Looking for the best things to do in Lake Louise in winter? We love Lake Louise all year round, but I particularly love Lake Louise in winter. While most people think of the Canadian Rockies as a summer destination, I believe that winter in Lake Louise is what it’s all about.
There are so many amazing things to do in Lake Louise during the winter. I actually got sad this past year when spring rolled around. Of course, when the lake thaws and the lake’s dizzying turquoise color returns, it’s a glorious moment.
The truth of the matter is I love winter in the mountains. I love snowboarding and that cozy feeling you have when you walk through the door after a long day out and have a hot chocolate by the fire. Banff is great for that feeling, and we are positive you will love it too.
Lake Louise Winter Fun Facts!
- Lake Louise received 3.9 meters average annual snowfall
- In the middle of winter, the ice is over 1 meter thick in the middle of Lake Louise.
- Lake Louise reaches a depth of 70 meters, is 2.2 km in length, and .5 km in width.
- Lake Louise sits at an elevation of 1730 meters! (5650 ft)
Best Things To Do in Lake Louise in Winter
Enjoy the Winter Wonderland
One of the best things to do in Lake Louise in the winter is simply to enjoy the spectacular views of Lake Louise. Lake Louise has drawn visitors to the Canadian Rockies for over a century.
In the winter, Lake Louise is blanketed in a fluffy layer of snow and set by a backdrop of Mount Victoria and a hanging glacier. This pristine piece of wilderness draws in millions of visitors a year.
It is a stunning sight, and the magic of natural beauty is not lost. Despite visiting Lake Louise many times, it still takes our breath away, no matter the season. The best season may just be the winter. Sit down with a cup of hot chocolate by the fire and enjoy the winter wonderland at Lake Louise.
Just make sure to dress warmly as the lake sits in the shade the majority of the day in the winter so it can get bone-chillingly cold.
Ice Skate or Play Hockey on Lake Louise
There is no place to ice skate in Banff that is more iconic or scenic than the famous Lake Louise. Not much of a surprise, but it’s regularly been considered one of the world’s best ice skating rinks.
It’s also tremendous as the frozen lake is maintained by the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. The lake is regularly cleared of snow and resurfaced, so visitors can enjoy ice skating during the winter despite conditions on other natural lakes.
Lake Louise, every few winters, can freeze very early before a significant snowfall, resulting in a blue-glass lake. It’s an absolutely stunning natural occurrence and can happen in November, but don’t count on seeing the lake as a visitor this way, as November is generally the worst month to visit Banff.
The lake freezing like this doesn’t happen every year, and when it happens, it is only for a few days at most. I say this only to manage expectations as the surface will likely be a frosted white, but the views are stunning nonetheless!
Snowshoe Around Lake Louise
Lake Louise is an excellent place for a snowshoe tour. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more scenic location in the world for a snowshoe than Lake Louise.
Every year, as the lake freezes over, it is blanketed in a heavy layer of snow. Take advantage of the winter trails along the lakeside, or hire a local guide.
The most popular snowshoe is along the Northern side of Lake Louise, but you can also head up to Mirror Lake or over to Paradise Creek. You can grab rentals at Wilson Sports in the village, or you can book a tour with Great Divide Nature Interpretation.
Easy Lake Louise Snowshoes
- Lakeshore Trail (4km/0meter gain)
- Fairview Lookout (2km/100m gain)
- Louise Creek (5.6km/195m gain)
Moderate Lake Louise Snowshoes
- Highline Trail (9km/60m gain)
- Mirror Lake (5.4km/295 gain)
Difficult Lake Louise Snowshoes
- Taylor Lake (12.6 km/585m gain)
Snowshoe on Lake Louise Ski Resort
If you’d like to experience a snowshoe at elevation, Lake Louise Ski Resort offers guided snowshoe experiences, which is one of the best Banff winter tours. We’ve never taken part in these snowshoe tours, but we do ride at Lake Louise and we often see them out on the tour near the Lake Louise Gondola.
These snowshoe tours offer great views, and on a clear day, you can see extremely far down the valley. Book a tour here.
Walk the Lake Louise Lakeshore
If snowshoeing in Banff isn’t appealing to you, one of the most mellow things you can do is walk around the Lake Louise lakeshore.
Most visitors to Lake Louise don’t actually venture past the Chateau, but you can get some great views by walking around the path that skirts Lake Louise. I love walking the path in the winter as it truly feels like walking in a winter wonderland.
Hike to the Fairview Lookout
In the winter, many of the best Lake Louise hikes are inaccessible and dangerous. However the Fairview Lookout is a short and sweet winter hike that most visitors will be able to complete and love. This trail is a short 2.4 km with 165 meters of elevation gain.
