to the other alpine lake: Eva Lake!

This section is uphill more or less the whole way but it’s steady and the views on this section of the trail are stunning.

Before you know it, the lake will appear out of nowhere. You’ll turn a bend and then you’ll see Eva Lake! 

Take in the view from Eva Lake

Finally, the famous Eva Lake! Honestly, both lakes are equally as beautiful but quite different from each other.

At this point, we were quite tired and definitely took a bit of a (well-deserved) break at Eva Lake. There are tons of spots where you can just sit down, relax, and enjoy the view.

We had almost the whole lake to ourselves as there were just a few other people hiking. Since the Eva Lake hike is 16 km return it will only attract full-day hikers and backpackers.

It’s such a peaceful place. I think that’s why so many of us get out into the mountains – to have this sense of peace and accomplishment.

We love Revelstoke and places like these alpine lakes are one of the reasons why this part of the world is so special to us.

Take it all in and enjoy the lake. Feel free to leave a comment at the end of the post with your thoughts on these views!

Fun fact: The warden’s hut at Lake Eva is the second oldest building in the national park after the iconic fire lookout we mentioned earlier in the post.

You can read more about the hut at Lake Eva here if you want to learn more about the restoration of this cabin that was built in 1928.

Time to head back to the trailhead of Eva Lake

Eva Lake is the turnaround point which means at Eva Lake you’ll have done just over 8 km. 

From Eva Lake, it’s a straight hike back exactly where you came from (without going back to Miller Lake) as this is an in-and-out trail.

You’ll start with a bit of descent until you reach the rockslide section. From there you’ll have a bit of uphill until you get back into the meadow section of the hike. 

One thing we like about in-and-out trails is that even though you’re walking back the same way you came from, you get a whole different perspective of it and you see things you haven’t noticed on the way in.

Once you’re back near the beginning of the hike you can stop by the iconic fire lookout if you didn’t do that when you started the hike.

Hopefully, you’re back in time before the park ranger closes the hut for the day.

We mentioned this earlier in the post but you can go inside the two-story cabin and actually climb the ladder up to the second floor.

It’s hands down one of the best views of the area on a clear sunny day!

After that, the next thing to do is to get to town so you can stop by one of the breweries or restaurants in Revelstoke.

End the day relaxing in Revelstoke

There are quite a few good hotels in Revelstoke as well as campsites and camping spots. If you have the time it’s definitely worth staying in town for a day or two. 

I don’t know about you but we definitely don’t mind a nice cold beer after a hike. There’s Mt Begbie Brewing and Rumpus Beer Company in Revy.

We honestly recommend going to both of them as they both serve some pretty delicious beer. 

Whatever you end up doing or the restaurant you end up stopping by you’ll enjoy. Revelstoke is such a relaxing and quiet town. 

Enjoy Eva Lake and Miller Lake and all the viewpoints along the way and then hopefully explore and spend some time in Revelstoke after if you have the time!

Also read: 22 Fun Things to Do in Revelstoke in Summer

What to bring on the Eva Lake hike

For this specific hike, you’re going to want to pack everything you would for any other full-day hike.

We always see it this way: It’s better to overpack and bring some stuff back than to not have enough. Water, food, or whatever it may be.

It’s always best to come prepared and bring everything you may need. That way you’ll enjoy the hike a lot more knowing you’re prepared!

Packing list for Eva Lake:

• Water! We always fill up our LifeStraw bottles before hikes or day trips and even during them when we can. It’s 16 kilometres so one bottle is not enough. Bring lots of water!
• Bear spray (and know how to use it)! We’ll share more about bear safety below.
• Sunscreen! Please pack sunscreen for this hike. You will be completely exposed for the majority of the hike, especially in the meadows and up by the lakes.
• A power bank is good to bring because you don’t want to run out of battery while hiking in the mountains. You’re not far from Revelstoke but it’s still nice to have a charged phone and camera.
• Bring some snacks or lunch to enjoy during the hike. There are a ton of awesome viewpoints to enjoy a snack. Especially at Eva and Miller Lake – those are both great spots to enjoy lunch! 
• Hiking poles are great to have on this hike! There’s a decent amount of elevation and it’s a long hike so having your hiking poles with you will be nice.
• Consider bringing a beacon such as this one from Garmin. You’re deep in the mountains in bear country and there isn’t cellular service everywhere so it’s a good safety item to have.

You can check out this great list of hiking gear to get some more inspiration!

Before you hike to the alpine lakes

Check the weather

As a rule of thumb, you should always check the weather before you go hiking!

Even though the weather is pretty consistent during the summer months in Revelstoke, there are also days with bad weather (and forest fires).

Revelstoke does get a pretty awesome summer climate but this hike is above 1800 meters so the weather and temperature can be completely different up here.

You can see the weather for Mount Revelstoke here.

