Showcasing her breathtaking beauty, Banff National Park’s Lake Louise shines brightly in every season.
Lake Louise offers activities for the nature-lover, including turquoise waters, rugged mountains, ubiquitous wildlife, sparkling glaciers, hiking, boating, and skiing.
1. Viewing Grizzly Bears And Other Wildlife
Wildlife is everywhere in Banff National Park, and grizzly bear viewing is a popular sport. The Grizzly Bear Refuge, home of the orphaned bear cub Boo, is a well-managed grizzly bear viewing adventure.
Some of the indigenous wildlife you might encounter while staying in the area are wild grizzly bears, black bears, cougars, lynx, mountain goats, elk, whitetail deer, moose, and bighorn sheep. A ride on the Lake Louise Gondola is a fun way to spot wildlife from afar while experiencing amazing Rocky Mountain views.
For a more daring and close encounter, try the Evening Wildlife Safari, during which your guide will point out wildlife as the sun gloriously sets over the mountains.
2. Hiking For Every Fitness Level
The Canadian Rockies have hiking for beginners to expert mountaineers. During the summer, those who want a gentle walk will enjoy riding the Lake Louise Gondola to the top, then walking the 45-minute Trail of the Great Bear Guided Walk. The six-hour, full-day Banff Guided Hike will thrill the advanced trekker. For the walking enthusiast, try one of the four-hour Half-Day Guided Hikes showcasing spectacular mountain scenery.
3. Skiing, Snowboarding, And Tubing Fun
Lake Louise Ski Resort offers a variety of skiing, from beginner and intermediate runs to expert trails. This award-winning resort’s accolades include six-time Canada’s Best Ski Resort, Top 3 World’s Best Ski Resort, and Top 3 Best Freestyle Resort from the World Ski Awards. The resort boasts 4,200 acres of skiable terrain, 145 trails and back bowls, and ten lifts.
Snowboarders will enjoy terrain parks that include a variety of lines, jumps, rails, and boxes.
The Tube Park is the perfect place to enjoy quality family time sliding down in a snow tube.
4. Dog Sledding With Alaskan Huskies
The rush of sitting in a mush sled with a pack of Alaskan Huskies driving the snow-covered trails will leave you pink cheeked and energized! Kingmik Dog Sled Tours will take you up to Kicking Horse Pass at the Continental Divide for the ride of your life. You may even get to ride the rails and drive the team home!
5. Boating On Turquoise Waters
Lake Louise is famous for her turquoise water. Boating is limited to non-motorized boats, providing a peaceful and nature-focused lake experience. Rent a canoe or kayak at the Fairmont Chateau for some on-the-lake relaxation.
For the adventurous canoeists and kayakers, Bow River offers an intermediate run from Lake Louise to Castle Junction, where the Class 1 rapids will test your mettle and get your heart pumping.
6. Walking On The Athabasca Glacier
The Icefields Parkway is a 144-mile-long highway through the Columbia Icefields, breathtaking vistas, waterfalls, towering mountain peaks, and verdant forests. Wildlife can be seen along the route if you are out at dawn.
A unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience is walking on Athabasca Glacier. The Ice Explorer, an enormous all-terrain vehicle, will drive you along the 10,000-year-old ice flow, where you’ll have an opportunity to explore the immense glacier on foot.
7. Mountain Dining
All of your mountain dining needs can be satisfied a few short steps from the slopes. Try the Powder Keg Lounge overlooking the slopes or the Kokanee Kabin and Smokehouse BBQ for a grab-and-go lunch.
Visit the Fairmont Chateau for dinner, where you can dine with mountain views. For casual dining, try Walliser Stube and indulge in their specialty — fondue. Formal dining is available at the Fairview Bar and Restaurant, which serves locally inspired fine-dining cuisine.
8. Where To Stay
With ski chalets, camping, and hotels to choose from, you will find accommodations for every vacation type. Try the classically rustic Paradise Lodge and Bungalows, camping with lakeside sites at Waterfowl Campground, or the chalet-style Post Hotel on the Pipestone River. And of course there’s the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
9. Getting There
Lake Louise is a two-hour drive west of Calgary International Airport. Alternatively, the Rocky Mountaineer offers a unique and scenic two-day passage from Vancouver to Banff.
Lake Louise in Banff National Park is a vacation wonderland. With bucket-list activities like glacier walking, grizzly bear sighting, and dog sledding, you will find year-round fun and incredible beauty.
Want to get out in nature? Check out these seven wonderful hiking spots in Northern Ontario.
