The Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Plain of Six Glaciers at Lake Louise
Lake Louise is one of the most photographed places in Canada. And because it has some of the most popular hiking trails in Alberta, it is a mecca for families looking for adventure! Add to this, the vibrant colour of the lakes, and phenomenal views of the glaciers, and you will realize why the Plain of Six Glaciers trail definitely needs to be added to your bucket list!
What is Lake Louise?
Nestled amidst the peaks of the Canadian Rockies, Lake Louise stands as a glittering gem, attracting photographers from all over the world. Its crystal-clear waters are fed by the Victoria Glacier, which towers over the lake’s western edge, cascading down from the summit of Mount Victoria.
The incredible turquoise colour of Lake Louise is due to the light filtering through the rock flour which is deposited by the surrounding glaciers. The colour is usually at its most vibrant between late July and August.
At an altitude of 1,731 meters above sea level, Lake Louise commands a regal presence with its waters reflecting the surrounding peaks. Despite its modest size, stretching just 2.4 km in length and 1.2 km at its widest, the lake boasts impressive depth, plunging to a surprising 70 meters at its deepest point.
Where is Lake Louise?
Lake Louise is located in Banff National Park. You will find it just a short distance away from Moraine Lake and Lake Louise Village.
Banff National Park is not only Canada’s first National Park, but it is also part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Keep in mind, that you will need a parks pass from Parks Canada to visit.
Distances to Lake Louise
- Banff to Lake Louise Distance: 57 km or 37 minutes
- Canmore to Lake Louise Distance: 84 km or 1 hour 7 minutes
- Calgary to Lake Louise Distance: 185 km or 2 hours 9 minutes
- Jasper to Lake Louise Distance: 233 Km or 2 hours 48 minutes
How Do You Get to Lake Louise?
Driving
If you are thinking of driving to Lake Louise, you will need to plan ahead! Lake Louise is quite popular, and as a result, the parking lots fill up pretty quickly during the peak season.
Lake Louise is located just outside of the village of Lake Louise in Banff National Park. And the village of Lake Louise is conveniently located just off the Trans Canada Highway (Highway 1).
🚗 Find the best rates for rental cars in Banff here
Once you have arrived in the village, the signs to Lake Louise are fairly easy to follow. Just continue along Lake Louise Drive, past Moraine Lake Road, until you see the signs for the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
Paid parking is in effect for the 2023 season, from May 10 to October 10, 2023. You will need a valid parking permit between 7 am and 7 pm if you decide to park in the Lake Louise Lakeshore public parking lot.
Look for pay stations when you arrive at Lake Louise. The fee is $12.25 per vehicle per day. You will need to input your license plate number into the pay kiosk.
Don’t forget, you will also need a valid Parks Canada Park Pass. Lastly, you cannot park overnight in the Lake Louise lakeshore parking lot.
Shuttle Buses
The easiest way to get to Lake Louise would be to take the shuttle buses. For the 2022 Season, the shuttles run every 20 minutes between 8 am and 6:20 pm, from the Park & Ride (just off the TransCanada Highway) to Lake Louise Lakeshore.
The cost is $8 per adult and $2 per youth. You will need to pre-book your shuttle time online prior to arrival, as reservations are required. A $3 reservation fee will also be added to your order.
Once at Lake Louise Lakeshore, you can connect between Lake Louise and Moraine Lake on a first come first serve basis, via the Lake Connector shuttle.
Taking Public Transit
If you happen to be staying in Banff (or the Lake Louise area), another option to get around is to take public transportation. Roam Transit offers express buses from Banff to Lake Louise (with a quick stop in front of the Samson Mall).
The route will take approximately an hour, and will cost $10 per adult (one way). You can pay your fare on the bus, however, you will need exact change.
When is the Best Time for Hiking Lake Louise?
The best time to visit Lake Louise is usually between late June and early to mid-September. This time frame offers the best chances to enjoy the lake in all its glory, as Lake Louise doesn’t usually thaw until early June.
The Lake sits at a relatively high altitude, so much of the snow at the peaks won’t melt until at least July. This makes hiking Lake Louise far more challenging before early summer.
Nestled at a lofty elevation, Lake Louise is surrounded by peaks blanketed in snow. This pristine wilderness can prove to be a formidable challenge for hikers before the arrival of summer, as much of the snow won’t start to melt until July.
So if you’re seeking a trek around the lake, it’s best to wait until early summer when conditions are a bit more manageable. This is especially true if you are a beginner, or are planning to hike with children.
The Lake Agnes Tea House opens in early June. But keep in mind, you can’t get any higher because of avalanche risk.
Lake Agnes doesn’t generally even thaw until early June either!
