We think the Rawson Lake hike is one of the best hikes in Kananaskis as it gives an outsized reward for the effort. It starts beside Upper Kananaskis Lake, climbs steadily through the forest, and finishes at a beautiful alpine lake tucked below the mountains. For a moderate effort, it gives a great payoff.
One of the things we love about this hike is that it is scenic right from the start. Before you even begin the climb to Rawson Lake, you’re walking along the Upper Kananaskis Lake Trail with mountain views and lake reflections.
We always take our time in this scenic first section, but it just gets better from here. The forest climb to Rawson Lake is the part that will get your heart going, but it’s manageable for most hikers and well worth the effort once you reach the lake.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know before hiking to Rawson Lake, including the trailhead, parking, distance, elevation gain, what to expect on the trail, hiking with kids, safety tips and whether the Rawson Lake Trail is a good fit for you.
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Is the Rawson Lake Hike Right For You?
How Long is the Rawson Lake Hike?
Starting at the Upper Kananaskis Lake parking lot, the round-trip distance of the Rawson Lake trail is 7.8 km (one-way distance of 3.9 km).
It’s 1.2 km from the start of Upper Kananaskis Lake Trail to the junction for the Rawson Lake trail. From there it’s another 2.6 km to the end of the official Rawson Lake hike.
How Hard is the Hike to Rawson Lake?
Due to the length and incline, we rate the Rawson Lake hike as “easy-to-moderate Kananaskis hike”.
The Rawson Lake hiking trail begins along the Upper Kananaskis Lake Trail. This section of trail is mostly flat with very little elevation gain.
Once on the proper Rawson Lake trail, there are a few sections where you may be sweating and catching your breath, especially on the switchbacks. Thankfully, this section is reasonably short.
As you near the top, the trail levels off and there are even fun boardwalks to finish up the forested section of this Kananaskis hiking trail.
For regular hikers, the Rawson Lake Trail is an easy Kananaskis hike. That said, there is a steady climb during the switchback section on the way up, so if you are a beginner hiker or don’t hike frequently then this will probably feel much more like a moderate hike. Don’t let this scare you as it’s an easy trail to walk on and there are plenty of spots to take a break along the way.
How Long Does the Rawson Lake Hike Take?
It should take a typical adult 2-3 hours to hike to Rawson Lake. We did this hike with our two kids (8 and 6 years old) and it took us 3.75 hours including lunch at Rawson Lake and stopping for pictures.
Alternatives to the Rawson Lake Hike
If the Rawson Lake hike isn’t right for you, don’t worry as there are plenty of excellent easy hikes in Kananaskis Country.
One of the most fun attractions in Kananaskis Country is just a short drive up the Smith-Dorrien highway from Rawson Lake. The Blackshale Suspension Bridge is a lot of fun to visit and is reached by an easy hiking trail.
Just a little bit further up the Smith-Dorrien Highway is the Karst Spring Trail. This is one of my favourite hikes in Kananaskis, the waterfall at the end is one of the most beautiful and powerful in all the Canadian Rockies!
What to Expect on the Rawson Lake Hike
Upper Kananaskis Lake Trail
The Rawson Lake hike starts with a short section along the Upper Kananaskis Lake Trail. The Upper Kananaskis Lake trail begins as a wide gravel trail with many beautiful wildflowers growing alongside. The trail follows the shore of Upper Kananaskis Lake treating hikers to incredible views whenever there is a break in the forest.
On a sunny day, the sight of the turquoise blue colour of Upper Kananaskis Lake surrounded by Mount Sarrail, Sarrail Ridge, Mount Lyautey and Mt. Indefatigable is one of the most scenic spots in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Hikers along the Upper Kananaskis Lake trail will enjoy an opportunity to sit on one of the many benches to enjoy the views. Keep your ears open and you just may hear the distinctive sound of a loon out on the lake.
As if the views of the Upper Kananaskis Lake weren’t enough, the surrounding forest is also very beautiful. Tall bushes grow between towering evergreen trees and a carpet of glowing green moss.
Note the large patches of buffalo berry bushes, a favourite mid-summer food of black bears and grizzly bears. If the buffalo berry bushes have bright red berries on them, be sure to make lots of noise as you hike.
After 300 m of hiking, you’ll cross a tranquil little mountain stream working its way towards Upper Kananaskis Lake. The hiking trail becomes a little less groomed beyond here, with more rocks and roots on the trail.
As you hike along the Upper Kananaskis Lake trail watch for little trails to the lakeshore. There are often large rocks or tree stumps to sit on while you enjoy the incredible Kananaskis scenery.
Sarrail Falls
After 1.2 km of hiking, you’ll reach a bridge on the Upper Kananaskis Lake hiking trail which crosses a large mountain creek. Sarrail Falls is a powerful, double waterfall on the left as you cross the bridge. On a warm day, notice how much cooler this large Kananaskis waterfall makes the surrounding air.
