I've always dreamed of seeing Lake Louise! We came in early March, so we didn't get to see the beautiful waters as everything was frozen over, but it was still so pretty! Love how they even cleared out an ice rink and ice bar right on the lake and they were multiple people skating on the rink! I was a bit scared to venture out onto the frozen lake since I've heard horror stories of frozen surfaces breaking and people plunging in...but seeing as they literally had a rink paved out, I felt better safety-wise. There definitely are some small pockets of melted water where the ice is thinner along those edges, so I would just be aware of your surroundings.  Overall, such a beautiful lake and definitely worth visiting! I'll have to come back in the summer to check out its beauty out in a different season. We also didn't get the chance to hike, but I'm sure the trails are stunning as well! read more

Lake Louise - Lakes Near Me - Lake Louise, Alberta

Very badly managed. Parking fill up by 6 AM. You are then sent to Ski resort parking only to learn bus tickets are sold out. Private shuttle companies prey on tourists charging exuberant fees that go up every year. If you get lucky, you will find a spot in a dirt parking lot over a mile away. You'd have to pay $42 to park in the dirt and dust and walk on a road where there are no sidewalks and your option is to take a chance at getting hit by passing RVs and trucks or fall into the valley! Getting to the lake, we were greeted by high dusty wind followed by thunder and rain! Did I mention getting harassed by police on the way who ticketed us $400 for speeding when everyone else was passing us and going faster than us. The gov here will charge you for everything. The people look at you as an ATM machine and will overcharge you for everything from hotel stays to food. On top of that, you are not welcome and they treat you badly. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else! read more

See all

WE ENJOYED THE BEAUTIFUL LAKE DESPITE THE CROWDS As part of a tour, we recently visited Lake Louise in Banff National Park. Despite the cloudy drizzly weather and the crowds, we could still appreciate the beauty and splendor of the iconic aqua blue lake. The Lake was overrun by visitors even though it was at the tail end of the summer - most tourists come for a quick photo op so crowds thinned out as we walked further along the paved Lakeshore Trail. It was insane to imagine how much busier it was here during the height of the peak summer season. Of course, we realize that we are part of the problem being one of the hundreds (or thousands?) of tourists that visit Lake Louise daily :o( Lake Louise is a trailhead for popular hikes to the Lake Agnes Teahouse, Beehive and Little Beehive. Our friend returned to Lake Louise a few days later to do a 6 hour Plain of Six Glaciers hike. He enjoyed the scenic hike but wished the trail had been quieter without the constant stream of hikers. Note: At the foot of Lake Louise stands the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Unfortunately, the Chateau strictly limits public access. We saw hotel staff and barricades set up to prevent day visitors from wandering onto the hotel grounds. We later learned that without a restaurant reservation, non-guests may only visit a small coffee shop. Even the hotel washrooms are off limit (public washrooms are in the parking lot). read more

Absolutely stunning. I recommend arriving anytime before 9am to beat the giant crowds and take a decent picture. There is a walking trail alongside the lake that made for a nice stroll. Summer temps were around 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit in the morning, so cover up and avoid the mosquitoes! read more

Lake Louise - Lakes Near Me - Lake Louise, Alberta

See all

Coming to Lake Louise was a last-minute addition on my first trip to Banff National Park. I could not come all the way here and not see this beautiful lake. Lake Louise is a turquoise-colored glacial lake that is surrounded by high peaks in Alberta's Banff National Park. It is a popular destination for tourists and outdoor enthusiasts. Lake Louise is known for its hiking trails, skiing and canoeing. Lake Louise is 30 minutes west of the Town of Banff. Parking here can be a real pain during peak season. Thankfully I was on a bus that dropped us off at the front. I came here during the summer and the crowds were crazy. But it was so worth it to finally see this lake in person. The water is crystal clear and has a greenish-blue color to it and is surrounded by a mountain range. Lake Louise lake's color is a result of natural geological processes and not artificially enhanced. In the distance you can see the Victoria Glacier. Lake Louise is named after Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria. The historic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is located at the edge of the lake and offers beautiful views for those that stay there. There are several hiking trails around the lake. I ended up walking the nature trail for a little while to get photos of the lake at different angles. It was hard to get clear shots because there were so many people. But I really enjoyed my time exploring the surrounding area. Coming to Lake Louise was totally worth it and a highlight for me on my trip to Banff National Park. Entry to Lake Louise requires a Banff National Park entry fee or pass. It is highly recommended to ride the shuttle here as parking is limited. read more