It should take less than an hour to get to the lookout. Once there, you’ll have beautiful winter views of the 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.
Have a Meal inside an Old Train Cart
At Lake Louise Railway Station & Restaurant, you can enjoy Canadian cruising inside an old dining car! You’ll be able to get some classic Canadian staples here and enjoy food items like the Paradise Bowl (soba noodle dish) and a Spinach Herb Lasagna.
Because of their not-so-obvious location, they often get overlooked. You have to know this Lake Louise restaurant is even there to really enjoy it, but once you experience dining in a historic rail cart, you may not want to go anywhere else!
Go Ice Climbing
Banff National Park draws in lots of ice climbers with a plethora of routes and mixed winter climbs. Most notable in the Lake Louise area is the Louise Falls, a frozen waterfall that allows for a solid ice climb. It’s a popular route in the park, so expect to share the climb with others on the weekend. Even if you’re not interested in climbing, it can still be fun to watch the ice climbers.
If you’ve never gone ice climbing, it’s best to book a beginner experience with Yamnuska Mountain Adventures, who will meet you at Johnston Canyon.
It’s a great beginner area and the guides at Yamnuska are some of the best in all of North America. If you’re more interested in the sport, consider one of their courses or camps on ice climbing.
Enjoy the Lake Louise Ice Bar
Another fun thing to do in Lake Louise in the winter is to enjoy the ice bar. Between 12:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at Lake Louise, you can enjoy mulled wine and other cocktail warmers at the Banff Ice Bar! The Ice Bar is open from around mid-December to early-April (weather permitting). They dish up all kinds of hot chocolate goodness and even have special treats for the kids.
20 blocks of ice, each weighing 300 lbs, were used to make this bar, so it’s truly a special place to visit in Banff in the winter.
Ski at Lake Louise Ski Resort
One of the best things to do in Lake Louise in the winter is go skiing or snowboarding! There is arguably no ski resort in the world with a better view than the Lake Louise Ski Resort. Located in Canada’s oldest and first national park, the resort has an ample supply of natural scenery.
In between runs, screaming down groomers, tackling a bowl, or defying death in a steep chute, Banff National Park provides you some fresh air and stunning landscapes. There is something for everyone here with terrain that will thrill even expert skiers.
Brewster Country Christmas Dinner
If you happen to be visiting around Christmas, look into the Country Christmas Dinner at Lake Louise. The Brewster Country Christmas Dinner only happens a few nights a year and will fill you up on a home-cooked, hearty meal. Arrive by sleigh from the Fairmont Chateau to a band playing and line dancing.
The Country Christmas Dinner is only on December 23, 27, 30, 2023 and can be booked here. The cost is $120 for adults and $80 for children 6-12 (Children 5 and under free). Sleighs depart the Chateau at 6pm and 6:30pm.
Go Tubing at Lake Louise Ski Resort
If you are not much for skiing or snowboarding, Lake Louise Ski Resort also has a tubing park for kids and families in Banff. Have fun sliding solo, racing friends, or group tubes together!
Mush On a Dog Sled Team
Kingmik Dogsled Tours operate at Lake Louise and make for a fantastic winter experience. We’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy many dog sled tours over the years, and it’s always a fun experience.
I particularly love how quiet the ride is, with only the sound of the dog steps against the snow.
Take an Authentic Horse Sleigh Ride
In the wintertime, you might not be able to take to the trails on horseback, but you can ride on a horse-drawn sleigh. There aren’t many places you can still ride on a real sleigh through a winter wonderland. The ride is about an hour long and moves along the lakeside trail to the end of the lake.
The sleigh starts around mid-December in time for Christmas in Banff and runs until mid-April, but this all depends on the weather. Lake Louise primarily sits in the shade during the winter months, and it’s typically well below freezing, so come prepared and dress warmly.
You can book this experience at the Fairmont or with Brewster Adventures, and tours start at $52 with group tours offered, as well as private tours.
Tackle the Trail on Cross Country Skis
Parks Canada manages several cross-country or Nordic ski trails for you to take in the views from a pair of skis. Trails are rated by difficulty, so even if you’re a beginner, you can find a trail appropriate for your skillset.
Two of the most popular trails are the Moraine Lake Road Trail and the Great Divide Trail. You can find rentals in Lake Louise, Banff, or Canmore. Of course, if you’re passionate about cross-country skiing, you’ll have to head to Canmore and check out the Nordic Ski Center. Other notable cross-country ski trails are:
- Moraine Lake Rd (15.6 km/250 meter gain
- Fairview (4.6 km/60 meter gain)
- Tramline (4.8 km/ 195 meters)
- Lake Louise Loop (4.1/15 meter gain)
10 Best Banff Cross Country Skiing Trails
Cheer on The World’s Fastest Skiers at the Ski World Cup
There’s no better way to kick off winter in the Canadian Rockies than attending the Audi FIS Ski World Cup at Lake Louise.
