Lake Louise
On our previous visit to Lake Louise in 2007 we stayed in Deer Lodge, which is the only hotel actually by the lake apart from the mega-expensive Fairmont Château, but when we tried to book it in December 2016 for July 2017 it was already full! I looked at the Château prices and decided they were having a laugh, so we booked a hotel about 4km away in Lake Louise Village and commuted. There is a regular shuttle bus to the lake which we took the first morning, but only after queueing for ages in full sun. We decided it would be just as easy to walk back, and the second day we spent at the lake we walked both ways. There’s a pretty trail along Louise Creek, which can be extended via the old tramway which took Victorian visitors from the station in the village to the Château. The middle day of our stay we rode the Gondola up Mount Whitehorn.
Lake Louise Village
We were glad we walked back via the old tramway the first day, because it took us out near The Old Station Restaurant which we booked for dinner that night (excellent). Trains still pass through – we are always fascinated by their length in North America. We watched the one below for 5 minutes from beginning to end!
The other nights we ate in our hotel, the Lake Louise Inn, which served reasonable bar food and good pizza. I have no pictures of the Inn, it wasn’t particularly pretty. The red roofs by the river in the gallery above are part of the Post Hotel which was much more picturesque. Maybe we’ll stay there next time…
The Lake
A few highlights from our two days hiking by or near the lake. Considering how crowded the place was, I’m amazed John managed to get pictures with hardly anyone else in them – though the old rule holds good. Walk a few hundred metres from the car parks and most people melt away.
Lake Louise Gondola
The Lake Louise Gondola is a short drive from the village. We booked early morning tickets which included breakfast on the ground before heading up the mountain. At the top of the lift is a Wildlife Interpretive Centre, a couple of (very steep) trails to viewpoints and the fabulous Whitehorn Bistro. We rewarded ourselves after the strenuous hikes with a late lunch on their deck – fondue with great views, though as you can see we were still hampered by haze from all the fires.
After Lake Louise, we left the Rockies – but we weren’t going home just yet. We were heading for the Badlands!
The Glasgow Gallivanter 
I was a horse back tour guide from Chateau Lake Louise one summer. I never got tired of that view. Still one of my favourite places. Thanks
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I agree that view takes some beating!
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Well penned 💟
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Thank you!
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Very interesting post Anabel – am gathering ideas for our trip next year. Friends of ours were on a tour recently and had a night in the Fairmont Chateau – they paid a small fortune and their view was at the back looking out to a concrete wall!! Needless to say we have decided not to stay there – we’re travelling independently with a couple of friends and our friend is happy to drive so we’ll be staying somewhere cheaper and just visiting Lake Louise!
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We found the Village was fine because we could walk or get the bus to the lake. Parking by the lake fills up really early in the morning. Deer Lodge, next to the Chateau, is cheaper but it was full in December when we tried to book for July. It’s crazy busy!
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Yes we’ll go and see Lake Louise but not sure I particularly want to spend a lot of time there. Think there are other quieter places nearby that we could explore!
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Yes, I think so. We’ve been twice now and I think even if we went back to the Rockies we’d probably skip it as just too busy.
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I don’t like places that are too busy and overrun with tourists Anabel – better go and see it but not linger I think.
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What a wonderful trip!
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It was, just an amazing place.
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Mega-expensive is a good way to describe the hotel. If I remember correctly, in late August the rooms were starting at $800 a night. Crazy. We visited Lake Louis twice on our trip but never spent the night in the vicinity.
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Yes, I would totally have resented that amount of money.
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Just catching up with you on your trip. It looks like you had an amazing time. Where to next year?
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We did thanks, it was wonderful. No concrete plans yet, but we’re thinking somewhere European before we become total pariahs!
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Ah, yes. Catalan would probably welcome you with open arms though 😀
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I think playing the Scottish card might help in most places!
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Haha… yes, I shall have to practice my Scottish accent 🙂
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Such a beautiful place!! The pictures are amazing! I’ll travel here someday 🙂
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Thank you! I hope you get there some day.