See all

What a breath taking view. I'm so happy to have had a chance to visit. It was such a fun walk around the lake. The lake was gorgeous. What a world we get to live in to be able to enjoy something like this. read more

Lake Louise - Lake Louise - Lakes Near Me - Lake Louise, Alberta

See all

Took a tour specifically to see Lake Louise and it was worth it! If I were recommending a visit, I would suggest staying there for a few nights at least, to fully experience hiking and canoeing the lake, which I didn't get to do. But the lake itself is so beautiful, like you're right in a postcard. Moraine Lake nearby is a must see as well. Take your time to explore but get here early because the perimeter of the lake is crowded with tourists. read more

Lake Louise - Lake view - Lakes Near Me - Lake Louise, Alberta

See all

A must see when visiting Banff National Park! Parking can be tricky. It's kind of hit and miss whether the lot is full and the attendees let you in or not. We arrived around 1pm on a Tuesday afternoon. The sign said it was full, but the attendees waived us in. It only took two turns around the lot before we saw someone leave and took their spot. The walk down to the lake and hotel is very short. They have restrooms available as well. It was pretty busy while we were there. A lot of waiting for photo ops. They have long benches available on the boardwalk to just sit and enjoy the view. The turquoise waters of Lake Louise and the gorgeous view of Victoria Glacier was mesmerizing. I recommend walking all the way down and around the lake shore as the suns reflection changes and so does the deepness of the turquoise. It was such a treat to experience! We also walked around the Fairmont Chateau. It's huge! The original chateau is still on site too, which was cool to see. Overall one of our favorite stops on this trip. Would highly recommend! read more

See all

I can't call Lake Louise just a destination spot... It is much more than that. There is a certain feeling looking out at this magnificent lake. The serenity and aura is mind captivating. It's a feeling of immense solitude. We arrived in the afternoon after two day train trip aboard the Rocky Mountaineer and saw some of the most beautiful scenery. After arriving at the Hotel Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, I grabbed my camera equipment (I am a photographer) and ran (not walked) down to the lake which was just a minutes from the hotel down a short path. It took me a short time to focus on this unbelievably beautiful Lake before I could even imagine how to capture its' beauty through a camera. I believe I did and have many pictures along with this review. I walked down and around the lake trying to capture each view I saw. While it was busy, it did not seem to hamper my photography and I used many of the people as subjects along with the lake and mountains. You could sit on the side on a bench or just a rock and look around. We had dinner at the hotel and watched the sunset create more magnificent views. I got up early to run down and capture the sunrise along with many people. As the sun ticks up, the light and reflections also change. Just so much beauty here. This trip has been on my list for 40 years and I am SO HAPPY that we finally made. I had the opportunity to experience this area with my wife and great friends. What more can you ask for? read more

See all

Lake Louise is one of the most gorgeous areas in Banff! It may have been my personal favorite spot, but while visiting we saw a wedding shoot, too! Perhaps proof of the epic beauty at Lake Louise. The .31 square foot Lake Louise is a glacial lake with the most magnificent blues and turquiose greens in color thanks to rock flour melting into the lake from the glaciers surrounding and overlooking Lake Louise. Great things about Lake Louise are not just the beauty but it's also not quite as busy as main Banff activities as you need to travel about 40 minutes to get there. There's a nice Chateau hotel located right next to the lake if you can spare a couple days to stay in town. They also have activities in the winter like ice fishing and ice skating, then in the summer, kayaking and canoeing are popular. I loved Lake Louise and would love to visit again. Absolutely stunning views among the Canadian Rockies! read more