Every year, a small army of visitors, volunteers, media, and world-famous athletes descend on the tiny resort town with big mountain terrain.
It’s the start of the World Cup speed circuit, where the fastest skiers in the world compete to be crowned champ as they travel around the world. You’ll also enjoy some of the best skiing in North America in November.
The Lake Louise Ski World Cup is unfortunately not running at Lake Louise anymore for the foreseeable future.
Experience the Ice Magic Festival
For a few select days (Jan 26-28 & Feb 2-4, 2024, 6pm – 9pm), there is an exceptional event at Lake Louise. The Ice Magic event is what winter in Canada is all about, and it’s been postponed for a few years now, so 2024 will be a banger! This is where ice comes alive and serves as a form of art and architectural design. During this time, you can watch artists from around the world carve different frozen figures.
While it used to be free to visit the ice carving events and wander around between Monday – Friday and on the weekends before 10 a.m. or after 5:30 p.m. You’ll now need tickets to join in the fun, these are available for purchase starting December 12, 2023. Tickets allow public viewing from 6 pm to 9 pm every weekend. The main events will go down like this:
- January 26 – 27: Witness skilled artisans create breathtaking ice sculptures during the 2024 Ice Magic Competition.
- January 28: Attend the Award Ceremony to discover the champions of the 2024 Ice Magic Competition and savor a captivating live carving demonstration.
- February 2 – 4: Appreciate the completed ice sculptures and experience live carving demonstrations.
The Ice Magic 2024 experience starts at the Lake Louise Ski Resort, where a complimentary shuttle will take you to the event. Ticket prices are $14 for adults, $9 for seniors, and $7 for children. Lake Louise Ski Resort Guests, Banff Hotel Guests, Lake Louise Area Hotel Guests, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Guests either receive complimentary or discounted tickets. Contact your hotel for more information.
Warm Up at Walliser Stube
Walliser Stube is a European restaurant at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. It’s an upscale affair perfect for when you want to celebrate a special occasion, like a Banff winter honeymoon.
You’ll enter and find vast views of Lake Louise, but feel like you are in Switzerland when you try the food.
They are only open at night from 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m, and reservations are highly recommended, especially around Christmas in Banff or in the peak summer months. Go ahead and add on the wine pairing; it’s likely the best you’ll find outside of the Alps!
See Nearby Emerald Lake
Emerald Lake is a stunning lake in Yoho National Park, and walking around the lake makes for a great family-friendly hike. Emerald Lake freezes over in the winter, and you won’t see any of that dazzling emerald color.
However, the natural shape of the surrounding mountains and the lake’s elevation creates a microclimate that encourages a heavy amount of snowfall in the winter. So a visit to the lake feels like stepping into a winter wonderland.
You can take a leisurely stroll along the lake, snowshoe, or cross-country ski. Or book one of the cozy romantic cabins at the Emerald Lake Lodge.
Bow Lake
If you are up for a little drive, hop on the Icefields Parkway just past Lake Louise and drive to Bow Lake. The drive will take about 30 minutes, but you likely won’t notice the time at all as you’ll be too mesmerized by the view.
Bow Lake is one of the first main stops, and trust me, it’s well worth the stop. In the winter, Bow Lake is a frozen paradise.
Peyto Lake
Just past Bow Lake is Peyto Lake, which is the third most visited lake in the area. Reaching the viewpoint takes about 10 minutes of walking on a well-maintained path.
If you manage to catch Peyto Lake with fresh snowfall but before the lake has frozen over, consider yourself lucky!
Wait for the Train at Morant’s Curve
The Bow Valley Parkway is a scenic drive alternative to the Trans Canada that connects Lake Louise to Banff. There are some beautiful stops to make on the road, many that look even more magical in the winter.
However, the most popular is Morant’s Curve. This is a dramatic bend along the Bow River where trains pass through the Canadian Rockies. As trains pass around the bend, they have a spectacular backdrop of the Lake Louise mountains and surrounding valley. Photographers flock here during the winter to try and catch that picturesque red Canadian Pacific Train in the snow.
The only issue is there is no train schedule, so if you want to see the view with a train, you could be waiting for a while. We’ve waited for over an hour in the cold before for the iconic train!
Marble Canyon Hike
Visiting Marble Canyon is one of the best things to do in Kootenay National Park, which is just a short drive away from Lake Louise. Marble Canyon is lovely hike through a canyon often filled with thousands of wildflowers in the summer, but is delightfully snow-covered in the winter. It’s an easy trail that follows the canyon and has a series of bridges that cross over the rushing Kootenay River.
