Bow Pass

At 2068 m (6787 ft) Bow Pass is the highest pass in the Banff National Park, and the watershed between the river systems of the North and South Saskatchewan River. A short branch road leads to the magnificent Peyto Lake viewpoint and there is another superb lookout point that can be reached on foot about a third of a mile further on. This is especially lovely in summer, when Bow Summit's mountain meadows are carpeted with wild flowers.

A long steep path from Bow Pass leads down for 2.5 km (1.5 mi.) to Peyto Lake, named after the mountain guide Bill Peyto, who began exploring the area in 1894 and took packhorses of supplies north over Bow Summit.