See all

The glacier turquoise water is unreal. No matter how many times you've been, Lake Louise never gets old. My favourite thing to do is canoeing. Paddling across the blue-green water surrounded by mountains feels otherworldly. Whether you visit in summer for canoeing or in the winter when everything is covered with snow and lake Louise is frozen, it always seems to feel like a dream. In my opinion, It is the most breathtaking place in Canada. read more

Lake Louise - Lakes Near Me - Lake Louise, Alberta

See all

The iconic landmark in Banff that everyone has to see! However since we came in early March, the lake was frozen over and was a winter wonderland! Although we didn't get to see the clear blue waters of the lake, this was an entirely new view that was just as memorable! Note: You need a Banff Park Pass to enter! You can buy it online or at the booths when you get to the entrance of the park. - PARKING - We parked in the lot right next to the lake as directed by the parking attendants there. There's a lodge with bathrooms in the same parking lot too! You simply walk into the tree area, about 3 minutes, and you'll see the sign of Lake Louise and the lake beyond it! - EXPERIENCE - There are signs of thin ice, but there were so many people walking, running, and even sliding on the lake! We had shoe grips on just in case, which I think were nice to have as we walked - felt very sturdy! I did see other people without grips and they just had to walk a bit slower. They also had an ice rink and snow bar outside! - OVERALL - A beautiful sight to see, even in the wintertime! read more

4 millions visitor a year said it all. Just go slow and take it in no matter which way you go read more

See all

Best highlight of our two day tour, came to visit for a weekend get away---three full days in Calgary/Banff. First day it was cool, 2nd day was snowing. It felt like we came in separate seasons! Magical place to be. Every angle offers a different view and story. The pictures don't give justice to the grounding and calmness this place brings. read more

See all

If you've never seen an alpine lake with a mountain background, this spot might blow your mind. If you have, then Lake Louise is probably the best example of an overexploited spot that is ruined by capitalism and is likely to be disappointing. We took the shuttle up here; tickets were almost impossible to book. If you didn't get the shuttle tickets, good luck even finding paid parking up here in one of the parking lots, it's a disaster. We hiked the 8 miles to the Beehive overlook but on the way saw some of the most crowded and touron (tourist morons) activities on the way there. Over example, people renting kayaks literally swapped out to other members of their groups mid kayak instead of just renting individual boats (lol?!) and pretty much trying to bathe in the water. The population density along some parts of the trail made it unsuitable for those who enjoy peace and nature. The scenery is honestly not bad compared to the Colorado Rockies; you get the turquoise alpine lake, snow capped peaks, and blue sky background. The trail however is a bit disappointing; it's a lazy out and back that wasn't really challenging or had many features to this; again, this led to the trail being way too busy. read more

See all

I reserved the earliest Roam Transit 8X bus to Lake Louise. I came during shoulder season (late September) and it was still pretty crowded. I definitely recommend reserving it early, the reservations get released two months before. I combined both Moraine Lake and Lake Louise in one day and while it's doable, it's a bit exhausting. I think next time, I would do separate days so I would have time to hike to Lake Agnes Teahouse. Anyways, I did canoe on the lake and it was a great experience. FYI - there's no public restrooms in the Fairmount, you have to go to the parking lot but they're clean. read more

Lake Louise - canoeing in lake louise - Lakes Near Me - Lake Louise, Alberta

We came mid-September and arrived around 3:00. There was plenty of parking for $36 Canadian. Well worth the drive to walk to the Lake . read more

See all

This is an absolutely must do when in Banff! You can't really park there unless you go at 5am so make sure you book transportation to go one day or book a tour that goes here. We booked a tour that took us here and Moraine Lake in one day which I highly recommend! There is a Fairmont right there on the lake that you can book to stay in and then you can go on all the trails close by. On the tour, They gave us time to go down the trail along the right side of the lake. Very beautiful! You can also rent a canoe to go out on the water as well. So pretty. Dont miss this! read more

See all

Visiting Lake Louise in Banff is absolutely breathtaking. The view of the icy-blue water framed by towering Canadian Rockies and glaciers feels like something out of a dream. Yes, the area around the lake can get crowded with people snapping photos, but once you step away from the shoreline, or even better, rent a canoe, it becomes so peaceful and serene. Canoeing on Lake Louise is truly worth it. Gliding across the still, ice-cold water, surrounded by silence and dramatic mountain peaks, feels almost unreal. It's a once in a lifetime experience that I highly recommend if you've come all this way; there's nothing quite like being in the middle of the lake, taking it all in. read more

