Lake Louise
Beautiful vistas, emerald green water, grand hiking trails with tea houses…
Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies is a gem awaiting your exploration.
With its glacial-mountain backdrop, European visitors have compared it to lakes in Switzerland. And 100 years-ago, Swiss guides were brought here to lead adventurous tourists through its mountain trails.
This world-renowned summer destination is also a large draw in the winter with a ski resort across the valley.
Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Lake Louise
Lake Louise has one of the most famous vistas in the world.
Mount Victoria, named after Queen Victoria, sits behind the lake on the continental divide with the province of British Columbia on the other side.
The emerald-green colour comes from rock dust carved off the mountain by Victoria Glacier, and carried into the lake by the melt-water.
Lake Louise is frozen in winter, and doesn’t fully thaw the end of May and sometimes early June.
Lake Louise famous view near front of the Chateau
Mount Victoria with Victoria Glacier
Rail Road to Discovery
Tom Wilson working for the Canadian Pacific Railroad
Indigenous peoples have been living in the foothills of Canada’s Rocky Mountains for centuries and called the lake Ho-run-num-nay, which translates to Lake of Little Fishes.
The first settlement of Lake Louise was established by the Canadian Pacific Railroad in 1884. A train station was built which also served as a base for rail line construction heading west through the Kicking Horse Pass in British Columbia. The station is now a restaurant in the Lake Louise Village.
A couple years before the settlement, Tom Wilson, who was working for the Canadian Pacific Railroad, camped in the area with his Stony Nakoda First Nations guide. They heard avalanches in the distance and his guide told him that the sound was coming from "Snow Mountain" above the "Lake of the Little Fishes". They ventured up to the Lake, and after standing before it, Tom was in awe of the stunning view.
Tom first called it Emerald Lake, but later renamed it to Lake Louise after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, the 4th daughter of Queen Victoria.
The province of Alberta also got its name from this Princess.
First train to arrive in Vancouver, May 23, 1887
Swiss Guides & Tea Houses
In 1896, Canada reported its first mountain climbing fatality, prompting the hiring of experienced Swiss Guides to lead adventurous tourists into the mountains.
Swiss Guides lived in a log cabin near the lakeshore from 1922 to 1956. It still exists, between the parking lot and the chateau, and is now a private residence. Skiing was first introduced to the Lake Louise area by the Swiss Mountain Guides.
As the popularity of Lake Louise grew, the Canadian Pacific Railway built a hotel on the lake which was later reconstructed into the chateau. The railway also developed hiking trails, shelters and tea houses which are still operational.
Swiss Guides lived in this log cabin near the lakeshore from 1922 to 1956.
Lake Louise Area Landmarks
Shown below is a Google Earth view of the Lake Louise area with main landmarks added.
Lake Louise Village is next to the main highway #1.
About 4 km further west of the village is the lake, parking, and Chateau Lake Louise.
Popular Hikes (described below), are to:
Lake Agnes Tea House at a higher elevation with trail views of Lake Louise below.
Lakeshore Trial on the north shore passes the Lake Louise Delta to the stream feeding the lake.
End of Lakeshore Trail continues to Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse, beyond is Abbot Pass Viewpoint.
Lake Louise Ski Resort is reached on the other side of Highway #1. It also has a summer gondola with beautiful panoramic views.
When parking at the lake is full, a shuttle may be taken from the Park and Ride lot on Highway #1 just 6 km south of the village.
Lake Louise Campground is close to the village, and usually needs to be booked well in advance.
Abbot Pass Hut was resting on a ridge between Mount Victoria and Mount Lefroy. It was an advanced hiking destination for 100 years, demolished in 2022.
Google Earth view of Lake Louise Area with main landmarks. Note: Abbot Pass Hut is now demolished as of 2022
Lake Agnes Trail
Moderate, 3.5 km one way, 385m elevation gain.
A popular hike branches off near the Chateau to Lake Agnes Tea House, with magnificent views of Lake Louise. The tea house was rebuilt in 1981, and also has other trails branching out from there:
Big Beehive, 1.6 km one way, 135m elevation gain, for a fabulous view of Lake Louise.
Little Beehive, 1 km one way, 105m elevation gain, for panoramic views of Bow Valley.
Lake Agnas Tea House
by Sqwesy qwesy, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
View of Lake Louise with chateau in the distance
Lakeshore Trail
Easy, 2 km one way
This Lakeshore Trail is beautiful with many picturesque views along the lake shore, and I recommend continuing this easy hike to the small waterfall at the back of the lake.
More like downhill rapids than a waterfall, the water is somewhat milky as it flows over the rocks. That is due to the fine rock sediment ground up by the glacier, giving the lake its turquoise color.
The water enters the lake as a flat delta, with a calm, gentle flow. A boardwalk passes over a section of the delta alongside a large, steep mountain cliff, often used by rock climbers.
Lake Louise view from back of lake on Lakeshore Trail, with Chateau in the distance
Lake Louise delta alongside Lakeshore Trail
Plain of Six Glaciers Trail
Moderate, 5.3 km one way, 365m elevation gain.
The first 2 km of this is actually the Lakeshore Trail. From the back of the lake, it is another 3.3 km steady hike up the valley to the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse.
The Teahouse was built in 1924, offering excellent views of Mount Victoria, Victoria Glacier, Mount Lefroy, and Lake Louise.
And from the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse, it is also possible to hike about 5 KM to the Lake Agnes Teahouse. So, the adventurous could reach both teahouses in a full day of hiking.
