Things to Do in Lake Louise: Travel Experts' Guide

The most vibrantly blue lake surrounded by glaciers and mountains.

Summary

• The best things to do in Lake Louise include walking the lakeside trails, relaxing in the waterfront spa, and visiting nearby lakes
• The best place to stay is the waterfront Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise or in Lake Louise village
• You can reach Lake Louise in less than an hour by car from Banff or in 2 hours and 45 minutes from Jasper along the Icefields Parkway

Things to do in Lake Louise range from walking the lakeshore path in the early morning mist to skiing some of the most celebrated terrain in the Canadian Rockies. It's a place where superlatives run out and you're left simply standing at the water's edge, lost for words.

We think the sweet spot is settling into the lake for a day or two — exploring the trails, paddling the water, and experiencing both Lake Louise and the nearby Moraine Lake at the pace they deserve.

This is our expert's guide to visiting Lake Louise.

Our credentials? Over 25 years experience designing custom tours and itineraries through the Canadian Rockies, curating trips for every kind of traveler. We know what to do, when to do it, and how to arrange it into a singular, life-changing vacation (the kind where the word 'vacation' doesn't quite encompass the scope or feel).

Each recommendation and suggestion is bookable as a part of our personalized Canada itineraries. If you see something you like, reach out to a Travel Designer, and we can arrange it as a part of your trip.

Now, let us show you around Lake Louise.

Best Things To Do in Lake Louise

The obvious place to begin is what there is to do at Lake Louise itself. It might seem like a quick stop to see the water is enough, but you'll be missing out on a wealth of experiences if you do.

The best things to do at Lake Louise include walking the lakeshore, voyaging across it (by canoe), dining inside the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, and hiking above the treeline to the hidden teahouses.

Credit: Travel Alberta / Colin Way

Walk the Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail

Lake Louise is known for being busy. And that's true, but there's a very easy way to escape much of the crowds. While groups of visitors gather at the lake edge, follow the main path right to find the Lakeshore Trail. After a few minutes, you'll find most other travelers have fallen away.

The Lakeshore Trail is a flat, largely paved path that runs the entire length of the lake (at which point it leaves the lake behind and heads into the mountains to meet the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail). It's not a challenging walk, and gives you multiple vantage points along the lake that most others miss. You can take the path far as you'd like, making it perfect for both visitors on guided tours and those staying longer.

We especially recommend this trail to guests staying at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Use the early morning after you wake up to enjoy Lake Louise at its quietest, before returning to the chateau for afternoon tea.

Credit: Lifes Captured Sparks on Unsplash

Explore Lake Louise by Canoe

If you want to really be immersed in Lake Louise, then you really can't do better than canoeing across its waters. Canoe rentals are available at the Boathouse, on the western edge of the lake, and let you explore the water to the fullest.

It takes about 30 minutes for an experienced paddler to reach the far side of the lake, but you can rent canoes for half-hour or hour trips to explore as much (or little) as you like.

Credit: Travel Alberta / Devon Rogers

Relax in the BASIN Glacial Waters Spa

Cycle through glacial-fed thermal waters on a thermotherapy circuit directly overlooking Lake Louise itself.

At BASIN Glacial Waters, you're invited to follow one of five curated Thermal Trails tailored to different outcomes, but are free to also choose your own way through the pools, saunas, lounges, and terraces. Whatever you choose, BASIN Glacial Waters promises to be one of the most unique spas you'll ever experience. And, with three hours to experience it in, you have plenty of time to explore.

This spa is exclusive and currently reserved for overnight guests of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. However, if you're staying at the hotel, you absolutely cannot miss it.

Credit: Tourism Banff Lake Louise

Enjoy Lakefront Afternoon Tea at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

At Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, afternoon tea (also known as high tea) is served daily overlooking the water of Lake Louise, perfect for after a lakeside stroll or a gentle canoe.

Enjoy a delicate stack of savories, scones, and sweets with direct views of the water from the floor-to-ceiling domed windows in the Fairview Restaurant.

We often recommend afternoon tea to guests staying overnight at the chateau, letting them enjoy views of the lake while it's at its busiest and walk the shoreline in the morning or evening when it quiets down. But anyone visiting Lake Louise can head into the hotel for high tea, provided they enjoy little sandwiches and exquisite confections.

