The Vermilion Lakes in Banff National Park are a chain of lakes with a beautiful ecosystem and stunning views of Mount Rundle. Fun animals live here like squirrels, muskrats, geese, deer, and more.
One of my favourite things about the Vermilion Lakes are the 3 docks located at different parts along the lakes, which make for the perfect photo spot, a serene place to watch the sunrise over Mt. Rundle, or even to launch your canoe or Stand Up Paddleboard!
I have lived 4 hours from Banff National Park my whole life, and I always try to get to the lakes when I visit, especially during the quieter parts of the day (early morning or late evening) to spend some time in nature and for the best chance to spot some animals.
In this guide, I want to share with you how you can visit the Vermilion Lakes for yourself, and everything you need to know about them!
In this post, I will cover everything you need to know, including how to get there, facilities at the lakes, what to do, places to stay in the area, and tips for visiting.
Please know this website is reader supported and includes some affiliate links. I earn a small commission when you click on or purchase from affiliate links at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!!
Visiting Vermilion Lakes in Banff
Making a stop at the lakes is super easy to fit into your Banff itinerary, because they are super close by to Downtown Banff!
The Vermilion Lakes are free to visit, which makes them a great choice if you are visiting Banff on a budget! Just make sure to have your Canadian National Parks Pass displayed at all times in your vehicle if driving!
Where are the Vermilion Lakes?
The Vermilion Lakes are located on Vermilion Lakes Road, just outside of Downtown Banff (about 1km). You can easily get there from Downtown, which makes them super accessible even if you are travelling the Canadian Rockies without a car!
How to Get to the Vermilion Lakes
To get there, you can drive, walk, or bike from Downtown Banff! Vermillion Lakes Road connects to Mt Norquay Road, on the Western side of Banff.
In my opinion, the best way to get there is to take an evening walk from Downtown Banff along Mt. Norquay Road to Vermilion Lakes Road. Then continue to walk the road, enjoying the scenery and peacefulness of the area! You can also walk part of the Fenlands Trail to get to the Lakes, which is a super pretty walk to take as well.
Parking at Vermilion Lakes
Along the road itself, there isn’t a main, large parking lot. There are, however, a few smaller areas to park and some spots where the shoulder of the road is wide enough to pull over on.
If you are planning to drive to Vermilion Lakes, I would highly recommend going early morning or late evening, because during the peak day it can be stressful to drive the road!
The Vermilion Lakes Road is super popular with bikers, and it makes it really difficult to drive and get around them, while making sure you are going slow and safe for the bikers and animals (and any other cars that might pop up too). There is also no centered line on the road.
Park Nearby and Walk to Vermilion Lakes
Another option to get there is to park closeby Vermilion Lakes, at the Banff Train Station and walk. It’s about a 12 minute walk from the Train Station (free parking!) to the beginning of the Vermillion Lakes road. On the way you’ll pass the Banff Town Sign as well, so make sure to stop for a photo!
One last option for parking nearby and walking is to park at the small lot for the Fenland Trailhead. You can hike part of the Fenland Trail to get to the Vermilion Lakes (it connects to Vermilion Lakes Road), which makes it a nicer walk instead of being on pavement the whole time.
Technically, you are not supposed to park at the Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre, as they would like to keep this parking clear for those who are actually using the Centre! You can pop in to fill your waterbottle or use the bathroom if you need to though. There is also 15 minute parking here just to see the Banff Sign, but it is usually pretty full in the 15 minute section during peak times.
Biking to Vermilion Lakes
One of the most popular ways to explore the Vermillion Lakes is to bike! You can park at one of the free parking spots mentioned above, or start from anywhere in Downtown Banff and bike there.
The roads from Downtown Banff are relatively flat, making this a great option. Vermilion Lakes Road is also quite flat (some small hills, if you could even call them hills!) and it is a super popular place to bike.
This path is part of the Legacy Trail, that connects Banff to the nearby town of Canmore. If you have a day to spend, you could bike from one town to the other, and even further into Banff National Park via Vermilion Lakes Road! Just make sure to have a plan on getting back too.
Public Transportation to Vermilion Lakes
There isn’t a bus stop at the Vermilion Lakes. However since it is within walking distance from Downtown Banff, you could take any Banff that goes into town and easily walk to the Lakes from there.
The closest bus stop to the Lakes is the Banff Train Station Elk Street stop, which is accessible on ROAM Transit Route 3, that connects Canmore to Banff.
