Lake Louise

Lake Louise

Lake Louise
4.5
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  • Pauline S
    Oxfordshire, United Kingdom194 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful scenery but rather busy!
    This was really busy even in October. However, we did get parked and eventually got our ticket and I am pleased we did as it was a beautiful spot. It was difficult to take photos without a head popping into them and there were queues for the snacks and lavatory but I am glad we went.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written March 11, 2024
  • sainbasha
    Irvine, California4,332 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Frozen wonder
    What a beauty. It was mid May but still the lake was frozen. But what a lively sight. It was around a 45 minutes comfortable drive from Banff downtown to the lake. We left our hotel and reached the lake around 9.30 AM. Lucky for us it is beginning of the season and we easily found a parking spot. We walked up to the frozen beauty and it was awesome. Lovely frozen body surrounded by mountains. We actually walked on the lake as were the other tourists. Although one has to be careful as it was beginning of summer and ice could crack. Views were lovely. We tried to take an uphill track but it was too wet and icy so we did not take the risk of climbing. We then took the trail around the lake. This took us around an hour. Good fun. Took lots of pics and enjoyed the few hours we spent there.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written June 4, 2024
  • FLtrotter
    St. Augustine, Florida356 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing post card scenic but the crowds
    The lake Louise hotel is right there by the lake as well as the throngs of people and packed expensive parking. The lake is eye beholding, so scenic, but if you think enjoying nature and crowds mix poorly then this is another example of that. Only mid May it was still quite cool and snow on some trails. We took a trail that led up to a meadow but what started off as mucky wet quickly became snow 2 feet deep in places. It seemed like much of the lake was still frozen. I can imagine the only time the lake isn’t crowded is during a winter blizzard- just maybe. Still some areas, like lake moraine, and a few trails closed due to hard pack. I think June would be a better time for me to visit
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written June 10, 2024
  • apmcintyre
    Fivemiletown, United Kingdom16 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    A TRULY MEMORABLE DAY
    Lake Louise is absolutely stunning. A must see for anyone visiting Banff National Park. If you are driving out to Lake Louise, however, please note the following. We travelled in June 2024. Arriving at 9:30am the car park was full. The signage on the Trans Canadian Highway indicated this and directed us to the park and ride. We thought “Happy Days”. We parked in the huge overflow area only to discover that the buses were all booked up. There were private operators charging exorbitant rates, who may have been able to take us. There was a general lack of proper information. We then drove off to Johnston Canyon and returned to Lake Louise. At 5:30 there were lots of spaces. Unfortunately the position of the sun was not helpful for photographs at this time. Nevertheless nothing prepares you for the first glimpse of the lake…you won’t be disappointed. The car parking charge is 37.50 CAD. From Banff you can get a bus ride for 20 CAD which is good for a party of two but if you have a larger party it proves more expensive. Going on your own transport also gives you more freedom to enjoy the surrounding area. What made the trip really special was a black bear sighting along the roadside leaving the lake. He even posed for photographs! 📸 When visiting Lake Louise on your own vehicle you should plan to arrive very early or leave it to later in the day if you hope to use the car park. Otherwise book a Parks Canada bus advance from the Park and Ride. A truly memorable day.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written June 15, 2024
  • RayICue
    Cornelius, North Carolina4,115 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful!
    Certainly a beautiful place that exceeds or rivals any other lake in the Americas . It’s only negative is the popularity and overpopulation from daily tourists. But it is a must do excursions. Best part of the trip here is doing absolutely nothing but just enjoying a natural beautiful spot on earth .
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written June 19, 2024
  • Carol58a
    Blacktown, Australia700 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful Lake Louise
    Lake Louise was on our bucket list and it didn't disappoint. The lake was still 3/4's frozen, so it was quite different from what we expected, but still was well worth the visit at this time of the year. We certainly got lots of gorgeous photos of the lake with the contrast of ice and water.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written June 21, 2024
  • Paula D
    Liverpool, United Kingdom139 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Go early in the day
    We got to Lake Louise at around 9.30am and it was really quiet. Lake was frozen over so we didn't expect to see the lovely blue water. Walked across it. Headed into Lake Louise village which is tiny - literally just half a dozen shops, bakery, tourist shop etc. Scenery is stunning despite it being frozen.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written June 22, 2024
  • 5Galtravel
    47 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Crowded, yes. But a view that must be seen.
    It’s important that you plan your visit here early or you’ll be paying a lot to park. Parks Canada offers an easy, convenient shuttle that is very inexpensive. You buy your ticket on line at their website. The shuttle is a big comfy motor coach running every 20 minutes from the Lake Louise ski area. There’s a cafe and restrooms at the ski lodge. Yes, the lake is crowded, but most people do not leave the drop off point. A 10 minute walk down a flat, easy path gets you away from the majority of the other tourists. And if you continue on, you’ll get a great walk to a lovely viewing area. Walk over to the Fairmont Hotel and their cafe for a grab and go sandwich, pastry and beverage for a perfect picnic or sit on a window seat and enjoy it right there. We did and it was lovely. The service was fast, food and drinks were good, but may be pricey for some.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written June 22, 2024
