If you are visiting Banff, this is a must visit place, no matter what. It is an absolute piece of beauty on any time and all year along.
Parking fees: $21 CAD per day
Best time to visit: Any time, any day.
Explore Lakeside
If you are not interested in hiking, you can still walk along the shore, and enjoy the stunning views of the lake.
The lake is picturesque from anywhere you look.
Great spot for both sunrise and sunset.
Lake Louise Chateau is right beside the lake. The cafe and coffee shop is open to visitors.
If you are doing other hikes, no need to do the entire lakeside trail. You will be walking along the lake during the other hikes.
Total Lakeshore trail – 2.8 miles total (out and back). Takes 1-2 hr
Plain of six Glaciers Hike
Start point: Lake Louise
Distance: 4 miles or 6.6 km in one side
Beautiful hike, with amazing views all the way up. You walk by Lake Louise on the side in the 1st segment. And then you are walking with glaciers in front of you. You can also hear and may see avalanch explosion at the distant glacier infront of you.
Don’t stop at the tea house at the end. It is another 0.5 miles and then you are right in front of the glaciers.
Things to note if you plan to get food from tea house: Cash is recommended. Cards are charged with an extra $4 CAD.
On your return path, there are 3 options:
Return via the same path
Return through Big Beehive and Lake Agnes Tea House. This will cover Big Beehive hike as well. Big Beehive has an amazingly different and beautiful view of Lake Louise.
Time for return path: 5 km (3-4 hrs)
Little Beehive Hike
Little Beehive trail via Lake Agnes is a shorter trail of 5.7 miles (round trip).