It’s practically impossible to describe Lake Louise without using clichés, despite the fact that many people believe it to be the jewel in the crown of Banff National Park. The Victoria Glacier is perched atop the carved rocks that encircle this amazing turquoise lake.
The lake is renowned for its gorgeous blue water, which is brought about by light reflecting off microscopic particles of “rock flour” (glacial silt) pushed down from the mountain glaciers. It is about 2 km (1.2 miles) long and 70 m (230 feet) deep.
The lake has grown to be one of Banff National Park’s most well-known (and popular) destinations, and the lakefront regularly fills up throughout the summer. Visit as early in the day as you can to avoid the crowds, and then spend the rest of the day discovering the surrounding Moraine Lake and Lake Louise Gondola attractions.
By taking the lakeside walk, which winds through woodland on the lake’s northern side and offers stunning views of Fairview Mountain and the Victoria Glacier, you can usually avoid the busloads of tourists milling about in front of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. You’ll need sturdy shoes and lots of water for the long trudge that leads steeply up the slope to the well-known Lake Agnes Teahouse and the Big Beehive overlook.
You can continue up the valley on the Plain of Six Glaciers hike by continuing along the shoreline trail. A number of other well-known walks branch off in the area of Lake Louise, including the arduous ascents of Saddleback (2330m/7644ft) and Fairview Mountain (2744m/9003ft), both of which tower over the lake’s southern side. You can rent canoes from the Lake Louise Boathouse if you want something less strenuous. You’ll be rewarded with a sense of the calm and natural majesty once you’ve recovered from the shock of the price.
It is ideal to view Lake Louise in the morning or evening when the lake’s bright hues are at their peak. The setting is converted into an ice wonderland in the winter. Its distinctive blue waters won’t be visible once it freezes over, but it does turn into an amazing skating rink.
Just off Highway 1 and Trans-Canada Highway, the so-called “town” of Lake Louise consists mainly of an outdoor mall, a gas station, and a few motels.
There aren’t many affordable lodging options at Lake Louise besides a well-liked hostel and an excellent riverfront campground. There are also extremely luxurious accommodations at the more expensive end of the range, including cabins, old lodges, and one of the most famous lakeside hotels in the Canadian Rockies, the magnificent Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.