The rocks along the creek downstream of the waterfall are a popular Kananaskis picnic spot. As you leave the creek, take a moment to read the sign across the bridge about the devastation caused by the 2013 floods.
Begin the Rawson Lake Trail
When you reach the junction between the Upper Kananaskis Lake trail and the Rawson Lake hiking trail, merge left and begin your uphill hike. If you go straight, you’ll continue along the Upper Kananaskis Lake Trail, which circumnavigates the entire lake.
From the moment you leave the Upper Kananaskis Lake trail, you’ll notice the difference in effort level almost immediately. The first 1.5 km of hiking on the Rawson Lake trail is all uphill.
The Rawson Lake trail remains wide enough for two hikers, making it a good Kananaskis hike for families or groups of friends. The trail has quite a few roots on it, so we recommend you wear a good pair of hiking shoes.
The forest along this stretch of the Rawson Lake trail is very lush, with brilliant green moss and many different kinds of interesting mushrooms growing in the shade.
The forest floor is home to a large number of fallen and partially decomposed tree trunks, which create important micro-ecosystems for the critters of the forest. Up higher, keep your ears open for sounds of woodpeckers finding a meal in the bark of the trees.
The uphill section of the Rawson Lake hike can be challenging, with several switchbacks along the way. It’s not uncommon to see hikers taking a break on one of the many fallen trees or trailside boulders.
It’s not long before hikers get some relief on the Rawson Lake hiking trail. Just 2.8 km after leaving the Upper Kananaskis Lake parking lot (1.5 km of hiking the Rawson Lake trail) the trail finally levels out. The tough uphill hiking section of the Rawson Lake trail is over.
The Rawson Lake hiking trail gets very close to the stream at the 3.3 km mark. The forest thins out a bit here, allowing wildflowers to thrive in the resulting meadows. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands of flowers enjoying the humidity from the stream and the sunshine from the openings in the evergreens.
Wooden Boardwalks
The Rawson Lake hike then transitions to a series of narrow wooden boardwalks at the 3.5 km mark. Some of these boardwalks are very long. Kids of all ages enjoy ‘balancing’ on these boardwalks. It’s a fun little reward along the Rawson Lake Trail after the uphill slog.
You’ll finally reach the shores of the stream at 3.7 km. Take a moment to soak in the beauty of the stream and then smile… you’ve reached Rawson Lake. Walk a few metres beyond the stream and you’ll see your first glimpses of Rawson Lake though the trees ahead.
Rawson Lake
After 3.8 km of hiking along the Upper Kananaskis Lake trail and the Rawson Lake trail you’ll be standing on the shore of Rawson Lake. A towering 800 m tall rock wall from Mount Sarrail wraps around Rawson Lake on the far shore, while the summit of Mount Sarrail towers over 1,000 m overhead. This mountain amphitheatre is a truly amazing scene; no wonder Rawson Lake is one of the most popular hikes in Kananaskis Country!
Rawson Lake Shoreline Trail
Many people will make the shores of Rawson Lake their turnaround point, but the Rawson Lake trail continues for just over 1 km along the shores of this beautiful Kananaskis lake. With the last kilometre of the Rawson Lake trail mostly along the lakeshore, it’s often lined with people fishing.
The final stretch of the Rawson Lake trail is all flat, although the second half is over some large rocks, which may cause some footing challenges for some hikers.
The beautiful deep green colour of Rawson Lake is complemented by the wildflowers along the open meadows near the trail. Be careful not to trip on this leg of the Rawson Lake hike as the views of the Mount Sarrail cliff ahead are mesmerizing.
At the far end of Rawson Lake, you’ll find the trailhead for the Sarrail Ridge Trail. This is a very difficult hike with incredible views, but it’s for advanced hikers only.
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Rawson Lake Trailhead, Parking and Directions
The Rawson Lake trailhead is accessed at a junction 1.2 km along the Upper Kananaskis Lake trail. The Upper Kananaskis Lake Trail starts from the Upper Lake Day Use.
The Upper Kananaskis Lake Area Parking is an hour and 45 minutes from Calgary and an hour and 25 minutes from Banff.
Take the Trans-Canada Highway 1 to Highway 40 (Kananaskis Trail) for 50 km. Turn right onto Kananaskis Lakes Trail and follow it for 12.6 km. There is a sign for a left turn towards Upper Kananaskis Lake, follow the road to the Upper Kananaskis Lake parking area.
As Upper Kananaskis Lake is in Kananaskis Country, you will need a Kananaskis Conservation Pass to park here.
The hiking trails start in the southwest corner of the parking lot (to your left when you are facing Upper Kananaskis Lake).
