Trail Guide to The Little Beehive & Big Beehive Hikes

The Big Beehive and Little Beehive hikes are two of the most popular hikes in Banff National Park—for good reason. Both summits are rocky outcroppings that resemble their namesake, and the views from the top over Lake Louise are phenomenal! Yes, the trails can get busy, but the scenery more than makes up for it.

The “Beehive Circuit” connects Mirror Lake, Lake Agnes, the Little Beehive, and the Big Beehive in a single loop, making it a rewarding intermediate hike. Here is everything you need to know to complete it.

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Beehive Circuit (Big Beehive Hike & Little Beehive Hike)

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Beehive Circuit Route Description

The trail starts at the Lake Louise lakeshore, follows the lake’s north shoreline, and is the start of most hikes around the lake. It’s a stunning start with the lake’s turquoise water and epic vista, which makes for one of the most ideal settings on earth. A sight that never grows old, no matter how many times you see it in person.

You have two route options that allow hikers to avoid taking the same trail in and out. We recommend starting with the trail to Lake Agnes and Mirror Lake, as it’s a more gradual climb and offers better views along the way. As you leave the crowds along the Lake Louise shoreline, you’ll begin a steady climb on a wide trail towards Mirror Lake.

As the trail moves through a series of long switchbacks, you’ll get a few fleeting glimpses of Lake Louise until you’re surrounded by a spruce forest. This is the most difficult section on the climb up to Lake Agnes.

Mirror Lake is the first stop, offering great views of the Big Beehive ahead. While it is not as vibrant or impressive as Lake Louise, it does have some color and serves as a nice foreground to the Big Beehive. It’s pretty easy to see where the name comes from, as it quite literally looks like a very big beehive.

From the lake, the trail moves to the right, following signs to Lake Agnes, the Little Beehive, and the Big Beehive. The trail continues to climb through a series of switchbacks where the occasional opening of the forest allows views of the soaring peaks surrounding it.

You have two options from Mirror Lake up to Lake Agnes, but the trail to the right is more scenic, with a waterfall, and provides access to the Little Beehive trail. We suggest taking this trail first to reach the first beehive before continuing on to Lake Agnes.

It is a 2-kilometre round-trip detour from the Lake Agnes trail, gaining around 100 meters of elevation as it climbs to the open ridge. Views from the top stretch out over Lake Louise and the Bow Valley.

A series of large rocks makes for a great place to take photos and clamber along the ridge edge. It sees fewer hikers than the Big Beehive, and the perspective is noticeably different.

The trail can either descend the same way back to the original trail or take a shortcut directly to Lake Agnes Teahouse. As they’re close in proximity, it only takes 10 minutes of hiking to reach the teahouse.

You’ll notice the teahouse first as the trail descends behind the historic building. It dates back to 1905 and has been serving hikers for over a century. If nothing else, it’s worth checking out the wood teahouse just to gain a sense of its history and its close ties to the conservation movement in North America.

There will be a line of people waiting to order, as it’s one of the most iconic things to do in Banff. To avoid crowds, we recommend reaching the Teahouse before 8:30 a.m. and carrying cash for purchases.

After visiting the Teahouse, take in the views of Lake Agnes and the epic cirque formed by Mount St Piran, Niblock, Whyte, and the Devil’s Thumb. A trail goes around the Northwest side of the lake to reach the Big Beehive. We particularly love the large rocks at the end of the lake, which make for a perfect spot for picnics.

From the end of Lake Agnes, the last section of the trail climbs to the Big Beehive through a series of switchbacks. The gradual incline and switchbacks make the climb to the top of the ridge easy enough for most hikers, with about 135 meters of elevation gain over 1.6 km from the Teahouse.

Views from the ridge of the Big Beehive are expansive, and due to its length, it’s straightforward to find your own spot, even with the crowds that are typical on the hike. To reach the true end of the hike, continue along the ridge, where you reach the “summit” and find a historic gazebo.

It’s served as a resting place for nearly a century, and the wooden building has names carved into it from decades ago (but that does not mean you should carve your own name; please “Leave No Trace”). Take some time to appreciate the view.

