Chester Lake in Alberta 2025
A small but very beautiful lake in the Canadian Rockies
Best time: July–October
Chester Lake is located north-west of Mount Chester in Spray Valley Provincial Park, Kananaskis Country, Alberta. The lake can be reached from Canmore by the Smith-Dorrien / Spray Trail road starting from the Chester Lake parking lot. The trail begins at its northeastern corner. It's best hiked from July through October. The trail closes from May to late-June each year to prevent its damage. In the winter, snowshoes are recommended for this hike.
Scenic Chester Lake trail is about 5 km (3 mi) long. It features beautiful views in every direction. In the summer, there are Alpine meadows with wildflowers. In the autumn, the fall foliage makes it irresistible. The trail is generally easy, but there are a few switchbacks and steep sections. The trail ends at the left side of the lake by the Elephant Rocks.
The first section of the Chester Lake trail can also lead across the valley to Mount Burstall if you want to explore Kananaskis Country further.