Arriving at Lake Louise
From the parking lot at the Fairmont, Lake Louise is a quick 5-minute walk away (fully accessible). If you have not been to Lake Louise before, make sure you factor in the extra time you are going to spend swooning over the incredible scenery!
Lake Louise takes my breath away every time we visit! The tranquil turquoise water and spectacular view of the mountains were absolutely amazing!
Once you can tear yourself away from the viewing platform, you can make your way to the trailheads located on the far side of the Fairmont.
Wondering What to Pack?
Plain of Six Glaciers Trail – Breakdown
This is one of the most incredible trails you will find when hiking Lake Louise. With gorgeous views of the lake, a visit to the historic Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House, and an amazing finish at the Abbot Pass viewpoint, this hike really has everything you need to make your trek to Lake Louise memorable.
- Length: 14.6 km return (7.3 km one way)
- Duration: 3 – 5 hours
- Elevation Gain: 588 meters
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
- Best Time To Go: June – October
Fun Fact: The Plain of Six Glaciers hike starts at 1,734m above sea level and the elevation of the final viewpoint is 2,202m.
If you are planning to hike the Plain of 6 Glaciers Trail to the Abbott Pass Viewpoint, the route combines 3 connected trails, with the longest portion being rated as “moderate”.
🥾 Book a guided hike at Lake Louise here
Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail
The hike begins in front of the Fairmont hotel on the Lake Louise Lakeshore trail. This trail is 2 km one way, with no elevation gain.
The trail is pretty flat, groomed, and easy, making it fully accessible to anyone who wants to take a leisurely scenic stroll to the far end of Lake Louise. The Lakeshore Trail alone would take you approximately one hour to complete a round trip.
Plain of 6 Glaciers Trail
2.7 km into the hike, the trail becomes a wooden boardwalk. If you look to the right of the trail, you will usually get a glimpse of rock climbers making their way up the cliffs.
Just after the boardwalk, you begin your uphill climb onto the Plain of the Six Glaciers trail. At this point, the hiking trail is no longer groomed. Instead, prepare to be stepping over tree roots, rocks, and unfortunately, patties of horse poop.
This portion of the Plain of Six Glaciers hike is approximately 3.5 km long, with a 365 m elevation gain. The estimated travel time is 2 hours to the top, where you meet with the final leg of the journey.
The trail itself is challenging, with a pretty steady incline. It doesn’t get too steep, however around 4.9 km into the hike, the trail becomes a rocky narrow path with pretty significant drop-offs to one side.
Just beyond the narrow path, the Plain of Six Glaciers trail transitions to a rocky berm, heading straight towards the incredible Lake Louise glaciers. The 360-degree views at this point are completely mind-blowing!
At about the 5.5 km mark of the Plain of Six Glaciers hike, the trail becomes a little steeper. You will need to work your way through a series of switchbacks as you head up the trail.
This is another spot where you really need to watch your footing. At this point on the trail, the ground gets wet from streams running across the trail, so it gets pretty slippery.
The Plain of Six Glaciers Terrain
Most of the trail is packed dirt and rock, but some portions are very uneven, slippery when wet, or made from loose gravel. You should definitely be wearing good, supportive shoes when hiking the Plain of Six Glaciers trail.
The trails are well-maintained and marked with visible signage. However, if you have a fear of heights, parts of this trail will definitely be a challenge!
Even though we ended up with overcast skies and rain for most of our hike, the views were incredible! From the dark green of the forests to the yellow of the Larches, and the bright blue of Lake Louise, it was definitely worth it!
The Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House
I have to admit, by the time we reached the end of the trail, we were beat! Lucky for us, and all the rest of the weary hikers, there is a quaint little Tea House at the end of the Plain of Six Glaciers trail.
The property around the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House is amazing! There are benches to sit and rest while indulging in a good cup of tea and a decadent treat.
You do have to keep your strength up for the rest of the hike, after all!
Tea House History
Built in 1927, the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House has been privately owned and operated by the same family since 1959. The Tea House is open seasonally, and serves light lunches, desserts, and of course, hot tea!
Because there is no electricity, cash is preferred. A $4 charge will apply for credit cards, and debit is not accepted. And just a heads up, you will also be expected to carry your own trash back down.
Hubby and I were fascinated by this little Tea House and its operation! We found out that the staff must carry supplies up to the house in large packs, along the same trail we had just covered!
As a result, staff members actually stay up at the Tea House 5 days a week. Wow! That’s dedication!
My tea of choice was Indian Chai, with a thick slice of chocolate cake. Hubby and Mr. Rush both had apple cake, with one having chamomile tea and the other having an absolutely delicious hazelnut tea.