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Beautiful scenery and that fondue looks great.
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The fondue was definitely a foodie highlight! But anything would probably have tasted great with that view.
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What a wonderful adventurous vacation you had.
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Thanks, we really enjoyed it.
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Again, a beautiful spot! the wall climbing is something on my bucket list. Maybe, maybe not, but it looks like fun.
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Definitely, definitely not on mine! It was scary just watching.
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It sounds like a lovely trip. Thanks for sharing the experience and the photos. My husband and I love to travel. I am looking forward to retirement and the ability to see more of the world!
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Thank you – so am I! I am retired, but my husband isn’t and has no current plans 😦
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This looks like you had an epic vacation in a gorgeous place, thanks for sharing!
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Thanks, we did!
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Gorgeous and like you say even in many of the most crowded places a walk of a few hundred metres often works wonders.
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It does! We didn’t exactly lose everyone at Lake Louise, it was so busy, but the crowd certainly thinned out a lot. The only bit that was really quite was the walk between the lake and the village. Not many people seemed to do that.
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Anabel – looks like I have lots to catch up on! What a great trip, as the photos bear the evidence. Especially love the photos of the two of you with those mountains in the background. All the travel best – Susan
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Thanks Susan – nice to hear from you again. Hope you are still taking one small walk after another.
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I’ve always heard such good things about Lake Louise and your lovely pictures of the area confirm that it’s a place that I’d love to visit one day.
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I hope you do, it’s lovely – if incredibly busy. We stayed 4 nights and I think the crowds would have driven me mad after that!
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What a good idea to stay a little further away and walk. It’s a great way to find unexpected pleasures.
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Yes, we rather liked the stroll beside the brook and met hardly anyone else taking it.
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You are such a hiker, and I think you’re right: get a bit away from the parking lots and the crowds fade away. I adore that panorama shot at Ptarmigan Valley Viewpoint. Lake Louise looks beautiful, as I remember it from the early 1980s when I was there. That was so long ago!! I can’t believe that hotel you wanted was fully booked when you tried to book 7 months earlier! That’s crazy. You have to plan so far ahead for things these days. You also got some great shots of the rock climbers and boaters. It all looks fabulous. Banff is one of my favorite places ever. 🙂
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Thanks! I think everywhere was busier for Canada 150, but I wasn’t expecting anything to be booked up that far ahead.
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I don’t think I’m anywhere near as keen on hiking as you are, but I do appreciate the way you reward yourselves. Fondue on that deck would be just fine with me (as would the gondola ride)!
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A reward is always good! There has to be lunch involved somewhere.
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Lake Louise is definitely on my “Revisit Soon” List.
I know exactly what you mean about the Chateau prices (and other hotels like that). I just tried to book the Fairmont Waterfront in Vancouver and was truly horrified. I only wanted to rent the room for two nights…not buy it!!
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Exactly! It just doesn’t seem worth it to me even for a special occasion.
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Do you think the prices were that high because it was the “on season?” I know some hotels do that. Looking forward to reading about your visit to the “badlands!”
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I think they might have been higher than normal because of the Canada 150 celebrations, but relative to everything else the chateau was still a ludicrous price. For the amount of time we’d actually be in the room I wasn’t prepared to pay it, special birthday or not!
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What a view for a restaurant!
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I know, fabulous!
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It’s such beautiful country, but a shame about the crowds and the prices. I’ve seen so many photos of this iconic location, I almost feel like I’ve been there 🙂
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So you don’t need to brave the crowds then! I’ve been twice now and I think I will stick to pictures in future too.
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Beautiful hiking photos and I love your advice for avoiding the crowds: Walk a few hundred metres from the car parks and most people melt away.”
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Thank you – and it’s so true, most people seem to take a quick look at the obvious then drive on to the next thing.
