Lake Louise

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.

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.

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.

Lake Louise is a must see if you find yourself in Banff. We came early morning (before sunrise) as there is limited parking and we heard the parking lot is full till sunset. So be sure to wake up early to secure a parking spot, it is so worth it! We found that in the morning there was heavy fog over the lake, but that soon cleared up once the sun came out. We went in July, and saw beautiful wildflowers along the lakeshore. I would highly recommend renting the little red kayaks early in the morning for unobstructed views of the mountains!

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.

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.

This lake is visibly way overcrowded by tourists so good luck getting a photoshoot in without another person in your shot. There is a nice hiking trail which I so happened to take and spent about two hours hiking up and back, which leads to two more takes and a teahouse at the tippy top. Also comes with one hell of an exercise. It's still fascinating to see in person even if you decide not to hike.

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.

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.

This hotel is fantastic! Great staff and a bunch of activities to do t be throughout the day! Hotel from my room is fantastic and unreal like a postcard. Amazing experience

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.

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.

It's worth a visit. However, it does get super crowded and busy. Nice paved path to walk around the lake. The hotel also has a coffee shop with snacks and such. My advice is to go early. As crowds can make it a not fun visit. So beautiful! Stop in and check it out. A must see! Enjoy!

The famous lake Louise. This is my second time visiting this place. This time, I decided to take the 45 mins hike to the Fairview lookout trail. It was slippery and snowy but the view is worth it.

Holy hell...talk about crowds! If you're looking for serenity, go to Moraine Lake....don't get me wrong...the lake and surrounding areas are stunning...it's just overwhelmed with people (which I was one). The lake is a short walk from the parking lot, and the initial view of it literally takes your breathe away. There's canoes for rent (at ridiculous prices) and various trails to explore, which offer their own jaw dropping views. I guess it's become too much of a success. Despite the crowds, it's still worth a visit...just be patient.

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.

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

We visited Emerald Lake, Lake Louise, and Morraine Lake and they were are beautiful. We took a tour bus from Banff because they don't allow personal vehicles due to the overwhelming traffic it caused. We visited in the late afternoon and it was not very crowded. One of the most beautiful venues I have experienced with emerald green water.

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.

Loved our canoeing experience at Lake Louise. We were here in early October and it was the last weekend before they closed for the season. We arrived early to make sure we would get a canoe. Five star experience, minus 1 star for the very very very expensive 1 hr rental. We were a family of 4 so had to rent 2 canoes. Peaceful, calming experience.

This is the must go location if you're in lake Louise. Seem on countless computer screensavers and photos, lake Louise is just as beautiful and breathtaking in the photos as in person. The bright blue lake, reflecting the mountains, trees and skies. The mountains on both sides of the lake add great height. The lake seems to stretch out endlessly past the mountains. Definitely makes for a great place of photos. There's tons of people who rent canoes for the lake - it was about 150$ per hour for a boat rental. We ended up climbing a short hike - about 1.2km but about a 100 meter elevation up to a lookout which looks back onto the lake and fairmont hotel. It's a pretty manageable climb though quite steep. Definitely recommend it. Definitely recommend going early as it gets super busy. If you're planning to drive and park there, even more reason to be there early as the lots get full quickly. I recommend taking the Parks Canada bus as it gives you access to both morraine lake and lake Louise in one cost. Must go here if first time (and arguably anytime) you're visiting lake Louise.

Stunning views! We did the canoe rentals here because water levels at Moraine Lake were too low (visited September 26). The canoe rentals were expensive but worth it.

Lake Louise is one of the most beautiful places that we've ever visited and one that has stuck with us for years. We visited here in June and it was an overcast day, so it was still a bit chilly, which was perfect for a hike. We missed the shuttle, so we drove to the Fairmont and had lunch there before walking to the hiking trails along Lake Louise. There's a nice easy trail that winds alongside the lake and is just under 3 miles round trip. It's a great way to see the lake from a variety of different angles and it's just a beautiful hike. Lake Louise is one place that we will definitely visit again and Banff in general is an absolutely breathtaking park.

