Lake Louise

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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!

Lake Louise Village
Lake Louise Station Restaurant
Lake Louise Station Restaurant
Lake Louise Station
Lake Louise Station

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.

Fairview Lookout
Lake Louise
Lake Louise and Château
Lakeshore climbers
Lake Louise
Louise Creek
Lake Louise
Mirror Lake and Beehive

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.

Lake Louise Gondola
Lake Louise Gondola Viewpoint
Kicking Horse Pass Viewpoint
Ptarmigan Valley Viewpoint
Ptarmigan Valley Viewpoint
Whitehorn Bistro
Lake Louise Gondola

After Lake Louise, we left the Rockies – but we weren’t going home just yet. We were heading for the Badlands!

Alberta, Canada ,

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  1. Pingback: April Squares: Lake Louise – The Glasgow Gallivanter

  4. 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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  6. 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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