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Mt Revelstoke’s Miller Lake: hiking trail you definitely do not want to miss! 

Discover Mount Revelstoke National Park, BC: its Miller Lake hiking trail with stunning views of alpine meadows and glacier-covered peaks. Bring the kids! 

Hiking in Mount Revelstoke National Park in British Columbia, Canada is a great way to explore the Columbia Mountains and introduce your whole family and even little kids to the beauty of the alpine meadows paired with astonishing snowy-tops views. Mount Revelstoke has over two dozen hiking trails ranging from short laid-back strolls through ancient cedar groves and hills blooming with wildflowers, to hard steep climbs. If you travel with kids, as we always do, there are many cool easy hike options for you here at Mt Revelstoke. We have chosen the Miller Lake trail for our journey, and it was absolutely awesome! In this post, I will share our experience and some practical tips. 

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How to Get to Mount Revelstoke National Park

Mount Revelstoke National Park is located in Eastern British Columbia along the HWY1 – the popular route from British Columbia to Alberta. 

It is about 4.5 hours drive from Calgary AB, and almost 6 hours from Vancouver BC. 

TIP: when driving from Alberta, do not neglect to stop at the Valley of The Five Lakes near Jasper too – won't ever regret it.

There is a town carrying the same name – Revelstoke town – located right at the bottom of the park, where you can find many restaurants and places to stay.

As hiking Mt. Revelstoke will likely take you at least a day (more, if you decide to camp at Mt Revelstoke or if you intend to explore more than one trail), we recommend you stay overnight at least one night. There are plenty of cool things to do at and near Revelstoke aside from hiking the National Park. 

Visiting Revelstoke TIP: Stay at Revelstoke for 2-3 days to fully experience all the awesome things to do in Revelstoke with your family: including the Three Valley Ghost Town, the Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre, the Enchanted Forest, and the SkyTreck Adventures Park, and the Revelstoke Railway Museum.

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Parking at Mount Revelstoke National Park

You can get as close as you can get to the summit of Mt Revelstoke by simply driving the Meadows in the Skyline Parkway. This 26-kilometer summit road with a dozen of switchbacks will take you right to Heather Lake located at 1,921m elevation.

Mount Revelstoke opens its gates at 9:00 am and locks down at 5:00 pm, even in the summer. Park gates are located at the bottom of the Meadows in the Skyline Parkway. You won’t be able to get up to the Parking lot earlier than that unless you are biking or trekking right from the bottom – which I guess you likely won’t risk with kids.

Hiking Mt Revelstoke TIP: It will take you about 40 min to drive up to the Parking lot from the gates – therefore you won’t likely hit the trail earlier than 10:00 am. Plan accordingly.

GPS / Google Maps anchor point to Mt. Revelstoke Parking: HERE. 

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To make things challenging, the parking at the top is extremely limited. 

Hiking Mt Revelstoke TIP: It is best to be at the park gate no later than 8:30am to ensure you get the spot. 

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Summer Hiking at Mt Revelstoke

Mount Revelstoke has over two dozen hiking trails ranging from short and easy strolls through its alpine meadows, to hard steep climbs. Here is the list of them all.

Some hiking trails start at the top where the main Mt. Revelstoke Park parking lot is located. Yet you’ll find other hiking trails and lookouts lower along the Meadows in the Skyline Parkway.

Those trails that offer breathtaking panoramic views of the glacier-covered mountains and the astonishing alpine meadows lush with wildflowers do start off at the top. 

Hiking Mt Revelstoke TIP: if this is your first time visiting Mt Revelstoke National Park and you want the best experience, select one of the easy or medium trails that start at Heather Lake. Skip all the lookouts along the Meadows in the Skyline Parkway, and drive right to the top to ensure you get parking. 

If you are an experienced hiker and travel without kids, you can also try out one of the harder trails to Eva Lake or even Jade Lake Pass. You definitely want to camp overnight in this scenario to get the best of your time at Mt Revelstoke. A word of caution: the higher you climb, the better you should be prepared to conquer the rugged mountain terrain and unpredictable weather. 

Hiking Mt Revelstoke TIP: The best time to visit Mount Revelstoke National Park is in early August, so you can catch the wildflowers. They are at their peak between the last week of July and the third week of August. 

As we traveled through Mt Revelstoke National Park with a 4yo child, we decided to make it easy on our little one and chose the Miller Lake trail – one of the easy ones, yet absolutely spectacular!

More kids-friendly hikes in British Columbia and the World

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How to get to the Miller Lake Trailhead

Access to the stunning, turquoise-coloured Miller Lake is via a hiking trail that starts near Heather Lake at the top of the Meadows in the Sky Parkway.

When we visited in August 2020, only the main parking lot was open to visitors. The secondary parking higher up and near Heather Lake was off-limits. In the past, there was a shuttle that would take you up there from the main lot, however, due to covid restrictions in 2020 they discontinued the service. This situation added an extra 2 kilometers to our planned route – one each way. The actual Miller Lake return-hike is about 12 kilometers. 

Mount Revelstoke Hike to Miller Lake – Quick Facts

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Mt Revelstoke Trail to Miller Lake Map & Notes

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The Miller Lake hike starts off as an easy stroll through beautiful alpine meadows blooming with wildflowers. Once you climb over the North Summit knoll, the trail takes you downhill. About halfway and past the refreshing waterfall, you start climbing up again.

After you pass through the last of the meadows, you enter a world of rock and boulders. If you are lucky, you can spot marmots and pikas here! Once the boulder field is reached, the climb becomes a bit steep even. It becomes even steeper and harder, should you wish to proceed past Miller Lake and to Eva Lake or Jade Lakes.

