Lake Louise: Canadian Beauty with a Swiss Charm
Lake Louise was once a recreational spot for wealthy travelers. The first visitors were brought here at the end of the 19th century when the Canadian Pacific Railway made its way to the first part of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (a small summer cabin back then). Nowadays, everybody can enjoy its beauty!
Distance: 45 min drive from the town of Banff.
Time to spend: From an hour to a full day.
Parking: Complicated. Read our tips below.
Check trail conditions before you go.
Good to know before you go
Expect big crowds here. In a peak season, the best time to visit is early in the morning or late afternoon, otherwise, you’ll have to park at the overflow parking lot (5 km from the lake) and hop on a shuttle bus to get to the lake. We visited in the late afternoon and I can’t even imagine how many people could be here midday. The huge overflow parking was filling up very quickly. Locals say there can be as many as 15,000 visitors a day to Lake Louise. Wow!
In summer, choose mornings for better views. In the late afternoon, the sun will be in your eyes and it’ll be hard to see all the beauty. You will get the best views of Lake Louise from an elevation (like Lake Moraine from the rockpile or Peyto Lake from the Bow Summit lookout).
The main trail along the lake is stroller super friendly. There’s a lot of open space for kids to run around freely. There is no shade in front of the lake, where most people are hanging out. If you are heat intolerant, beware on a hot summer day. There is some shade in about 20 min stroll around the lake, but the ground surface of the trail is not even there (with potholes and roots) not suitable for a stroller.
Besides walking and strolling there are a few other cool things you can do while visiting Lake Louise.
Canoe riding
It’s pricy, but also a great opportunity to escape the crowds. For non-hotel guests, it’s $105 for 1 hour, $95 for half an hour. Expect lines! 2 adults + 2 kids are allowed per boat (or 3 adults, no kids). Sunscreen and sunglasses are essential. Be careful not to slip over the boat into the frigid water! You can also use your own kayak/canoe, but there is no boat lunch. You’ll have to carry it straight from the parking lot.
Hiking
Choose one of the “Tea House” hikes. You will enjoy great scenery while a cool reward will be awaiting you at the end of the trail — a soup, a huge selection of hot teas and baked goods. Cash only! There is no electricity or running water, all goods are brought by the staff and helicopters. Dress up in layers, for cold and hot weather. Expect many people on the trail and at the tables (especially on the Lake Agnes teahouse trail).
Take a Dip in the Lake
This was very popular during our visit, among kids and adults. The water felt warmed up at the edge of the lake in the late afternoon. The shoreline is covered in boulders and has nice granite steps — easy for entering the water. We weren’t ready for a dip (no swimsuits or towels), but some splash felt great to refresh in the summer heat.
Picnic Lunch
There are a lot of pleasant grassy areas overlooking the lake just past Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, which makes a nice place to have a picnic lunch.
The hotel is nice but didn’t impress us at a close distance. I bet it looks magnificent in winter with all the lights and snow.
Lake Louise is one of the best (and biggest) places for the ice skating in the entire world and now on my bucket list for a winter trip there :).
Have fun at one of the most popular destinations in entire Canada!
Originally published at https://grazygoat.com on February 6, 2019.
