Two Hikes That Let You Experience Lake Louise From a Different Angle
You’ve probably seen this iconic photo of Lake Louise. This world-famous glacier-fed lake in the heart of Banff National Park is one of the most photographed places in the Rockies. But there is one angle not many people have seen it from… and that's from the top!
Here are a few different trails you can hike that will result in amazing views of the magnificent Lake Louise and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise!
Fairview Mountain
Difficulty: Hard
Time: 3 hours to summit, 5 hours total
Fairview Mountain is just south of Lake Louise, with the trailhead starting off before the canoe rental building on the left side of Lake Louise, beside the upper Lake Louise parking lot. The trail is well-defined with signs and markers guiding the way. The climb is a constant grade and is rated as a difficult hike. With a total length of 9.2 km and an elevation gain of 1,011m, this hike has a steep and steady ascent, but the results are well worth the effort!
Throughout the trail, there are lots of stunning viewpoints of the Bow Valley and Lake Louise Ski Resort, and waiting for you at the summit are panoramic 360° views of the Rocky Mountains and the coveted mountain-top view of Lake Louise!
This trail is quite well maintained and moderately trafficked, however bear spray is still recommended. Once past the saddleback, the trail does become more steep, so hiking poles would be very beneficial to aid in your ascent—and more importantly your descent!
Ensure you have enough water and snacks for this hike and prepare for a cool and windy summit so bring extra layers of clothing. It will take approximately 3 hours to summit this mountain depending on your groups fitness level, with a total round trip of approximately 5 hours.
If you choose to come during mid to late September, you will be rewarded with the stunning displays of the larches as they change from their usual green to brilliant golden yellow. These magnificent trees can be seen throughout the hike, but are best viewed from the saddleback without having to summit the mountain.
Note that the parking lots at Lake Louise do fill up quickly, so get there early to guarantee yourself a spot. We arrived at 7am and there were limited parking spots left. Due to COVID-19 precautions there is currently no shuttle service from the overflow parking to Lake Louise.
Plain of Six Glacier, Lake Agnes & The Big Beehive
Difficulty: Moderate
Time: 6 hours
If you're looking for a more moderate hike with views that are just as stunning, then the Plain of Six Glacier and Lake Agnes are just the right hikes for you! To get to this trail, follow the path past the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise to the Lakeshore Trail on the right side of the lake. There will be signs marking the way.
Note that there are several trails that start here, so be sure to follow the signs to the right trail. For this loop, first head toward Lake Agnes and the Big Beehive, from there you can make your way to the Plain of Six Glaciers.
This loop is approximately 15 km long with an elevation gain of 673 m, taking you from Lake Agnes Teahouse to the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse. Expect breathtaking views of the lake, mountains and the Victoria Glacier!
On the way to the Plain of Six Glacier from Lake Agnes, you will pass the Big Beehive. A short 1.6km detour with an135m elevation gain here will result in absolutely magnificent views of Lake Louise and the chateau which are second to none. On the way down from the Big Beehive head towards the Plain of Six Glaciers to reach the second teahouse.
If you intend on purchasing snacks or drinks from the teahouses, remember to bring cash as card payments are not available (there’s no electricity up here!) Remember to bring extra layers of clothing as the temperature does change drastically from Lake Louise to the glacier.
If you hike an additional 1.5 km past the teahouse, it will bring you to the end of the Plain of Six Glaciers to Abbots Pass Viewpoint, where you can truly take in how magnificent the glacier really is! Here you can hear the creaking of the glacier as it slowly moves and grinds the rocks beneath it. Please DO NOT attempt to proceed further past this point. The area beyond is extremely dangerous and is named “The Death Trap” due to the high amounts of avalanches, falling rocks and ice it is prone to as well as a number of hidden crevasses near the top.
This trail is heavily trafficked, and the teahouses do tend to be quite crowded as well. Please remember to maintain a safe distance between each hiker. Due to the high volumes of visitors along this trail, bear spray is not necessarily needed for this hike.
From here, follow the trail back to Lake Louise, bypassing Lake Agnes. You should arrive at the back end of the lake, where you can make your way back to the chateau.
Note if you wish to hike the Big Beehive and head to Abbots Pass Viewpoint, it will add to the total time and distance of this loop.
Well there you have it, two amazing hikes that will result in breathtaking views of Lake Louise from above! The mountains are calling for you, don’t keep them waiting!
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