Colours of the Rockies - A Constant Supply of Gatorade 💙

Have you ever wondered why some lakes are that vibrant turquoise colour?

I was blown away when I saw my first “gatorade” lake. If you’ve ever been lucky enough to visit the Rocky Mountains outside of Winter, then you’ll know what I mean.

Glacier fed lakes and rivers get their intense colour from the “rock flour” that drifts into the water. The rock flour (or silt), is made up of very fine particles of rock. It's created when the glacier starts to melt and the rocks underneath the ice grind together. The rock flour is then carried down into the lake, and is suspended in the water. When light hits the water, the tiny pieces of silt reflect the most amazing colours 😍

You’ll notice on any given day, the colour of the lakes can actually vary quite a lot. I have visited many lakes around the Banff area, and each time I visit, the colour is different. Heck even on the same day the colour can be different. The angle in which the sunlight hits the small particles will alter the colour, along with what time of year it is. In the Summer, the colours are at their best, mainly because there's a constant flow of silt entering the water. As the warmer weather starts to end and the snowmelt dries up, the colour of the lakes and rivers change as well.

Peyto Lake

My all time favourite lake in the Rockies is Peyto Lake, pronounced Pee-Toe. Each time I see it, it takes my breath away, purely because it's different, every single time. Here’s a few photos to illustrate just how much the colour can vary, depending on the light and season.

Peyto Lake is off the Icefields Parkway - one of the most scenic drives in the world. It’s a short hike up to Bow Summit which overlooks the most amazing valley. Most times I visit, there seems to be a storm passing through. But it sure does make for some dramatic skies.

It can get crowded at times, but if you manage to get a moment to yourself, it really is something else.

All content is my own unless otherwise stated.