The Tea House also has two outhouses for the public to use.
The Abbott Pass Viewpoint
The Abbott Pass Viewpoint is a short trail that you can tack on to the Plain of Six Glaciers hike. If you have reached your max, turn around at the Tea House and head back the same way you came.
If you are game for more, it is only another 1.3 km hike to the Abbot Pass Viewpoint from the Tea House. This short route has an elevation gain of 50 m and will take you about an hour round trip.
However, this section of the Plain of Six Glaciers hike (6.3km mark), is no longer maintained. The trail is difficult, with large sections where you are walking over tree roots, loose stones, and gravel, on narrow paths, and with steeper inclines and drop-offs.
Once you hit the 6.9 km mark, you will be met with a rocky clearing. The stunning views of Lake Louise and the glaciers are definitely worth taking a seat and soaking it in.
But, don’t sit around for too long, you’re not quite done yet! The Plain of Six Glaciers hike continues for another 500 m along a raised berm, which is pretty steep and narrow.
The End of the Trail
Once you reach the end of the berm, that is also where the Plain of Six Glaciers hike ends. And although you have some amazing views of the glaciers at this point, we were surprised by the abrupt ending of the path!
There were no signs, no lookout, no fanfare of any kind to tell you that you had made it to the end! We did take the time to enjoy the moment, however, and were in no rush to start heading back.
If you are lucky enough to have a clear day and a strong camera, you might get to see the Abbot Pass Hut, perched above the glacier. Built in 1922 and sitting at 2,926 meters elevation, it is second only to the Neil Colgan Hut on the list of highest permanent structures in Canada.
Fun Fact: The hut actually sits on the Continental Divide, which means the provincial and National Park borders run right down the middle of the hut. Snow melting on opposite sides of the hut will flow into two different oceans.
We could not see the hut at the time but definitely made sure to appreciate the amazing glaciers.
Heading Back Down
Returning to the Fairmont is as simple as retracing your steps. The path you are following is exactly the same, with signs to help you along the way.
If you are lucky, at some point during your hike, you may even hear the thundering sound of ice cracking, or breaking off and falling into the crevasse below. We didn’t see the ice falling, but the sound was like no other!
Our trek back down to the Fairmont hotel was made a little more difficult by the rainfall. Some parts of the path became quite slippery, making the hiking poles even more necessary.
Aside from that, the descent is pretty easy, taking less than 2 hours from the Abbot Pass Viewpoint down to the Lake Louise Lakeshore trail.
Our total round trip time from the Fairmont hotel ended up being 5.5 hours, which included our time at the Tea House, and extra time spent at the Abbott Pass Viewpoint. Most reasonably fit and experienced hikers should have no problem completing the hike in about 4 hours.
🥾 Book a guided hike at Lake Louise here
Tips For Hiking the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail
Just like with any other hike, there are a few things to consider when heading to Lake Louise. A little advance planning will help make your hike a positive experience for the whole family.
Safety
First and foremost, you should always let someone know that you are heading out for a hike. Let them know where you will be hiking and your expected return time.
Even though the trails are well marked and travelled, you just never know when you may get lost or injured – especially if you are attempting one of the longer trails. And cell service in the area is really spotty at best!
The trail is not maintained beyond the Plains of Six Glaciers Teahouse, which means you have to be extra careful and watch your footing. Because you are walking along sections of raised berms on loose rocks with steep drop-offs, as well as rocks that get very slippery when wet, extra caution is required on this portion of the trail.
Banff National Park is bear country! With black bears and grizzly bears calling the Lake Louise area home, you really need to take the time to educate yourself on bear safety.
Therefore, carrying bear spray is a must. Canisters are available to buy or rent at many locations in Canmore and Banff.
You should always check the latest Plain of the Six Glaciers trail report for trail conditions, wildlife warnings, avalanche warnings, and possible closures before you head out.
Clothing
Make sure that you are wearing comfortable clothing and appropriate shoes. We recommend hiking boots for most of these trails, as the terrain is uneven. We would also recommend hiking poles for extra stability.
Wear a comfortable backpack! If you plan on hiking for several hours, you will need a well-fitted backpack to carry all your gear. It will need to be big enough to carry all your essentials, while at the same time, not being so heavy that it gets to be too much.
Make sure to pack extra layers of clothing. The weather tends to be unpredictable in the mountains and can change very quickly.
Have plenty of snacks on hand that the kids enjoy. This is especially important for those times when they begin to get ‘hangry’ or need that extra treat to get them through the hike.
And of course, this should go without saying. Make sure you pack out everything you bring on your hike. There are garbage cans conveniently located near the trailhead.