Starting Summer 2023, the road to Moraine Lake is restricted to buses, those staying at Moraine Lake Lodge and those with a disabled parking permit. Many tours will have shuttles combining Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. Parks Canada shuttle is quite affordable. For Lake Louise there are two good sized parking lots, but probably the best times to get a spot are very early or later in the day. There are clean public washrooms adjacent to the parking lot. There are various hikes to be done around Moraine Lake and nearby Lake Louise. Wise to read up on them and respect skill level, minimums required to walk together and have at least one can of bear spray among each group. Recognize that weather will complicate the hikes. We saw so many with hiking poles and I wished that I had a set. The walk around Lake Louise is fairly flat and quite pretty. Have a snack at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and enjoy stunning views of the Lake.

This is one of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen in my entire life. I have been seeing pictures of this place for years and thought it was all filters. But when you get there it's actually more beautiful in person than in pictures. I highly recommend renting a canoe and exploring the lake itself. The further you go out the more you're able to look back at the shore and enjoy it from that point of view as well. This is a must while in Banff!

One of the most beautiful places I've been on earth. Bottom line, just overcrowded, and not one of the staff was friendly at all. Canadians are very friendly and accommodating only experienced rude people here.Canadians are very friendly and accommodating only experienced rude people here. Don't even bother coming. You get charged for everything. such a shame since it's so beautiful here.

As everyone probably already knows, Lake Louise is beautiful, there's no denying it! The icy blue water is spectacular, the tree and mountain lined shores - also beautiful. I was expecting nothing less in terms of beauty! What I wasn't expecting however, was the noise. It was SO LOUD! There was a constant roar of voices just about anywhere you were along the lakeshore. It got better the further away you walked from the hotel, but still very hard to find a moment of peace. We surprisingly were able to get some photos without anyone in them, but don't bee fooled, it was packed! Luckily we stopped here on a tour and didn't have to worry about parking. Got dropped off and walked right through the hotel to the lake! Was really happy we stopped here and got to see the lake, though it probably wouldn't be on my list if I went back to Banff. Not a place you need a ton of time unless you're canoeing or plan to do one of the surrounding hikes.

I returned to Lake Louise in late September...a few months after my initial visit (in mid-June) where I had a good time and experience...but...I was still yearning for more. My first go-round, although I felt like Lake Louise had tremendous potential for being one of the best attractions in the Canadian Rockies...I never had a "wow moment". Also, I had trouble with a bunch of clouds and fog at times...and missing out on the sun reflecting beautifully off the turquoise green waters. When I first came here...all I did was hike around the lake for discovering the best perspectives. Overall, I just didn't feel success. Welp...I actually thought long and hard about how I could better experience Lake Louise.!? I considered maybe taking the Lake Louise Gondola up the mountainside for sceneries from high above. But, actually...I Googled reviews and photos online and came to the decision that hiking FAIRVIEW LOOKOUT TRAIL to a vista point platform looking down upon Lake Louise would be my best chance to change my fortune/history and overall, my Lake Louise story, lol. So yeah...FAIRVIEW LOOKOUT TRAIL. I saw photos on the internet of what could be expected of this hike and felt it would be the most efficient pathway to understanding what makes Lake Louise so glorious. I do have 1 - 2 good points to mention about it and also a negative aspect as well. And...before I dive into a few details...I'm okay with saying that I tried my best upon returning here and in the end...left with no regrets. The trailhead for Fairview Lookout is situated off to the left hand side of Lake Louise's shoreline. It's a short hike (less than 1 mile) but moderately difficult as I gained some serious elevation up to the observation point. Now...Fairview Lookout Overlook was quite small in terms of the platform to stand on offering little spacing between myself and other tourists. I found that I had to wait my turn to snap photos while not being disturbed by strangers (ya know, being "photobombed", lol). And, this was for 8am in the morning! I was thinking in my head...how early do I have to arrive here to get some quiet, alone time??? Hehehe. Still, the setting was pretty awesome with Lake Louise appearing colorfully pristine and the famous Chateau set in the background. I must say...this viewpoint I was staring at had terrific postcard nostalgia to it! Now...I better understood what all the Lake Louise hype was about and why its priority #1 for visitors to go check out. I only used 20 minutes at Fairview Lookout before making my way back to the base of Lake Louise. In the big picture...the sights and surroundings here made my return experience very worthwhile in comparison to my first visit where I sort of wandered aimlessly around the lake's shores. Fairview Lookout Trail was a great (and extremely popular) way to witness Lake Louise from a high vantage point. My only warning to others is...be prepared to contend with strangers on the platform deck for valuable photo time.

