Little Beehive Trail

The Little Beehive offers the best view-to-effort ratio of the Beehives. The trail begins at the Lake Louise Lakeshore, to the right (north) of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise; look for the “Lake Agnes / Beehive” sign. It is an extension of the Lake Agnes hike; the spur to Little Beehive branches off just before the tea house.

The route. Flat shoreline walk; wide forested path; long switchbacks through spruce and fir. At approx. 2.7 km, Mirror Lake with the Big Beehive above. Bear right toward Lake Agnes. Just before the Lake Agnes Tea House, a sign points right to Little Beehive. The lower section follows a groomed horse trail; the upper ridge narrows to rocky path with subalpine meadows. Approx. 20 minutes from the tea house to the summit.

Comparison. Little Beehive gives a clearer angle of the Chateau and the full length of Lake Louise than the Big Beehive. Big Beehive has steep switchbacks from Lake Agnes but offers a top-down bird’s-eye view of the turquoise water. Mount St. Piran is a true summit; higher and harder, with 360-degree views and fewer crowds.

Geology and history. The Beehives are roche moutonnée formations; Middle Cambrian quartzite and limestone shaped by the Victoria Glacier. J. Willoughby Astley named them in 1890 for their resemblance to traditional skep beehives. The Canadian Pacific Railway developed the trail as a viewpoint extension for early guests; the Little Beehive spur was the “viewpoint extension” for aristocrats resting at the tea house. Look for old concrete foundations; these supported a Fire Lookout station used in the early 20th century to monitor the Bow Valley for smoke.

Flora and fauna. A secret larch spot; Alpine Larch (Larix lyallii) turns bright gold in the last two weeks of September. Hoary Marmot and American Pika on the rocky outcrops; Clark’s Nutcracker may approach for snacks (do not feed). Typically snow-free late June to early October. Avalanche hazard May/June on the Lake Agnes approach; check Parks Canada trail conditions.

Photography. Summit views: Bow Valley, Lake Louise Ski Resort, Mount Victoria and the Victoria Glacier to the west. Fifty metres before the summit platform, a small rocky outcrop on the left offers an unobstructed view of the turquoise lake without railings. Sunrise: alpenglow on Mount Victoria. Sunset: god rays through Kicking Horse Pass. Pro tip: arrive at the tea house by 8:15, get tea to-go, and drink it at the Little Beehive summit in silence.

See the Little Beehive landmark, Summer logistics for 2026 shuttle and parking, and the summer trail page for stats and nearby trails.