Panoramic hike at Lake Louise: Across the Plain of Six Glaciers to Canada's most authentic tea house at Lake Agnes
Of course, you can also walk directly from Lake Louise to the famous Lake Agnes Tea House, but firstly, it would be a shame to miss the beautiful scenery and secondly, you would be walking in a crowd most of the time. The hike across the Plain of Six Glaciers and the Big Beehive, 2.260, is a lonely but challenging alternative.
My tip: The most relaxing way is to take the shuttle bus to the start of the hike.
Be sure to reserve here in good time .
In Canada's oldest national park, Banff, this hike begins on the shores of the famous Lake Louise and leads over the Plain of Six Glaciers and the Big Beehive 2,260 m to the rustic Lake Agnes Tea House. Canada Banff Hike Louise Agnes Tea
As soon as you leave the crowds at the Lake Louise car park behind you by walking along the shore towards the Plain of Six Glaciers, you know why you are doing this tour: the lake shines in an unreal turquoise blue and mountains and glaciers tower above you. You pass the Plain of Six Glacier Tea House and head to the viewpoint of the same name. From the summit of the Big Beehive you have a panoramic view of Lake Louise. After the descent to Lake Agnes you can (to be honest: MUST) reward yourself with tea and sandwiches at the Lake Agnes Tea House before descending back to the starting point and the hustle and bustle.
Click on the first picture to start the photo gallery:
Tip No2: If you don't want to hike that far, you can shorten the tour to 10 km and 500 meters of elevation by climbing directly to the Big Beehive after 4.4 km.
Key facts about the hike from Lake Louise across the Plain of Six Glaciers to Lake Agnes Tea House in Banff/Canada
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Walking time : 7:15 h
Altitude : 880 m up and down
Length : 18.2 km
Accessible by public transport? J From Lake Louise town, a shuttle bus from Parcs Canada goes to the lake of the same name.
Getting there: Parking spaces are scarce at Lake Louise and there is a lot of demand. It is therefore advisable to book a shuttle bus .
GPS data: I have uploaded the GPS data for the hike to the Outdoor Active website
Starting and ending point: Lake Louise, 1600 m.
Safety note: Canada is a bear country. In my blog post " Safe hiking and camping in bear country Canada " you will find tips on how to avoid the bear and how to behave if you do encounter him.
Equipment: For this hike I recommend hiking boots or trail running shoes. Hiking poles can also be helpful here. Rain gear, warm clothing and bear spray are a must in Canada.
Further information and links: On the Parcs Canada website you will find all the information you need about Banff and Lake Louise National Park.
ENTRANCE NATIONAL PARK
The national parks in Canada charge admission. Each day costs $10.50. If you stay longer or want to visit several national parks, the Parcs Canada Discovery Pass for $72.25, valid for one year at all Parcs Canada facilities.
Directions:
From the car park at Lake Louise, the first 2.5 km are flat along the western shore of the lake. At the end of the lake the path starts to climb, after 4.5 km there is a turnoff to the right for the return journey, but we continue straight on, getting increasingly steep, to the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House , which is well signposted. We walk uphill for another 2.5 km, ignoring the turnoff to the right to Mount Victoria North Peak. From the Plain of Six Glaciers Viewpoint there are spectacular views of the glacier tongue and the steep walls of the surrounding mountains. We hike back 2.7 km before the path to Big Beehive branches off to the left, which we follow. The path climbs gently for a while before climbing in steep switchbacks for the last kilometer to the saddle between Devils Thumb, 2458 m, and Big Beehive, 2260 m. Here we take the right turn and follow the path until the view of the turquoise-blue Lake Louise opens up on the right. Back at the pass, the path leads steeply down a winding path in a northeasterly direction to Lake Agnes. From afar we can see the wooden hut of the Lake Agnes teahouse on the eastern shore of the lake. We walk around the lake on the north side before we reach it. The way back to Lake Louise leads along a wider hiking trail past Mirror Lake down to our starting point.
INFO
All information on the Parks Canada website is available in English and French.
GETTING THERE
There are several scheduled flights from Germany to Vancouver or Calgary every day. An electronic travel document (eTa) is required to enter Canada.
The easiest way to continue your journey is by rental car, e.g. via www.billiger-mietwagen.de
BEST TIME
The best time to hike in the Rocky Mountains is from early July to September. Depending on the altitude, however, you can expect snow even in summer.
LITERATURE
ACCOMMODATION
The Lake Louise Campground by Parcs Canada is located in a young conifer forest. It's okay but doesn't offer great views. It still gets booked up quickly.
The small spot on Protection Mountain has better views. However, you can't make a reservation. It's first come, first served. It's open from June 20th to September 2nd. When I was there, there was still plenty of space.
We told other travelers that they found Silverhorn Creek Campground the nicest of all. For me it was fully booked. You can reserve it on the Parks Canada website. It is located 40 minutes from Lake Louise in the direction of Jasper.
CARDS
If you would like a detailed hiking map in addition to the Parks Canada maps, you can order a waterproof and tear-resistant hiking map for the region from Gem Trek or buy one locally.