Walks And Easy Hikes In The Lake Louise Area

Lake Louise is known as the hiking capital of the world, but that doesn’t mean you have to summit a mountain during your visit. There are walks that allow for casual strolls and trails that have little elevation gain but still allow you to take in the beautiful scenery that the area has to offer. 

Lake Louise Shoreline Trail

Minimal elevation gain, 4 km round trip, allow 1 hour

Trailhead – starts in front of the Chateau Lake Louise hotel

This is a flat easy trail where you can stroll along the lake shore taking in the beautiful views of the water and mountain peaks. It’s the classic walk that everybody does when they visit the lake. In the summer months it can be extremely busy. The peak times being between 10am and 4pm, but as you walk further towards the back of the lake you will leave a large majority of the crowd behind.

Walk as little or as far as you like, you can go to the very back of the lake where the silt is being deposited by the Victoria glacier. This is what gives the lake its famous turquoise colour. From here you can look back at the Chateau hotel sitting on the shoreline and see the runs of the local ski resort in the backdrop. There is a section where the trail goes over a steep hill, but you are rewarded by walking beneath towering quartzite cliffs. In late spring and during the summer there are often climbers working their way up these rock faces. As you approach the rocky moraine area near the end of the lake look for the small creatures called pika that hide among the rocks.

The Fairview Lookout Trail

Elevation gain 100 meters, 2km round trip, allow 45 minutes

Trailhead: from the boathouse area at Lake Louise, climb for approximately half a km until a junction in the trail, keep to the left and continue to hike until the viewing platform.

The Fairview Lookout trail does have a few areas of grade to climb along the way, but it’s an easier option than the popular Lake Agnes Teahouse trail. Some people can find the tea house trail a bit strenuous due to the large amount of elevation gain over a such a short distance. From the Fairview Lookout you get a fantastic view overlooking the lake and back towards the Chateau Lake Louise hotel. You don’t actually get this view when climbing the tea house trail because there are too many trees in the way.

Bow River Loop Trail

No elevation gain, 7km loop, allow 2.5 to 3 hours

Trailhead: at the Bow River Bridge opposite the Lake Louise Station Restaurant

This trail is a flat and a perfect family friendly stroll that follows along the rushing Bow River. This trail can have bear sightings in the spring and fall, use bear safety precaution. It’s also a popular trail for bike riding. Bikes can be rented at Wilson’s Mountain Sports in the nearby village Samson Mall.

Nearby Moraine Lake Trails

Moraine Lake and Lake Louise are just 14km’s apart. Moraine Lake Road is accessed off the same road that connects Lake Louise and the village. When driving uphill from the village to the lake you will see the turn off for Moraine Lake road on your left hand side. Remember this road is closed to vehicle traffic for part of the year, generally mid-October to late May.

Moraine Lake Lake Shore Trail

5m elevation gain, 2.4km round trip, allow 45 minutes to one hour

Trailhead: From the lower end of the Moraine Lake parking  walk towards the Moraine Lake Lodge and continue on to where the canoe docks are, from there follow the trail along the lake shore.

This is an easy walk that allows you to explore the shore of Moraine Lake and take in the views of the mountains and glaciers.

The trail works its way through the trees offering views along the way of the lake with its backdrops of glacier covered mountains. There is a boardwalk at the south end of the lake where a rushing stream comes down from the Wenkchemna Glacier.

Moraine Lake Rock Pile Trail

30m elevation gain, 0.70 return trip, allow 40 minutes

Trailhead: adjacent to the Moraine Lake Lodge, from lower end of the parking lot cross the bridge and follow the trail to the top.

Hiking up this short interpretative trail gives a different perspective and beautiful view overlooking the lake from the top of the moraine. This is the spot where the photo was taken that was on the back of one of the older Canadian twenty dollar bills that featured Moraine Lake. 

Consolation Lakes Trail

65m elevation gain, 5.8km return trip, allow 2 hours

Trailhead: from the lower Moraine Lake parking lot area, cross over the bridge and continue to Consolation Lakes.

This is an easy to moderate hike that offers rewarding views of the glacier covered slopes of Mount Quadra. The trail passes through a quartzite boulder field and then through a sub-alpine forest and then opens up into a meadow just before the  Consolation Lakes. For most of the summer months the meadow is full of wild flowers.

During times of bear activity this trail has restrictions in place where a hiking party of four or more is required. Check with Parks Canada for the current Moraine Lake area restrictions before heading out. The restrictions do not apply to the Moraine Lake shore line and rock pile trails.

If you are up for a more challenging but very rewarding hike, we suggest the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail. It’s one of our favourites!