Grassi Lakes Waterfall Hike, What you should know?

Upper Grassi Lakes waterfall hike is a 4.3 km, 1-2 hour loop according to this All Trails Map however it depends on what trail you take, where you park, and if you walk to the waterfalls. There is also a way to access the trail at the top of Hwy 742 which is only a 1km trail however, unsure of trail conditions and safety.

The Grassi Lakes waterfall hike which we took was approx. 5.8 km taking the easy route up and the difficult route back. (see photo below)

Where is Grassi Lakes parking?

There is a main parking lot at the Grassi Lakes trailhead off of Hwy 742, however, the lot gets full early usually by 10:00 AM. If this trail is full, parking is available across from the entrance on Hwy 742. In my opinion, if this parking lot is full the trail is too busy and it’s hard to really enjoy it, so alternative plans should be considered.

Is Grassi Lakes Hike Easy?

Grassi lakes hike is considered an easy trail with huge rewards although may not be suitable for everyone. People with breathing difficulties or knee issues should take precautions, especially when hiking the loop.

At the fork in the road, you can choose the easy or the more difficult route. (as shown in the photo above) Which direction to choose is solely a personal choice.

• Easy route alone – is a steady incline on a well-trafficked wide pathway up to the lakes and back. No view of the waterfalls unless you do the loop.
• More difficult route – has a more natural forested trail up to the lakes with rocks and stumps, shallow streams, coupled with rock stairs, many waterfall viewpoints as well as a panoramic view of the Canmore valley. Access to the falls.

Water resistant shoes are recommended.

What is to see at Grassi Lakes?

In addition to the beauty of this trail, mountain sheep are often spotted here as they frequent the rocky terrain as well as a friendly chipmunk who poses for a photoshoot.

Jade-colored lakes welcome hikers along with multiple streams flowing in and out of the clear glacier-fed lakes. Log benches surround the lakes not only to rest but to admire the mirrored reflections casting off the calm water.

Perched high above the crystal clear waters is the famous Ha Ling Peak, a popular but challenging hike. Read more here.

How to find the Grassi Lakes Waterfall?

Beyond the lakes, the trail carries on past the boulders of rock to the east. At approx 3km mark is where the narrow winding stairs come into play. At the bottom of the first set of stairs is a trail veering off toward the waterfall that you can hear in the distance. It is a scree trail with a stream of water trickling from above.

To summarize, Grassi Lake waterfalls are stunning. Splashing down the rocky landscape from high above, the cool mist of the water is refreshing on a hot summer’s day.

On the way back down are many viewpoints to stop and admire the scenic beauty of the Canmore valley.

Just because this is a popular somewhat easy hike, Ultimately, this is wildlife country where one should always be prepared for an encounter. Having some or all of the basic Backcountry Essentials is imperative.