Few places on earth compare to the stunning beauty of Lake Louise. Nestled in Banff National Park, this iconic gem offers endless summer adventures, from hiking to paddling its crystal-clear waters.
Staying at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise kept us close to the action; no parking hassles, just pure alpine bliss. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is pricey, but all Canadian Rockies lodging is, especially in summer.
With more visitors than rooms, hotels book up years in advance. We suggest reserving early if you’re planning a vacation to Banff National Park in June through September
For over a hundred years, the Chateau has welcomed guests such as Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Phillip, Alfred Hitchcock, and Marilyn Munroe. So, you could be walking in the same footsteps as celebrities, or sleeping in the same bed!
I was greeted by attentive staff at check-in as I admired the magnificent lobby with a grand staircase. Although a century old, the grandeur of the structure still shines with its luxurious, timeless décor.
Staying At Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
- Address: 111 Lake Louise Drive
The Chateau’s rates vary by month, day, and stay length. Its adjoining parkade allows indoor access to vehicles, a perk in bad weather. Here’s my comparison of Chateau Lake Louise and Banff Springs hotels.
We stayed in a 230 sq. ft. Fairmont Mountain View Room with a king bed on the top (8th) floor. While a lake view costs extra, our mountain view was picturesque. The room felt small, likely but had all essentials. The bed was comfy, the room quiet, though the pillows were too soft.
The hotel has several restaurants. The Lakeview Lounge offers stunning views of Lake Louise and Victoria Glacier, while the Fairview Restaurant serves afternoon tea with scones and clotted cream.
Open year-round, the Chateau features seasonal activities like winter ice skating and sleigh rides. A highlight is the sunrise over the lake. Staying here also shortens the Banff to Jasper drive. When staying in summer, here are some activities for a warm weather visit.
Watch The Sunrise At Lake Louise
- Address: 111 Lake Louise Drive
For some visitors to the Canadian Rockies, it’s a must to watch a sunrise at either Lake Louise or Moraine Lake. Both facing east, these Banff must-see lakes are gorgeous but best viewed in the morning for the perfect lighting.
If you’re staying at Banff, it’s a 40-minute drive to Lake Louise. With June and July sunrise around 5:30 am, you need to rise in the wee hours to secure a parking and viewing spot.
During my September visit to Banff, sunrise was at 7:09 am. Though not an early bird, I couldn’t miss it. We set a 5:30 am alarm, had breakfast, and stepped out the hotel’s back door to claim a photography spot before 7 am. I was surprised by the number of cars arriving for the event.
The sunrise didn’t disappoint. A golden glow lit Mount Victoria as hundreds watched in silence, broken only by clicking cameras. With no breeze, the mountain’s reflection was flawless—its peak gleamed like 24K gold.
Reviewing our photos, my husband Brian said they looked photoshopped. If he hadn’t seen it himself, he wouldn’t have believed it. Within minutes, the sun hid behind a cloud, and the spectacle was over. Watching the sunrise at Lake Louise is a must!
Explore Lake Louise By Canoe
- Address: Lake Louise canoe rental boathouse
Paddling Lake Louise’s turquoise waters is a bucket list experience I checked off years ago. It’s a stunning way to enjoy the Canadian Rockies.
The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise rents canoes from a boathouse near the parking lot, available first-come, first-served basis. Canoes hold up to three adults or two adults and two small children. Dress warmly, as we found the lake temperatures chilly.
Summer brings crowds and steep prices, but chateau guests get a discount. If you’re heading to the end of the lake, an hour won’t be enough.
Enjoy Aerial Views Of The Lake
- Trail: Starts at the canoe rental boathouse | Rated: Easy
While the iconic aerial shots of the Chateau and Lake Louise come from the Highline trail or the Plain of the Six Glacier trail to the lake’s right, there’s another option.