Wear hiking shoes

We always recommend wearing hiking shoes or trail shoes on almost every outdoor adventure we do.

This trail up to Eva Lake is mostly packed with dirt and rocks with a few small sections with landslides where you have to walk over bigger rocks. 

Either way, it’s good to have proper hiking shoes or at least some sort of trail shoes!

This pair from Columbia is a great option. Jo actually bought these shortly after our visit to Revelstoke.

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:

1. Plan ahead and prepare.
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
3. Dispose of waste properly.
4. Leave what you find.
5. Minimize campfire impacts.
6. Respect wildlife.
7. Be considerate of others.

Bear safety

When you go hiking in Canada (especially Alberta and BC), it’s important to know about bear safety.

Especially in meadows where there’s no cell reception or people to come to the rescue, it’s super important to know how to act if you ever encounter a bear.

There are a few tips and things you should remember if you ever see a bear in the wild:

• Bring bear spray wherever you go. It’s your last line of defence and even though you hopefully never have to use it, it may just be the thing that saves your life. Make sure the safety is off and it’s pointed at the bear. Check out this video on how to use it before you go.
• Stay calm and slowly back away from where you saw the bear. Keep an eye on the bear but continue to walk backwards away from its territory.
• Start looking for a safe place to go. Try and get to another group of hikers. The bigger the group the better.
• Know that black bears and grizzly bears act differently so it’s important to identify what type of bear you’re seeing and then know how to act accordingly!!
• Here is a great post from Parks Canada on everything you need to know about bear encounters, attacks, and anything else related to what to do when you see a bear.

When is the best time to hike Eva Lake?

Late spring through early fall is the best time to hike Eva Lake. That means sometime in June through September.

There’s a chance if you come too early or too late into the season there can be snow up on the mountain!

Mount Revelstoke isn’t as busy and touristy as some of the other national parks in the country so even if you go on a warm sunny summer day when everyone is out it can get busy but not nearly as crazy as say in Banff and Kananaskis!

We also love to get out and hike in the fall when the peak season is over but the weather is still good.

Of course, the daylight in the fall is a bit shorter but if you start earlier in the day you can still maximize your day.

We’ve done some hikes around Golden and Revelstoke during the late summer and fall (September) on weekdays and there’s only been a handful of people on some of these busier trails.

How to get to the Eva Lake trailhead

The best way to get to the trailhead for this specific hike is to drive yourself from town up the mountain.

You’ll take the scenic Meadows in the Sky Parkway (you need a Parks Canada Discovery Pass) to the top of the mountain where you will park at Balsam Lakes.

It will take you just under an hour to drive up the zig-zag road to the car park close to the trailhead! 

You can see the drive from Revelstoke to Balsam Lakes here.

Other related questions about hiking in Revelstoke

Is Revelstoke National Park worth visiting?

Revelstoke National Park is home to plenty of short and long day hikes and you get some incredible views from up there – so yes, it is definitely worth a visit!

Take the meadows in the sky road to 1800 meters above sea level where you’ll have stunning views overlooking Revelstoke, the gorgeous mountains and glaciers, and the Columbia River.

So, yes, the national park is absolutely worth visiting – especially if you plan to do some hiking while you’re in Revy.

How long is the hike to Eva Lake?

Eva Lake is an in-and-out hike that starts from the Balsam Lakes car park. It is 16 kilometres long and can be done in about 4-5 hours depending on your pace.

To give yourself time to enjoy the views and enjoy the whole experience of being up in the mountains give yourself about 5 hours to complete the hike (unless you’re a fast hiker).

You may also like…

• 22 Fun Things to Do in Revelstoke in Summer
• A Sustainable Guide to Visiting Revelstoke, BC
• 8 of the Best Hikes to Do in Revelstoke
• Experiencing the Famous Halcyon Hot Springs near Revy
• 6 Best Hotels in Revelstoke, BC for Your Next Trip

Recap of hiking up to Eva Lake near Revelstoke

If this is your first time in Mount Revelstoke National Park we really hope you enjoy it! The hike up to these two alpine lakes is one of many awesome day hikes you can do in the park and it is well worth a visit.

Eva Lake is great if you are looking for a more full-day hike. If you’re fit and want to smash it out it’s going to be a (long) walk in the park.

But if you’re like us and plan to spend some time at each spot, maybe taking some pictures along the way, and enjoying the view it will take a good chunk of the day to complete it.

There are quite a few awesome viewpoints along the way so it’s worth giving yourself some time!

If you have questions about this trail, hiking near Revelstoke, or anything else related to this beautiful mountain town in BC, feel free to reach out.

You can DM us on Instagram @redwhiteadventures or leave a comment below.

We hope you have the best time visiting Revelstoke! It’s one of our favourite places in Canada and we hope you understand why!

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