Guide to visiting Lake Louise in Canada

Today I'm going to tell you everything you need to know about How to visit Lake Louise in Canada. From how to access, which is the big hit of this place, until What to see and what routes to take in Lake Louise. Article that you can complete with the guide on how to visit and what routes to take in Lake Morain. 

In our 21-day Canadian Rockies route, one of the must-sees that we were able to enjoy Banff National Park It was in the area around Lake Louise and Lake Morain, two of the must-see glacial lakes what to see in canada our guide to travel to Canada.

These two lakes were undoubtedly the most beautiful we saw on our entire route. 

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Our opinion on the best lakes to see in the Canadian Rockies

If you want to know my most honest opinion, I'll tell you straight out of the box. If I have to make a List of our favorite lakes in 6 of the 7 national parks in the Canadian Rockies they would be: Lake Morain, Lake Peyto, Lake Boom, Emerald Lake, Lake Louise and Lake Bow.

They are all impressive for their colours and mountains with glaciers. But, in addition to this, the Lake Boom It has something that the rest don't have: its calm. A much less visited lake, probably because of the 10 km you have to walk to get to it, but it is well worth visiting.

If you want a special place, uncrowded and beautiful, here is this first preliminary tip, don't forget to also visit Lake Boom within Banff National Park.

7 First Tips for Your Visit to Lake Louise in Canada

Before you start reading through this guide to help you plan your visit to Lake Louise, consider these essential initial tips:

Location of Lake Louise 

Lake Louise is one of the most beautiful glacial lakes What to see in Banff National Park. 

It is located just 3 km away from Lake Louise village, the second largest population in Banff National Park, although Banff village It is much larger and has many more services and accommodations.

Where to stay to visit Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada

The best way to stay close to Lake Louise and Morain, and to then have easy access to the lake, is to stay in the village of Lake Louise itself. A small village with only 100 acres of land. 11 accommodations located in the very center of Lake Louise village or even on the shores of the lake itself. This is perhaps the most expensive option, but it is worth it for the proximity. Also, in Lake Morain there are some apartments at a golden price.

Now, since there are only a few accommodations, you may arrive late and they may all be sold out when you book. So the other option is to book at one of the 50 accommodations in Banff , an option that can be cheaper and that you can use better as a base to visit the entire Banff National Park. It's only a 40-minute drive from Banff to Lake Louise, so it's not too far either.

The last option you have that is very good is to stay in one of the 66 accommodations in Golden, 1 hour from Lake Louise and where you will definitely find them Prices are the best in accommodation from Banff National Park.

Lake Louise by motorhome

Finally, I would like to tell you that if what you are looking for is camping in a motorhome, camper or tent, you have many Campsites inside Banff National Park They are all public campsites managed by the National Park itself and most of them have to be booked in advance on their website, although there are some that are first come, first served.

En Lake Louise village There is one right at the entrance to the village that has a free bus to the centre of Lake Louise and to the park & ​​ride bus that goes up to Morain and Louise lakes. However, this campsite is of Pre-booking and quick booking because their plots fly away.

TIP: If you want to do this route by Canada by motorhome Like us, we recommend renting a motorhome. Do it in Calgary or Vancouver with Road surfers, a company we would repeat with. Roadsurfer  gave us un discount of 150 $ that you as readers can also benefit from applying the DISCOUNT CODE: KUCAVANAAMERICA

How to access Lake Louise: the 5 options

Hay 5 options I'm going to try to explain to you how to get to Lake Louise.

1 By car parking at the Park & ​​Ride with shuttle bus to Lake Louise in Canada (with reservation)

In the parking lot of the cable car, gondola, of the town of Lake Louise you can Park the car and from there take the bus shuttle to Lake Louise or Lake Morrain as well, which is taken from there and the same ticket is valid for both on the same day with unlimited trips.

An easy way, but on the other hand, it implies that you plan well and take it well in advance, at least 3 months before, the ticket of the shuttle to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake on the Banff Nature Park website, within the “Day use” option where you can buy the ticket.

To book you have to do it in a specific bus departure time with margin within that hour and then pay $11 per adult.

Once in the parking lot, you must carry a Booking confirmation on your mobile or printed with your name on the check-in booth and they will give you the ticket, and to get on the bus, you can choose the one for Lake Louise or the one for Lake Morain.

If there are no early access tickets left for Park & ​​Ride + Bus

You should know that if there are no more places available in advance, you can Look two days before the day you want to go back to the web at 8 o'clock in the morning to see those of last minute sale, Yes, they do fly.

We had a reservation made months ago, but we wanted to go up a second day to do a long walking route and There was no way to get it at 8am no access and we tried 3 or 4 days each day trying to do it already at 8:00 a.m. hahaha. It seemed like a long distance race hahaha.

2 Tour from Banff or Calgary to the best glacial lakes in Banff National Park (with reservation)

If you are in Banff or Calgary there is an option that also includes a guide and a guided tour. Tour of the best glacial lakes in Banff National Park where you get on a bus from Calgary or Banff, with different departure times in the morning. Accompanied by an English-speaking guide, you visit Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Crowfoot Glacier, located on Bow Lake, Peyto Lake on the Icefield Parkway, and finally Herbert Lake, where there are some amazing panoramic views. For me, one of the best tours for quality and price.

3 By shuttle bus from Banff (with reservation)

If you are staying in Banff is a second option for public transport which is the best option in these cases.

There is the Route 8X Lake Louise/Lake Morain Roam which goes directly from Banff to Lake Louise or Lake Morain.

Round trip costs $65 for adults and $32,50 for youth ages 13 to 18 and children under 12 are free.

I reiterate that if you are staying in Banff town, this is the option you should look at first without hesitation.

