A Perfect Day Trip to Lake Louise, Alberta

On our trip to Alberta, I was very excited to visit Lake Louise for the day. The stunning turquoise is definitely one of the most well-known lakes in Alberta. If you’re exploring Banff National Park, visiting Lake Louise is a must. I hope you enjoy this guide to a perfect day trip to Lake Louise!

HOW TO GET THERE

Lake Louise is about a 40-minute drive west from the town of Banff. The drive is super easy – simply take the Trans-Canada Highway and exit at Lake Louise. However, the paid parking lot at Lake Louise is limited and the lot fills up very early during peak season. I was very worried about this, but luckily, because we stayed at the Fairmont Banff Springs for more than three nights, we were offered complimentary parking at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for the day! If you don’t have this option and you are visiting Lake Louise during peak season, taking a bus is a good idea.

If you are coming from the town of Banff, you can reserve a seat on a Roam Transit bus. The Roam Transit buses depart from the Banff High School Transit Hub and arrive at Lake Louise Village North. From there, it is about a 45-minute walk to the lake.

Another option is to reserve a seat on the Parks Canada shuttle bus, which departs from the Lake Louise Park and Ride and arrives directly at the lake. If you do not have a car, you can take a Roam Transit bus from the Banff High School Transit Hub to the Lake Louise Park and Ride.

For more information on the Roam Transit bus routes: https://roamtransit.com/
For more information on the Parks Canada shuttle bus: https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/parkbus/louise

WHAT TO DO

Lakefront Trail

When you arrive at Lake Louise, you will be in awe of the beautiful water and stunning mountain views. After taking in your surroundings, the most popular and easiest walking trail is the Lakefront Trail, which runs along the right side of the lake (when facing the lake).

Lake Agnes Trail

If you are up for adventure and can handle a steep incline, I highly recommend hiking the Lake Agnes trail. From the same starting point as the Lakeshore Trail, you will see another trail that heads up into the mountains. The Lake Agnes trail is about 2.5-3 hours round trip with a 385 m elevation gain. This hike is so worth it – you will be rewarded with amazing scenery along the way!

After about 20-30 minutes uphill (depending on your pace), you will arrive first at the gorgeous, green Mirror Lake. In the background is a mountain formation called Big Beehive.

After emerging from tall trees, you will start to see the mountain tops. Let this be your motivation – you can do it!

About 40-50 minutes from Mirror Lake is Lake Agnes. You made it! This a great place to stop for a packed lunch or to eat at the infamous Lake Agnes Tea House.

Little Beehive

From Lake Agnes, I HIGHLY recommend taking the side trail to either Little Beehive (additional 1 km one way) or Big Beehive (additional 1.6 km one way). I was so excited to hike to Big Beehive but unfortunately, we were told there was too much snow at the top that we were not prepared for. I’m very glad that we still hiked to Little Beehive, which had only a bit of snow. This was the highlight of my trip to Alberta.

The views of Lake Louise, Mirror Lake, and the mountains at the top of Little Beehive are unforgettable. The entire hike from Lake Louise to Little Beehive, including many stops for photos and lunch at Lake Agnes, took about 2.5 hours at a moderate pace.

Canoe Rental

After our hike, we decided to splurge on a canoe rental. The price for an hour rental is ridiculous (about $120 CAD). It’s definitely a tourist trap but I’m so glad that we did it. Canoeing on the crystal clear water and getting a great view of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and the mountains is worth it.

Moraine Lake

If you have time, beautiful Moraine Lake is a 20-minute drive from Lake Louise down Moraine Lake Road. We had no problems parking there in the late afternoon, but you can also take the Parks Canada Lake Connector shuttle bus from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake, which is first come first serve. At Moraine Lake, you can also rent a canoe and go on some hikes. Visiting Moraine Lake is a good option if Lake Louise is too busy.

WHERE TO EAT

As mentioned, we packed a lunch for our day trip to Lake Louise and ate it on our hike (I recommend packing a lunch since food options are limited). Eating at the Lake Agnes Tea House is also an option if you are hiking the Lake Agnes Trail.

At the end of the day, we rewarded ourselves with a cocktail on the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise patio. If you don’t have a packed lunch, eating at the hotel is the most convenient option.

Another option is to eat in the village of Lake Louise.