If you’re here, chances are you’ve already seen the pictures that show how beautiful Cascade Ponds in Banff is. The Cascade area is picturesque, close to the town of Banff and the Trans-Canada Highway, so you have every reason to check it out. This guide will cover everything you need to know.
Cascade Ponds Overview
While Banff is home to famous lakes like Lake Louise and Peyto Lake that draw large numbers of visitors, the park also has lakes worth seeing that are not quite as busy.
Cascade Ponds is a place like that. It’s a good area to spend time for some nice activities as it provides a nice cooling plunge on hot summer days, it has picknick and BBQ opportunities, and it offers several nearby hiking opportunities.
Where Is Cascade Ponds Located?
Located off the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) off Banff Avenue, Cascade Ponds is hard to miss. Take the second right after you drive under the highway et voilà, you’re there! If you hit Two Jack Lake or Lake Minnewanka, you’ve gone too far.
Just to make sure, here are the coordinates: latitude: 51.212314; longitude: -115.532119.
Cool to know: Cascade Ponds offers you a view on the Cascade Range, a collection of frosty mountains that extend for over 1100 kilometers (700 mi).
What’s the Best Time to Visit Cascade Ponds
Luckily, Cascade Ponds are open all year round and are a lovely place to be with family during any season.
That said, I believe that fall is the best time to visit Cascade Ponds. Nature never looks as beautiful as it does throughout those few months. Witness the beautiful colors firsthand and enjoy strolling through the mesmerizing scenery.
Summerheads would fall in love with Cascade Ponds when the sun is out too. It’s the perfect spot to sunbathe, splash around some water, and have a summer picnic or BBQ hangout. You’ll find the fire pits at Cascade Ponds picnic area including a covered picnic shelter with wood stove.
It has picnic tables, outhouses and there’s even a sandy beach. Additionally, Cascade Ponds is probably best suited for children because it is reasonably shallow.
Winters, on the other hand, can be tricky, but so long as you’re properly prepared you’ll be able to enjoy snow-filled trails and frozen lakes.
What Animals Frequent Cascade Ponds?
It’s important to note that the Cascade Ponds are a great area to go spotting wildlife of all kinds, including bears, elks, and foxes. Other common animals seen here are mule deer, ground squirrels, and chipmunks.
Not just the wildlife enjoys the beauty of the Cascade Ponds, but a variety of bird species do as well. Many have recorded sightings of eagles, osprey, loons, and buffleheads. If you visit in the spring, you’re sure to spot a few migratory species flying above you.
Wolves have also been sighted near Cascade Mountain and during the colder months. They don’t frequent Cascade Ponds nearly as often as the other animals, though. In fact, it’s in general quite rare to spot a wolf in the park, but you might get lucky!
That said, it’s recommended that you don’t feed any of animals you may encounter, no matter how ‘docile’ they may seem. Wild animals shouldn’t be eating human food nor do they know how to interact with us. You may end up harming them, yourself, and your fellow pond goers.
Hikes Near Cascade Ponds
Nothing beats taking a long, relaxing hike in nature – and Cascade Ponds is perfect to do just that! Below are seven trails that I think you’ll enjoy.
As a plus, I also included the level of difficulty of each trail and how much time I estimate they’d take. This way, you can be well prepared for everything.
1. Level Cirque
- Level of difficulty: Hard
- Duration: 4 hours
- Hiking trail: 9.17 km (5.7 mi), out and back
- Best time to hike: From May to October
On the C-Level Cirque you’ll be hiking across mineshafts and mining buildings. The trail through the forest can be moderately challenging, but the path clears onto the Eastern side of the Cascade Mountains so the view is worth it.
2. Johnson Lake
- Level of difficulty: Easy
- Duration: 50 minutes
- Hiking trail: 3.1 km (1.9 mi), loop
- Best time to hike: June through August
The Johnson Lake trail is flat, easy, and beginner-friendly. Enjoy an incredible view of the lake, mountains, and forest while there. This area does close off during harsh seasons, though.
3. Cascade Mountain
- Level of difficulty: Moderate to Hard
- Duration: 9 – 10 hours
- Hiking trail: 20.9 km (12.4 mi), out and back
- Best time to hike: (late) June till September
This trail is quite easy to navigate but it does require a pretty experienced hiker to take it on. You can take your dog along with you too, so long as they’re on a leash.
4. Two Jake Lake
- Level of difficulty: Easy
- ETA: averaging 2 hours
- Hiking trail: 4.67 km (2.9 mi), out and back
- Best time to hike: all year round
The Two Jake Lake trail is more suited for families and kids than other trails on our list. That’s due to the gentle weather there and the fact that you can go paddling in the lake as well.
5. Cascade Falls
- Level of difficulty: Easy
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Hiking trail: 1.29 km (0.8 miles), out and back
- Best time to hike: all year round
Another beginner-friendly trail is the one lining the breathtaking Cascade Falls. It’s a rather short hike and it’s not that steep either.
6. Mountain Hoodoos
- Level of difficulty: Average
- Duration: 2 hours
- Hiking trail: 5.47 km (3.4 mi), out and back
- Best time to hike: all year round
Since this trail is full of fresh grass and wildflowers, you might want to hit early in the morning. It’s a great area to go biking through too, in case you prefer cycling to walking.
7. Lower Bankhead
- Level of difficulty: Easy
- ETA: no more than 20 minutes
- Hiking trail: 0.97 km (0.6 mi), loop
- Best time to hike: June through August
The short trail from the old, abandoned mining town Bankhead is a historically rich hike. It leads directly to Cascade Ponds.