Credit: Photo courtesy Parks Canada
Lake Louise.
Lake Louise
Banff/Lake Louise Tourism, PO Box 1298, Banff, AB, T1L 1B3
403-762-8421 Fax: 403-522-1212
With its jade-coloured water, boutique shopping and stunning mountain backdrop, Lake Louise is the perfect place to go for a romantic getaway, any time of the year.
Category:
Recreation Location
Where:
| Neighbourhood | | Calgary-12 |
| Getting There | | About 1:45 (184 kms, 115 miles) west of Calgary on Trans-Canada Hwy. |
| Cross Street | | Banff National Park |
Profile Last Updated: May 08, 2009
A small village in paradise
Located at the west end of Banff National Park, 60 kilometers (36 miles) west of the town of Banff, the tiny village of Lake Louise is situated between the area's two major destinations, the Lake Louise Ski Slopes and Chateau Lake Louise. The village of Lake Louise served as a construction camp while the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) line was being constructed through Kicking Horse Pass. In 1882, a Stoney native named Edwin Hunter convinced CPR horse-packer Tom Wilson to make the three-kilometre journey up to the spot he called, "Lake of the Little Fishes."
Emerald Lake put Louise on the map
Wilson christened the spot Emerald Lake after its jade-coloured waters, but it was later named Lake Louise after Queen Victoria's daughter Princess Louise Caroline Alberta. The magnificent Victorian-era Chateau Lake Louise is nestled on the shore looking out at the glacier blanketing Mt. Victoria at the far end of the lake, one of the most-beautiful in the Western Hemisphere. Mt. Lefroy and Mt. Fairview completes the captivating surroundings of the turquoise-tinted waters.
No walks like this back home
There's a comfortable pathway that follows the outer edge of the lake back to Mt. Victoria, or you can hike up to the scenic Lake Agnes Teahouse (3.4 kms, 2.1 miles) where you can enjoy a light meal served in rustic surroundings overlooking the lake. For those looking for a more-difficult hike, there's a 5.3 km (3.3 mile) trek to the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse. The Lake Louise Visitor's Centre provides permits, fishing licenses and regulations, backcountry hiker registrations and information on trail conditions, fire restrictions, bear warnings, weather and anything else you'd like to know. There are also wild animal displays and information on the area's varied geological formations.
Located at the west end of Banff National Park, 60 kilometers (36 miles) west of the town of Banff, the tiny village of Lake Louise is situated between the area's two major destinations, the Lake Louise Ski Slopes and Chateau Lake Louise. The village of Lake Louise served as a construction camp while the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) line was being constructed through Kicking Horse Pass. In 1882, a Stoney native named Edwin Hunter convinced CPR horse-packer Tom Wilson to make the three-kilometre journey up to the spot he called, "Lake of the Little Fishes."
Emerald Lake put Louise on the map
Wilson christened the spot Emerald Lake after its jade-coloured waters, but it was later named Lake Louise after Queen Victoria's daughter Princess Louise Caroline Alberta. The magnificent Victorian-era Chateau Lake Louise is nestled on the shore looking out at the glacier blanketing Mt. Victoria at the far end of the lake, one of the most-beautiful in the Western Hemisphere. Mt. Lefroy and Mt. Fairview completes the captivating surroundings of the turquoise-tinted waters.
No walks like this back home
There's a comfortable pathway that follows the outer edge of the lake back to Mt. Victoria, or you can hike up to the scenic Lake Agnes Teahouse (3.4 kms, 2.1 miles) where you can enjoy a light meal served in rustic surroundings overlooking the lake. For those looking for a more-difficult hike, there's a 5.3 km (3.3 mile) trek to the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse. The Lake Louise Visitor's Centre provides permits, fishing licenses and regulations, backcountry hiker registrations and information on trail conditions, fire restrictions, bear warnings, weather and anything else you'd like to know. There are also wild animal displays and information on the area's varied geological formations.