Rawson Lake Trail Map
The Rawson Lake trail is generally easy to follow and well marked. It’s still a good idea to download a trail map before you go, especially since cell service is unreliable in this area. To find the Rawson Lake trail map in AllTrails, simply click this link for the “Rawson Lake trail map”.
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Hiking Rawson Lake Trail with Kids
We’ve been hiking to Rawson Lake with kids for years. While we’ve most often done Rawson Lake as a winter hike in Kananaskis, it’s so much more stunning in the summer.
This is an excellent hike for the entire family. The climb may be challenging for some kids, but the lake at the top makes the effort feel worthwhile. Even kids can appreciate a view like the one you get at Rawson Lake.
Along the way there are plenty of opportunities to stop for a break on a log or a large rock.
Our kids, who are 8 and 6 years old, are decent hikers and they really enjoyed this hike. This hike has so many great things to keep kids interested: the bridge, Sarrail Falls, time to play along Upper Kananaskis Lake, the boardwalks at the top, and finally the incredible Rawson Lake.
When we walked the section around the lake, there were plenty of people enjoying Rawson Lake while fishing. They were more than happy to talk to the kids about the fish and called them over when they caught one.
We highly recommend this family-friendly hike in Kananaskis!
Where to Stop for Lunch or a Break
The obvious place to stop for lunch is at Rawson Lake. If you continue to walk along the side of the lake towards the far end, you’ll have no trouble finding a place to stop for lunch or a break.
There is at least one bench near the end of the official Rawson Lake trail too.
Rawson Lake Hiking Safety
The Rawson Lake trail is well maintained and easy to follow, but you still need to be prepared for mountain conditions, wildlife and changing weather.
Take the time to educate yourself on bear safety. At a minimum, carry bear spray and make lots of noise as you hike to alert the bears of your presence. Grizzly bears are known to frequent this area and you’ll frequently see closures due to the grizzly bears.
We recommend you check the Rawson Lake trail report for the Rawson Lake trail conditions, wildlife warnings and possible closures before you head out.
Wildlife Safety
When hiking in Kananaskis Country, you are responsible for your own safety. Before hitting the hiking trails, we highly recommend reading our Essential Kananaskis Hiking Tips for information about bear safety, trail conditions, wildlife warnings and possible closures.
Rawson Lake Trail Logistics
On-leash dogs are allowed on the Rawson Lake hike.
Mountain biking is not allowed on the Rawson Lake trail.
There are toilets in the Upper Kananaskis Lake Day Use area and there’s one porta-potty up at Rawson Lake (continue the trail around the left of the lake and it will be on your left).
Plan to pack plenty of water and snacks for this hike. Fill your hydration packs before you leave.
You won’t get cell service for the entirety of your hike, so download maps before you leave cell service and don’t count on it for your safety.
What to Bring for Hiking Rawson Lake Trail
Although this isn’t a very long hike, you should make sure you are properly prepared for hiking in the mountains. Before heading out, check out our list of Kananaskis hiking gear essentials to get the most enjoyment out of your hike, regardless of the variable Kananaskis weather and trail conditions.
Rawson Lake in Winter: Snowshoeing and Winter Hiking
Rawson Lake is one of the best Kananaskis snowshoe trails or winter hikes. Rawson Lake is especially beautiful in the heart of winter. Hiking here is a wonderful opportunity to appreciate both Rawson Lake and Upper Kananaskis Lake in winter.
Snow and ice can make the Rawson Lake trail a much more challenging winter hike, especially on the moderate climb up the switchbacks. However, given that this is a popular Kananaskis winter trail, often the snow will be packed down. In winter, both the Upper Kananaskis Lake Trail and Rawson Lake Trail can be slippery. We recommend bringing winter traction devices for your winter boots.
Snowshoeing to Rawson Lake is another fun alternative, especially if there has been a recent snowfall. Snowshoes are less necessary if the trail has been hard packed by other snowshoers or hikers. We do still recommend having snowshoes along in case the snow is deeper than expected.
When deciding how to dress for the Rawson Lake hike in winter, we recommend dressing in layers. It’s always a good idea to have a large daybag to store unused layers in.
As a final precaution, only hike up to the lake and never hike beyond Rawson Lake in the winter or spring, as there is extreme avalanche danger in this area.
Rawson Lake is a “must-do” Kananaskis hike! You’ll find every step worth the effort when you see the views!
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Celine Brewer, a local Canmore resident, is the co-owner of Travel Banff Canada. She has a passion for being out in the mountains any time of year. In the summer, you'll often find her hiking or mountain biking. In the winter, she enjoys cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and winter hiking the most.
As much as she loves the mountains, she also loves travel! When she's not playing outdoors at home, she's either traveling the world with her husband and two kids or working on their other two travel sites: Family Can Travel and Baby Can Travel.