Vermilion Lakes Facilities
The facilities here include:
- Pit toilets in a small pull out, about halfway down Vermilion Lakes Road
- A few small parking areas and some places to pull over and park along the road
- Docks at different parts of the Lakes (there are 3 docks!). Some docks have a small bench and a bike rack as well
- Self-permit boxes for taking out a personal watercraft onto the Lakes
Other facilities nearby Vermilion Lakes:
- Fenland Banff Recreation Centre: washrooms and a waterbottle fill station inside
- Two outdoor bathrooms at Banff Canoe Club a little bit further away, but connects nearby via the Bow River Trail
- Downtown Banff is close by so any other food or facilities you need can be found there!
The Best Time to Visit Vermilion Lakes
Vermilion Lakes are a great spot in Banff to visit year-round, whether it’s the Spring, Summer, Winter, or Fall season.
Personally, I think the best time to visit is in the late Spring, Summer, or early Fall, when they are thawed and you can enjoy them by watercraft. However they’re also fun to ice skate on in the winter!
The best time of day to visit is early morning or late evening. This will give you the best chance to see animals out and about, as well as to avoid any crowds. However if you go during the early morning, you are likely to come across photographers as this is a popular spot for early morning photos of Mt. Rundle!
How Long to Spend at Vermilion Lakes
You can spend as much or as little time as you want at the Vermilion Lakes!
If you have time, I would recommend dedicating a good chunk of your time to walk or bike and explore the shoreline, as I think this is the best way! Or spend time out on the water with your SUP.
But you can also stop in for a super quick photo and continue on your way. It depends how much you’re trying to fit into your days exploring Banff!
What to do at Vermilion Lakes
Similar to most of the lakes in Banff, the things to do at Vermilion Lakes includes exploring the Lakeshore (this one has docks!), photography, getting out on the water, and hiking nearby.
Explore the Lakeshore Docks
Like I’ve mentioned quite a few times, there are 3 docks at the Vermilion Lakes!
These docks make these lakes unique as there aren’t really a lot of Banff lakes that have actual docks.
Sitting on these docks make a great photo opportunity or a great place to have a picnic, have morning coffee, or watch the sunset or sunrise (let’s just hope it’s not busy and you don’t have to share the dock!).
Photography
The Lakes are also a popular spot for photography, especially in the morning as the sun rises.
You can get really pretty photos here while the sun is rising, or depending on conditions, if there is fog rolling on top of the lake, or you’re lucky to see animals during the early morning light.
Even if you’re a beginner photographer, it’s hard to take bad photos here!
Fishing
You can fish in Vermilion Lakes from May – September (check the exact dates for open season at Parks Canada). Just be sure to follow all rules and regulations, and have a valid Canadian National Park Fishing Permit before heading out.
You can get National Park Fishing Permits from any Visitor Centres in the National Parks. There is a visitor centre in Downtown Banff, as well as in Lake Louise Village and on the outskirts of Canmore Town!
If you have a watercraft you’re fishing from, make sure it is also following the regulations for taking it out on the water and fill out an Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention self-permit. You can find this self permit at Vermilion Lakes usually by the docks!
SUP, Canoe, or Kayak
These lakes are also a super serene place to bring your Stand Up Paddleboard, canoe, or kayak!
Because people don’t really swim in the Vermilion Lakes, it’s a quieter place to enjoy in Banff. It’s also cool because you can explore different areas of the lake that you can’t necessarily explore without a watercraft.
Make sure to fill out the Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention self-permit at the docks before heading out, and make sure to follow the watercraft rules for cleaning and drying your watercraft in order to keep these waters clean and safe!
There are no canoe, kayak, or SUP rentals available directly at Vermilion Lakes, so you’ll need to either rent beforehand and transport it to the Lakes yourself, or bring your own.
Banff Canoe Club offers rentals and is closeby the Lakes, and in years past you could paddle your way to the Lakes from where they rent from. I recently tried to do this in August 2024, and there was a Dam blocking the entrance to the Lakes! So we had to turn back. In future years I guess it’s up to the Beavers (or whoever built that dam!) if you can access the lakes from the Banff Canoe Club!
Vermilion Lakes Viewpoint
To see the Vermilion Lakes, you don’t necessarily need to be on Vermilion Lakes Road or at the lakeshore.
There is a great viewpoint from the Highway that provides a nice birds-eye view of the lake system and Mt. Rundle in the background. It’s also a beautiful spot for photos!
