Lake Louise Canoe Rental: 10 Tips You NEED to Know

For many, canoeing on Lake Louise is a highlight of their trip to Banff National Park. There is likely no place more quintessential to rent a canoe in Banff than Lake Louise. It’s one of the most spectacular scenes in the world. It’s tough to find a more spectacular scene to paddle through as you look out to Mount Victoria and the hanging Victoria glacier.

There is no need for fancy edits on your photographs. Like nearby Moraine Lake, the water at Lake Louise is radiant turquoise blue. Most don’t bring a canoe with them on their trip to Banff, and there’s no need, as you can rent a Lake Louise canoe right from the boathouse on the shore.

If you own a canoe, you’ll have to arrive very early in the morning to secure parking close enough to carry the canoe to the lakeshore, but we’ll dig into all the below!

Lake Louise Canoe Rental Information

Lake Louise is the most popular attraction in Banff National Park and draws a crowd in the summer months. Between June and September the trails around Lake Louise get busy, and thousands of people grab their photos in front of the spectacular scenery.

It is a magnificent setting, but it can be a little difficult to escape the masses. One of the best ways to escape the crowds is to take to the water with a canoe.

That being said, outside of early morning or late evening, there will likely be a wait for a canoe rental at Lake Louise, and securing a Lake Louise canoe is first come, first serve. Once you’re out canoeing on Lake Louise, you won’t have the lake to yourself, but it’s easy enough to keep your distance from other canoes on the lake.

This is particularly easy if you aim to paddle the whole lake, as most people tend to stick close to the dock and the middle of Lake Louise. If you want to paddle the entire lake, plan to paddle for around one hour, depending on your ability.

You can bring your own canoe or kayak to Lake Louise, but there is no public boat launch, and you cannot use the Boathouse docks run by the Fairmont. That means most visitors will have to rent canoes from the boat dock at Lake Louise. The dock is run by the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, and it’s open daily in-season from 8:30am to 8:00pm (season dependent – times may change**).

Canoe rentals operate on a first-come-first-served basis, so expect to wait in a line during peak summer months. Each rental must have at least one person 16 years old, and the maximum number of passengers is 3, unless you are 2 small kids and 2 adults.

As the hotel operates the boat dock, Fairmont guests are given priority treatment with a priority line and reduced rental rates. Hotel guests can also take advantage of a sunrise canoe experience where they can exclusively rent canoes for the early morning and experience Lake Louise before the crowds set in. Reservations for this are required by 10:00 PM the day prior.

As an additional experience, Fairmont and outside guests can book the Voyageur Canoe Experience which is a special group canoe on a 26’ cedar strip canoe. The guided canoe trip is great for families, and the guide will supply an ample amount of information about the history of the park’s early explorers and wildlife.

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Rental Season and Rental Hours

Every canoe season in the Rockies is different as it’s entirely dependent on seasonal weather. Generally, the lake thaws around mid-June and the canoe rentals run until the end of September, when the snow begins to fall.

The daily hours are currently listed from Monday – Thursday: 10:30 AM – 5:00 PM, and Friday – Sunday: 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM, weather permitting. They will close with severe inclement weather. These times are subject to change throughout the season.

The boathouse is scheduled to open in early June and close early October, though exact dates are still TBD.

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Lake Louise Canoe Rental Rates

Experience	Price
Canoe Rental For Public	$165 per hour / $155 per half hour (+tax)
Canoe Rental For Hotel Guests	$105 per hour / $95 per half hour (+tax)
Voyageur Canoe Experience For Hotel Guests	$60 per adult / $30 for youth
Voyageur Canoe Experience For Non Hotel Guests	$75 per adult / $40 for youth

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How Long Can You Canoe on Lake Louise?

Lake Louise canoe rental rates are charged by the hour and half-hour, though they are only $10 cheaper for 30 minutes, so it’s best to canoe on Lake Louise for the entire hour. An hour on Lake Louise should give you plenty of time to take in the views and canoe around the lake.

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Why Are Canoe Rentals at Lake Louise So Expensive?

I’m sure you realize canoe rentals at Lake Louise are pretty expensive by now. There are several reasons for the high prices. The first is the short season, during which the operators have to recoup their investment, as it’s only a couple of months before the Banff lakes are unfrozen.

You also have zero competition, so the Fairmont can set whatever price they see fit, which happens to be the highest in the park. Considering there is always a line of people waiting for a canoe on any given summer day, we don’t expect these prices to ever come down. On top of all that, the liability insurance for operating in the park and renting canoes is costly.

If you are looking for a more reasonably priced canoe experience, we recommend canoeing on Emerald Lake nearby or renting a paddleboard in Banff or Canmore.

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Can You Reserve a Canoe at the Lake Louise Boathouse?

Canoes are rented on a first-come/first serve basis. If you are a non-Fairmont guest, you can expect to stand in line for over an hour to rent a canoe at Lake Louise on a beautiful summer day.

