Man watching the sunrise at Vermillion Lakes, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Getty Images/All Canada Photos

Vermilion Lakes

Banff Town


West of town, this trio of tranquil lakes is a great place for wildlife spotting: elk, beavers, owls, bald eagles and ospreys can often be seen around the lakeshore, especially at dawn and dusk. A paved path – part of the Legacy bike trail – parallels the lakes' northern edge for 5.9km, but the proximity of the Trans-Canada Hwy/Hwy 1 means that it’s not as peaceful as it could be.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Banff Town attractions

1. Marsh Loop

0.86 MILES

This 2.3km loop trail begins near the Cave & Basin National Historic Site and meanders through one of Banff’s most important areas of natural marshland…

2. Cave & Basin National Historic Site

0.92 MILES

The Canadian National Park system was effectively born at these hot springs, discovered accidentally by three Canadian Pacific Railway employees on their…

3. Forty Mile Creek Picnic Area

0.97 MILES

This popular picnic area sits just outside Banff's city limits off Mt Norquay Rd and is a good spot to crack open a hamper if you're short on time or…

4. Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies

1.35 MILES

Founded by local artists Catharine and Peter Whyte, the century-old Whyte Museum is more than just a rainy-day option. It boasts a beautiful, ever…

5. Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum

1.39 MILES

The Luxton Museum recounts the story of Alberta's indigenous people, with a strong emphasis on the Cree, Blackfoot, Blood and Stoney nations. The displays…

6. Banff Avenue

1.43 MILES

A little over a century ago, Banff Ave was Banff. Initially, the central street was home to little more than a handful of hotels, homesteads and trail…

7. Banff Park Museum

1.43 MILES

Occupying the oldest surviving federal building in a Canadian National Park and dating from 1903, this museum is a national historic site. Its exhibits –…

8. Norquay Chairlift

1.54 MILES

This open-air skiing chairlift remains open in the summer, taking you on a 15-minute ride to a viewing platform on Mt Norquay (2133m). You'll find a…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "canada/alberta/banff-town/attractions/vermilion-lakes/a/poi-sig/1481232/361215",
      "destination": "Banff-Town",
      "continent": "North-America",
      "country": "Canada",
      "city": "Banff-Town",
      "position": "superzone"
    }