On Google Maps, this spot is called Vermilion Lakes Viewpoint. It’s only accessible on the side of Highway 1 heading East towards Banff, so if you want to stop here you’ll have to be heading in that direction!
This viewpoint is a great option if you want to see the lakes, but don’t have time to walk or bike there, and don’t want to take your car all the way down the road and dodge bikers or pedestrians.
There’s also a pit toilet at this viewpoint!
Can you Swim in the Vermilion Lakes?
It’s not really recommended to swim in Vermilion Lakes, because it’s more of a marshy ecosystem instead of those picturesque, crystal blue lakes you see everywhere in Banff!
Close to the shoreline there are reeds and vegetation, and it’s just not really a great swimming spot!
But, there are a ton of other amazing places to swim in Banff if you’re looking to swim!
Hikes At and Near Vermilion Lakes
The main you can combine with Vermilion Lakes is the Fenlands Trail, because it basically connects directly to Vermilion Lakes Road (look at it on Google Maps!). You can also just walk Vermilion Lakes Road too.
At the end of Vermilion Lakes Road where cars are no longer to keep driving, begins the next section of the Legacy Trail and you can continue to walk this trail as well if you wanted to. Technically, it’s called the Echo Creek Heritage Trail, but it does eventually parallel the highway again, and if you’re not on a bike I don’t really think it’s worth it to keep walking! The pretty part of the walk is along the Vermilion Lakes themselves.
For other easy hikes in Banff that are near Downtown, check out Bow Falls or for a little more incline, Tunnel Mountain!
Other Things to do Near Vermilion Lakes
There are some great things around Banff you can pair with a visit to the Vermilion Lakes!
Banff Town Sign
If you’re walking or biking to the Vermilion Lakes, I would highly recommend setting aside some time to also snap a photo at the Banff Town sign!
It’s almost always busy so you’ll probably have to wait in a line, but it’s such a cute memory and I think it’s worth it!
If you’re walking to the lakes, you can’t really miss it. But just in case, it’s called Banff Town Sign on Google Maps 🙂
Explore Downtown Banff
You can walk to the Vermilion Lakes from Downtown Banff, so if you have an afternoon or morning planned in Downtown, you could add on a walk to the Vermillion Lakes and Town Sign onto your day!
Bike the Legacy Trail
The Legacy Trail is a paved pathway that connects Canmore to Banff. It runs parallel to Highway 1 and is used as a biking path and other sports. Vermilion Lakes Drive is a part of the Legacy Trail, although cars are allowed on a small section of it.
From the Vermilion Lakes, the Legacy Trail continues onwards, but cars cannot drive further than Vermilion Lakes on the path.
If you’re looking for a great way to spend the day (it’s not a quick ride!) you could plan to bike the Legacy Trail and explore Vermilion Lakes in the process.
Continue towards the Bow Valley Parkway
From the Lakes, the Legacy Trail continues on to the Bow Valley Parkway. This is another popular spot for biking, and at certain points of the year (Spring and Fall) part of the Parkway closes and only bikes are allowed on it.
If you are not a strong biker, or you’re not sure, I would highly recommend having an e-bike if you are planning to cycle the Bow Valley Parkway or a big chunk of the Legacy Trail!
If you’re just cycling from Downtown Banff, Vermilion Lakes Road, and back, then you should be fine with a normal bike as it’s relatively flat and not super strenuous! (make decisions based on your own abilities though!).
Spend a Day Exploring Other Banff Lakes –
There are so many lakes in Banff, you could spend days exploring all of them! Luckily, there are quite a few nearby that would fit well into an itinerary with Vermillion Lakes.
North East of Vermilion Lakes and Downtown Banff are a bunch of lakes all on Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive, that you could visit in one afternoon:
- Cascade Ponds
- Johnson Lake
- Two Jack Lake
- Lake Minnewanka
Or, head West from the Lakes and explore Lake Louise, and continue driving the Icefields Parkway to Bow Lake and Peyto Lake!
If you are planning to visit Lake Louise, make sure you are prepared to pay for parking, if you’re lucky enough to snag a parking spot. If parking is full, I would recommend continuing on with your plan and circling back in the late evening (plus, parking is free at Lake Louise after 7pm in the summer!).
Where to Stay Near Vermilion Lakes
You don’t need to stay near the Vermilion Lakes in order to see them. Since they’re really easy to get to and combine with a trip to Downtown Banff, or to see at a quick viewpoint stop along Highway 1, it’s easy to fit them into your itinerary!
