15 STUNNING Lake Louise Hikes and Trails You’ll Love (from Easy to Hard)

Looking for the best Lake Louise hikes? We share the most popular hikes around the lake and share all of the details in this guide to experience the best hikes around Lake Louise. If you want to add some more hikes to your list, check out our list of the best Banff hikes.

These hikes all start from Lake Louise and are certain to have stunning views of the stunning turquoise lake, surrounding mountains, and awe-inspiring glaciers. Any hiker who gets the opportunity to hike around Banff National Park and Lake Louise should consider themself very fortunate.

What’s also great about these trails is their ability to be combined; for example, we hiked Lake Agnes, Mount Niblock, Whyte, Big Beehive, and Devil’s Thumb in one day. Or another great option would be to hike the Big Beehive to the Plain of Six Glaciers for an awesome day in the mountains. We’ll do our best to note the Lake Louise hikes that are best combined.

See Also:


When is the Best Time to Hike Around Lake Louise?

Most of these Lake Louise hikes mentioned should only be attempted during the summer months. That means June to Early October. For the higher elevation hikes like Fairview Summit, Devil’s Thumb, and Saddleback Pass it’s best to wait until July. Hiking season in the Rockies is short but sweet so get out there and enjoy it come July, August, and September!

Some of the lower elevation hikes like the Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail, Fairview Lookout, and Mirror Lake make great winter hikes. Please respect your surroundings. Serious avalanches have occurred in the Lake Louise area between October and May, and there have been fatalities. Parks Canada does not “close trails” during periods of bad weather or in the winter. It is expected that every hiker is knowledgable, aware, and responsible for their own safety.

30 AWESOME Things to do in Lake Louise in the Summer 

The Best Lake Louise Hikes


Lake Louise Lakeshore

lake louise lakeshore trail
At the end of Lake Louise
  • Length: 4 km
  • Duration: 1 hour
  • Elevation Gain: NA
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Best Time To Go: Year Round
  • Can Combine With: Plain of Six Glaciers

The Lake Louise Lakeshore is the easiest walk you can complete in Lake Louise. This route circles the eastern section of Lake Louise and has no elevation gain. This is a nice easy trail that is well maintained and provides astonishing views at all times.

The trail ends at the start of the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail and is about 2km one way. If you decide to walk the whole trail and back, expect it to take you around 1 hour.


Fairview Lookout

  • Length: 2.4 km
  • Duration: > 1 hour to 1 hour
  • Elevation Gain: 100 meters
  • Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
  • Best Time To Go: Year Round
  • Can Combine With: Mount Fairview Summit/Saddleback Pass/Saddle Mountain

The Fairview Lookout trail is a short, sweet hike that provides great views over Lake Louise from some elevation. It’s quieter and less strenuous than the classic Lake Agnes Teahouse hike below, so it’s a good option if you’re not up the elevation gain required for Lake Anges or just want a quick jaunt in the area.

A nice platform also provides views back out to the impressive and historic Chateau Lake Louise Hotel. Don’t expect the view on the way up as it’s forested, but the lookout platform from the top is a lovely view worth the effort.


Mirror Lake

Mirror Lake and Big Beehive
  • Length: 6 km
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Elevation Gain: 330 meters
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Best Time To Go: Year Round
  • Can Combine With: Lake Agnes, Little Beehive, Big Beehive, Mount St Piran, Devil’s Thumb

Another fantastic and short hike is up to Mirror Lake. The trail to Mirror Lake is incredibly popular as it is the trail that also leads to Lake Agnes. We highly recommend taking this trail all the way to Lake Agnes, but if you want a shorter one, the hike to Mirror Lake is still very rewarding.

Reaching Mirror Lake will involve hiking a distance of 6 km and almost 400 meters. Once you reach Mirror Lake, enjoy a packed lunch with views of the Big Beehive right ahead of you.


