Can you see alpine lakes?

Yes. Alpine lakes are one of the highlights of the Sunshine Meadows experience. From the Standish Mountain area, you can see several beautiful lakes surrounded by meadows and Rocky Mountain peaks.

The Standish Viewing Deck provides the best elevated perspective. From here, you can look across Rock Isle Lake, Grizzly Lake, and Laryx Lake, the three principal alpine lakes associated with Sunshine Meadows. Seeing several lakes within the same mountain panorama is one of the reasons the Standish viewpoint is so popular.

Rock Isle Lake is the best known and is easily incorporated into a hike through the meadows. Its combination of blue-green water, forest, wildflowers, and surrounding mountains makes it one of the area's signature scenes.

Grizzly Lake and Laryx Lake are smaller and give the landscape a more secluded alpine character. You can see them from above and then explore the Sunshine Meadows trail network for closer perspectives.

The lakes are particularly beautiful during mid-to-late summer, when the surrounding meadows are green and wildflowers may be blooming. On calm days, the water can also reflect the surrounding mountains.

If seeing alpine lakes is one of your priorities, the combination of the Standish Chairlift, Standish Viewing Deck, and a hike through Sunshine Meadows toward Rock Isle Lake is one of the best ways to experience them. Book the Banff Sunshine Village Sightseeing Gondola & Standish ChairliftBooking the Banff Sunshine Village Sightseeing Gondola & Standish Chairlift Admission includes All taxes, fees and handling charges. Banff Gondola Home