Enjoy a visit to Lake Louise in Banff National Park and a wonderful hike with a tea house at the summit. Really! The Lake Agnes trailhead is accessed from Lake Louise and the tea house is your reward at the end of the hike.

With amazing views of Lake Louise this is a perfect trail for solo hikers or a family outing in the Rockies. I can’t wait to do this hike again! In this post I’m sharing photos from my last trip to Lake Agnes plus all the info you need to enjoy this hike.

 

 

I’m already getting excited about my road trip back to Alberta in May! This time, I’m driving all the way from Chattanooga Tennessee. In 2018, I drove to Calgary from Lafayette Louisiana with stops in Yellowstone AND Glacier National Park – now that was an epic  2 week adventure!

And then I got to visit both Banff and Jasper National Park in the summer AND Cape Breton Highlands plus Acadia National Park in the fall – I am so lucky and grateful for my location independent lifestyle.

Find out my other favorite hikes in Banff here.

 

 

Lake Agnes Tea House Hike

Okay, getting back to the topic of Lake Agnes…

So, who is Agnes?

Lake Agnes was named after Lady Susan Agnes MacDonald, wife of Canada’s first Prime Minister Sir John A MacDonald, she visited the lake back in the 1800’s.

 

 

Getting to Lake Agnes Trailhead

You can park in the Lake Louise parking lot. Then walk past the Chateau Lake Louise, and walk around the right side of the lake about 200 m (1/8 mile) to the trailhead. Watch for the Lake Agnes sign on the right.

During the summer the parking lot fills up quite early so plan on getting there very early in the morning (around sunrise) or go in the evening when most people are dining. Or take the shuttle bus!

Parks Canada operates a shuttle bus to Lake Louise (and Moraine Lake) from around mid-May to mid-October.

Did you know that Lake Louise is named after one of Queen Victoria’s daughters? But the Stoney Nakoda First Nations tribe called it Lake of the Little Fishes.

 

 

Parks Canada maintains a live webcam at Lake Louise – have a look here! As you can see there is still a lot of snow and Lake Louise is still frozen as of April. Soon enough the spring weather will bring warmer days in the Rockies, but remember it can snow any month of the year in the Rocky Mountains.

 

 

Lake Agnes Tea House Hike

Enjoy epic views of Lake Louise in Banff National Park while hiking the Lake Agnes Tea House trail. Along the trail you’ll also see Mirror Lake, a tiny glacier lake that does not look like Lake Louise at all. Sorry! But Lake Agnes is a beautiful lake with Rocky Mountain views of Mount Niblock and Mount Whyte.

 

 

Partly due to easy access from Lake Louise, the tea house hike is one of the most popular hikes in Banff. It’s best to hike to Lake Agnes early in the day or try around dinner time to avoid the biggest crowds.

The days are long in the summer, so you have a lot of daylight hours to enjoy hiking around Lake Louise and Banff. In June the sunrise is around 5:30 and sunset not until about 10:00 – so you have almost 17 hours of daylight.

 

 

Lake Agnes Tea hike difficulty rating is moderate, mostly due to the elevation gain. If you’re not used to hiking, you’ll probably want to take breaks along the way.

Stop and enjoy the views and remember to keep hydrated, stopping for water breaks is important.

 

 

Lake Agnes Tea House Hours and Menu

Serving over 100 different types of loose leaf tea, Lake Agnes Tea House is bound to have your favorite cup of chai. They also serve soups, sandwiches, and desserts. Have a look at the menu here.

• Lake Agnes Tea House is open from early June to early October (weather permitting)
• Hours: 8 am to 5 pm

Please note that Lake Agnes tea house does not accept credit or debit cards – cash only (Canadian or US currency) and apparently, they still take traveler’s checks.

I’ll tell you right now, Lake Agnes Tea House is expensive! We paid $100 (CAD) for a pot of tea, sandwiches, and cookies for 3 people.

They hike almost all their supplies up the mountain, so that’s part of why it’s so expensive. And Lake Louise one of the most popular tourist attractions in all of Canada, so there’s the popularity factor too.

Traveling to Lake Louise on a budget? Bring your own picnic lunch and enjoy it with a view of the Rocky Mountains. That’s what I plan to do when I hike Lake Agnes again this summer.

READ now: 5 AWESOME Glacial Lakes in Alberta and BC

 

 

FAQ about Lake Agnes Hike

How long is the hike?

7 km (4.35 miles) round trip

How long does it take to hike to Lake Agnes Tea House?

Allow around 1 hour to 90 minutes to get to the tea house, and a little less on the way back down. Total hiking time 2 to 3 hours.

What type of hike is it – out and back or loop?

Out and back – but really up and then down :)

What is the elevation gain?

400 m (1,300 ft) Remember, slow and steady wins the race. Hike at your own pace and stop if you need to rest. Drink water to stay hydrated.

How difficult is Lake Agnes hike?

This hike is rated as moderate. If you are in good shape you should have no problem doing this hike. If you are new to hiking or out of shape you’ll probably want to take frequent breaks. Bring water with you so you can keep hydrated while hiking.

When is the best time of year to hike Lake Agnes?

June through October.

Are dogs allowed on the hiking trail?

Yes Lake Agnes is dog friendly! But dogs must always be on leash.

What facilities will I find at the trailhead?

There are bathrooms next to the parking lot. And Chateau Lake Louise has several restaurants and of course bathrooms.

Do I need to pay a fee to get into the park?

Yes, visitors to Banff National Park must pay an entrance fee. There are various options from day passes to the Parks Canada Discovery Pass. You can check the rates and buy your pass online at Parks Canada. You can also pay when you enter the park.

Is there a parking fee at Lake Louise?

From mid-May through mid-October there is a parking fee of $21.00 per vehicle from 7 am to 7 pm at Lake Louise lakeshore parking lot. Once the lot is full, drivers are not allowed to wait for a spot to open. 

 

 

REMEMBER to Leave nothing but your footprints and take nothing but pictures! Please pack out any trash and recycling that you bring with you to the Lake Agnes tea hike. Staff at the tea house carry down the trash and recycling from the café.

For more on hiking the Lake Agnes trail, visit the tea house website here

Have fun visiting Lake Louise and Banff National Park. I hope you enjoy hiking in the Canadian Rockies as much as I do!

Read these other great hikes in Banff

• 5 Banff Hikes from Easy to Moderate – Best Hikes in Banff National Park
• Johnston Canyon Hike – Best Banff Waterfalls – Plus Ink Pots
• Parker Ridge Trail Day Hike on Icefields Parkway Banff to Jasper
• Boom Lake Banff Hiking Trail to Perfect Picnic Lakeside
• Bow Summit Peyto Lake Hike Icefields Parkway Banff

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