  • Shabanama
    Chigwell, United Kingdom439 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stunning scenery
    Stunning scenery we hiked up to Agnes Lake, but be prepared to stand in a queue at the tea room It’s not a tough hike there were plenty families and young children and well worth the visit. The parking near the lake is likely to be full unless you get there really early otherwise there’s the park and ride which is really expensive at $45 per person which will also take you to lake Moraine. The bus runs every half hour or 45 mins, children 5, under are free Take waterproofs and a warm jacket/puffa, the weather can change very quickly
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written June 23, 2024
  • Rachel
    48 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A full day of amazing!
    Had a FANTASTIC day visit to the lake! Top tip to avoid the crowds is to walk a little further around the boardwalk and you feel like you have the lake to yourself! The construction going on at the fairmont was not an issue at all. We managed to complete the hike to the tea house which was a solid challenge but SO worth the hike! Was still a little icy near the top which added to the fun. Took us about two hours up and one down. Don't forget to go into the fairmont and have a look at all the shops there too! We recommend taking the roam bus in from Banff, saved all the hassle of parking there! Why would you when there are so many other transport options? In regards to crowds, I don't know how people expect to have this beautiful place to their selves... just make the most of it for what it is!
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written June 27, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Lana S
1 contribution
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Couples
Lake Louise is gorgeous. We live in Calgary and have been many times. The way parking has been changed and handled was incredibly disappointing. We tried to go to Lake Louise today and we learned that the normal lot we park in is now only for tour buses and has a few handicapped spots. Someone with a flag told us to keep going ahead to park at another lot, however she didn't tell us which direction to go and there was no signage. We ended up following a few other cars out of the area and ended up parking in the lot for the shuttle buses that take you to the lake. Tickets are $8/person, but if you don't book I'm advance, you risk not being able to go. That's what happened to us. It was sold out at 2pm. You can pay $50/person to go with a private bus company or you can walk an hour there. All these options were awful in our opinion and also a money grab. We understand having trouble managing the parking situation, but Parks Canada needs to make it very easy and clear to all drivers and visitors what the situation is. For example, they could have a sign saying Main Lot is only for tour buses and handicapped parking. Then have arrows/signs clearly directing you to the overflow parking. Also, there should be other signs about the shuttle pick up lot (e.g., Ticket reservations required. Reserve at this number:_____. Cost: $8/person). If tickets are sold out, there should be a sign specifying this. It's just not well done. I hope this information is helpful to you. A very helpful and friendly Parks Canada woman at the shuttle lot recommended we go to Emerald Lake and hike a 1 hour falls hike there. We did it and it was nice. She was very helpful. Another fellow who was manning the shuttle bus line was unfortunately not very helpful and had the attitude of "It's sold out. Too bad", but didn't help with alternatives or additional information like the kind woman did. If you cannot get into Lake Louise or just want a different experience, drive the 30 minutes extra to Emerald Lake. You won't be disappointed.
Written September 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andy B
London, UK10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2024 • Couples
We stayed 4 nights in a hotel in Lake Louise village. One day we went to Moraine Lake and walked and another day we went to Lake Louise and walked. You will not be allowed to go by car so pre-book for the coach which goes from the ski station, using the parks.canada website, something like 8$ rather than $40 on other private transfers! Both lakes are well worth visiting and your ticket lets you go from one to the other as well. The hoards of people get off the coach, go to the end of the lake, take lots of pictures (and selfies!!) and get back on the coach. Walk 1/2 km up one of the tracks and you will be virtually alone with stunning scenery all the way for as far as you want to go. The walk from Moraine Lake to Consolation Lake and great views of the glacier is well worth it. (easy walk and we are in our 70s)
Written October 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Sarah F
Norwich, UK58 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Family
We visited this beautiful lake in early September 2024. We used the Roam 8x bus from Banff which I would recommend to anyone - easy to book, on time and took the hassle out of driving to the lakes where I believe it is very difficult to park. When we first arrived at the lake car park there is a short walk to the lakeside. When the lake first came into view I could not believe my eyes. The colour of the water was amazing. I'd seen lots of photos but seeing it with your own eyes is beyond belief. I had read previous trip advisor reviews saying do not go to this lake as it is too busy. Well yes, it was busy for a very short distance along the shoreline but once you had walked only 100m there was plenty of space and less people. We did the lakeside walk first which is very flat and pretty and then we did the hike up to Mirror Lake and then carried on up to Agnes Tea House. This walk was up hill all the way but with stunning lake views intermittently. We did not go inside the tea house instead we ate our packed lunch around Agnes Lake. We then walked down a different way to the Mirror Lake then took the same path as we had done earlier. We actually were able to catch an earlier bus back to Banff - there was no problem doing this. I would definitely recommend Lake Louise it is absolutely stunning. We had fantastic weather too which really helped!
Written September 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Belinda E
Brisbane, Australia575 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2024 • Family
So Lake Louise was (unexpectedly) one of the disappointments of our month long trip to Canada.

