A distinctive peak shaped like an upside-down beehive, rising above Lake Agnes and Lake Louise. The Big Beehive (2,270 m / 7,450 ft) is a prominent outlier of the Bow Range and forms the southern boundary of the Lake Agnes cirque. It is reached by a 1.6 km trail from the Lake Agnes Tea House; eight steep switchbacks gaining approx. 135 m. From the top, hikers enjoy a classic bird’s-eye view of Lake Louise and the Chateau.

Geology. The Big Beehive is formed from the St. Piran Formation (Gog Group); Cambrian quartzite, approx. 500–540 million years old, deposited in shallow marine waters. As a roche moutonnée, the Victoria Glacier smoothed the stoss (upstream) side and plucked blocks on the lee side, creating the steep cliffs overlooking Lake Louise. Mirror Lake sits at the base where glacial turbulence carved a depression.

Naming and history. J. Willoughby Astley, manager of the first Château at Lake Louise (1890–1894), named the peak in 1890 for its resemblance to traditional European straw beehives (skeps); part of the CPR effort to “domesticate” the scenery for tourists. Samuel Allen made the first ascent in 1891.

1916 CPR shelter. A wooden gazebo atop the summit, built by the CPR in 1916, is the oldest surviving architectural remnant of early tourism in the Rocky Mountain parks. It offered refuge from thunderstorms and high winds while framing the Bow Valley panorama. The structure has withstood over a century of alpine weather.

Ecology. The talus slopes host American Pika and Hoary Marmot; the quartzite cliffs provide habitat for Mountain Goat. The corridor is part of the Whitehorn Wildlife Corridor; grizzly bears are frequently sighted during larch season and early fall. The Highline Trail connects the Big Beehive to the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House, forming the Beehive Circuit. Mount Niblock and Mount Whyte rise to the northwest above Lake Agnes; Mount St. Piran lies north of the Beehives. Avalanche hazard Oct–June on the approach; not recommended without AST-1. See Big Beehive Trail for a full hiking guide, Lake Louise Tea House System.