Lake Louise Tea House System

The high-alpine tea houses at Lake Louise represent a unique intersection of colonial railway expansion, European mountaineering tradition, and modern environmental stewardship. Established by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) to lure international tourists to the newly accessible wilderness of Banff National Park, the Lake Agnes Tea House and Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House serve as the primary anchors for the Lake Louise hiking network.

CPR genesis. After the transcontinental line (1885), CPR general manager William Cornelius Van Horne faced the task of generating passenger revenue from unpopulated wilderness. His strategy: brand the Rockies as the “Canadian Alps” and import tourists to export the scenery. Tea houses were conceived as “rest houses” or “shelters” to facilitate mountaineering and leisure hiking among elite guests. The aesthetic was heavily influenced by the Swiss guides hired following Philip Stanley Abbot’s fatal fall on Mount Lefroy (1897); the first recorded mountaineering death in North America. The guides brought the cultural expectation of mountain huts and highland refreshments.

Key milestones. 1901: first log refuge at Lake Agnes. 1904: formal tea house building. 1920–1927: Plain of Six Glaciers stone tea house, suggested by Edward Feuz Jr. as a way-station for Abbot Pass Hut climbers. 1922: Swiss guides construct Abbot Pass Hut. 1956: CPR transfers backcountry leases to private holders. 1981: Lake Agnes original cabin replaced with current structure. 1992: Skoki, Twin Falls, and Abbot Pass designated National Historic Sites.

Operational realities. Both tea houses operate without electricity or running water; all supplies are packed in by staff. A single helicopter resupply day at season start delivers ~10,000 lbs of dry goods; fresh produce and laundry are hiked in 2–4 times weekly. Staff carry garbage and recycling down on every descent. Human waste requires coordinated helicopter removal; Parks Canada urges visitors to use valley toilets before hiking. Cash only (Canadian or US, 1:1); no telecommunications.

The Tea House Challenge. The “Highline” or “Double Tea House” loop (~14.6–20 km) connects both tea houses via the Highline Trail. Recommended sequence: Lake Agnes at dawn to beat crowds, over the Big Beehive, Highline to Plain of Six Glaciers for lunch, return via the shoreline. Total elevation gain can exceed 1,000 m with side trips.

2026 access. Parks Canada Shuttle from Lake Louise Park and Ride (at the ski resort): Lake Louise Lakeshore (Mid-May–Oct 13), every 30 min. Fare: $8 adult return, $4 senior, youth under 17 free (reservation required). 40% of seats released in April; 60% at 48 hours prior. Alpine Start (4:00 and 5:00 AM) for Mount Temple and Wenkchemna Pass climbers. Upper Lake Louise parking $42/day (3 AM–7 PM); lot often full by 7 AM. Roam Route 8X year-round from Banff/Canmore. Lake Connector links lakeshore and Moraine Lake. Check trail reports for wildfire-mitigation closures. See Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Trail Systems for full transportation and trail details.

Regional lodges. Skoki Lodge (1930–31), 11 km from the ski area, offers afternoon tea to overnight guests. Twin Falls Tea House (Yoho, 1923) is transitioning to an Alpine Club of Canada unstaffed hut (2026–27). Shadow Lake Lodge (1930, CPR) was sold to the ACC in 2019. Saddleback Pass; between Mount Fairview and Saddle Peak at 2,330 m; has no tea house; it is a hiking destination renowned for Larch Season (late September).