This is DEFINITELY a recommended place to all. Literally is a little Paradise in the American Continent. Is one of those places that you can not explain. Just like a photographer not being able to capture in his/her lens what he really sees, this place can not be described except that is Beautiful. Is simply a lake in the mountain surrounded by Snow covered gigantic mountains but, what this place emits to each persons eye and mind is something no words can express. When I arrived, already many tourist where there but believe me no amount of tourist could prevent me to fill my eyes with such a tranquile scenario. Once you are at the lake, don't shy yourself walking around the Lake, one beauty is that the Water Color changes from Emerald to Mint as you move from the front side of the lake to the side view and there are plenty of places to take a good picture. Also, there is another Lake about 2 miles walking distance; lake Agnes; is another hidden beauty of this area but, I mean but, unless you are prepared, i don't recommend just to make a quick decision and walk up the hills. Is literally nearly 2 miles uphill trail walking and no mater how many times it appears in the reviews, is not a easy walk. But, if you are prepared and willing to walk, you'll not be disappointed. A tip to help you enjoy the place comfortably. The Parking. You can make the Self Parking; if you are lucky enough to find a spot; I recommend to use the shuttle service that's only 1.5 miles away. Believe me, is really worth the money. Make sure to have enough memory and Battery in your Cell Phone because you will take many pictures there.

THE BIG: Located in Alberta inside Banff National Park. A beautiful turquoise, glacier-fed lake ringed by high peaks and overlooked by a chateau lac louise. THE BLACK AND WHITE: Beware, parking is almost impossible during high peak times. We came here early (~8am) and parking was full. So leave earlier! The lake is absolutely stunning. The water looked unnaturally blue. The walk to the end of the lake only takes around 30 mins. It's good exercise. Plus if you want to make a hike out of it, you can take the 3 hour hike up the mountain to the teahouse and grab some tea. THE FINAL BAMBOO: Wow o wow. This is one of the most beautiful places that I've seen in my life. Highly highly recommend to visit at least once in your life.

Beautiful and the ages tea house hike is tough but very doable and well worth the hike. Do the shuttle and get there early especially during the summer months because we went at 7:30 but by 11 it was quite crowded.

Magical. Once in a lifetime. Please go. Lake Louise is iconic for a reason. It's absolutely stunning, but definitely crowded. Go either earlier in the day or at dusk for fewer crowds. The parking lot does fill up. I would recommend either making a shuttle reservation on the Parks Canada website ahead of time, or going during an off-time. If you stay at the Deer Lodge or Fairmont Chateau, you can easily walk there instead. Canoeing is expensive ($145 CAD for an hour), but honestly worth it for such a beautiful experience. Definitely a must if you've already made the trip to Banff. The lines do get CRAZY long, so go early. My first day, I ended up not going because of the line. So I went before they opened the second day and had no problem. They opened at 10:30am. I got there around 9:30/9:45am and was second in line.

Lake Louise is a gorgeous lake with a breathtaking view. Parking was definitely a challenge after the earlier mornings hours but it's definitely worth it. If you can make it during sunrise I can guarantee you that it's worth it. There are many different hikes one can take around the lake and during the summer months they allow kayaking through the lake via The Fairmont Chateau. The surrounding areas are really clean and well kept I highly recommend!

This lake is so beautiful when the sun hit afternoon. We went early morning and it was so foggy, but latter afternoon it magically cleared out and the lake expose to the sunlight. This place can get crowded. You have to get up early to get parking. $21 for all day parking.

