Lake Agnes Trail

The hike to Lake Agnes is not merely a walk in the woods; it is a pilgrimage through the history of mountaineering in Canada. The trail begins at the northeast shore of Lake Louise, in front of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Look for the paved path leading away from the hotel; the trailhead is marked with a wooden sign.

The ascent. Stage 1: the first 2.5 km follow a wide, forested path with constant incline. Glimpses of Lake Louise’s turquoise waters through subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce. Stage 2: Mirror Lake at the base of the Big Beehive is the primary waypoint; a small circular pond offering a perfect reflection of the rock face above and a traditional spot to rest. Stage 3: past Mirror Lake the trail narrows and steepens. The roar of the Lake Agnes waterfall on your left; a final 57 wooden steps lead over the waterfall’s crest onto the Lake Agnes Tea House deck. The tea house sits at 2,135 m.

The tea house. Established in 1901 by the Canadian Pacific Railway; the oldest tea house in Canada. No electricity or running water. Fresh supplies hiked in daily; dry goods by helicopter each spring. Tea biscuits with jam and honey, vegetable soup, 100+ loose-leaf teas. Cash preferred; the mountain card terminal is unreliable and may charge fees. Peak wait times 11:00 to 14:00 can exceed 60 minutes; aim for 8:30 for tranquility. Season: typically opens June 4, closes after Canadian Thanksgiving.

2026 logistics. Banff has moved to a shuttle-first model. Private vehicle access is highly discouraged; most visitors park at the Lake Louise Park and Ride (Ski Resort) and take the Parks Canada shuttle. Reservations open in spring and sell out months in advance. If driving: parking ~$40 CAD per day; the lot is often full by 3:00. Expect lingering snow on the upper trail in late June. Bear spray mandatory; grizzly country. Sturdy footwear; the final stairs and extensions are rocky and slippery when wet. Leave no trace; no trash cans at the tea house. Do not feed golden-mantled ground squirrels or Clark’s nutcrackers.

Extensions. From the tea house: Little Beehive (~1 km) offers the best bird’s-eye view of the Chateau and Bow Valley. Big Beehive via steep switchbacks; the hero shot of Lake Louise from the gazebo. Mount St. Piran for a true summit; 360-degree views including the Victoria Glacier and the Icefields Parkway. The Highline Trail connects to the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House for the Tea House Challenge loop.

Photography. Stand on the far side of Lake Agnes (opposite the tea house) for the cabin’s reflection with Mount Whyte and Mount Niblock in the background. For turquoise Lake Louise: direct overhead sun (11:00 to 14:00). For Lake Agnes peaks: soft morning light before 9:00.

See the Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail for the approach, Summer logistics for the full 2026 checklist, and the summer trail page for stats and nearby trails.