Credit: Deidre Schwartz on Unsplash

Hike to Lake Agnes Tea House

To add some challenge to your afternoon tea, Lake Agnes Tea House is a 4-mile round-trip hike from the Lake Louise shore and serves backcountry sandwiches, pastries, and, of course, tea.

The Lake Agnes trail is easy to find, starting just past the lakefront, and climbs steadily from the shore to a small subalpine lake (Lake Agnes) hidden above. At its edge sits the Lake Agnes Tea House, which was originally built in 1901, making it one of the oldest in Banff National Park.

The historic tea house is entirely off-grid, operated by live-in staff, and one of those once-in-a-lifetime spots to visit. It's popular, and is often busy at peak times, but entirely worth the hike to experience.

Credit: Travel Alberta

Hike to the Plain of Six Glaciers

A bit further, past the far end of Lake Louise, you'll find the Plain of Six Glaciers with its own historic off-grid teahouse. It's a quieter alternative to the Lake Agnes hiking trail, and one that offers sweeping views back over the water.

The Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House is in some ways older than its Lake Agnes counterpart. It was built in the 1920's (the exact date is somewhat contested) by the Canadian Pacific Railway, but unlike the other tea house has never been rebuilt.

Starting from the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, it's a moderately challenging 8-mile return hike, and a fantastic quieter alternative to the Lake Agnes Tea House for more enthusiastic hikers.

Best Things Near Lake Louise

The lake itself is situated in the heart of Banff National Park. While we have a dedicated post covering everything to do in the national park, these are our favorites within a stone’s throw of Lake Louise itself.

Credit: Radventures

Visit Moraine Lake

Lake Louise might be Banff's most famous lake, but Moraine Lake is our favorite. It's a short distance from the first, and entirely lined by the mountains forming the Valley of the Ten Peaks.

Moraine Lake is beautiful at all hours, but is something else entirely at sunrise. Catching the sun rising over the water has become a staple of many Canadian Rockies trips, and dedicated tours and shuttles run early in the morning to make it possible.

It's important to note that personal vehicles are no longer permitted on the Moraine Lake road. All lake access requires booking via Parks Canada shuttle, public transit, or an organized tour. We handle this for all of our guests.

Credit: Banff & Lake Louise Tourism (BLLT) / Paul Zizka

Ride the Gondola at Lake Louise Ski Resort

Lake Louise Ski Resort is not only one of the most scenic ski resorts in the Canadian Rockies, but a fantastic wildlife-spotting destination in summer too. Lake Louise's Summer Gondola is one of the best places to see both black and grizzly bears in the Canadian Rockies. The best time to spot bears at Lake Louise Ski Resort is July or August.

Not only can you spot bears (as well as moose, cougars, mountain goats, and, if you're really lucky, lynx or wolves), but you're treated to sweeping views of Lake Louise nestled in its surrounding mountains from across the valley. A variety of hiking trails begin from the top of the Summer Gondola.

Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

Drive the Icefields Parkway

If we could recommend only one drive in Canada, the Icefields Parkway would be it.

This 144-mile highway connecting Lake Louise to Jasper is widely considered one of the most spectacular roads on earth, and having driven it many times ourselves, we wouldn't argue. The parkway passes Bow Lake, Peyto Lake, the Columbia Icefield, Athabasca Glacier, Athabasca Falls, and seemingly endless viewpoints overlooking glaciers, mountains, and lakes.

Our advice: don't rush. Bring a picnic and find one of these viewpoints to pull over at. Enjoy your sandwich overlooking what are frankly some of the most impressive views in Canada.

Credit: Travel Alberta / Colin Way

Visit Downtown Banff

Banff is a bustling, walkable hub less than an hour from Lake Louise. Restaurants, souvenir stores, and iconic Canadian brands line Banff Avenue, Banff's answer to 'main street.' One block over, on Bear Street, you'll find breweries, bakeries, and bistros along the brick street.

For a town this size, the quality of its restaurants and stores is impressive. Set aside a leisurely morning to walk the avenue, browsing galleries, boutiques, and outfitters as you go. And, after your day's adventures, one of the many restaurants is the perfect place to settle in for the evening.

Best Winter Activities in Lake Louise

Winter at Lake Louise may seem counterintuitive — the lake is so famous for the color of its water, after all. But once snow descends, and Lake Louise freezes over, a whole world of activities opens up.

