Worth the drive from banff! We went here late afternoon and did kayak. Definitely the highlight of our trip. The lake is just gorgeous and picturesque. Truly stands up to its name. In the afternoon the water is calm and you can take pictures of the mountains having reflections on the water. Just amazing.I definitely recommend visiting and kayaking in this beautiful lake.
lisabY1109TV
I loved this place and want to go back and stay at the lodge. We only stayed a day and did some hiking. Drove there from Lake Louise and glad we did. The only thing was the crowd. We went in the off season.... we thought... the second week of Sept. The tour buses with crowds of people kinda spoiled the serenity I had hoped to enjoy in such a breathtaking place. That being said.... It is worth seeing and hiking around the lake. At the end of the lake we found Coyote, Elk and Moose tracks. We really wanted to stay and do more hiking.... We will be going back.
nixp2014
Great accessible trails, and beautiful view! Paths are cleared somewhat, but in the winter time, you definitely want to wear proper footwear and possibly ice cleats.
NoriS776
My husband and I rented a jeep in Skagway and drove up to Emerald Lake. It was a rainy day, but was still a beautiful drive. Our turn around point was Emerald Lake. Unfortunately we didn't have time to hike, but we did enjoy the few minutes we spent there. Even on an overcast day, the lake was just lovely.
frankt519
great views of mountains , nice trails , history of the old 10 dollar bill , nice little restaurant , good camping close by,
Phashion
Another Hidden Gem of Yoho National Park, besides Lake O’ Hara. The glacial lake is truly emerald, surrounded by mountains, glaciers, avalanche slopes and the world-famous Burgess Shale fossil beds.The trail to Emerald Basin is considered moderate, due to some steep sections along the way. For traveler who wants to have a least strenuous hike, the trail that circuit around the lake which took about an hour, is considered rewarding.
TejasBuckeye
My wife and I hiked around the lake last week and it was absolutely stunning. One of the highlights of our week in the Canadian Rockies. So many different parts of the hike but overall not difficult and about 2 hours. Caution that the trail back to the parking lot had 2-3 fallen trees we had to navigate around.
163BenW
The Emerald Lake is a nice lake. But I found it not so special that it is worth to go there; in particular since the restaurant there is relative expensive and not so great.