The Fairview Lookout trail offers impressive views with little effort. The trail travels the left side of the lake and consists of a 150-meter elevation gain. With a round trip hike of 2 km round trip, we finished this hike and had plenty of time to do something else.
We completed the hike in early morning, with few people on the trail. The route consists of a steady incline all the way to the lookout with no views through the forest. Once a looping trail, the descending route to the lake is closed and considered unsafe.
Once we reached the lookout, we were treated with amazing views and a bench to enjoy a snack. In my opinion, the vistas were just as good as those from the right lake’s right side, but with much less effort.
Have Tea At The Teahouse
- Trail: Starts to the right of Lake Louise | Rated: Moderate
With options like Orange Blossom Oolong, Lemon Grass, English Breakfast, and Vanilla Rooibos, who can resist tea with a lake view? The Lake Agnes Tea House offers 100 loose-leaf blends.
Reaching it requires a 3.5 km hike (435 m elevation gain), but the reward is stunning views and fresh tea with baked goods. The busy trail winds through dense forest before revealing glimpses of Lake Louise.
Near Lake Agnes, Mirror Lake offers a scenic rest stop at the base of Big Beehive. Surrounded by mountains, Lake Agnes is a Banff icon. Love tea? Make the trek! But bring cash as no cards are accepted.
Hike To The Beehives
- Trail: Starts to the right of Lake Louise | Rated: Moderate
Combined with a stop at the Lake Agnes tea house, the Little and Big Beehives trail is considered one of Banff’s best hikes. During the summer, crowds of people take on the strenuous trek.
You’ll reach the Little Beehive before Lake Agnes. From the tea house, be prepared for the steep uphill trek to the Big Beehive. This 10.3 km looping trail continues along the west side of Lake Agnes and steadily climbs before hitting some significant switchbacks.
After some severe calf burn, you’ll reach the summit for fantastic sky-high views of the Chateau and Lake Louise. After a rest at the shelter absorbing the gorgeous panoramas, you’ll enjoy the return trail, a 780-meter downhill hike to the shores of Lake Louise.
See The Mountains On Horse Back
- Address: 111 Lake Louise Drive and 101 St Piran Rd
Experience the Rocky Mountains like the Wild West – on horseback! Brewsters Lake Louise Stables and Timberline Tours operate near the Chateau, offering guided rides through stunning scenery.
No experience? No problem. Well-trained horses make the journey easy. Beginners might enjoy the 1.5-hour ride to Lake Louise’s headwaters, perfect for selfies with your horse and lake views.
Skip the hike to Lake Agnes with a 3-hour ride, including a 30-minute tea break at the mountain café. For more scenery, the 4-hour Plain of Six Glaciers tour showcases six stunning glaciers.
Experienced riders can embark on an all-day adventure. While Lake Louise is magical year-round, exploring its forests and glaciers on horseback offers a unique perspective.
Ride The Lake Louise Gondola
- Address: 1 Whitehorn Road
The Lake Louise Gondola, famous for winter skiing, offers stunning summer views of the valley and distant Lake Louise. A highlight is spotting wildlife beneath the chairlift. Sightings are so common that the gondola’s website updates them daily.
Grizzlies are the main attraction, but visitors also see deer, elk, moose, lynx, cougars, and bighorn sheep. June and July offer the best bear-watching odds with 50% odds in June 80% of the time in July.
Near the 2,101-meter summit, the Wildlife Interpretation Centre features life-sized displays, pelts, skulls, and info on Banff’s wildlife.
Visit Takakkaw Falls
- Address: In Yoho National Park
Just 11 km away, Yoho National Park offers a myriad of hiking trails, but none as spectacular as Takakkaw Falls. At 373 meters, it’s Canada’s second-highest waterfall and the tallest in the Rockies.
To reach it, take a narrow, winding road off the highway that’s too tight for large RVs or trailers. The parking lot fills quickly in peak season, but we didn’t wait long for a spot to open up.