The trail is well-marked and maintained, so it’s easy to follow and great for families. Along the way you’ll pass frozen waterfalls with unique ice features. You can easily stop at Marble Canyon on your way to or from Lake Louise, as it’s just a short detour off the Trans Canada.
Things to Know About Visiting Lake Louise in the Winter
Is Lake Louise Open All Winter?
Lake Louise is open 365 days a year, with very rare park closures excluded. Lake Louise in the winter month is frozen and covered in a heavy layer of snow.
You won’t see the brilliant blue colors of the summer months. It is still a gorgeous scene with impressive mountains and plenty of winter activities to enjoy.
How to Get to Lake Louise in Winter?
The best way to get to Lake Louise in the winter is with your own car. Unlike the summer, there is plenty of parking at Lake Louise and it is free to park until May!
If you are visiting Banff without a car, you can still get to Lake Louise on the Roam transit road 8x (from Banff). This is the Lake Louise Express, and it costs $20 round trip for adults. It’s also possible to book a guided tour from Banff to Lake Louise in the winter. Here are two we recommend:
When is it Best to Experience Winter at Lake Louise?
Lake Louise is wonderful all winter, but there are a few times I absolutely must visit. The first is after the first significant snowfall at Lake Louise. This typically happens towards the end of October. This is a magical time when you can still see the thawed lake surrounded by colossal snow-covered peaks.
My other favorite times are during the Christmas holiday season when people are cheerily ice skating on Lake Louise, and there are plenty of activities happening around the Chateau.
The last is during the Ice Magic Festival in January, simply because there are so many impressive ice sculptures in such a beautiful setting.
What’s the Lake Louise Winter Weather Like?
If you are cold in Banff, you will be freezing at Lake Louise. The town of Banff sits at an elevation of 1383 meters, while Lake Louise sits at 1,600 meters. In the winter, Lake Louise is often in the shade too.
Prepare for the weather to be 5-10°C colder at Lake Louise than in Banff and Canmore. In the winter, this means bringing a warm hat, gloves, warm boots, and a good parka.
Where Can You Park at Lake Louise in the Winter?
Unlike the summer months, the public parking at Lake Louise rarely fills up and it is free to park. We’ve visited Lake Louise dozens of times in the winter and have never had a problem parking.
That doesn’t mean on the weekend around the New Year, you might not have some difficulty though, but still, you’ll be able to nab a spot.
Where to Stay at Lake Louise in the Winter?
- The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is another iconic long-standing resort in Banff National Park. If you’re looking for luxury accommodation with plenty of amenities in a location surrounded by mountains and remote backcountry, this is the place for you. It’s also a great spot for a romantic night out as there are some intimate Lake Louise restaurants here.
- Baker Creek Mountain Resort is a laid-back escape offering comfortable lodge and log cabin accommodations. The grounds and lodge make for one of the most serene settings in Banff National Park, as sits along the Bow Valley Parkway.
Can You Visit Moraine Lake in Winter?
The Moraine Lake Road closes between mid-October and the end of May due to avalanche risk. Visiting Moraine Lake in the winter is not possible for the average visitor.
The only way to access Moraine Lake in the winter is via snowshoes or Nordic skis, but the road is 14 km (one way) and crosses avalanche paths so you should not attempt to travel back to Moraine Lake in the winter unless you are prepared for winter travel and have proper avalanche safety knowledge and gear.
What to Wear at Lake Louise in the Winter
It always feels at least 5°C colder at Lake Louise than in Downtown Banff. Dress for winter here!
Outerwear
- Parka (for severe temps)
- Down Jacket
- Snowpants
- Hat, Gloves, Scarf
Footwear
- Warm Boots
- Ice Skates
Where to Stay at Lake Louise
Fairmont Lake Louise
The most expensive place to stay in the park and the most sought after. “The Chateau” is the only hotel actually on the lake, so if you want to wake up Lake Louise for sunrise this place is for you.
Lake Louise Inn
Located near the Lake Louise Village, the Lake Louise Inn offers affordable rooms to stay.
Baker Creek
On the Bow Valley Parkway, Baker Creek is just a short drive away from Lake Louise. It’s a romantic place to stay and far away from the crowds!
Hopefully, this helped you determine what things to do at Lake Louise in the winter.
If you have any other questions leave a comment or see our Canadian Rockies travel guide for more articles about photography spots, lakes, hikes, and everything else.
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Hey great blogs. Question, can you rent skates right at lake Louise? Or should i rent them in banff?
Thanks
I would suggest renting them at Wilson Sports in the Lake Louise Village, but you can also find them at the Fairmont.