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Alberta, Canada

Lake Louise

Give it a full day: early Lake Louise, a teahouse hike, and Moraine Lake by Parks Canada shuttle. We have mapped 3 activities, 3 outdoor spots and 2 places to eat here, each with a reason to go.

Plan Lake Louise with friendsBrowse 9 places
Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada
Places
9

3 Do · 3 Outdoors · 2 Eat · 1 Drink

Curated routes
1

Banff & Jasper Loop

Best season
Jun – Sep

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

19°C / 66°F avg high

Coolest month
December

-7°C / 19°F avg high

Wettest month
June

about 117 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Lake Louise

9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

Do

3 activities for when the group wants to do more than look across Lake Louise and Lake Louise Ski Resort.

  • Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Boathouse in Lake LouisePhoto: KunTa Tsai · Google
    Do

    Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Boathouse

    Rent a red canoe for a paddle on Lake Louise.

    Tip Expensive and first come, first served; go at opening.

    • Lake Louise
    • $$$$
    • 60 min
    • Jun–Sep, morning
  • Plain of Six Glaciers Trail in Lake LouisePhoto: Central MA Explorer · Google
    Do

    Plain of Six Glaciers Trail

    Longer hike past the lake to a teahouse below Victoria Glacier.

    Tip Teahouse at the end opens about June to early October; avalanche risk on upper trail in winter.

    • Lake Louise
    • Free
    • 4 hr
    • Jul–Sep
  • Lake Louise Gondola in Lake LouisePhoto: Pier-Luc Bonneville · Google
    Do

    Lake Louise Gondola

    Summer gondola on the ski hill with grizzly-habitat views and an interpretive centre.

    Tip Bears are often seen on the slopes in June.

    • Lake Louise Ski Resort
    • $$$
    • 2 hr
    • Jun–Sep

Outdoors

3 outdoor spots for fresh air across Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. 2 of them are free.

  • Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail in Lake LouisePhoto: jc · Google
    Outdoors

    Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail

    Flat path along the turquoise lake toward Victoria Glacier.

    Tip Arrive by 7am or use the Parks Canada shuttle.

    • Lake Louise
    • Free
    • 60 min
    • Sunrise
  • Moraine Lake in Lake LouisePhoto: Gorgo · Public domain
    Outdoors

    Moraine Lake

    Glacier-fed lake below the Valley of the Ten Peaks; reached only by shuttle or tour.

    Tip Book the Parks Canada shuttle; private vehicles are banned.

    • Moraine Lake
    • $
    • 1.5 hr
    • Jun–Oct
  • Rockpile Trail in Lake LouisePhoto: John Whitehill Jr. · Google
    Outdoors

    Rockpile Trail

    Short climb at Moraine Lake to the famous postcard view.

    Tip Five minutes from the shuttle stop.

    • Moraine Lake
    • Free
    • 20 min
    • Morning

Eat

Where we would book a table in Lake Louise across Lake Louise village and Lake Louise Village.

  • Laggan's Mountain Bakery in Lake LouisePhoto: Jason Sturmann · Google
    Eat

    Laggan's Mountain Bakery

    Long-running bakery in Samson Mall; cheap sandwiches and pastries for the trail.

    Tip Cash is quickest; lines move fast.

    • Lake Louise village
    • $
    • 20 min
    • Morning
  • Lake Louise Village Grill & Bar in Lake LouisePhoto: Tam · Google
    Eat

    Lake Louise Village Grill & Bar

    Family-run since 1990 above Samson Mall. Burgers and Chinese-Western comfort food, open late with a full bar.

    Tip Open until about 2am, handy after a late hike.

    • Lake Louise Village
    • $$
    • 60 min
    • Dinner

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Lake Louise.

  • Lake Agnes Tea House in Lake LouisePhoto: Martin Nebelin · Google
    Drink

    Lake Agnes Tea House

    Historic 1905 teahouse at a hanging lake, reached by a 3.5 km climb.

    Tip Open about June to early October only; hike 3.5 km up from the lake, no road access.

    • Lake Louise
    • $
    • 3 hr
    • Jun–early Oct

How to fit Lake Louise into a trip

Lake Louise is stop 2 of 3 on our Banff & Jasper Loop route. Follow it as-is or lift Lake Louise into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Lake Louise month by month

Average daily highs run from -7°C / 19°F in December to 19°C / 66°F in July. June is the wettest month, with about 117 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Lake Louise weather and the best time to visit →

Near Lake Louise

3 other destinations from our guides within about 350 km (217 mi), measured in a straight line.

Lake Louise questions, answered

How many days do you need in Lake Louise?

Our route notes suggest a full day in Lake Louise. On our Banff & Jasper Loop route it is stop 2 of 3 in a 7-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 14 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Lake Louise best known for?

Give it a full day: early Lake Louise, a teahouse hike, and Moraine Lake by Parks Canada shuttle. Standouts on our list: Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail (Flat path along the turquoise lake toward Victoria Glacier); Moraine Lake (Glacier-fed lake below the Valley of the Ten Peaks; reached only by shuttle or tour); Rockpile Trail (Short climb at Moraine Lake to the famous postcard view).

When is the best time to visit Lake Louise?

Our Banff & Jasper Loop route is best Jun – Sep. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (19°C / 66°F), the coolest in December (-7°C / 19°F) and the most rain in June (about 117 mm).

What are the best things to do in Lake Louise?

Start with Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail, Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Boathouse, Plain of Six Glaciers Trail, Moraine Lake and Rockpile Trail. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 3 activities, 3 outdoor spots, 2 places to eat and 1 bar or café.

Where should a group eat in Lake Louise?

Our picks: Laggan's Mountain Bakery (Lake Louise village); Lake Louise Village Grill & Bar. Cash is quickest; lines move fast (Laggan's Mountain Bakery).

What is near Lake Louise?

The closest destinations in our guides are Banff (about 50 km / 31 mi), Jasper (about 207 km / 129 mi) and Glacier National Park (about 342 km / 212 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Lake Louise with your crew

Open the Banff & Jasper Loop route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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