To return to Lake Louise, you have two options. The first option is to return the way you came, or continue the circuit on the Lake Louise Highline Trail. The trail descends the opposite side of the saddle and connects to the trail after a series of switchbacks.

You’ll then cross below the Big Beehive ridge back to Mirror Lake, where you’ll catch glimpses of Lake Louise along the way. But after descending both ways, I would suggest sticking to the Lake Agnes Teahouse as it’s a more scenic way.

It’s also possible to make the circuit a truly epic day by combining the Plain of Six Glaciers hike with the Beehive Circuit. That long day comes to about 20km and over 1,000 meters – very possible for fit hikers. We have a guide on this epic Lake Louise circuit. If tackling this, be sure to plan for a full day, around eight hours of hiking, enjoying the views, and lunch at a teahouse.

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The Beehive Circuit

To better understand the route and the locations of the points of interest, look at the maps above. This is the full Beehive Circuit route, which is just under 13 km in length and gains about 650 metres in elevation, depending on which route you take. It’s a pretty big day for most people, but anyone with decent fitness and hiking experience should be able to handle the hike.

You can shorten the hike by skipping the Little Beehive for a moderate version, though it’s not a long detour to reach the viewpoint. Then the next step would be to do only the Little Beehive Hike, not the Big Beehive. This is the easiest version of the Beehive hikes.

The last would be to simply do the Lake Agnes Teahouse Hike, but you’d miss out on the views over Lake Louise from the Beehive Lookouts, and they honestly aren’t much further once you reach Lake Agnes.

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Advice The Beehives

• The Little Beehive hike is a great addition that many forgo; however, it’s really only about 20 minutes further once you reach the Lake Agnes Tea House.
• The view from the Big Beehive is slightly better in our opinion, so if you only have time for one, go big. That being said, the views from both are surreal and will quite literally be one of the most spellbinding landscapes you’ll ever witness.
• The Big Beehive tends to be busier than the Little Beehive, despite being more difficult.
• Please refrain from the use of the restroom facilities at Lake Agnes. There is no sewage system, and a long-drop toilet is used to collect human waste. Due to the sheer number of hikers who choose to use the restroom at Lake Agnes, a helicopter collection of sewage is needed to remove the waste. That’s right; the helicopter many hikers will see is not dropping off supplies, but collecting hikers’ poop. There are public restrooms with flush toilets at the Lake Louise Parking Area, so go there before tackling the trail.
• The Lake Agnes Tea House is very busy, and you’ll often have to wait in line to get a cup of tea or baked goods from the historic business. If you do want to enjoy the experience, arrive early in the morning when they open at 8:00 or go for an evening hike as they close at 5:00 p.m. Otherwise, the Teahouse is most busy from 10:00 until 2:00 p.m., when most visitors arrive at Lake Agnes.

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How Hard is the Beehive Circuit?

The Beehive Circuit – the Big Beehive hike and the Little Beehive hike – are varying degrees in difficulty. However, neither of them is too difficult as the terrain is simple, the trails are well-maintained, and the incline is gradual along the trail with no scrambling. We’d say most able-bodied hikers should be able to make it to the Lake Agnes Teahouse and onward to the Beehives.

Though the hike to Lake Agnes is a gradual climb of almost 400 meters, the Big Beehive section is relatively steep. You’ll definitely get your heart pumping the day you do this hike!

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The Beehive Circuit Hike Duration

The Beehive hikes and circuit durations vary widely, as there are many options to extend or shorten the hike. If you complete the full Beehive Circuit (Lake Agnes, Little Beehive hike, and Big Beehive hike), plan for the hike to take between 3 and 7 hours. Three on the very fast end and seven on the slower end. Make sure to pack a lunch that’s great to enjoy on Lake Agnes or from the top of the Big Beehive.

If you plan to do just the Little Beehive hike, plan for 2-4 hours round trip. Then, for just the Big Beehive plan for 3-5 hours. Of course, everyone’s hiking time varies, and times vary depending on how long you spend at each stop. An average pace falls in the middle of the suggested hike times.