4 Parking in the Lake Louise parking lot getting up very early 

The least advisable option is to go with your own car to the small parking lot which is in the same lake as Lake Louise. 

This option, but It is not feasible in summer to access Lake Morain, where directly the Access road is closed to private vehicles.

Lake Louise Parking Lot, Payment of $35 is limited or At 7 in the morning you already find it full in summer. Either you go before 7 in the morning, or better before 6, or very very complicated. On top of that you can create or find yourself in a traffic jam.

IF YOU WANT TO in a motorhome, RV, at the Lake Louise parking lot There are limited reserved places and you can go up without any problem, but just like with cars, it fills up, so get up early.

5 Hike to Lake Louise from the village of Lake Louise 

There is a path called Louise Creek trail of 2 km, 9 round trip, from the town of Lake Louise to Lake Louise  which means that in about 45 minutes on foot (1 hour) you can access the lake. 

This route departs from the Samson Mall where you have to walk across the Lake Louise Highway to the bow river bridge where once you cross to the left of the bridge below the marked route begins.

The downside to this option is that there is no parking in the town of Lake Louise, so Only if you are staying at Lake Louise Village or its campground It may be a good choice.

Summary table of 5 access options to Lake Louise

Option	Description	Reservation Required	Ribs	Additional notes
1. By car parking in Park & ​​Ride with shuttle bus	Park in the gondola parking lot in the village of Lake Louise and take the shuttle bus to the lake or Moraine Lake.	Yes, at least 3 months in advance on the Banff National Park website.	$11 per adult.	Confirmation of booking required. Please check last minute availability if there are no places available in advance.
2. Tour from Banff or Calgary	Guided tour that includes a visit to the main glacial lakes in Banff National Park.	Yes.	Varies by tour.	Includes English-speaking guide and visits to various places of interest.
3. Shuttle bus from Banff (Roam route 8X)	Direct bus from Banff to Lake Louise or Lake Morain.	Yes.	$65 adult, $32.50 youth (13-18), free for children under 12.	Best option if you are in Banff.
4. Park in the Lake Louise parking lot	Park in the lake parking lot, limited and very busy in summer.	No.	$ 35.	Parking fills up before 7 AM. Not accessible to Lake Morain. Limited RV spaces.
5. Hike up from Lake Louise Village	Hike the Louise Creek Trail from town to the lake.	No.	Gratuitous.	Route of 2.9 km (one way) and 6 km (round trip), with an estimated time of 45 minutes to 1 hour. No parking in the village.

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What to see and do in Lake Louise 

Once above Lake Louise there are various options for visits and walking routes by Lake Louise that you can do. Let's look at the main ones we have.

Visit to Lake Louise and canoe ride

La lighter and easier option to visit To get to Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada, you simply have to go to the lake and have a drink at the restaurant there, visit the entrance to the Fairmont Chateaux hotel and take some photos on the lake shore. Afterwards, you can walk around the lake shore for a bit and, if you feel like it, take a canoe for a ride on the lake.

The price of renting a canoe for one hour is 160 dollars and you can ride up to 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children. The price is one of the most expensive we have seen for canoe rentals, but we really think that the place is worth it. It is a great opportunity to enjoy an incredibly beautiful lake while escaping the crowds on its shores.

Route along the shore of Lake Louise Alberta Canada

Around the shore of Lake Louise you will find the easiest marked trail to do as Lake Louise Trail.

An easy 2km route . plain with views of the lake at all times. This route can take 1 hour approx.

Route to Lake Agnes Tea House from Lake Louise

The most popular route and suitable for all ages, but for people used to walking, classified with moderate difficulty, is the route that go up to Lake Agnes, a lake framed by a picturesque European-style tea house, open only in the high season in summer. 

This hike to Lake Agnes is an easy way to see the Rocky Mountains. 

The route climbs along a well-marked path. 7 km round trip and 385 m of elevation gain accumulated. Climb up the well-maintained trail and enjoy a beautiful lake hidden beneath towering peaks. If you do this route it can take about 3 hours round trip.

Furthermore, From Lake Agnes you can extend this route a little and take one of these extension excursions:

Big Beehive Tour: A 1,6 km one-way hike with a 135 m elevation gain. When you reach the Big Beehive you can enjoy a stunning panorama of Lake Louise and the Chateau, the famous castle hotel overlooking Lake Louise.

Little Beehive Tour: 1km one way route with 105m elevation gain from Lake Agnes. The Little Beehive was once the site of a fire lookout and now offers magnificent views of the Bow River Valley.

Route to the Plain of the Six Glaciers from Lake Louise

Beyond Lake Louise just behind lies an area of ​​impressive peaks and glaciers, the famous Plain of Six Glaciers.

On this route, moderate difficulty, 11 km round trip and 365 m of elevation gain You will be able to reach a beautiful place where you can see this hidden treasure of glaciers. A route that you have to take into account at least 5h to do it.

Also, if you have time you can go and rest at the Six Glaciers tea house of Swiss origin or there is a Trail connecting 6 Glaciers to Lake Agnes and its tea house. This trail is the called Highline and that ends up forming a total circular route of 14,6 km. About 5,5-6 hours round trip.

Another route extension What you can do once you reach Plain of Six Glaciers is a route of 3 km there and back al Abbot Pass Overlook, to do so, allow for an additional hour for the round trip. From this viewing point you can see the crevasses of the Lower Victoria Glacier and the small shelter of Abbot Hut, one of the highest buildings in Canada.

Final Tips for Visiting Lake Louise 

To finish and after explaining the main activities you can do in Lake Louise here are 3 tips:

From here, I just have to tell you that I hope this article has been useful to you in organizing your stay and visit to Lake Louise. If so, I look forward to reading you. in comments below. Good route friends!