Lake Agnes Teahouse

  • Length: 7.6 km
  • Duration: 2 – 3 hours
  • Elevation Gain: 433 meters
  • Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
  • Best Time To Go: June to October
  • Can Combine With: Little Beehive and Big Hive

The Lake Agnes Teahouse hike is a popular thing to do in Banff for visitors to Lake Louise. It’s also one of the most iconic and popular hikes in all of Banff National Park and has been enjoyed by visitors for well over a century. It ends at the Lake Agnes Teahouse, which is a Lake Louise restaurant serving visitors since 1905 when it first opened. A rustic old cabin that sits along the banks of Lake Agnes and over a rushing waterfall.

Its popularity is perhaps its only downfall as the teahouse can attract a crowd in the summer months with a line out the door. Never the less it is a classic and ends at the lovely Lake Agnes, the perfect spot for lunch. This is an easy to moderate hike above Lake Louise that is suitable for all visitors to Banff.

This is an easy hike that can be done in under two hours and is an iconic thing to do in Banff. However, be warned it is a busy one! To escape the crowds (and get better views), keep climbing to the Big or Little Beehive.

How to Hike to Lake Agnes Tea House (Lake Louise Tea House)

The Plain of Six Glaciers

  • Length: 13.8 km
  • Duration: 3 – 5 hours
  • Elevation Gain: 487 meters
  • Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
  • Best Time To Go: June – October
  • Can Combine With: Lake Agnes Teahouse/Big Beehive

This is one of the most incredible Lake Louise hikes that starts out strong with a walk along with Lake Louise and finishes in an open plain of glaciers. To sweeten the deal, the historic Plain of Six Glaciers teahouse is there to reward hikers with a cup of tea or a fresh-baked goodie. It’s a stunner of a hike with a whole bunch of rewards vs. effort.

At one point, this massive valley was the convergence of six glaciers that have all since retreated due to warming temperatures. All that is left now is the monstrous debris field that will leave hikers in all of their earth-shaping capability. It’s also possible to combine this hike with the Lake Agnes / Big Beehive hike for an incredible day in the mountains.

Want to join a guided hike? Discover Banff Tours operates guided hikes through the Plain of Six Glaciers multiple times a week.

Plain of Six Glaciers Hike: All You NEED To Know

The Little Beehive

The-Little-Beehive-Lake-Louise-Banff-Hike
The Little Beehive and Beehive Circuit
  • Length: 9.0 km
  • Duration: 2 – 4 hours
  • Elevation Gain: 535 meters
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Best Time To Go: June – October
  • Can Combine With: Lake Agnes Teahouse, Big Beehive, Mount St Piran

From Lake Agnes, you have two popular additions to continue your hike and gain some of the best views of Lake Louise from above. The Little Beehive, despite its name, is not much smaller than the Big Beehive, so I wouldn’t base the two hikes on difficulty. That being said, the Little Beehive is slightly easier.

The real difference lies in how busy and the view from these two hikes. The Little Beehive sees fewer hikers and offers views over Lake Louise along with Mount Fairview. It’s also possible to see the Lake Louise Ski Resort in the distance. It’s a really nice hike, and I’d recommend it for anyone with the energy to escape the crowds at the Lake Agnes Teahouse.


The Big Beehive

Natasha Top of Big Beehive Lake Louise Hike
  • Length: 10.3 km
  • Duration: 2 – 4 hours
  • Elevation Gain: 647 meters
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Best Time To Go: June – October
  • Can Combine With: Lake Agnes Teahouse, Little Beehive, Devil’s Thumb

The Big Beehive is a classic addition to the Lake Agnes Teahouse trek and well worth the effort, much like The Little Beehive. The trail to the Big Beehive extends past Lake Agnes and then climbs a ridge through a series of switchbacks to reach the top of the Big Beehive.

From there, you have amazing views over Lake Louise as it’s closer to the Lake than the Little Beehive. If you find the right spot, it’s possible to see Lake Louise and Mirror Lake at the same time.

It’s also the most popular photo spot of Lake Louise for social media, similar to the rocks as Peyto Lake. Regardless of the famous photos, it’s a fantastic Lake Louise hiking trail that we’ve been up to countless times and are never disappointed.