Plain of 6 Glaciers (trail up the valley with Lake Louise in the background)
by LPeezy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse
by Florian Fuchs, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Abbot Pass Hut
Also, from the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse, is another 1.5 KM one way trail, 50 m elevation gain, to reach Abbot Pass Viewpoint with closeup views of the Lower Victoria Glacier and the hanging glaciers on Mount Victoria. Abbot Pass Hut used to be seen as a tiny spec across the valley resting on the pass between Mount Victoria and Mount Lefroy.
In 1922, Swiss guides built the Abbot Pass Hut for overnight stays. At an elevation of 2926 meters, it was operational until 2018, which advanced hikers reserved through the Alpine Club of Canada.
The stone hut was perched on a ridge which was gradually eroding with warmer temperatures and permafrost thaw. In 2021, the northwest corner of the hut was no longer supported where ground had fallen away - down a canyon known as the Death Trap due to frequent avalanches. With excessive signs of cracking, the hut was deemed unsafe and unrepairable. In June of 2022 it was dismantled, 100 years after its construction, leaving behind a small part of a wall and a commemorative plaque.
Abbot Pass Hut 1922 - 2022. Now demolished.
Other Summer Activities
Another short hike is the Fairview Lookout trail (easy, 1 km one-way, 100 m elevation gain) on the south side of the lake. Starting near the boathouse, it provides a beautiful view of the lake and its chateau.
For the active traveller, consider the Louise Creek trail from the village and follow the creek up to the lake (easy, 2.8 km one way, 195 m elevation gain).
At the boathouse, you can rent canoes for a relaxing time exploring the lake and basking in endless views.
Brewster Adventures provides horseback rides in the Lake Louise area, from shorter 1.5-hour scenic lake view ride, to longer 3 to 5 hour rides up to Lake Agnes, Beehives or Plain of Six Glaciers. Consider a BBQ and dance for a complete western experience. The Brewster family has provided outfitting and pack trips in the Lake Louise area for more than 100 years – located close to the chateau. Brewster Adventures.
A short drive across Highway 1 from Lake Louise village is Lake Louise Ski Resort. Ride its gondola for fabulous panoramic views of Bow Valley, including Mount Victoria and Lake Louise in the distance. Upper mountain hiking trails also branch out from the top of the gondola. Enjoy a drink or lunch on the Whitehorn Bistro patio with fabulous views – consider reserving your table in advance.
Chateau Lake Louise view from near the boathouse
Lake Louise in Winter
For winter enthusiasts, Lake Louise has a number of activities...
Chateau Lake Louise clears an out-door rink on the lake for ice skating - considered as one of the most beautiful rinks in the world. And each year, they create a large ice castle. Rent skates from the chateau if you don’t have your own. Rink is available mid-Dec to mid-Apr.
Every winter, Lake Louise holds an Ice Magic Festival by the lakeshore with a world-class ice sculpture carving competition. Runs for 12-days, with the next one January 18 - 29, 2023.
There are trails for cross-country skiing and snow shoeing, with lessons and rentals available from the chateau (also snow boarding). Rentals also from Wilson Mountain Sports in Lake Louise Village.
Brewsters Adventures also offers sleigh rides to the back of the lake offering views of the ice falls. Consider their an 7PM evening ride after sundown.
Kingmik Dog Sled Tours is an operator just down the hill toward Lake Louise Village that offers dog sled tours of 30 mins or 1.5 hours.
Lake Louise Ski Resort, on the other side of the highway, is one of Canada’s largest, and also host to Alpine World Cup events. Downhill ski and snowboard their fabulous runs with rentals and lessons available. For family fun, consider tubing in their Tube Park.
View of slopes and mountains from Lake Louise Ski Resort (notice gondola on right)
Lake Louise 2018-03 ski, by Pierre5018, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Watch the Video
Watch Jim’s video Lake Louise (click the image below),
and subscribe to Haswell Travelled YouTube channel - much appreciated!
How to Get Here
Car: Driving Lake Louise, you must come very early for parking. During peak season on a normal year, Parks Canada recommends arriving before sunrise to secure a parking spot - catching a sunrise on Mount Victoria is quite beautiful. If parking lots are full, you may be able to catch a Parks Canada shuttle at the Lake Louise Park and Ride Overflow lot just 6 KM south on the main highway.
Note: a stop here, or anywhere in Canada’s National Parks requires a National Park Pass.
And coming here, you must also see Moraine Lake nearby, although parking there is ever more difficult.
Transit: You can also consider arriving by bus such as with Roam Transit from the town of Banff. And a Hop-On-Banff tourist bus also runs between a number of locations in Banff National Park including Lake Louise, its village, Gondola and Moraine Lake, so it would be best to plan ahead and make reservations.
Tour: Day tours run to Lake Louise, often combined with Moraine Lane & Emerald Lake, or Banff & Johnston Canyon, or Icefields Parkway – departing from Calgary or town of Banff.
Reference
Day hikes in the Lake Louise area, Parks Canada
Tom Wilson Rocky Mountain Guide and Outfitter, Whyte Museum
The Abbot Pass hut, an iconic mountain refuge, is dismantled — due to climate change, Canadian Geographic
Exploring Farther Away
Moraine Lake
More Regional Videos on Haswell Travelled Channel
Jim’s Moraine Lake video on Haswell Travelled channel
Jim’s Bow Lake video on Haswell Travelled channel
Jim’s Canmore Helicopter flight video on Haswell Travelled
Jim’s Marble Canyon video on Haswell Travelled channel