We were visiting in the Winter and, when considered on it's own merits, the lake is undoubtedly a beautiful spot. I imagine it would be equally as beautiful in the Summer time. Unfortunately, it's oddly difficult to separate a review of Lake Louise from a review of the Fairmont Hotel!

We just found the whole set up a little odd. The Fairmont Hotel stands pride of place on the foreshore and there seems to be nearly a stand off in place between day trippers who fundamentally would like to visit the lake and hotel visitors. The hotel seems to be intrinsically tied to the lake. If you want to hire skates etc it is done through the hotel itself, the hotel provides the only offerings for food or drinks for miles (however you are unlikely to be able to access most of them if you aren't a guest) and even to get to the "public" toilets you actually kind of need to hike around the hotel itself to get to them. You even need to park on one side of the hotel and pretty much walk around it to access the lake.

We were visiting as day trippers who were mainly interested in the lake. The Fairmont had huge signs saying "no public access to toilets". Okay, fair enough. But the public toilets were absolutely disgusting (by far the worst we encountered anywhere in Canada). And if you aren't a hotel guest you have to trudge significantly further away from the lake to use them. Is it not possible to have cleaner, easier access facilities to the lake without having to walk around a giant hotel to get to them? What is going on that Parks Canada just let this area go to that extent? We used facilities in remote areas that were absolutely immaculate and yet we actually went home to wash our clothes after visiting the facilities at Lake Louise! There was a build up of about 10cm of disgusting brown sludge throughout the amenities areas and many of the handwash canisters and toilet paper rolls were empty. Without exaggeration people were hiking the snow pants up to their knees and holding their breath it was so gross.

Originally we had thought we may skate but the ice quality at the time we visited wasn't great. Put off by the hundreds of people milling around a small ice sculpture (optimistically referred to as an ice castle) we ended up deciding to head off for a walk. This was a great decision and I highly recommend getting away from the Fairmont craziness and walking to the end of the lake. The frozen waterfalls are lovely.

I'm not Canadian and I'm sure there is an explanation that I'm just not figuring out but it's one of the few places in the world where a "national park" type area of such natural beauty seems to be so oddly tied up with the rules and regulations of a hotel. We left with the impression that the presence of the Fairmont has, sadly, ruined what may have once been a gorgeous part of the world.

Hands down it was the most overrated place that we visited during our time in Canada.
Written January 12, 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Philipp K
1 contribution
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Friends
The lake itself is very beautiful, but it is almost impossible to get a view or a photo without crowds of people. It is so crowded that in our opinion (there were four of us there) it is not worth it. You can cross the lake in a canoe. A mere 145 CAD for a 30 minute trip. A maximum of 3 people are allowed per canoe. The parking costs are not listed anywhere, only at the payment station is the price of 21 CAD. Therefore, we recommend either taking a hike there or parking further down and hiking to the lake. The parking price is relatively steep for a short "disappointing" view.
Google
Written August 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

dregehr
83 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Couples
My husband and I visited Lake Louise during our recent visit in the area. We where staying at The Paradise lodge so it was an easy 20 minute walk other wise I would highly recommend booking a shuttle with Moraine Lake bus Shuttle, combining a visit to Moraine Lake & Lake Louis. Parking is absolutely crazy at Lake Louise, the area is crowded unless you go before 8 am, later in the day the area stops traffic from entering. Visitors to Lake Louise are not allowed entry to the Chateau, this is strictly enforced. There are washrooms on-site plus reusable bottle fillers for water, there are no cafes etc, you will find one however at Moraine Lake.
Written July 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