The Beehive Circuit

Big Beehive
  • Length: 14 km
  • Duration: 4 – 7 hours
  • Elevation Gain: 1,032
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Best Time To Go: Summer (June – September)
  • Can Combine With: Mount Saint Piran, Devil’s Thumb

The Big Beehive and Little Beehive are two of the most popular hikes in all of Banff National Park. While the busy trails often feel far from being in the wilderness, the surreal views more than makeup for anything that you can say negative about the hike. The greater “Beehive Circuit” makes for a tremendous day out for beginner to intermediate hikers with spectacular views and a solid challenge.

These Lake Louise hikes are popular. For the best chance of getting some alone time on them, it’s best to go early morning or around sunset and hike out in the dark (bring a headlamp!)


Mount Saint Piran

Mt Saint Piran
  • Length: 12.2 km
  • Duration: 3 – 6 hours
  • Elevation Gain: 918 meters
  • Difficulty: Difficult
  • Best Time To Go: June – October
  • Can Combine With: Lake Agnes Teahouse, Little Beehive

If you want to continue on even further past Lake Agnes and the Little Beehive, head for the summit of Mount Saint Piran. The trail follows along the Little Beehive trail until it veers off 400m from the summit of the Little Beehive. You follow a signed path through the thinning forest until you reach the alpine out of the tree line.

From there, it’s a beaten path or cairns through rock fields and scree. It’s not a technical challenge, but it does require some solid physical stamina. Once you reach its summit, though, you’re rewarded with some stellar views over the area as you can see the Waputik Icefield to the North. It’s a sharp departure from the busy throngs of crowds down at Lake Louise as only a few complete the hike. You also get to claim you summited another peak in the Canadian Rockies.


Saddleback Pass

  • Trailhead: Lake Louise
  • Distance: 7-14km (many variations that make distance hard to determine)
  • Elevation: 550 meters
  • Difficulty: Easy/Moderate
  • Time: 2-4 hours
  • Can Combine With: Sentinel Pass/Fairview Lookout/Mt Fairview

One of my favorite Alberta Larch Hikes that not many people seem to talk about is the hike up to Saddleback Pass. If you want to escape the crowds at Lake Louise this is a fantastic choice.

This hike is best done from Lake Louise, but we checked it off the list when we hiked between Moraine Lake and Lake Louise on the Paradise Valley trail, which is an option for those seeking a longer day.

Saddleback Pass is one of the best larch hikes in the area; from Lake Louise, you’ll start towards the trail to the Fairview Lookout and continue on the path up to summit Fairview Mountain. From the top of Saddleback Pass, you’ll enjoy Mount Temple, Haddo Peak, and Sheol Mountain views.

At the top of the pass, you have a few options. There is signage to continue through Saddleback Pass and to the Sheol Valley to loop back around to Lake Louise, or you can continue up Saddle Mountain or Mount Fairview. All are great quiet options that you could hit on a single day if you have the time.

We highly recommend taking the Sheol Valley Trail that loops around Saddle Mountain on a well-distinguished trail until you make it back to the lake connector trail. But if you have had enough by the time you reach the top of the pass you can turn around and head back to Lake Louise the way you came.

As mentioned, we had a long 24 km day that allowed us to cross Saddleback Pass off the list. With a start at Moraine Lake, up to Sentinel Pass, through the Paradise Valley Trail to Lake Annette, and onwards through the Sheol Valley to Saddleback Pass, up to summit Saddle Mountain and down to the Lake Louise Chateau. It made for very long, but utterly epic day in Banff that was absolutely full of wonderful golden larches in late September.