See all

"Would you take our picture? We were here 26 years ago," a couple shared their old picture at the exact location I was standing. I happily obliged as this stunning lake that attracts thousands of people to visit or revisit. Iconic Alpine Mountains and a greener emerald lake that steals your breath away. Lake Louise has to be one of the busiest crowds due to tourism and social media. If you are wealthy enough to be staying at the Fairmont Hotel, you can also receive window views of this spectacular lake and mountain landscape. While the lighting or color of the lake is dependent on the weather, serenity peaceful waters continued to be present. Unfortunately, there were too many families and kids who were being disruptive and jumping into the water. Agnes Tea House: Distance: ~3.5km (2.2mi) one-way, ~7km round-trip Difficulty: Moderate -- well-marked and maintained, suitable for most hikers with some fitness level. Bathroom pop and squat shed that takes about 30 minute wait time. read more

A stunningly beautiful lake. A must see if you are visiting Banff. Majestic water tucked between hills of mountains and glaciers. Also, a key tip is to use the restroom here before you transition to Moraine Lake. These bathrooms have actual plumbing. The other lake's bathroom is an out house. read more

See all

We came here in the spring and the lake was still frozen over. Pulling into the lot was easy and I love that parking was free. From there, it is a short walk down to the lake. We saw people venturing out so we joined them. It was now on top of ice and so cool to walk all the way across the lake. We got some really cool pictures and had a blast! We then went into the Fairmount hotel there which allows you to only go in a small part if you are not a hotel guest. They have a small cafe, gift shop, and water filling station. If you want to venture further, you can go into the restaurant to have a drink as a non-guest. There are huge windows to look out at the lake too. Next time we want to do one of the surrounding hikes during the summer and see the color of the water! read more

Absolutely gorgeous Lake. A must see if you're visiting Banff. It may seem like it's crowded so you may not get a good picture of the lake but if you kind of just ask nicely usually they will make a space so you can take a good photo and there are plenty of spaces on the outskirts where you can take great photos as well. 5 stars because is there anything else you can ask for? read more

See all

No words to describe the beauty of Lake Louise. It looks s one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. Serene, quiet , At one with nature.. the color of the water, the contrast with the sky, the contrast with the trees... serene. there are really no words!! my only complaints is the hundreds and hundreds of people are looking at Lake Louise just like me. I might add this is prior to the busy summer season starting, which is 1 June. If you could really really early in the morning and if you are lucky, you can drive up and park in the parking lot. The first day we tried we were turned away because it was full. We bought shuttle tickets online for the following day, but tried it again early, in the morning and low & behold, we got a spot. Do not miss this area. read more

See all

STUNNING!! Little busy at the lake front, bit touristy. Hike to tea house was a gradual incline, very do-able. Would recommend the hike to little beehive over the big beehive. Big beehive was VERY steep, saw a lot of people taking breaks and even turning around. read more

See all

All I can saw is wow. Words don't do this justice. A must see location for anyone visiting Lake Louise / Banff area. Hiked here from Paradise Lodge Cabins and caught the sunrise before hiking Big Beehive read more

Lake Louise is a hamlet with 800 residents in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies It is known for its turquoise, glacier-fed lake ringed by high peaks & overlooked by a stately Fairmont Chateau. Hiking trails wind up to the Lake Agnes Tea House for bird's-eye views. There's a canoe dock in summer, and a skating rink on the frozen lake in winter. The Lake Louise Ski Resort features a wildlife interpretive center at the top of a gondola. We got here before 9:00 and already there were many tour buses here and more visitors than locals. The parking lot is already full and there are long lines for the ladies & men's restrooms. There were no vending machines or food options here . The roam buses stop here from Banff. The reflections on the lake were spectacular. read more