But here are a few recommendations anyway, just in case!
Campgrounds Near Vermilion Lakes
- Tunnel Mountain Village I and II Campground: 11 minute drive away
- Two Jack Main Campground: 15 minute drive away
- Two Jack Lakeside Campground: 13 minute drive away
- Johnston Canyon Campground: 26 minute drive away
All of these campgrounds are pretty close to Downtown Banff and the Vermilion Lakes, and can be reserved in advance through the Parks Canada Reservation System online!
Hotels and Hostels Near Vermilion Lakes
A lot of hotels are located more on the East side of Downtown Banff, and the Vermillion Lakes are located on the West side of Downtown on the outskirts of the town. For this reason, it could be a longer walk depending on where you’re staying in Banff! I would recommend plugging in your hotel and the Lakes into Google Maps and getting an estimated distance if you’re not sure!
A few good rated hotels and hostels in Banff are:
- Canalta Lodge: This is a stunning hotel that I stayed at for my sister’s bachelorette party and I absolutely loved it! It is about a 15 minute walk from Downtown Banff and on the Western side. To get to Vermilion Lakes from here it’s about a 45 minute walk! There is a beautiful outdoor courtyard at this hotel with outdoor hot tubs, firepits, a cold plunge, and a sauna.
- Moose Hotel and Suites: In transparency I have never stayed here, but I’ve always wanted to! Moose Hotel has rooftop hot pools, an indoor pool, and they are pet-friendly. It’s just under 30 minutes to walk from this hotel to the Lakes.
- Samesun Banff: The closest hostel to Vermilion Lakes is Samesun, and I’ve also never stayed here. There are mixed and female-only dorm rooms and an onsite bar. It’s a 30 minute walk from here to the Lakes!
- Juniper Hotel: The closest hotel in Banff to the Vermilion Lakes is Juniper Hotel. I’ve also never stayed here, however it’s located on a hill meaning the views are great, it has an outdoor hot tub, and good reviews! It’s a 17 minute walk and 3 minute drive to the Lakes from here.
Vermilion Lakes in the Winter
No matter the season, visiting Vermilion Lakes is a super pretty thing to do during winter in Banff!
Because it is a little bit of a shallower lake, Vermilion Lakes are one of the first to freeze over and be able to ice skate on!
If you are planning to go ice skating on a lake in Banff, remember that you are responsible for your own safety and to always check the ice thickness before heading out yourself.
Once the ice is frozen enough to walk on, you can also head out to explore and just walk around the lake! Depending on the snow level, it could be beneficial to bring snowshoes or ice crampons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! It is very walkable to get here from Downtown Banff, especially if you are spending time on the East side of Banff or visiting the Banff Town sign.
There are a few small areas to park along Vermilion Lakes Road, as well as some areas where the “shoulder” of the road is wide enough for parking. You can also park at the Banff Train Station lot for free and walk, or at the Fenlands Trailhead parking lot and walk to the Lakes from there.
Definitely! Walking around the Lakes is one of the best ways to see them other than biking.
The iconic mountain behind Vermilion Lakes is Mt. Rundle!
Yes, because you are in Banff National Park, you will need a Canadian National Parks Pass to visit.
Summary
Visiting the Vermilion Lakes in Banff National Park is a great spot to add to any itinerary!
Wake up early or go late to try and beat the crowds if you want photos or just a more peaceful visit in general.
Combine your trip with a hike on Fenlands Trail, a bike ride on the Legacy Trail or Bow Valley Parkway, or stop at the viewpoint along Highway 1 if you’re short on time or prefer to see it from above!
You can visit the Vermilion Lakes year-round and enjoy them! Remember to respect any wildlife you might come across here, and drive slow if you’re in a car on the Vermilion Lakes Road! Bikers, pedestrians, or animals could pop out at any time.
I hope this guide on Vermilion Lakes has helped you plan your visit and make the most of your time in this pretty place in Banff!
Keep Reading on the Canadian Rockies!
- Can you visit Moraine Lake in the winter?
- Trip Planning Guide for the Canadian Rockies
- Things to do in Canmore During Winter
- How to get to Spirit Island in Jasper National Park
Save This Guide!
Hey! I’m Kat. Based in Alberta, Canada I love to travel to the Rockies and explore new places around the world. Follow along on my adventures and find inspiration and tips for your own travels.
Leave a Reply