Credit: Travel Alberta / Gerard Yunker

Ice Skating on Lake Louise

When the temperature drops and Lake Louise freezes over, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise opens a section of the lake as an outdoor skating rink, with the Victoria Glacier watching over from the far end and the surrounding peaks dusted in snow. You can rent skates from the hotel and, when you're done, retire to the seasonally-built outdoor Ice Bar or back inside for a spot of afternoon tea.

Credit: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Snowshoeing and Cross-Country Skiing

In winter, the best way to get out across Lake Louise itself is in the form of a pair of snowshoes or cross-country skis. Both are available to rent from the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and give you the opportunity to explore on foot, and travel far further than the lakefront ice rink.

Credit: Banff & Lake Louise Tourism (BLLT) / Paul Zizka

Ride in a Horse-Drawn Sleigh

A horse-drawn sleigh ride is among the most festive things to do at Lake Louise in winter. Utterly Christmassy in every way, you'll board an actual one-horse open sleigh — in fact pulled by two horses and complete with thick blankets to keep you warm — to glide through snow-topped pine forests with the lake and glacier as your backdrop. This is a favorite with both our guests and our team, and one we include in trips often. If you want to explore Lake Louise beyond the shorefront, but don't want to walk there, this is the perfect option.

Credit: Banff & Lake Louise Tourism (BLLT) / Jake Dyson

Ski at Lake Louise Ski Resort

Lake Louise Ski Resort is one of the best ski destinations in North America, and one of the best-kept secrets in the Canadian Rockies. Aside from its four mountain faces with over 4,200 acres of skiable terrain, it offers sweeping views of the valley and Lake Louise itself on the other side. While not many of our guests choose to ski, we often recommend Lake Louise if they do.

Where to Stay in Lake Louise

Where to stay in Lake Louise is, in many ways, a simpler question than most. There's only one hotel on the lake, but still plenty of other options for visiting Lake Louise.

Credit: Travel Alberta / Colin Way

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

If you're looking to stay at Lake Louise itself, then the obvious answer is the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. It sits directly on the lakeshore and is the only hotel actually at Lake Louise. As a result, it's a rather iconic part of the skyline, such as it is.

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is an important part of the region's history. It makes up one of the original railway hotels in the Canadian Rockies, built in 1890 as the Chalet at Lake Louise and updated to its current look in 1925.

Aside from its extensive history, the chateau offers a range of dining experiences, a new-for-2026 luxury spa, and rooms and suites that look out over the lake.

It's a truly special place to stay, and one we regularly book for our guests. We recommend it particularly for travelers who want to see a quieter Lake Louise, and recommend they wake up a little early to wander the lake before breakfast, before the rush of day-visitors arrive.

Credit: Post Hotel & Spa

Hotels in Lake Louise Village

The other option to stay at Lake Louise is in nearby Lake Louise Village.

The village is at the bottom of Lake Louise's entry road and set along the Bow River. It's little more than a collection of places to stay, and a few small stores, but it hides some wonderful hotels in a remarkable location.

The Post Hotel & Spa is our absolute favorite. It sprawls along the river's edge, with both private cabins and a main lodge building available to stay in.

The lodge is charmingly dotted with overstuffed armchairs and massive stone fireplaces, though the highlights are the library (filled to the brim with classic novels and a track-mounted ladder to navigate them by) and wine cellar (containing over 22,000 bottles and heralded as one of the most comprehensive in Canada). It feels every bit the classic lodge you'd hope for in the depths of the Canadian Rockies, primed with that luxurious Relais & Châteaux touch (recognized for it with a MICHELIN Key).

Lake Louise Village also offers a handful of more affordable options for those working within a budget or looking to splash out elsewhere, and great for guests but who don't want to stay on the water itself.

How We Choose Hotels

When choosing hotels for each vacation we design, we consider the wants and needs of each individual guest and the way the overall itinerary comes together. Our Travel Designers are great at knowing which one is right for who, and when — a couple's midsummer anniversary will look very different from a family Christmas vacation.

My husband has mobility issues but Alekh made it work. He was super prompt in the communication, very patient with all my extra requests, and went above and beyond in ensuring all our needs & wants were accommodated for. He even checked with hotels re mobility and threw in some extra bonuses. - Thomas, Recent Traveler

We work with a curated collection of properties across the country to get the fit right for each guest. That means you'll be paired with a unique combination of stays along your trip. If you have any particular dream stays, let your Travel Designer know when booking. If not, let us see what we can do for you.