See all

Beautiful emerald blue waters. Eadily accessible to the lake via 5 min walk from parking lot. Lovely easy lakeside hike. The cleanest water in North America. And a beautiful hotel nestled in between some of the most beautiful mountains in Canada. On average this place gets the most visitors out of all the lakes in alberta. I think most people stay for less than an hour to get those iconic photos. The parking lot can be a disaster year round. It's like a lottery trying to get in. So if you can try to take a bis here as it is the biggest challenge of visiting this place. You can circle for hours trying to get in. And parking is $21 which is enforced. There are several beautiful hikes here. My faveourite by far is the plains of six glaciers which is a bit treacherous in spring because of avalanche season. Theres also a teahouse at the end which is only open during summer and fall. Lake Agnes is a shorter hike and relatively pretty easy to do withing a few hours. If your looking for more of a challenge you can hike past the tea house at lake Agnes and go toward the big beehive or Devils thumb. Both have spectacular views. There's a lake louise lakeshore hike which is doable for almost everyone. Add another hike called fairview which is steep and typically a horse trail up on the other side of lake louise. Most people come to lake louise to go kayaking for an hour or to walk along the lakeshore. The best time to visit is during October for larch season. When the leaves are turning yellow. But it's beautiful year round. They have a cool ice sculpture festival with an ice bar and horse carriage rides...and that's a really fun thing to do! This lake is iconic. It's beautiful. It's breathtaking don't miss it. It's just a short 45 min drive from downtown Banff and easily accessible via bus. So there's no excuse for you not to go see it. read more

Moraine vs Louise.... they really are both absolutely BEAUTIFUL! I can't say (personally) that I like one over the other. I mean.... Louise is bigger and has more trails that you can take from that location so if Hiking is the benchmark... I'd say Louise. You can also rent canoes at Louise which we did. They limit the number of rentals to 25 I believe. There were not a lot of canoes on the lake which was nice. It was a "bucket list" item of mine, so we did it. It's not cheap. 170CAD plus GST for an hour. But that 1 hour was bliss for me. It was so quiet out on the water once you got away from the crowds at the Boathouse. We rowed all the way to the end of the lake and got a few great pictures of Victoria Glacier with no people anywhere in the pictures because most people stick close to the Boathouse end of the lake. It was so peaceful .... just so zen-like. That's what I was hoping for and my wish came true. So, this was absolutely worth it for me. Louise also has the Chateau Lake Louise Fairmont which is very chic right there... facing the lake and the glacier. Unlike Moraine, you can drive your own car ... but have fun getting parking during peak season (summer) .... and at the time we went, it was 38CAD per day. Go early... like before 8am if you want a parking spot.... or go late like 7pm when everyone is gone off to dinner. Or do what a thousand other people do and take a shuttle or tour that stops at the lake. Yes, it's that many people.... it's like the Disneyland of the area with the Chateau as "the castle". ha! The trail along the lake is nice and very well-traveled (aka crowded)... I would not say it's "stroller" nor wheelchair friendly but it's definitely doable for anyone that is mobile. It's dirt / gravel with roots, ruts, rocks. Can you swim in the lake? We saw several people wading and dunking themselves. It is quite cold. Remember this lake is made from glacier run off / melt. So, it's not warm by any stretch of the imagination. But if you are into the Polar Plunge... go for it. Just bring your own towels and be careful entering and exiting the water as it is very rocky. Net, Net... this is truly one of the special places on the planet as it is so easily accessible and just incredible to view. I've visited this lake twice and it really does not get old. I'd go again and probably will. read more

If you want to see the sunrise at Lake Louise, you must arrive to the parking lot at least 1-2 hours before sunrise to make sure you have a parking spot. I think the lot has about 50 parking spots. Once it's full, there is no other place to park, unless you stay at the Fairmont on Lake Louise. It does fill up quickly. Parking cost is $21. You can pay at the machine near the bathroom. Yes, there is a public bathroom. Bring head lamps or flash lights. Dress warm during non-summer months. Even though it was cloudy and we didn't get to see a sunrise, the view was still breath taking! It's a must see when you're in Banff National Park. read more

