Bow Glacier falls are spectacular. Located off the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park, these waterfalls are powerful for most of the year and accept flowage from the Bow Glacier which is just southwest of the falls. The hike to the falls follows the waterfall’s river into Bow Lake. At approximately 9.2 kilometres and an elevation gain of 155m, the trail and your visit should take about 2 1/2 hours to do. This area is incredibly scenic as well, to the east, you have Dolomite Pass and Cirque Peak (I’d recommend these hikes as well, although no waterfalls of note.). And also attached to the Bow Glacier falls trail is the Bow Summit trail, leading to the Teahouse — which had been under renovations in 2003, but a good second-trip destination as well.
The only downfall to this hike is the crowds at Bow Lake. Scores and scores of tour buses pull into the Lake parking lot for pictures, and to visit a motel which is also lakeside. Thankfully, most of the crowd on the trail dissipates after leaving the lakeshore. Speedy feet will take you far, far away!
To get to the Bow Glacier Falls trailhead, proceed Northwest to Jasper on the IceFields Parkway. The trailhead is 36 kilometres from the Lake Louise junction of Hwy 93 and Hwy 1. When on the trail, stay to the north side of the river, this trail system will lead you to the Falls. The south side trail will take you to the TeaHouse.