K.A.jabbar
Hamburg, Germany3 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
I would recommend anyone who only wants to visit Lake Louise and Moraine Lake for a short time to come without a car. We wanted to park for an hour but there was only the option to park all day, which was $20 if I remember correctly. You could only visit Moraine Lake by shuttle bus. Cars are not allowed there.
ALTERNATIVE:
Drive to Emerald Lake, it is just as beautiful as the other two.
Google
Written August 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Andrea T
3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022 • Couples
We chose to enjoy the summer solstice here and do a hike up to little beehive with a stop at the teahouse. The lake and scenery is beautiful and a bucket list experience. Getting there is not. Some things I wish I knew before I came:
1. Parking is impossible even on a rainy weekday in mid-June before peak season (we came on a Monday late afternoon). We were unable to park in the Lake Louise lot. Don't even chance it and waste the time driving up to check/back down like we did.
2. Luckily, I anticipated this and purchased park and ride tickets ahead of time. You have to purchase 48 hrs before your arrival date from the Parks Canada website and have to choose a time window to catch the shuttle. You follow signs along the highway for park and ride at the ski resort. Parking is free there.
3. Even for a 2-3pm departure on a Monday, the bus was essentially full.
4. The last shuttle departs Lake Louise at 7:30pm for the park and ride lot. The banfflakelouise.com website FAQs suggest you take a taxi if you miss the shuttle and list a number of taxi/shuttle options. We decided to miss it on purpose as it was solstice and wanted to enjoy the evening sun without being rushed. Unfortunately we found out that this is NOT a viable option. Taxis come from Banff and can take over an hour to get to you. It's too far to walk, especially if it's late and you've been hiking all day. Luckily the lovely and kind staff at the Fairmont took pity on us and drove us down. I don't know what we would have done otherwise.
5. Even if you somehow catch a taxi, the gate to the park and ride closes, meaning your car is trapped inside. We got there just as a Parks staff was closing the gate and was not pleased to see us, told us we better hurry up. Our car was not the only one in there and we saw at least one group of people behind us walking to the park and ride. This information is not readily available anywhere. Why they ever listed taxis as an option and don't make the gate closure more clear is beyond me.
Written June 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

D2001
England314 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Family
We stayed in Lake Louise Village for two nights. This Lake was on our “must see” list.
We’d spent the previous weeks trying to book the Canada Parks Shuttle to this Lake, but it was constantly “already Booked” within seconds of the spaces going on sale each day.
Parks Canada this needs looking at.
So, are options were to either do a private shuttle or go after 19:00 with free, repeat FREE, parking one evening, when all the Parking Restrictions for cars are lifted.
We set off at 18:30 from the village and there was virtually no traffic on the road up the mountain? So we got there inside 10 minutes.
The car park was pretty full, but found a space quickly and it was still only 18:45.
The Two Parking Attendants were standing less the 20 feet from the Parking Ticket Machine, as I paid the $36 for 15 minutes parking, as it wasn’t 19:00 yet.
So, we walked the short distance to Lake Louise. The view, compared to Lake Moraine, was to me very underwhelming. The sun wasn’t shining and there were throngs of visitors on the walkway.
I was not very impressed.
The Fairmont Hotel didn’t look like it it’s high price, so glad I didn’t book that. They also had building work going on.
Overall, if you’re pushed for time, then go to Lake Moraine and pay the private Transfer fee. The view is spectacular, there’s more room to move about in and somewhere to get drinks and snacks.
Written August 24, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Helen S
Melbourne, Australia213 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Couples
Yes, it’s a truly beautiful sight but it’s very busy! The shuttle buses need to be booked 48 hours in advance. Regular parking, if available, is close to $40AU. We had some difficulty trying to book a shuttle as all the time slots were unavailable. Due to disability I have a special Australian disability parking permit which allowed us to park close by. We left before dawn in order to be able to secure a park. Watching the sunrise above the lake was very special. It’s a Mecca for instagrammers. Personally, we have come across a lot of other lake sights around here that are spectacular. Emerald Lake was one. However, if you come to this area you need to see this one.
Written September 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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