Mountains & Glacier Lakes of the Canadian Rockies

Colorado College Faculty Leader

Eric Leonard is Professor Emeritus of Geology at Colorado College and an expert on the geology of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. He grew up in San Francisco and cultivated his love of the out-of-doors on trips to the coast, the redwood forests, and the Sierra Nevada. Eric studied at Cal-Berkeley (BA-History), Simon Fraser University in British Columbia (MA-Geography), and CU-Boulder (PhD-Geological Sciences). He was a member of the faculty of the Colorado College Geology Department for 38 years, where he taught courses in Geology, Environmental Science, and Southwest Studies before retiring in 2019. Eric’s academic career has focused on glaciation, climate change, and recent tectonics (mountain building and continental evolution) throughout the western U.S. and Canada as well as in Iceland, Scotland, Norway, Chile, and New Zealand. His PhD research involved three summers of field work in Banff Park, and he has continued to do research work there through the years. Eric even met his wife, Lisa, in Banff!

Itinerary

ARRIVAL DAY:
Saturday, September 18, 2027: Fly to Calgary and Transfer to Banff
Arrive independently at Calgary International Airport (YYC) and transfer to Banff via one of several convenient airport shuttle services.* This evening, meet Professor Eric Leonard and our local guide at a welcome reception in our lodge’s lounge, followed by dinner in the adjacent Evergreen Restaurant.
Four nights at the 4-star Royal Canadian Lodge. (R,D)

Sunday, September 19: Geohike 1: Johnston Canyon

After breakfast, we drive 45 minutes to Johnston Canyon for our first day of hiking. We will enjoy a picnic lunch during the hike before returning to Banff. The remainder of the afternoon and dinner are at leisure.

Those who wish may take an optional Banff Gondola ride to the summit of Sulphur Mountain (additional fee, approximately $70 per person). Enjoy panoramic views, scenic boardwalks, hiking trails, an interpretive center, and two mountaintop restaurants—an excellent option for those who wish to stay for dinner with spectacular mountain views. Return to Banff at your leisure via the complimentary shuttle for gondola ticket holders. (B, picnic L)

HIKING OPTIONS

Each group will follow one of Banff National Park’s most celebrated trails through Johnston Canyon to the spectacular Upper Falls. Well-maintained paths and catwalks cling to the canyon walls, crossing crystal-clear streams and passing dramatic limestone cliffs carved by thousands of years of rushing water. At the Upper Falls, water plunges nearly 100 feet into the narrow canyon below. Group 2 continues to the Ink Pots, colorful spring-fed pools in an alpine meadow beyond the canyon.

Group 1: Upper Falls (Easy to Moderate): 2–2.5 hours • 3–3.5 miles • 800–900 feet elevation gain

Group 2: Upper Falls and Ink Pots (Moderate): 4+ hours • 7–7.5 miles • 1,000–1,100 feet elevation gain

Monday, September 20: Geohike 2: Bow Lake with stops at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake

After breakfast, travel the spectacular Icefields Parkway with brief stops at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake before arriving at Bow Lake, one of Banff National Park’s most beautiful alpine settings. At 6,300 feet, this brilliant turquoise glacial lake is fed by the Bow Glacier and framed by the peaks of the Waputik Range. Enjoy views of Crowfoot Mountain and Glacier, the Wapta Icefield, Bow Glacier, and Mount Jimmy Simpson rising above the lake. On calm days, the vivid blue-green water reflects the surrounding mountains. After the hikes, both groups return to our lodge. Dinner is on your own this evening. (B, picnic L)

HIKING OPTIONS

Group 1: Lakeshore Walk (Easy):
Enjoy a relaxed 2.2-mile walk, for approximately one hour along the shores of Bow Lake, retracing your route while taking in ever-changing views of the surrounding glaciers and mountain peaks. Afterward, enjoy a leisurely picnic lunch before returning to our lodge. Picnic tables and a café are available near the parking area.

Group 2: Bow Glacier Falls Hike (Moderate to Strenuous):
Follow the shoreline of Bow Lake on a rewarding 5.6-mile out-and-back hike, taking 3 to 5 hours (depending on pace), through a scenic glacial valley before climbing more than 500 feet to Bow Glacier Falls, where meltwater from the Wapta Icefield forms the headwaters of the Bow River. Enjoy a picnic lunch while admiring panoramic lake views, a dramatic canyon, and close-up views of the falls and glacier.

Tuesday, September 21:  Geohike 3: Emerald Lake with stops at Takakkaw Falls and Natural Bridge

After breakfast, we depart for Yoho National Park. Our first stop is Natural Bridge, where the Kicking Horse River has carved a natural rock bridge through limestone, demonstrating the erosive force of glacial meltwater. We continue to Takakkaw Falls, one of Canada’s highest waterfalls, where water plunges nearly 1,000 feet into the Yoho Valley.

We then arrive at Emerald Lake (elevation 4,400 feet), renowned for its brilliant turquoise-green water created by fine glacial silt (“rock flour”) suspended in the lake. Surrounded by the peaks of the President Range, the lake occupies a spectacular glacial basin. The landscape also offers views toward glaciers and the Burgess Shale fossil area, making it a rewarding destination for geology and paleontology enthusiasts. Tonight, we will enjoy our farewell dinner hosted by Eric Leonard and share highlights of our hikes. (B, picnic L, D)

HIKING OPTIONS

Group 1: Emerald Lake Loop (Easy): Enjoy a leisurely, 3.2-mile loop around Emerald Lake with minimal elevation gain. This approximately 2-hour hike follows the lakeshore, offering ever-changing views of the lake’s brilliant turquoise waters, the surrounding President Range, and forested shoreline. Enjoy a picnic lunch before returning to Banff.

Group 2: Emerald Basin Hike (Moderate to Strenuous): Set out on a rewarding, 4-hour, approximately 6-mile, out-and-back hike with about 1,000 feet of elevation gain. The trail climbs through forest and alpine meadows into Emerald Basin, where towering peaks and hanging glaciers create a spectacular mountain setting. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a scenic spot before returning to Banff.

DEPARTURE DAY: Wednesday, September 22, 2027: Fly home

After a buffet breakfast, choose your conveniently timed shuttle* back to Calgary International Airport (YYC) for your flights home. (B)

*Shuttle arrangements and fares are the responsibility of each traveler. For airport shuttle services between Calgary International Airport and Banff, visit Discover Banff Tours Airport Shuttles.

For questions, and to reserve your space, contact Eos Study Tours: 800-856-8951 or email tigertravel@studytours.org.