The world wide classic favourite - Lake Louise - is truly breathtaking! However, right off the bat you need to be aware - leave the bikini & speedo at the hotel! Lake temperature around here runs just above 0 (yes as in big phat zero) Celsius (32F) year round so no skinny dipping here yelpies unless you love ... hypothermia! Yikes! Sorry! Now what you do get is a second to none spectacular view of one of the most gorgeous lakes in the world! Your spider senses will tingle with delight at the spectacle before you!!! LL (not related to LL Cool J) is mind blowing ... no words can accurately describe how you will feel standing before her!!! This pristine water is sooooooooooo beautiful!!! I was so tempted to drink it or bottle some up & take it home! Shut the front door gobsmack amazing ... is all I can say! Lake Louise is absolutely stunning perfection to the eye! Surely this lake must be from another planet!?! Unesco needs to immediately catogorize LL as the 8th Wonder of the World!!!!! I insist on it! Recommend renting a canoe & paddling towards the glacier at the far end, were you'll find a small beach area to hang out at for a few minutes ... depending on how long you've rented the canoe for. I've been coast to coast across Canada but I tell you LL was something truly special, out of all my cross country ventures! LL I will remember for the rest of my life!!!!! Remember to go into the lobby area of the Fairmont Lake Louise & take a pic of LL through the iconic window (seen in many movies & TV shows) in the Lake View Lounge! A must! See my pic! LL will steal your heart!

Beautiful. The water in this glacier-fed lake looks like it glows. It's unreal. Something you should see in your lifetime. And the hanging glaciers in the background - absolutely wonderful. But, be warned, I think I'm a good traveler and I didn't think we'd have an issue bc we visited the first weekend in October and thought it would be low traffic, it was not. When they tell you to show up early and plan in advance, do it. This is the busiest attraction in the entire park and it's not a joke! We arrived around 10:15am and found all the lots full and cones blocking everything - staff were standing waving cars through and you could not stop or even ask questions - they would gruffly direct you to go back down to the bottom of the hill and park to ride the shuttle. I don't understand why they even let you drive up that far since everyone was being shoved back down the hill in a large and time-wasting loop. If you are going to one of the hotels - there are gate guards who ask you before you pull into the lots - so those should be in the lower section and just block it off so you don't have the constant round and around where people think they'll snag a spot as someone leaves. Now, the shuttle isn't really at the bottom of the hill as they say - it's located across the highway where the ski resort is and a gondola is located and you also have to book that in advance, which we also did not do. Enter an hour of wasted time where we tried to see if we could book a shuttle ticket for a ride as we had now driven so far away from the lake that it wasn't going to be something we were going to add to our planned hikes to the Plan of the Six Glaciers. Finally, we were able to get in with a lunch reservation to the Fairmont and park in their garage. A miracle! So we were able to enjoy and hike the lake and do the Plain of the Six Glacier hike after all. Next time, Beehive and Lake Louise tea house. There is plenty to do here and it's easy to spend an entire day or two. If you can afford it - I'd recommend reservations at the hotel, or just staying at one of the nearby hotels for a day or two so you can just walk out and hike. If not, make a reservation for lunch here and park at the hotel.

Wonderful lake. Canoe is pricey and long wait but worth it. Note that even if you're a guest at the Fairmont Banff they'll let you use the vip quicker right lane for hotel guests and also pay a discounted hotel guest fee ($99 instead of $150!). Parking is a mess. $21 too. Pay at the machines. Crowds are just crazy in the summer. An hour canoe ride is only $10 more than half an hour. Staff is super nice. It's enough time to go from one end of the lake to the other at a leisurely pace. They aren't strict on time. If it's raining or strong winds they warn you that you could get recalled and there is no refund. It was sprinkling when we went and no issue

Simply an amazing spot on this beautiful planet! The water is incredible, weather is chilled but always feels so good! It's a beautiful spot to walk around and just breath in the fresh air and beautiful views! Please get up here and check it out and do all the hikes here! My opinion, get there super early so you can have parking, it fills up so fast!

Just an amazing natural place filled with beauty. Unfortunately, that also means it attracts thousands of tourists and parking can fill up quickly. We tried to book spots on the bus from a local resort but found the website and process to be too confusing. Instead, we woke up and parked before dawn before hiking up to the teahouse that's farther along on the trail (there are two teahouses). Definitely a memorable experience. We thought the canoe rentals were pretty pricey so opted not to do that. Come early and take plenty of photos!

There are way too many flies or gnats or whatever the hell those things are on this hike. It was otherwise very leisurely. The big hotel has nice tourist shops. I got a plate.

