Lake Louise is famous for its brilliant turquoise color, magnificent ski resort, plus a not too shabby chateau. And it’s a beautiful place for a quick hike around the lake to see the creek that feeds this pretty glacial lake in the Rocky Mountains.

Lake Louise is a fun day trip from Calgary, Banff, or Canmore. Hike alongside the lake and enjoy a picnic lunch with a view of Victoria Glacier behind the lake.

Before Lake Louise received its current name, it was called Ho-Run-Num-Nay (lake of the little fishes) by the Stoney Nakoda indigenous people whose traditional lands include the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta.

Lake Louise is currently named after HRH Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria.

This post is about hiking around Lake Louise and includes practical information like parking and shuttle bus to Lake Louise, as well as info on other hikes from the lake.

Discover 14 more pretty lakes in Alberta.

Lake Louise Banff National Park

Lake Louise Facts

Stoney Nakoda First Nations name for the lake is Ho-Run-Num-Nay (lake of little fishes)
Stoney guide Edwin Hunter brought European settler Tom Wilson to the lake in 1882
Population of Lake Louise Village: 690 (in 2011)
Elevation at Lake Louise is 1,750 m (5,740 ft)
Top elevation at Lake Louise ski resort is 2,637 m (8,650 ft)
The first hotel at Lake Louise consisted of a single story log cabin, built in 1890
Chateau Lake Louise hotel currently has 539 rooms
Depth of Lake Louise is 70 m (230 ft)
Length of Lake Louise is 2 km (1.2 miles)
Water temperature in summer hovers around 5 C (40 F)

Some people think Lake Louise is in British Columbia; it isn’t but it’s close. Lake Louise is only 9 km from the BC border via Trans-Canada Hwy 1. You can drive to Emerald Lake BC from Lake Louise AB in about 30 minutes.

Lake Louise hotel as seen from across Lake Louise with snow covered foreground and mountains in background — View of the only hotel on Lake Louise as viewed from 2 km across the lake

Lake Louise Parking and Shuttle Bus

Parking at the main Lake Louise lot by the hotel fills up early during the summer months and into larch season in the fall.

And by early, I mean by sunrise.

The good news is there is a large overflow parking lot with shuttle bus to Lake Louise in the summer months and early autumn.

Driving west from Banff you’ll see the overflow parking lot on the left before you get to Lake Louise. Watch for the signage indicating parking availability and shuttle bus wait times.

Or you can park in Banff and take Roam Transit which operates a year round bus service from Banff to Lake Louise Village and the lake.

If the shuttle bus wait is too long and you prefer finding another place to hike or sit by a lake, I recommend driving a portion of the Icefields Parkway where you’ll find several equally beautiful lakes.

Another option is to hike to Boom Lake, also in Banff National Park, where it’s less crowded than Lake Louise.

LEARN MORE: 12 Best Things to Do in Banff in Winter

Lake Louise trail along the lakeshore with snow covered trees and Rocky Mountains — Lake Louise trail is less crowded on weekdays

Lake Louise Hike Info

Distance: 4.5 km (2.8 miles)

Elevation gain: 100 m (328 ft)

Type of hike: Out and back

Difficulty: Easy

Time: Allow 1 – 2 hours

Dogs allowed: Yes, always keep dogs on leash

Fee: Banff National Park fee applies – check the fee schedule

At the time of this writing the day pass fee is $10 adult, $8.40 senior, youth FREE, family/group $20 fee. If you are going to visit often then it may be worth it to buy the annual pass “Parks Canada Discovery Pass”.

If you are hiking around Lake Louise in winter read my guide on what to wear for winter hikes.

Lake Louise Victoria Glacier at the back of the lake — Victoria Glacier feeds Lake Louise via a creek

Two men soaking in the water at Lake Louise with snow on the lakeshore — Rarely will you see anyone swimming in Lake Louise because the water is so cold

Lake Louise Hike Description

The trail starts out from in front of Chateau Lake Louise hotel on a paved pathway. This portion of the trail is extremely crowded during high season, from June through August.

As you walk along Lake Louise trail, you’ll see majestic views of the mountains across the lake. And when the lake is not frozen you will probably see people paddling in Lake Louise.

LEARN MORE: 15 Famous Landmarks in Canada

Two women kayaking in Lake Louise with snow dusted mountains and pine trees in background — After canoe rentals are done you can still bring your own kayak or canoe

Towards the back of the lake the trail climbs up to meet up with the Plain of Six Glaciers trailhead.

There is avalanche risk on Plain of Six Glaciers trail so don’t hike the trail in winter and spring unless you have avalanche training and equipment.

On the way to Plain of Six Glaciers trailhead you’ll walk along the creek that is melt water from the Victoria Glacier and this is what feeds into Lake Louise.

Snow covered landscape with a creek running through the middle — Glacial waters from this creek feed to Lake Louise

Lake Louise hiking trail after an October snowfall — It gets icy so microspikes are a good option for walking Lake Louise trail in winter

Ice Skating Lake Louise

If you are wondering, does Lake Louise freeze in the wintertime? Yes, it does, and you can go skating on Lake Louise.

When Lake Louise is sufficiently frozen (20+ cm thickness of ice) you can go ice skating on the lake. Generally, skating is available from mid-December to mid-April, but it depends on the weather.

Lake Louise skating rink is open 24/7 so you can skate under the full moon or go skating and stargazing. Bring your own skates or rent skates at Lake Louise Fairmont Chateau Hotel.

LEARN MORE: 10 Best Things to Do in Calgary in Winter

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Hotel as seen from across Lake Louise with snow covered mountains in background — Lake Louise has one lakeside hotel – the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

Canoeing Lake Louise

In summertime you can paddle Lake Louise in one of the iconic red canoes or bring your own kayak or canoe.

It’s expensive to rent a canoe at Lake Louise, but it is a beautiful place to go paddling and it’s a fun family activity.

People appear ant size beside the lake in this image overlooking brilliant turquoise water of Lake Louise with snow dusted mountain in background — Can you spot the hikers along the lake?

Other Hikes from Lake Louise

Are you keen to do more than a quick hike along the lakeshore? You have a few options for hikes from Lake Louise.

Make sure you are prepared for hiking in bear country – bring bear spray, you can buy it at the shops in Lake Louise and Banff.

Lake Agnes Tea House

You can hike the Lake Louise shoreline trail and continue up to the Beehive and Lake Agnes Tea House too.

Lake Agnes Teahouse hike is 6.8 km round trip.

Plain of Six Glaciers

In summer and fall you can hike Plain of Six Glaciers but be bear aware, carry bear spray, and know how to use it. Watch this video on using bear spray.

Plain of Six Glaciers winter hike requires avalanche training and equipment. Do not do this hike without the proper training and equipment.

A sign early on the trail warns of avalanche risk at Plain of Six Glaciers trail.

Sign warning of avalanche danger on the Plain of Six Glaciers hiking trail Lake Louise — Sign warning of avalanche danger on the Plain of Six Glaciers trail

Plain of Six Glaciers hike is 10.2 km round trip to the lookout and back.

Lake Louise Village Hike

You can hike from Lake Louise to Lake Louise Village or vice versa. When I stayed at the Lake Louise hostel a few years ago I hiked from the village to Lake Louise and back.

Lake Louise Village from the lake is 8 km (5 miles) round trip.

Lake Louise winter hiking weather with snow and ice on the trail — Snow and ice on the the hiking trail before the lake is yet frozen

Enjoy visiting Lake Louise and exploring Banff National Park. If you have any tips or questions, please leave them in the comments section below.

Save this to Pinterest and SHARE!

Hike Around Lake Louise Banff National Park