3 / 5 - 2 reviews
How to get there
180km drive from Calgary
When to go
All year round
Minimum stay
One day
Lake Louise (Canada)
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Holly Clarke
Practical information on Lake Louise
Reviews of Lake Louise
Lake Louise is a little hamlet and lake situated in Alberta's Banff National Park, at 180km to the west of Calgary.
My suggestion:
But Lake Louise is not the only amazing lake in the vicinity! If you plan to visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site, I suggest going during the low season, so as to avoid hoards of people.
My review
You see it on postcards all the time. With its clear, azure blue water, it's an exceptional Canadian mountain lake. Tourists wonder why it's so famous. There are plenty of other lesser-known lakes that are just as spectacular - Bow, Moraine, Minnewanka, Helene and Hector for example. For those of you visiting this legendary site, I suggest you do the hike to Sherbrooke Lake (6km).
Lake Louise's setting is grandiose, thanks to its altitude and eternally snowy peaks, including Mount Temple (3,543m) and Mount Whyte (2,983m). This little hamlet has everything you need for a short stop, namely a small shopping centre with a tourist office, grocers, bakers and fast food outlets. The Lake Louise Mountain Resort is also a very popular winter ski destination.
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Holly Clarke
Located right in the middle of the Rocky Mountains, Lake Louise is a luxurious place dedicated to tourism. 4 kilometres from a hamlet, Lake Louise is the most well known lake in the Rockies. It is surrounded by mountains with a hotel-castle on the edge for romantics.
My suggestion:
Do the Big Beehive walk or take a path including the six glaciers that border the lake. If you have the time, go as far as Moraine Lake (in summer). In winter, go skiing in the Lake Louise Mountain Resort. From a gondola lift, discover the view at Mount Whitehorn.
My review
I was expecting a charming village in the mountains, a little like Banff but smaller. In fact, I was a bit disappointed to see that the entrance to Lake Louise is more of a crossroads than a village strictly speaking: there are hotels everywhere, a shopping centre and two petrol stations. However, I was happy to discover Lake Louise.
Lake Louise in summer or in winter?
I was there in winter so it's impossible for me to picture the emerald lake in summer. A shame, but at least I wasn't too annoyed by the buses of tourists who apparently arrive in loads in July-August. I was able to stroll around the superb ice sculptures in the Fairmont's gardens and observe the skaters on the lake. I also followed the Fairview trail to admire the views from the heights. It was less than twenty degrees: my hair was white with frost! What an experience! The snowy landscapes are spectacular. Here you are in the skiing hotspot: Lake Louise Mountain Resort is the second biggest skiable area in Canadaafter Whistler.
However, I found the place expensive to stay. What's more, all the summer activities seemed to be unaffordable, like canoeing on the lake (55 dollars for one hour). Lake Louise is simply a fashionable and luxurious place for your holidays in Canada. The road to get there from Banff is magnificent. You'll pass in front of Castle Mountain, a mountain in the shape of a castle.
Finally, I strongly recommend that you stop at Johnston Canyon, 30 minutes from Banff. The walk is easy and will only take you 1.5 hours. In winter this walk will be a high point due to the frozen waterfall at the end of the canyon under the snow.
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Lisa Gaillard
164 travelers' photos
