Vermilion Lakes
Viewpoint · Alberta — Canadian Rockies
A quiet lakeside drive minutes from Banff townsite, where three shallow lakes mirror Mount Rundle and Sulphur Mountain. Aspen groves along the shoreline turn gold through late September, framing one of the Rockies' most photographed reflections.
Don’t miss
Peak: September 11–September 15
Color builds from August 25 · mostly bare by October 2
Sampled at Vermilion Lakes’s own coordinates and elevation (1384 m) rather than a regional average.
Alberta — Canadian Rockies is sampled at 163 weather points, with no published peak dates to correct it against yet. Alberta — Canadian Rockies is running 9 days earlier than its own average this year. How the forecast works
When to go to Vermilion Lakes
Good color holds through about September 22, giving you roughly 28 days from the first turn to past peak. That is about 12 days earlier than Alberta as a whole. The 1,384 m elevation accounts for most of the difference.
Vermilion Lakes on the map
Drag the date slider to see when color reaches this corner of Alberta — Canadian Rockies, or tap a pin for that stop’s own peak window.
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Frequently asked
- When does Vermilion Lakes peak in 2026?
- Peak color is predicted for September 11–September 15 (best estimate September 13). Color starts around August 25 and is mostly bare by October 2.
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