Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail

A 4.5 km round-trip path along the north shore of Lake Louise in Banff National Park. The first kilometre near the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is wide, flat, and paved; beyond that the surface becomes well-compacted gravel and dirt. Manual wheelchair users should note that the path narrows and has a few sections with grades over 12%; power wheelchairs and strollers generally manage the full length. Spring melt can create soft, muddy spots.

The lake’s turquoise colour comes from rock flour: fine silt ground by the Victoria Glacier and carried into the water by meltwater. W.A. Johnston’s 1922 study first explained the mechanism. In June the lake often appears deeper blue as it rises; by August the rock flour concentration peaks and the water is its most vibrant milky turquoise. At the far end of the trail you stand beneath Victoria Glacier at the glacial delta, where braided streams and silt mark the glacier’s retreat. Keep an eye out for hoary marmots and pikas among the rocks; grizzlies occasionally appear near the lakeshore during berry season. Carry bear spray; see Summer safety for wildlife and preparedness.

Tom Wilson was guided to the lake in 1882; he named it Emerald Lake for its colour. It was renamed Lake Louise in 1884 to honour Princess Louise. The Stoney Nakoda (Hohe Nakoda) knew it as Ho-run-num-nay, the Lake of Little Fishes; the trail sits within the traditional territories of the Stoney Nakoda, Blackfoot Confederacy, and Tsuut’ina Nations. The Fairmont Chateau began as a log cabin in 1890. Swiss Guides brought in by the Canadian Pacific Railway professionalised the trail system in the early 1900s.

Seasonal. Summer (late June to September): the lake is at its most vivid; the trail is busy. Winter (November to June): the lake freezes; the same path becomes a snowshoe trail; ice cleats or crampons are recommended. The Ice Magic festival in January brings ice carvers; skaters use the cleared rink in front of the Chateau. See Winter logistics for access and parking. For quieter conditions, arrive before 5:00 or after 20:00.

Logistics (2026). Parking at Lake Louise is $36.75 per vehicle per day (May to October); spots often fill by 5:00. Parks Canada shuttle reservations are mandatory; the Park and Ride is at the Lake Louise Ski Resort. Book via the Parks Canada website. A portion of seats are released in spring; last-minute seats open 48 hours ahead at 8:00 MST. The Lake Connector shuttle (included with a valid Parks Canada shuttle reservation) links Lake Louise and Moraine Lake for no extra cost. See Summer logistics for the full 2026 checklist.

The lakeshore trail is the base for longer hikes: the Plain of Six Glaciers trail (and tea house) lies 5.5 km beyond the end of the lake; the Lake Agnes Trail (and Lake Agnes Tea House) and the Big Beehive and Little Beehive branch off about 200 m from the start. Fairview Lookout and Saddleback Pass also start near the lakeshore. See Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Trail Systems for the full network. For stats, nearby trails, and logistics, see the summer trail page and winter snowshoe page. Summer safety and Winter safety cover wildlife, avalanche risk, and the 10 essentials.