Lake Agnes Teahouse Vs Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse

Both the Lake Agnes Teahouse and Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse are staple hikes in the Lake Louise area that many visitors wish to complete. Both hikes lead hikers to historic teahouses situated among some of the largest peaks in the Lake Louise area. However, most visitors only have time for one teahouse experience on their trip. If this is you, which one should you pick?

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Location & Scenery

You’ll go in separate directions to reach Lake Agnes and the Plain of Six Glaciers. The Lake Agnes Trail begins right near the Fairmont next to the “front” of Lake Louise. While the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail will have you skirting the Lake Louise Lakeshore until the end of the lake, and then following the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail. Both trails are stunning in their own right.

Lake Agnes Teahouse

The trail is mainly surrounded by forest as you ascend to Lake Agnes. This trail offers stunning views of Mirror Lake along the way and a picturesque waterfall. In general, the trail to Lake Agnes is more shaded and enclosed by trees and you get a few views of beautiful Lake Louise as you climb. Once you reach the teahouse, you’ll be in a beautiful amphitheater with Lake Agnes ahead of you, and Mount Whyte in the near distance. From Lake Agnes, you cannot see Lake Louise; however, if you venture further up the Little or Big Beehive, you’ll get an iconic view of Lake Louise below you.

Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse

The Plain of Six Glaciers trail leads hikers through a beautiful alpine meadow with glacier views. Along the hike you’ll have views of Mount Victoria, which gets closer with each step you take. Unlike Lake Agnes, the trail does not end at a lake, but instead at a historic teahouse surrounded by colossal peaks. If you continue past the teahouse for another 1.5km to the Abott Pass Viewpoint, the trail gets more difficult. However, you are rewarded at the end of the trail with a literal view of six massive (but sadly retreating) glaciers. As you return to Lake Louise, you’ll have stellar views of Lake Louise in the distance.

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Hiking Stats

Both trails are rated as moderate hikes (for Canadian Rockies standards). Neither involves any scrambling.

Feature	Lake Agnes Teahouse	Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse
Round-trip Distance	7.8 km	11.4 km to teahouse
Elevation Gain	495 m	595 m to teahouse
Hours	2-4 hours	3-5 hours
Trail Type	Forested switchbacks	Open alpine trail
Difficulty	Moderate	Moderate
Crowds	Very popular and crowded	Less crowded, but far from undiscovered.

Lake Agnes Extensions

• Little Beehive: Short, scenic detour with beautiful views over Lake Louise.
• Big Beehive: Just a bit more work than the Little Beehive. Provides panoramic views of Lake Louise. All about the Beehive Circuit.
• Devil’s Thumb: Keep going past the Big Beehive for a moderate scramble for experienced hikers.
• Mount Saint Piran: A less popular option past the Little Beehive that gets you to a mountain summit.
• Lake Louise Circuit: Can connect via the Highline Trail to from the Big Beehive to the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail.

Plain of Six Glaciers Extensions

• Abbot Pass Viewpoint: Close-up glacier views. 3km round-trip extension.
• Highline Trail: Connects to Lake Agnes for a full-day loop (~20 km).

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Teahouse Experience

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Lake Agnes

Lake Agnes is a bit smaller, and is known for its extensive tea selection and baked goods. It also sits right on Lake Agnes, and in our opinion, this means it has better views. However, Lake Agnes is the much more popular choice and is often crowded, with a line forming outside. The last time we hiked the trail, we reached Lake Agnes around 8:30 a.m. to a long line already out the door. If you can be one of the first hikers to reach Lake Agnes in the summer, you’ll be well rewarded for about 20 minutes before the crowds start coming.

Plain of Six Glaciers

The Plain of Six Glaciers teahouse has more seating options and offers more of a sit-down service. Beyond tea and biscuits, they offer soups and sandwiches, which those looking for more of a meal on their hike will enjoy. Compared to the Lake Agnes Teahouse, the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse is quieter, and you can often find a seat without waiting in line.

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Which Teahouse Should You Hike To?

Both teahouses require a half-day hike to reach, and given that they go in opposite directions at the start, most visitors can only choose one.

Neither will disappoint – we promise! We recommend that you review both our articles and photos to determine which teahouse you would prefer to experience with your time.

In general, the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail is much less crowded however it does not bring you to an actual lake. The Lake Agnes Teahouse is featured on most famous hike lists in the Canadian Rockies and is the far more popular choice. It’s also a bit shorter in distance than the Plain of Six Glaciers trail, meaning it takes less time.

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Hike to Both in One Day!

Can’t decide? Take the entire day and hit Lake Agnes, the Beehives, and the Plain of Six Glaciers on the Lake Louise Circuit. This circuit is a wonderful loop trail, but takes most hikers all day to achieve, as it involves hiking over 20km and over 1000 meters of gain. More details on this can be found here. If you’re a strong hiker, we can’t recommend it enough!