Mount Fairview

Saddleback Pass Lake Louise Hikes
  • Length: 9.2 km
  • Duration: 3 – 6 hours
  • Elevation Gain: 1012 meters.
  • Difficulty: Difficult
  • Best Time To Go: June – October (Late September for Larch Season is amazing)
  • Can Combine With: Fairview Lookout/Saddleback Pass/Saddle Mountain

This is a really great day out in the mountains for active hikers and a real gem in the Lake Louise area. You’re guaranteed stunning views on a quiet trail. The trail leaves from Lake Louise heads up to Saddleback Pass, before the summit of Fairview Mountain.

You’ll be surrounded by staggering peaks, larch trees, gain a high mountain pass, and summit a mountain that rewards you with stunning views of Lake Louise down below. Altogether, it’s one of the best Lake Louise hikes.

This hike through to Saddleback Pass is a tremendous one in the larch season as the valley is full of larch trees. A great alternative, although still busy, to the famous Sentinel Pass hike. Plus, Mount Fairview, whether photographers know it or not is photographed by almost every visitor to Lake Louise, which makes it a nice one to cross off the list, and say “I climbed that.”

Although Fairview summit looks tall, I didn’t find it too difficult. Anyone with decent fitness and adequately prepared with some snacks/lunch, water, and proper clothing should be able to summit Fairview. It gets cold on the mountain summits all year round. When we summited in July, it was freezing at elevation.

We’re pretty fast hikers, and we summited Mount Fairview and back in under three hours. The last push to the summit was the hardest as it’s very steep and rocky – this is where poles come in handy.

Compared to the Beehive Hikes and Mount Saint Piran, Fairview was my least favorite. Mainly because I didn’t get a full view over Lake Louise like I thought I would. However, you do get to see Mount Temple and get up close to Mount Victoria, Aberdeen, and Haddo Peak! All in all, it’s still a stunning hike!

alltrail

Saddle Mountain

  • Trailhead: Lake Louise
  • Distance: 8.2 km
  • Elevation: 658 m from Lake Louise/100 meters or so from Saddleback Pass
  • Difficulty: Easy (from Saddleback Pass)
  • Time: 3-5 hours
  • Can Combine With: Saddleback Mountain/Fairview Lookout/Mt Fairview

I wanted to list Saddle Mountain as fun Lake Louise trail right after Saddleback Pass and Mount Fairview. As I mentioned when you get to the top of Saddleback Pass you have a few options, and continuing onward to summit Saddle Mountain is one of them.

This is one of the easiest peaks to bag in the Rockies, and if you’re already going up Saddleback Pass it’s just an extra 100 meters to the summit of this one, so well worth adding on!

The views from the top are incredible over the valley. You can easily see Mount Temple, Little Temple, and on a clear day you may even get views of Mount Assiniboine!


Paradise Valley

At Lake Annette
  • Trailhead: Moraine Lake canoe docks, or at Lake Louise
  • Distance: 20km
  • Elevation: 800 meters if going from Moraine Lake to Lake Louise
  • Difficulty: Hard because of length
  • Time: 6-8 hours
  • Can Combine With: Sentinel Pass/Saddleback Pass

One of the best Lake Louise hiking trails actually connects Lake Louise to Moraine Lake, via Sentinel Pass. You can start this hike either at Moraine Lake or Lake Louise.

Starting at Moraine Lake would be the better option so that you climb up to Sentinel Pass and drop down into Paradise Valley rather than climb up to Sentinel Pass. Nevertheless, both can be done if you are seeking a long 20km point to point hike!

The reward for hiking the Paradise Valley trail is that you get to check off Lake Louise, Saddleback Pass, the Sheol Valley, Lake Annette, Sentinel Pass, and Moraine Lake all in one go! Once you drop into the Sheol Valley and get to Lake Annette it’s unlikely you’ll see many people too.

Along the route, you’ll pass through thousands of larches while hiking under Mount Temple. It’s a great hike to do in Banff in the fall for the amazing colors!

This hike is a point to point hike so it’s best done by using the Parks Canada Shuttle System.

