Peyto Lake

Peyto Lake (/ˈpiːtoʊ/ PEE-toh) is a glacier-fed lake in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. The lake itself is near the Icefields Parkway. It was named for Bill Peyto, an early trail guide and trapper in the Banff area.[1]

Peyto Lake
Peyto Lake seen from Bow Summit
Location	Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Coordinates	51°43′37″N 116°31′19″W
Type	Glacial
Primary inflows	Peyto Creek
Primary outflows	Mistaya River
Basin countries	Canada
Max. length	2.8 km (1.7 mi)
Max. width	0.8 km (0.50 mi)
Surface area	5.3 km2 (2.0 sq mi)
Surface elevation	1,860 m (6,100 ft)

The lake is formed in a valley of the Waputik Range, between Caldron Peak, Peyto Peak and Mount Jimmy Simpson, at an elevation of 1,860 m (6,100 ft).[2]

During the summer, significant amounts of glacial rock flour flow into the lake from a nearby glacier, and these suspended rock particles are what give the lake a unique bright, turquoise colour. Because of its bright colour, photos of the lake often appear in illustrated books, and the area around the lake is a popular sightseeing spot for tourists. In 2019, Parks Canada began performing construction work on the lake viewpoint, necessitating its closure; the work is scheduled to be completed by 2021.[3] The lake is best seen from Bow Summit, the highest point on the Icefields Parkway.[4]

A tourist sitting on a rocky outcrop overlooking Peyto Lake

The lake is fed by Peyto Creek, which drains water from Caldron Lake and Peyto Glacier (part of the Wapta Icefield). Peyto Lake is the origin of the Mistaya River,[5] which heads northwest from the lake's outflow.