See all

Obviously, if you are coming to Banff, there is a very good chance you are coming for Lake Louise. You can easily access the lake via shuttle, or if you are staying nearby. My husband and I took the shuttle to Lake Louise on a weekday and it was the tail end of the busy summer season so there were still quite a few tourists. But our intention was to hike to the summit of Big Beehive to try and get away from some of the crowd while having a breathtaking view of Lake Louise from above. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, it was raining the day that we visited Lake Louise. This kept most of the crowds at bay. So we threw on our ponchos and we started the hike to Big Beehive. We took the route that went to Lake Agnes and the Lake Agnes Tea House. Stopping at the teahouse was a wonderful break before the tremendous climb up to the summit of Big Beehive. Once we were at the top, the weather did clear long enough for us to get some breathtaking views of Lake Louise. On our way back, we took a different route down, which led us along Lake Louise from above, meeting back up at Mirror Lake and back to The Château. You can obviously stay at the Château (with it being much cheaper in the off-season). You can also rent canoes to canoe the lake. Despite the overwhelming crowds and touristy nature, if you just take some time to go off the beaten path, you will not regret it. read more

See all

It is a world renowned and scenic lake.  It's also famous for being the site of the majestic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.  On a clear day the Upper and Lower Victoria glaciers are also visible on the opposite side of the lake.  It's a must-see if in the area to swing by and see the famous and expensive Fairmont Chateau here as well as the lake.  It wasn't particularly crowded when our group visited, but I can believe that this place can get over-crowded and that can certainly take away from a visit here.  There also seems to only be one main vantage point, the one on the path leading everyone from the hotel, so there isn't much else to see around this lake. read more

See all

Beautiful! Definitely a must see in Banff. I know that Lake Louise is one of the top sightseeing places in Banff. Make sure to get tickets online through the park reservation. I came during peak time and everytime I passed the Lake Louise area, they mentioned that the parking was full. Reservations open 48 hours in advance and they do sell out very quickly. But, I would continue checking throughout the day because they do release more reservations. I was able to score a reservation the night before for the next day. If you are able to get a reservation, you can go to both Lake Louise and Lake Morraine on the same day. Parking is at the Banff Ski Lodge and they will shuttle you to both lakes. Shuttles come pretty often. That being said, if you are not able to get reservations, my hotel was selling a tour for both lakes, but it was at a super premium. It was about $20 through the park reservation, but the tour company charged about $80. Just something to consider if you go during peak time. As for Lake Louise, it is beautiful. The color is amazing. Since I did come at peak time, there were tons of people, but if you walk a little further out, then the crowds start to thin. After looking spending some time at the lake, I walked over to the Fairmont Lake Louise. They are pretty strict at the hotel about where non-guests can go (pretty much nowhere). I bought a coffee at the store and then walked around a little more. The sights were amazing with a hot beverage on hand. Definitely will come back here. Next time, I would definitely like to spend some more time here. Exploring the hiking trails and go to the famous teahouse. read more

We visited this popular tourist attraction in the Banff National Park this week, and the weather was very nice. During the summer months it's very accessible for cars, trucks, and RVs of all sizes. There is public transportation from the downtown Banff area to the Lake Louise attraction. We had a rental car and we were able to sightsee the surrounding area as well. I would definitely recommend this attraction to everyone, but I would also caution those that may have limited accessibility. @glampedlife read more

See all

I recommend experiencing the lake via the Voyagers canoe experience. Load up at the boat rental area. The guide is experienced and entertaining. We paid $75/person and had a 2 hour padding/enriching experience. The canoe rental is about $150/hour so we paid the same amount for the 2 of us and got a better experience - in my opinion. We gave our guide a nice tip because he was so enjoyable. read more

Lake Louise - Boat rental at the left side of the lake. Approximately an hour wait from this sign summer 2023. - Lakes Near Me - Lake Louise, Alberta

See all

I visited recently and it was a frozen wonderland. Visitors are frolicking around the place. Taking pictures or just watching and taking all in the view. I would love to come back when it is Summer. I am sure the turquoise water will make the mountain setting beautiful. And more activities will be available. read more