The short trail to the falls offers great photo spots, including red Adirondack chairs perfect for selfies (expect a line). Fed by Daly Glacier, the falls can be misty, so we suggest a light jacket unless you enjoy a cool summer spray. A nearby picnic area is ideal for lunch.
Do A Polar Bear Swim
Polar bear swims are a Canadian tradition, usually held on New Year’s Day. Participants plunge into icy waters, either in the ocean or a frozen lake inland.
Lake Louise stays cold year-round, fed by nearby glaciers. With temperatures between 4–9°C (39–48°F), thrill-seekers can take a quick dip, but beware of hypothermia and have warm clothes ready. On our last visit in September, we watched someone take the plunge.
Walk The Lakeshore Trail
- Trail: Starts to the right of Lake Louise | Rated: Easy
We usually skip easy lake trails, but the one along Lake Louise is a must. Wheelchair and stroller-friendly, it lets walkers go as far as they like before returning.
At the lake’s end, silty flats offer great photo spots, and friendly chipmunks gather on the rocky outcrop. To the right, a sheer rock wall attracts climbers and we saw many in summer.
The official 4 km roundtrip takes about two hours, but beyond the flats, the trail winds into a peaceful forest along a river. We met horseback riders here, enjoying the quiet away from the crowds.
Benches along the way allow for breaks. The trail is busiest from 10 am to 4 pm, so go early or late for a quieter walk.
Go Rock Climbing
Mountaineering in Canada began in the peaks around Lake Louise, and climbers still flock here to test their skills. At the lake’s end, a rock cliff on the right offers bolted limestone and quartzite routes. During my September visit, I watched teams scale its sheer face.
The ‘Tower of Babel’ near Moraine Lake is another popular climb. Made of quartzite, the toughest part is scrambling up and for some, sliding down the loose scree at its base.
Visit Moraine Lake
Since the glacier-fed Moraine Lake is just 14 km from Lake Louise, adding a side adventure to another body of water makes sense. Famed for its brilliant blue-green hues and nestled against a backdrop of ten mountain peaks, it’s more picturesque than its web images.
Due to its growing popularity, the road to Moraine Lake is only accessible by shuttle. Moraine Lake Bus Company, a family owned business offers 5 daily shuttles, and early departures for those who want to watch the iconic sunrise.
We arrived in the early afternoon, giving us access to several hiking trails, including the shoreline trail. Like Lake Louise, visitors can rent canoes or enjoy the view from the rock pile. However, rentals were closed due to weather during our visit.
Getting to Moraine Lake takes effort, but it’s a world-class destination, easily more stunning than Lake Louise!
Trek To The Plain Of The Six Glaciers
- Trail: Starts to the right of Lake Louise | Rated: Moderate
The Plain of the Six Glaciers trail, known for another mountain tea house, is a scenic 14 km hike. The first half runs along Lake Louise’s shoreline with minimal elevation gain. So, put on your hiking boots and grab some trekking poles for a mountainous adventure.
Best traveled in the mornings, be sure to take a jacket for changable weather higher up. From the tea house, hikers have the option to travel to Abbot Pass, which will add another hour to your hiking time.
I first completed the hike when my children were young. We felt ambitious, so we did the Plain of the Six Glaciers, both Beehives and Lake Agnes, in one trek. By combining all trails into one, we had a very long hiking day of almost 20 km.
Final Thoughts
Although many explore the Canadian Rockies during the warmer months, the mountains offer contrasting activities in winter. Lake Louise freezes in winter, allowing ice skating from mid-December to mid-April. Alternatively, the trails enjoyed in summer become a snow-shoeing paradise with vistas of fluffy powder.
For the adventurous, nearby Johnston Canyon allows climbers to explore its frozen river and ascend its icy waterfall. Having visited in summer and winter, I think Johnston Canyon’s winter hike is better than its summer experience.
Yes, Lake Louise is an alluring destination that never disappoints. Have you explored the scenic landscape of this Canadian Rockies jewel?
