6/29/2024

Three sisters and Grassi Lakes – Trail to Upper Grassi Lake

As soon as we landed from the airplane, our first stop was Canmore before reaching the town of Banff. We couldn’t resist checking out the Three Sisters Lookout and hiking the Upper Grassi Lake Trail.

The Three Sisters Viewpoint was the perfect introduction to the beauty of the Rockies. The iconic trio of peaks—Faith, Hope, and Charity—stood tall against the clear sky, creating that “wow” moment we were looking for right off the bat. It’s just a quick stop, but the views are so worth it.

Next up, we laced up our hiking boots and headed to Upper Grassi Lake. We took the 2 km trail—there are two options here: the Easy trail and the More Difficult one. Naturally, we opted for the challenge! The trail wasn’t too bad, but there were a few rocky and steeper sections that made it interesting. The elevation gain is around 250 meters (820 feet), so you definitely get your heart pumping without overdoing it.

The scenery along the way was gorgeous, with dense forest, a small waterfall, and some pretty cool rock formations.

When we finally reached Upper Grassi Lake, it felt like stepping into a hidden gem. The water was unbelievably clear, and this bright turquoise color that looked almost unreal. It was the perfect spot to just sit and take it all in—the calm lake surrounded by towering cliffs made for a picture-perfect break.

This afternoon was the perfect introduction to the beauty of the Canadian Rockies—a great warm-up hike that got us even more excited for what the next week would bring. If this was just the beginning, we knew we were in for an unforgettable adventure!