Moraine Lake Parking: Everything You Need to Know

Lake Louise Scrambles


The Devil’s Thumb

At the summit of Devil’s Thumb looking below – can you see Cameron in red?
  • Length: 11.9 km
  • Duration: 3 – 6 hours
  • Elevation Gain: 1,012 meters
  • Difficulty: Difficult / Easy Scramble
  • Best Time To Go: June – September
  • Can Combine With: Lake Agnes Teahouse, Beehive Circuit

While physically, it’s not much harder than the Big Beehive, The Devil’s Thumb is classified as a scramble. Albeit a straightforward one and a great place to start for the adventurous to test their skills. From the Big Beehive hike, this departs from the trail on the way to the overlook and heads along the ridge and then up a gully to the top of Devil’s Thumb. It’s a great choice for the adventurous looking for something more out of their Lake Louise hikes.

The gully up to the top of Devil’s Thumb can be busy, steep, and contain loose rock. For this reason, we recommend wearing a helmet. You never know if an inexperienced hiker above you will launch a rock down the gully – hikers have been hurt here from this! It’s also why we would recommend an early morning approach or late afternoon when it’s quieter.


Mount Niblock

Summit ahead of us
  • Length: 16.4 km
  • Duration: 6 – 10 hours
  • Elevation Gain: 1,522 meters
  • Difficulty: Moderate – Difficult Scramble
  • Best Time To Go: June – October
  • Can Combine With: Lake Agnes Teahouse, Mount Whyte (serious scramble)

This, along with Mount Whyte below, are questionable Lake Louise “hikes.” Never the less for experienced hikers or scramblers, they are tremendous options in the area as you’re guaranteed to escape crowds, the views are phenomenal, and it’s also a nice challenge. It’s also wild as the hike dwarfs the others in the area and provides phenomenal views over the surrounding peaks.

When we made our scramble up the gully to summit the peaks, there was only one group on the route that day, despite a packed Lake Louise in the summer. You also have the option of Mount Whyte, but due to its difficulty, I am not listing it in this post as a hike for obvious safety reasons. Anyone attempting its summit likely knows the area already.

If you do plan for this scramble, please approach it with respect. There is some real exposure on Mount Niblock, and Mount Whyte is very exposed. Exposure means if you fall, let go, or slip, you’ll likely be seriously maimed or die. This also means carrying the right equipment, including appropriate outerwear, boots, water, food, hiking poles, GPS, and a helmet.


Gear We Recommend for These Lake Louise Hikes

Salomon Speedcross 5

Salomon Speedcross 5

The vast majority of hikes and easy scrambles in the Rockies, you’ll find us in our trusty Salomon Speedcross.

Arc'teryx Cerium Hoody

Arc’teryx Cerium

Arc’teryx Cerium is our pick for the best down jacket. It’s incredibly light, and we bring it on almost every hike in the Rockies.

Peak Design Capture Clip

PD Capture Clip

This nifty clip from Peak Design secures a camera to my backpack strap for easy reach. No more digging in the backpack!

Hiking Poles

Hiking Poles

A pair of durable and lightweight hiking poles are a great asset on the hiking trail. 

Gregory Nano Backpack

Gregory Nano 20L

20L feels like the ideal size for quick hikes and scrambles. We love the Nano from Gregory with a hydration reservoir.

Garmin Inreach Mini

Garmin Inreach Mini

There is not much cell service in the Canadian Rockies. In case of emergencies, we carry an emergency beacon with GPS.


Parking at Lake Louise

lake louise parking information

If you’re hiking at Lake Louise in the summer you should know the hardest part of the hike can be securing parking. Parking at Lake Louise in the summer is difficult, with visitors typically needing to secure a spot at Lake Louise Lakeshore before 8am.

We recommend using the Lake Louise shuttle operated by Parks Canada as this is a guaranteed way to get access Lake Louise.

Make sure to read our Lake Louise parking guide before you go to see all your other options.


Other Banff National Park Hikes

Of course, there are so many more hikes in Banff and tons of exploring. Looking for the best Banff hikes? We rank our favorite hikes around the park and share all of the details in this guide to experience the best in the park.