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When Can You Hike The Beehive Circuit?

The hike is best done in the summer, from June to September. In the shoulder months of late May and October, hikers should expect to find snow and ice on the trail, but not enough to make navigation difficult; it all depends on the year. If there is significant snow on the trail, travel to the Big Beehive should be avoided as it crosses an avalanche path.

If you are visiting Banff in the fall, you can see a few larches around Lake Agnes from the Big Beehive come Late September, but the larch views are better from the top of Devil’s Thumb.

Lake Louise and Lake Agnes are frozen in the winter months and should melt around late May or early June. During winter, there is significant avalanche exposure in the area, and we don’t recommend hiking past Mirror Lake. Reminder that the Lake Agnes Tea House is only open in the summer. Of course, the weather is seasonal, and every year the melt date varies.

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How Popular is the Beehive Circuit?

Aside from the hike through Johnston Canyon off the Bow Valley Parkway, the hike to Lake Agnes is the most popular in all of Banff National Park. Despite this, you’ll be surprised by the number of people who do not choose to venture up to Lake Agnes from Lake Louise. It’s been said that nearly 80% of visitors to Banff, Yoho, and Jasper don’t venture further than 1 kilometer from the road or parking lots.

As you progress through the hike, you’ll increasingly find yourself alone on the trail, and it’s possible to find some isolation at different points along the hike. That being said, if you’re looking for peace and quiet, the Beehive Circuit Trails are not for you unless you’re the first up to the lake or the last one to descend for the day.

We took the photo above at around 9:00 p.m. after climbing Mt Niblock and completing the Beehive Circuit (Epic Day!), and it was one of the first times we had the whole area to ourselves.

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Dogs and Kids on This Hike

The trail is appropriate for most hikers who feel comfortable walking uphill. If you’d like to take the detours to the Little Beehive or Big Beehive, it would be appropriate for anyone of moderate fitness. I’d say kids ages 8 and up, maybe even younger. Strollers will not work on the trail, but you should be fine hiking the Beehive Circuit, depending on fitness, if you have a baby carrier.

Dogs should be able to handle the trail just fine. Just keep in mind the hike is a lengthy one, so small dogs will struggle with the length, while large dogs will handle the trail better. Also, remember dogs must always be on a leash in the national park for the safety of fellow hikers, the dog, and wildlife.

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Parking at Lake Louise

The toughest part of the Beehive hike may not be the hike itself, but scoring parking at Lake Louise. It is best to use the Parks Canada Park and Ride System (the Lake Louise shuttle) rather than fighting for parking in the summer.

Paid parking is also in effect at Lake Louise during the summer months. We break down everything you need to know about parking at Lake Louise here. If you have missed out on Parks Canada shuttle tickets, you still have options! You can get to Lake Louise early and try to get paid parking, or book a private shuttle like Moraine Lake Bus Company, the Hop On Hop Off Bus, or with Fairview Limo.

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Cell Service at Lake Louise

You can get a cell signal at Lake Louise, though it’s not great at Lake Agnes. That said, I have received text messages at both the Little Beehive and the Big Beehive.

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Advice on Hikes in the Canadian Rockies

• 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 turnaround time at the departure. Any time we set out for an objective, I determine when we need to turn around 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.
• Keep in mind your mountain fitness — It’s different than gym fitness. The low end of the times in this post is a constant, fast-paced uphill with little to no breaks, followed by a brisk downhill. Most hikers should plan for a middle-of-the-road time with the estimated duration.
• A GPS tracker could save your life – it’s one of those backpacking essentials I like to have on me just in case I need to hit SOS.
• Alltrails is our favorite app for hikes. It shows the correct trail, elevation, and other hikers’ reviews. We paid the subscription fee so that we could download all the data we needed to our phones. Best $3 (per month) ever spent!

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Other Hikes in Lake Louise

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. These hikes all start from Lake Louise and are sure to offer stunning views of the turquoise lake, surrounding mountains, and awe-inspiring glaciers.

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