Credit: Destination Canada

How to Get to Lake Louise

Lake Louise sits at the heart of the Canadian Rockies, making it highly accessible from two main directions: from Banff or from Jasper.

From Banff: Lake Louise is less than an hour from downtown Banff by car — just 35 miles along the Trans-Canada Highway. For our guests based in Banff, it makes a perfect day trip, and is a part of most of our itineraries in the area.

From Jasper: Lake Louise sits at the southern end of the Icefields Parkway. Driving from Jasper along the Icefields Parkway to Lake Louise takes approximately two hours and forty-five minutes. While it might seem long, the drive is one of the most beautiful in the world, and typically constitutes an activity in and of itself.

Please note: Parking at Lake Louise is extremely limited, and the parking lot fills up quickly. Instead of planning to drive to the lake, we recommend booking a Parks Canada shuttle, using Roam Public Transit, or taking a tour that visits Lake Louise. If you book your trip with us, we'll make sure you have an easy way to arrive at Lake Louise, whether by way of private tour or, if you're staying overnight, the reserved hotel parking lot.

Our Favorite Packages With Time in Lake Louise

This all being said, how do you best combine these activities into one vacation? Of course, that depends on each traveler — your distinct interests will combine in a different way from any other person's. We'll balance this with logistics and rest to make the perfect vacation for you.

Credit: Rocky Mountaineer

Western Canada Highlights Train Tour

Few experiences truly begin a trip like two days onboard Rocky Mountaineer.

After two days of relaxing in the comforts of luxury rail, you'll tour through the Canadian Rockies with an added night at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise so you can wake up to those quiet lake views.

Perfect for: Refined travelers looking for the best of the Canadian Rockies

Credit: Destination BC

Canadian Rockies Lakes and Glaciers Selfdrive

Exploring the heart of the Canadian Rockies is the goal of this road trip, which hops from lake to glacier back to lake as it snakes its way through the mountains. You'll spend time in the most famous spots — a full day in both Banff and Jasper with custom tours in each — and also dip away to the lesser-known Emerald Lake to see another side of the Rockies.

With a night at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise included, you'll be able to drive right up to the lake and make use of the hotel's guests-only parking lot.

Perfect for: Aventurous travelers looking to explore the Canadian Rockies to their fullest

Credit: Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Christmas in Banff at the Castle

A five-day retreat to a castle in the mountains timed to coincide with Christmas Day (which itself comprises a horse-drawn sleigh ride and an elaborate feast) is one of the more sumptuous ways to spend the holidays. When combined with a day trip to the frozen Lake Louise, where you can showshoe across the ice and skate the lake’s rink, and a custom tour in Banff National Park, it makes the holiday a vacation.

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel makes the holidays most magical, and there's simply no better place to ring in Christmas than in the snowy winter mountains of Banff National Park.

Perfect for: Any and all travelers looking for holiday magic

Credit: Canada By Design

How to Book

When booking with Canada By Design, we take care of the necessities, arranging your hotel stays, transport, and activities ahead of time. A Travel Designer will work with you one-on-one to include the best activities for you, and weave them into a custom itinerary. When the time comes, you just have to show up.

FAQs

Why should I visit Lake Louise?

You should visit Lake Louise simply because it is absolutely stunning. It is one of the most photographed places in Canada for good reason. Lake Louise is made vibrantly blue by glacial sediment suspended in the water. It is backed by Victoria Glacier, and the mountains encircling the valley combine to create a setting unlike anywhere else on Earth. It makes for fantastic photos and the most classic Canadian Rockies lake you can experience. It might be busy at peak times, but it is absolutely worth the trip.

Do I need a Parks Pass when visiting Lake Louise?

Lake Louise is located within Banff National Park, meaning you will need a Parks Canada Park Pass to enter the area. This can be purchased at national park gates and information centers, including those in Banff town.

Can I drive to Lake Louise?

You can technically drive to Lake Louise, but we don't recommend it. In peak season, the parking lot fills up quickly, often very early in the day. Instead, it's best to take a Parks Canada shuttle, pre-arranged tour, or ROAM public transit.

Can I drive to Moraine Lake from Lake Louise?

Personal vehicles are no longer permitted on the Moraine Lake road. Access requires booking via Parks Canada shuttle, public transit, or an organized tour. We arrange this for all of our guests, so there's nothing to worry about on that front.

Feature Image Credit: Alamy / Marc Bruxelle