See all

Breathtaking View and personally my favorite. One of the most beautiful places I've been to and pictures just doesn't do it any justice. Reserve the shuttle buses 2 days in advance. There is absolutely no parking. I've seen people not reserving the bus and ended up hiking to the lake. The shuttle bus takes you to lake Louise and lake Moraine and it comes every 20-25 minutes. There's really no place to eat unless you want to spend a lot of money at the hotel nearby. I suggest you bring some food. read more

Lake Louise - Lakes Near Me - Lake Louise, Alberta

See all

Review Visit: July 13th, 2015 Lake Louis is quite possibly the most breath-taking place I have ever seen. I don't mean that lightly. Lake Louise is one that is etched in my mind of what peaceful and serene is like in landscape form. As we made our way west to our destination of Nakusp, Laura told us that we should take a detour to see Lake Louise. At this point in my life, I never heard of the place and the mental images I had were lackluster, to say the least. I envisioned just a lake with tall grass, weeds, and maybe a local fisherman trying to catch something special for dinner. What I didn't expect was to be blown away by Mother Nature. The van rounded the turn and what I saw unfold was a sight like no other. Mountains horizontally across the landscape that came down and blended seamlessly with this large blue body of water. That body of water was the one and only Lake Louise. Once I was able to take the full place in, I knew this place from scenic photos on the internet. Even those high quality photos did not do this place justice. From the moment we walked to the lake from the van, this place held your attention. The blue coloring of the water was mesmerizing and very unique. The sediment that comes from the surrounding mountains causes it to have it's signature color. The lake blends seamlessly in to the surrounding trees and mountains. The mountains rise up all around you, which helps trap in cool air. With each breath, you feel like you are breathing in cool autumn temperature air but it has a mountain-quality to it. Almost like it is cleaner than anything else you've ever breathed. While our visit here was about 90 minutes, there are a ton of activities to do besides being mesmerized. You can walk along the waterfront and also this side stream we found. You can rent some canoes and paddle on the lake. On the opposite side of the road is a ski lift area. There is also a huge hotel next to the lake you can camp out in if camping in the woods isn't your thing. Actually, I don't know if you can go camping in this area but hey, I don't think anyone is gonna stop you. Maybe a bear or moose, but then you have other problems besides camping. No matter how many or few words I write can properly encapsulate how breathtaking this place is. At the time of writing this blog, I still recall how hypnotically blue the water is and how fresh and crisp that mountain air is. If there is anything you need to do in Canada, the whole of Banff National Park (where this is located) needs to be at the top of your list. Also 'trying authentic poutine' should be on that list. read more

See all

I was lucky enough to score a 7am shuttle the Lake. There wasn't a lot of people at 7:30am on a Thursday morning, so we were able to take pictures without having to deal with people getting in the shot. The lake is beautiful with its blue color. There's a kayak/canoe rental to the right, but they don't open until 9/10am and charge about $178 CAD an hour. At first I was against paying this amount, but when in Rome. I am glad we rented the canoe as it was so peaceful being on the water and the hour really went by fast. Though the price is outrageous, I would still recommend doing this. The Fairmont is just right behind the lake and there are no restrooms available inside, unless you are a guest. There are signs all over the place stating this. We were able to grab some lunch afterwards at Louiza as that was the only restaurant that was accessible for non-guests. While eating, the rain & wind came in and we were so glad that we finished our hike to the Tea House and also able to get on the lake. Once done, you can take the commuter to Moraine Lake or take the shuttle back to the parking lot. Both are included with your shuttle prices. We didn't have to wait very long, maybe 5-10 minutes at the most. We came on Labor Day weekend and it was not crowded. Keep in mind that the weather changes rapidly here. One minute it's clear and sunny and the next, cloudy and raining. read more

PROS: - The Canadian Rockies are just beautiful. It's like everywhere you turn, you're just in awe. - Again, one of the most gorgeous places you'll ever see in life. - Canoeing that turquoise lake is an experience. You get a different vantage point than from shore. CONS: - Waaaay overcrowded. - Everything is overpriced. FINAL THOUGHTS: - You've got to see this place at least once in your life. If you do go, try visiting during a non-peak season. Even then, I don't know if it won't be crowded. read more