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This looks so beautiful and peaceful. My dear friend goes to this place, Banff, and Jasper every week as a tour guide. I hope to go out there next year and be on his bus tour. The picture of the hotel in the distance reminds me of The Shining for some reason. I wonder if I could do those steep climbs, not only due to my fear of (eights but my joint pain. I would try anyway:)
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You will love it, I’m sure. I found the steep climbs difficult but you can get great views from down below too.
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So nice and convenient that you could still walk to the lake from your accommodation. As I am reading your blog and writing this comment, a train has been passing by (and honking) down in the valley, for minutes. You are right, Anabel, freight trains in North America are long! Nice views and I love the fact that you treat yourselves with good food in beautiful places after hikes. 🙂
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The promise of a nice lunch / dinner is what keeps me putting one foot in front of the other! Hence exercise will never make me thin.
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I have never been there but I remember that Lake Louise was a big favorite of my father’s. One of these days, I hope to see it for myself.
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I hope you get there, it is so beautiful. Just be prepared to dodge the crowds!
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The scenery looks breathtaking, especially the colour of the water.
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Thanks Laura, it was completely stunning. We do get gorgeous colours sometimes in Scotland as you know, but gray is more common as you also know!
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I love the gorgeous emerald green of the water in so many of the western province’s lakes. I can’t remember what it’s from? Do you know?
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It is gorgeous – it’s sediment from the glaciers crunching up rocks and that reflects the light to be blue or green.
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It is so beautiful, brings back very happy memories but do you know I have no memory of the gondola!
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Maybe it didn’t always open in the summer? I have seen your post and suggestion, I like the idea!
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That’s a thought…..and excellent news about the suggestion. 😊
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Off out shortly but will drop you an email.
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😊
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Just gorgeous and you did a great job with those photos – you’d never guess there was anybody else there but the two of you!! We love North American trains too – never miss a chance to stand and watch them pass!
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We had to choose our moments carefully!
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You’re just trying to make me jealous, aren’t you? 🙂 🙂 You’ve suceeded!
I’ve read all about those Badlands with Janet (Sustainabilitea 🙂 )
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Sorry about that, but never mind – you’re off to the sun soon!
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🙂
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Looks like an amazing place
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Thanks, it is!
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No kidding! We booked one night at Fairmont Jasper Park and it was ridiculous but even worse I was expecting luxury like the Fairmont Lake Louise which I did not get. The rooms are cabins scattered along the lake (gorgeous) but the cabins are shabby, in my humble opinion. I have stayed in nicer Hilton Garden Inns. But the location!!!
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Yes, I read about that! I followed all your travels, though I didn’t always have time to comment. We couldn’t even get lunch on the terrace at Fairmont Lake Louise because we weren’t residents.
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What a wonderful place! 🙂
And now I’m eagerly waiting for your account of your visit to the Badlands.
Have a great week,
Pit
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Thanks Pit! Working on that right now.
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Hi Anabel – Lake Louise is stunning … in fact as you say – the whole area is stunningly beautiful … looks like you had an amazing time – hiking around and enjoy the restaurants you found on your way … lovely … cheers Hilary
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Thanks, Hilary, we certainly did have an amazing time in fabulous surroundings.
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What incredible views! The color of that lake captures my attention, but those mountain peaks are really special. And I would really enjoy eating fondue and enjoying those views. You’ve added yet another location to the ever-growing list of places I want to visit!
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There are just too many places, aren’t there? The fondue with a view was pretty special. John thought it was “a bit late for lunch” when we finished the trails and he almost didn’t survive! It was the thought of fondue that was keeping me going.
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Looks like a fantastic holiday. That appears to be a fairly hard rock climb going by the type of rock involved. lack of apparent holds, and all the chalk marks.
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There were several groups of climbers whom we watched for a while – not much progress seemed to be made so I think you are right!
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Gorgeous pictures. Mirror Lake looks much depleted from 1989, when I visited it at much the same time of year. You both take great pictures!
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Thank you! I think Mirror Lake is bigger than it looks. It’s a composite picture to get it and the Beehive all in, so the perspective maybe isn’t quite right. From what I remember of our first visit in 2007 it was much the same but it could well have shrunk since 1989.
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