You’ll find on these hikes in Banff high alpine passes lined with wildflowers, jagged peaks topped by glaciers, and a healthy dose of turquoise blue lakes.


Advice on Hikes Around Lake Louise

Lake Louise Hikes The Little Beehive
  • If this is your first time hiking in the Rockies take a conservative approach. Pick an adequate hike for your fitness, plan for plenty of time, pack water and food, and don’t be afraid to turn around. If you want to learn more about what to wear hiking we have a great post.
  • For long hikes, set a turn around time at the departure. Any time we set out for an objective I determine a time at which we need to turn around in order to arrive at the parking lot or campsite by dark. I would recommend not hiking in the dark as it’s easy to get lost and it’s not fun in bear country.
  • Always carry bear spray if you plan to hike in the park. We carry ours in the neighborhood and bears have been known to stroll through town and busy parking lots. Always practice wildlife awareness when you’re on a trail, and please give animals space.
  • In regards to times keep in mind your mountain fitness as it’s much different than the gym. The low end of the times in this post is a constant fast pace uphill with little to no breaks and a brisk pace downhill. Most hikers should plan for a middle of the road time with the estimated duration.
  • Although there is cell service around all of these Lake Louise hikes, a Garmin In Reach can save your life if you do a lot of hiking in the Canadian Rockies.
  • Alltrails is our favorite app to have on a hike. It shows the correct trail way, elevation, and other hiker reviews. We paid the subscription fee so that we could download all the data we need to our phones. Best $3 (per month) ever spent!
28 Helpful Tips for Hiking in Banff for New Hikers

What to Wear While on These Lake Louise Hiking Trails?

My typical hiking attire

The most basic principle of what to wear hiking is layering. Anyone that has spent time in the wilderness or mountains can speak to the fact your temperature can fluctuate a lot on a hike. You can easily start off cool at the mountain base and get hot as soon as you begin moving.



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Plan Your Trip to the Canadian Rockies

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  • Cheaper Airfare: We also use Going to watch for cheap airfare deals!
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About Cameron

Cameron is a resident of Canmore, Alberta. After traveling the world for six years, he settled down in the beautiful Bow Valley with Natasha. He has been featured as a travel expert with numerous publications worldwide and has spoken on several occasions about the power of travel. He has a passion for all things in the Canadian Rockies and loves to spend his time snowboarding, scrambling, camping, biking, and trail running. Conservation is a deep fundamental in his life, and he aims to inspire others to care about our natural world. You can learn more on the about us page.

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8 thoughts on “15 STUNNING Lake Louise Hikes and Trails You’ll Love (from Easy to Hard)”

  1. First of all, thank you so much for all this fantastic information. We are experienced hikers coming to Banff from May 22nd to the 27th. Do you think it will be possible/advisable to attempt these hikes? I’m especially keen to do the Paradise Valley hike, assuming the road to Moraine is open and we can find a ride to get there after parking at Lake Louise. But any of these sound fantastic. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hi Alex,

      The road to Moraine will not be open until June 1st. Typically most of these hikes are not advisable until early June. But it depends on conditions. You will definitely be able to do Fairmont Lookout, and probably Lake Agnes. It’s a maybe on the Little and Big Beehive though!

      Reply
  2. Hey guys,

    Have been reading your blog a fair bit before our trip to Canada this year, as one half of us is from Edmonton and I’m Aussie, but we love the blogs you guys post – incredibly informative and suuper helpful. From one travel couple to another you guys are killing it! Hopefully get to run into you guys on the trails this fall 🙂
    Chris and Laura

    Reply
  3. Hiking with kids, 6 & 9. Looking for a short but exciting Lake Louise hike. Fairview lookout vs. Tunnel Mtn. vs Mirror Lake.

    Which would you choose?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hi Geneva,

      Tunnel Mountain is a great one, but it’s near the town of Banff and not near Lake Louise. The Fairview Lookout gives an impressive view over Lake Louise, while Mirror Lake does not. It’s also less trafficked so I would personally choose that one.

      Reply

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