The Miller Lake trail itself is well-trafficked and well-maintained, we have zero concerns as to the condition and safety of the path. Yet with constant switchbacks going down and uphill, I strongly recommend bringing hiking poles with you. Yet, for safety reasons, you should always stay on the trail, especially when hiking through the boulder wall, and even more so if you are hiking with little kids, and even more-and-more so when taking photos. There will be a LOT OF photos. Just believe this one. It is easy to get carried away making those stunning Instagram-perfect photos when hiking Revelstoke – make sure to watch your step!

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Miller Lake

Once you reach Miller Lake, you can finally rest. There is a small peninsula of an island crossing into the crystal turquoise waters – a perfect place to have a nice lunch with a view. There also seem to be much fewer bugs there.

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Frequently Asked Questions, Hiking Safety & Practical Tips visiting Mount Revelstoke National Park

Are there bugs, black flies, mosquitoes at Mount Revelstoke National Park?

Yes. Black flies and mosquitoes are swarming at Revelstoke. If you visit in August, as we did, wear a long-sleeved top, long pants, and a hat, and bring A LOT of bug spray. Otherwise, you risk that the whole impression of the Mt Revelstoke hike is utterly ruined.

Are there bears at Mt Revelstoke?

Yes. Both black bears and grizzly bears live with Mount Revelstoke National Park. Ensure to bring bear spray with you on your hike. Here is our quick video on how to buy bear spray in Canada:

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Are dogs allowed at Mount Revelstoke National Park?

No. Dogs used to be allowed everywhere at Mt. Revelstoke trails a few years back. Yet currently with the larger concern about preserving the welfare of the local vegetation, wildlife, and shrinking grizzly bear population, the park authorities made a decision to restrict dog access. Currently, dos are only allowed below Columbia viewpoint, and nowhere at the Summit or the backcountry of Mount Revelstoke National Park. 

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Are trails at Mount Revelstoke National Park Accessible?

The trails at Mt Revelstoke are partially accessible. Hence visitors using wheelchairs and strollers can enjoy a few viewpoints below the Summit, relax near the Balsam Lake, and experience the lushness of wildflowers while taking a hike from the main Parking lot up to Heather Lake – that 1km road is paved. 

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Are there toilets at Mount Revelstoke National Park?

There are toilets located near the main Parking lot 1, as well as above near the Heather Lake. Otherwise, once you venture into the Revelstoke backcountry, you won’t find any. What makes “doing business” much trickier, is the amount of bugs and mosquitoes! 

As always though, please pack-out everything you packed-in – that includes any human waste and hygienic products. 

Here is the little something to guide you through environmentally-friendly bathroom experience: “How To Shit In The Woods” by Kathleen Meyer

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Is there a concession stand available at Mount Revelstoke National Park?

Once you enter the Park, there is no food or drink sold on-site. There are no concession stands. Bring your own snacks to Mt Revelstoke hike, and plenty of water. There is no drinking water in the backcountry. The alpine lakes – Miller, Eva, and Jade lakes – can be used as the source of water, yet you’d need a proper water filtration system with you, like LifeStraw.

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TIPS on Hiking Mt. Revelstoke with Kids

If you travel through Revelstoke with children, definitely bring them on for a hike! The scenery of alpine meadows, the glacier-covered mountain tops, the serene beauty of Mount Revelstoke National Park are truly unique. You may stop chipmunks, marmots, and pikas when hiking the backcountry. What fun for little explorers! 

Hiking Safety

Yet, safety must come first, especially when hiking with kids. Check out our Safety Tips: Hiking With Kids: 12 Simple Safety Rules Every Parent Should Follow.

The Sun

Should you hike one of those longer trails – to Eva Lake or Miller Lake – in the summer, be mindful of the sun. The shade is very limited, especially once you get to the boulder wall. Here are some tips on how to manage sun exposure safely for little children: 9 Best Natural Sunscreens For Kids. Organic. Chemicals-Free.

Get Kids Engaged

Some parents, while active eager hikers themselves, maybe finding it challenging to engage and interest their kids in outdoor activities. Not to worry, let us help you: Five Tried-And-True Outdoor Activities To Get Kids to Absolutely Love Hiking

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Covid-Related

The years 2020-2021 presented a true challenge to all travelers, including outdoor-loving families. We even had some Canada National Parks and some BC Provincial Parks closed for some time. Now that the parks have reopened, we need to ensure they stay open. 

When visiting Mt Revelstoke, please keep the distance from other hikers, bring sanitizer any time you use the bathrooms, and try not to get lost in the backcountry. Here are more covid-related hiking safety tips: Social Distancing Outdoors Rules: Responsible Hiking During The Pandemic

Leave No Trace

You’ve likely heard the phrase “Leave No Trace” at least once. What does it mean? Simply put, Leave No Trace Principles is a set of Outdoor Ethics and best practices outdoor adventurers should follow to enjoy natural spaces with the zero-impact goal in mind and to protect Mother Nature for future generations. 

Here is our comprehensive introduction to Leave No Trace principles: your actionable guide to exploring the Great Outdoors with your kids and pets with minimal to no impact. Leave No Trace & Outdoor Ethics – Zero Impact Family Adventures

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Mt. Revelstoke Concluding Notes

Was the hike to Miller Lake at Mount Revelstoke National Park worth it? Absolutely! The wildflowers and the alpine meadow experience are truly unique at Revelstoke. To be honest, there is just one other place I can remember that had something similar – the Naches Peak loop hike at Mount Rainier, WA USA. So if you have a chance, absolutely do check it out! 

We hope that our notes and tips are going to be useful on your Mt Revelstoke hiking trip. 

Have you been to Mt Revelstoke and hiked any of its trails already? Tell us all about your experience in the comments! Or post and tag us on your Instagram!

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Enjoy!

Cheerfully yours,

Alexandra, Alex & Cosmos

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