Tunnel Mountain Reservoir

Located IN Banff, this viewpoint gives you everything you ever wanted from a viewpoint. From sunrise to sunset, you have beautiful views of the valley and the mountains. This is one of the best spot for a sunrise session with tons of space around!

Best time: Sunrise

Best current time for sessions: 8:00am – 9:30am

Vermillion Lakes

With a beautiful point of view over Mount Rundle, Vermillion lakes is accessible very easily (you can park by the docks). It is known to have a perfect reflection in the water when it is still (usually sunrise or sunset)

Best time: Sunrise

Cascade Ponds

Perfect for a short session, Cascade Ponds offers different points of view over the mountains. A nice little bridge gives you also beautiful photos!

Best time: Sunrise or Sunset

Two Jacks Lakes

Few minutes away from Lake Minnewanka and Cascade Ponds, Two Jacks Lakes gives you lots of opportunities to have shots close to the water with a background of Mount Rundle. More discreet than Cascade Ponds, you have a variety of shots with the pine trees as well.

Best time: Sunrise or Sunset

Lake Minnewanka

Lake Minnewanka is the best for longer sessions. With a wide shore, you can get different angles from the mountains and the lake. Very nice for impressive photos surrounded by the water.

In winter, depending on the ice conditions, you can ice skate on the lake

Best time: Sunrise or Sunset

Victoria Glacier Viewpoint

The most iconic viewpoint of the Lake. Early morning and late nights, the lake can transform into a mirror with a perfect V reflection.

In winter, the reflection let place to an ice rink with ice sculptures. There is also possibility of snowshoeing or cross country ski around the Lake.

The sunsets behind the mountains so if you are looking for a sunset session, you might want to get a session up to two hours before sunset.

Best time: Sunrise & Sunset

Fairview Lookout

Less known, this lookout is PERFECT for surprise proposals.

A little bit more secluded, even in summer you can find yourselves alone at this spot. It is my personal favourite for sunrises with the sun hitting Fairview mountain to the side before lighting up the rest of the mountains.

Best time: Sunrise

Bow Lake

Bow lake is one of a kind. With a sunrise illuminating all the mountains around the lake, this is one of my favourite “secret” sunrise spot in the valley. In winter, the access to the lake might require winter shoes.

Best time: Sunrise

Peyto Lake

Less accessible than the Bow lake, Peyto Lake requires a little hike up (a bit steep but doable if you never hike). It will take you 20/30mins to get up to the viewpoint.

Beautiful in every season, Peyto lake is my favourite viewpoint to photograph. It is less touristy (for now…) than the rest of the lakes so it is still possible to find alone time up there.

A to-go for proposals and elopements!

Winter might require snowshoes and/or spikes

Best time: Sunrise & Sunset