Lake Louise is the iconic turquoise glacial lake with the famous Chateau Lake Louise sitting at one end. I would see this image displayed in ski magazines and other outdoor publications and websites. When you see this image, you have to think, I have to go there someday. It is just that beautiful.
Lake Louise is also the name of the small hamlet within Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is in the Alberta Rockies on the Bow River. The hamlet is also the highest community in Canada at 5,200 feet of elevation or 1,600 meters.
From Chateau Lake Louis there are many great hikes and some of the most well know are the hikes to the two Tea Houses. The Lake Agnes Tea House is probably the most popular as it is a relatively short hike from the hotel. The hike to the tea house is 3.5 km or 2.18 miles one way at an elevation of 2,135 m or 7,005 feet. Let me just mention how popular Lake Louise is and how the parking lot in the summer fills to capacity very quickly, so if driving, make sure to get there early, 7:00 AM, or earlier. Otherwise, you will either have to come back another day or catch a shuttle bus from the hamlet of Lake Louise and wait perhaps several hours to get on a bus.
Along the hike and before you get to the tea house is Mirror Lake, aptly named for the mirror part as you can see the reflection of the Big Beehive, the forest, and the sky in the water. It is rather a small pond than a lake but is a beautiful setting.
The next stop is just right next to the Lake Agnes Tea House and is a small pretty waterfall with views of the Big Beehive in the background.
Finally, the Lake Agnes Tea House comes into view around the corner from the waterfall which sits at the east end of Lake Agnes. This is a very popular tourist spot, so expect a long wait to get seating if you are getting there around lunchtime.
You can further your hike by either taking a 1.2 km or 3/4 of a mile round trip to the Little Beehive or skirt around Lake Agnes and head up to the Big Beehive in 1.6 km or about 1 mile, which is a longer and more strenuous hike.
The hike to the Big Beehive starts from by taking a right when leaving the Lake Agnes Tea House and skirts the right side of the lake before making a left at the west end of Lake Agnes. Then starts the steep switchbacks up to the top of the Big Beehive.
There is a relatively flat section for a little while after the switchbacks, similar to a plateau, before reaching the views.
Now instead of going back the way of the Lake Agnes Tea House you can make this a round trip with no same views until you get back to the Chateau Lake Louise. You can make it a two Tea House day if you start early enough and have enough strength. The other tea house is called the Plain of the Six Glaciers Teahouse and is 5 km or 3.11 miles from the Lake Agnes Tea House. Keep in mind it is another 5.6 km or 3.5 miles back to the Chateau Lake Louise. Take the Highline Trail off the top of The Big Beehive to get to the next tea house.
On the way back to Chateau Lake Louise there are nice views of Lake Louise and the hotel.
Lake Louise Ski Resort Gondola would be the non-hikers way of seeing the mountains and an alternate choice if you can not get parking at the Chateau Lake Louise or want to wait for a shuttle. The parking lot at the Lake Louise Ski Resort, so no problem finding parking and also hardly wait to get tickets for the summer Gondola ride. You have a choice to get a ticket for just a gondola ride or the “Gondola and Gourmet” card and also eat at the top of the mountain. We opted for the “Gondola and Gourmet” $62 CDN at the time. I think it was worth it as the food was tasty and the views were great, with outdoor seating available. We were able to get a window seat indoors.
Banff is the mountain town within Banff National Park 36 miles (58 km) east of Lake Louise and 78 miles (126 km) west of Calgary. The town sits between 4,590 to 5,350 feet in elevation, second only to Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada.