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Things to Know

• Anyone visiting Lake Louise can rent a canoe at the Lake Louise boathouse. The rental house is not just for Fairmont guests. Though Fairmont guests have a separate line and are given priority over nonguests.
• Up to three adults can use one canoe at the boathouse. Any person weighing more than 55 lbs is considered an adult at the boathouse. If you have small children, they also allow 2 children + 2 adults.
• Lifejackets are provided at the boathouse for every guest on the canoe, and they have child life jackets. Everyone must wear a lifejacket while paddling with a rental.
• Dogs and children are allowed on the Lake Louise canoes.
• Stand-up paddleboards and kayaks are not available at the Lake Louise boathouse. The only flotation device you can rent here is a canoe. You can bring your own sup or kayak to Lake Louise though.
• There is a rescue boat. The Boathouse has an inflatable rescue boat on standby to assist in case anyone gets in trouble on the water.

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Tips For Canoeing on Lake Louise

• Temperatures are very cool in the shoulder months of June and September. When you go out on the water, be sure to pack in layers to remain warm.
• Weather on the lakes, particularly the large bodies of water, can change rapidly. Keep an eye on the horizon if it’s looking like a storm or the wind starts to pick up it may be time to get off the water.
• Take sun protection seriously on warm days as the water reflection is very strong. We suggest making sure you have a hat, long sleeve shirt, and sunglasses.
• Go early. Before 9:30 a.m. is your best chance to avoid a line and crowds, and the lake is usually more calm then.
• Bring a water bottle in case you start heating up in the peak summer.
• Remain calm and don’t rock the boat when out on the water. The glacial-fed Lake Louise is frigid all year round and you’re not going to be a happy camper if you end up in the water and require rescue.
• Canoe rental operators provide life jackets so make sure to take advantage.

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The Voyageur Canoe Experience at Lake Louise

The Voyageur Canoe Experience is offered through the Fairmont for $60 per adult and $30 per child (for hotel guests). This allows groups of up to 12 to enjoy canoeing on Lake Louise in an authentic 26’ cedar strip canoe with a guide. The guides will be able to tell the group all about the area and the history of the land. This experience must be reserved in advance through the Fairmont.

Non hotel guest rate: $75+GST per adult, $40+GST per youth (ages 8-12)

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Sunrise Canoe on Lake Louise

Guests of the Fairmont have the option to book a sunrise canoe experience on mornings in the summer. The cost is $185 per canoe and includes an exclusive 1.5 hr canoe rental. This experience is limited to just 10 canoes, so you must book this experience in advance if you are a guest of the Fairmont.

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Can You Bring Your Own Canoe Or Kayak on Lake Louise?

Yes, you can bring your own canoe or kayak to Lake Louise or any body of water within Banff National Park. As stated earlier, there is no public boat launch at Lake Louise which means you’ll have to carry your canoe from the public parking lot, and then awkwardly launch your water device from the lakeshore with plenty of people around. It’s certainly doable, we’ve done it several times and it’s no big deal, just as long as you’re prepared to do so.

We’ve found the best place to launch a canoe or kayak yourself is just past the bridge, walking towards the hotel. On the left are a few significant steps that make accessing the water easier.

This is all, of course if you can get a parking spot at Lake Louise, as they fill up fast in the summer months. Then you’ll have to carry your watercraft about 500 meters from the parking area to the lake. We love to go for a SUP on the lake by arriving early in the morning for a hike and then relaxing on the water in the afternoon. If you can’t get parking, the Parks Canada Lake Louise shuttles and private shuttle companies like Moraine Lake Bus Company allow inflatable devices to be brought on board.

To prevent the spread of Aquatic invasive species visitors must now fill out a Self Certification Permit with Parks Canada for any nonmotorized watercraft entering the water. This includes kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. The Self Certification Permits can be found online.

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Alternatives to Renting a Canoe at Lake Louise

Canoeing on Lake Louise is a fantastic experience, but renting one can eat up a lot of time if you have to wait in line, and it’s pretty expensive. We use our own personal canoe and sup to enjoy the lakes in the Rockies. Though, we know this isn’t possible for most visitors. Some alternatives to renting a boat at the Lake Louise boathouse are:

• Rent a kayak or stand up paddleboard for the day with Banff Canoe Club and drive to Lake Louise.
• Canoe on Emerald Lake, Emerald Lake is another magical lake nearby to canoe on, and is a fraction of the cost of Lake Louise.
• Buy a stand-up paddleboard. I am not kidding when I say that our inflatable stand-up paddleboards are among our best purchases. If you plan on doing lots of paddling during your trip, it may be worth just buying one. You can always try and resell when you leave on Marketplace or Switching Gear in Canmore.

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Should You Canoe on Moraine Lake or Lake Louise?

Of course, canoeing on both lakes is ideal! Though we know that not everyone has the time or budget to canoe on both lakes. We have canoed on both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake and have no preference over the other.

They are both fantastic places to take in from the water. Because of parking restrictions at Moraine Lake, I would say that canoeing on Moraine Lake is a far less busy and more peaceful, majestic experience.

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Canoes in Banff

If you’re not keen on waiting in line or paying the high prices for a canoe rental at Lake Louise, there are other locations that you can head to in the Banff National Park. You can check out our article on canoe rentals in Banff for more information.

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Where to Stay Near Lake Louise?

There aren’t a ton of places to stay in Lake Louise, and there is only one place to stay actually on the lake. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is the only lakeside property, and it just so happens to be one of the most sought-after places to stay in Banff and conventionally the most expensive. You pay for the location here, but by being a guest, you also get a bit of a discount on your canoe rental, as it is operated by the Fairmont. Read our full review of the Chateau here.

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Other Lake Louise Properties

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