Gorgeous destination stop near Banff and great hiking trails for half or full-day adventuring. I'll go out on a limb and say that simply visiting the Lakeshore to gaze and take selfies isn't a good use of time overall, given the lack of parking and need to take busses, but to each their own. Canoe rentals are batshit expensive at $170 an hour. Get there by 9am and avoid much of the crowding. After 10am the Lakeshore is packed. Sources on the web state that parking fills up "before sunrise." Plenty of handicapped parking was open and available as late as 11am however. Getting there will probably mean taking a "Roam" bus, so research carefully. To ensure a seat you'll need reservations, and if you book a round-trip, you'll need to show your departure ticket on the way out, and your return ticket in the way back. For a quick view and walk along the Lakeshore I'd suggest 2.5 hours, but if you want to hike to one of the Tea Houses plan on 5 hours, or for a full course it could easily be 8-10 hours. Bathrooms at the entrance are over-used, under-staffed, and pretty gross as of July 2022. Looks like they were building more facilities at the time of my visit so hopefully this improves.

Lake Louise is such a beautiful lake, however it's super crowded. We got there at 7:15am and barely got a parking spot, so I wouldn't get there any later than 7:15am. We got there before the canoes were launched and it's nice to see the lake empty before it's littered with canoes. With the hotel and infrastructure around the lake, it makes it easy for anyone to enjoy, but also makes it extremely crowded.

What can I say that hasn't already been said by the other reviewers. The photos speak for themselves. And the photos don't even come close to representing how stunningly beautiful this place is. It should be on everyone's bucket list.

Gorgeous lake. Get there early for clear photos of the lake before it's overly crowded and canoes hit the lake. Canoeing is easy and a lovely hour on the lake for photos. Restroom at the entrance, short walk to the lake from the parking lot. Parking is $12 for the day.

Highway robbery. Very sad what it's come to. They charge almost $40 for parking and $10 for a cookie in the Guides Pantry.

I've been here before, but this time around I could not believe they are charging 38.75 for parking ON TOP of the National Park Pass fee. What the hell Canada???? This country is absolutely insane to live in now. I mean, sure the views are alright, but definitely not worth the hundreds of people and 30 minute line up to use the washroom (because the outside one was closed, and there was only two toilets in the Fairmont). Very disappointed. What an absolute money grab.

Lake Louise in Banff National Park is simply a stunner. Now one of the most iconic lakes in the world, it's sapphire-blue water with jagged mountains surrounding it can be seen on almost any Instagram feed. Speaking of Instagram, we learned from several people that this spot has blown up in recent years, solely due to social media. When you visit, expect that it'll be super busy, with people taking photographs everywhere. A few tips: - Parking: Get here super early or the parking lot will fill up and you'll have to park in the overflow parking, miles down the street. If you park in overflow parking, you'll have to wait on a bus to drive you to the lake. Be prepared to wait. - Canoeing: Lake Louise is an iconic canoeing spot, which also means that there can often be long lines. If the lake is crowded when you arrive, I recommend driving about an hour away to Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park. The water was just as beautiful and was way less crowded. - Tea House Hike: A MUST-do. The hike starts at the base of Lake Louise and takes a few hours to reach the top. At the top of the hike is an old-school tea-house that has been serving customers for a hundred years. They have no electricity and have their employees hike up ingredients each day. Be sure that the tea house is open and that you have cash if you go. - The Fairmont Hotel: It's located right on the lake and looks like a stunning castle. Walk inside just to take a peek, or get food from their sandwich shop or fancy restaurant (expensive but delicious).

The lake is obviously gorgeous but that's it. The hikes are difficult except the one around the lake but there's no place to sit, no place to get a drink or snack and only one small (filthy!) bathroom for the non hotel guests. "Commoners" are not allowed in the hotel, not even to use a restroom. Basically there's nothing to do after you've taken a few pictures unless you're an experienced hiker. If you're in Banff, and you're looking for a beautiful place to go, go to Moraine and drive the Icefields Parkway or drive a little further and see Emerald Lake.

it genuinely feels like you're in a painting see my pictures below we took a bus from the town of Banff to come here and it wasn't too far probably only an hour ride it was gorgeous we completely loved it and we stayed for several hours we did some hiking kayaking etc. and took pictures and had a little picnic!