Lastly, make sure you have sunscreen and bug spray with you, as well as a basic first-aid kit in case of small mishaps. When we hike with kids, we never leave home without!
Limited Facilities at Lake Louise
Food
If you are looking to purchase food or drinks at Lake Louise, your options will be limited. There are a few places in Lake Louise Village and Samson Mall that serve food, but they tend to be pricey.
The Trailhead Café is a small cafe located inside Samson Mall. They are open pretty early, so are an excellent option to grab a bite before heading out onto the hiking trails.
We all ordered breakfast wraps and coffee. They were delicious! The large wraps were customizable and pretty filling. They were the perfect start to our day!
You can also find a very small supermarket in Samson Mall. You will find all the basics there, but again, it will be pricey.
Once you are at the Lake, you can head inside the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Hotel for some dining options.
And as we previously mentioned, you can also purchase food from the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House. Of course, it requires a hike to reach it first!
Water
Packing enough water is really important while hiking. There are no drinking water facilities on the Plains of Six Glaciers Trail, so fill your hydration packs, or reusable water bottles before you leave.
Restrooms
A word of advice – there are public restrooms in the same strip mall as the Trailhead Café. Use them! They were clean and well-kept and were definitely better than the ones we found at the lake.
Lake Louise does have restrooms available. These can be found right next to the parking lot. Expect a wait as there are plenty of visitors during the day.
You will also find restrooms at the Tea House. These are outhouses, and chances are, there will be a line to use them.
Can You Hike the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail with Kids?
And for parents who are interested in hiking the Plain of Six Glaciers with kids, please have another look at the breakdown of the hike, which can be found at the beginning of this post.
We found the first two sections of the hike to be reasonably child-friendly. The last section that takes you to the Abbott Pass Lookout may be a little difficult and is definitely on the dangerous side. We would use caution if taking younger kids on this part of the trail.
You will need to make sure your kids are capable of a high level of physical exertion, given that the second half of the hike has 125 m of elevation gain for every kilometre hiked. So although it is not incredibly steep, it still is a pretty long hike.
Where to Stay in Lake Louise
After a long day of hiking, you really don’t want to spend more time driving to get back to your hotel. Lake Louise has several hotels right in the village, that range in price to suit any budget.
There are several other hotel options available in Banff National Park. These hotels are also within easy walking distance of the Park and Ride Connector. This shuttle bus leaves from Lake Louise Village and has stops at both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.
- Mountaineer Lodge: This is the closest hotel to the Lake Louise Village, and is very family-friendly.
- Lake Louise Inn: This Lake Louise hotel is also budget- and family-friendly.
- Post Hotel and Spa: One of the higher-end hotels in Banff National Park, but very family-friendly.
- Chateau Lake Louise: A luxury hotel located right on the shore of Lake Louise.
🏨 Find the best rate for all Lake Louise area hotels here.
Plain of Six Glaciers FAQs
The name Plain of Six Glaciers comes from the number of glaciers that are present in the area. The hanging glaciers of Mount Aberdeen, Lefroy and Victoria, as well as the Lower Victoria and Lefroy glaciers and the hanging glacier on Popes Peak, can all be found in the Lake Louise area.
There are about 65 grizzlies living in the park. With about a quarter of the bears hanging out in the wilderness surrounding the lake, it probably isn’t too uncommon to see them. You should always be bear aware.
Yes. There are approximately 35-40 wolves residing in the park, making up four different packs.
Yes. In fact, the remains of the Victoria Glacier can be seen when standing on the shore of Lake Louise. Just look out over the lake, and up into the mountains. For a better view, hike the Plain of Six Glaciers to the Abbott Pass.
Technically yes. You are allowed to swim at Lake Louise but probably won’t want to for long. Since the water temperature rarely gets above 4°C, it will only take about 15 minutes or so until you become hypothermic.
Most definitely yes! The incredible views from the top, the opportunity to spot wildlife, and a well-earned cup of tea definitely make the effort of the hike worth it.
Final Thoughts on Hiking the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail
We would totally recommend hiking the Plain of Six Glaciers trail at Lake Louise. We found the hike to be challenging, but very scenic and totally doable for a family with older children. Set aside a day, and prepare yourself for an amazing hiking adventure!
Pin This Post for Later!
Related Posts:
- How to Get to Moraine Lake – NEW Rules
- Can You Swim in Moraine Lake? And Other Fascinating Facts
- Can You Swim in Lake Louise? And Other Interesting Facts
- Is the Banff Gondola Worth it?
- The Amazing Lake Agnes Tea House Hike – Tips and Information
- The Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Plain of Six Glaciers at Lake Louise
- Hiking Lake Louise – 6 Incredible Hikes You Don’t Want to Miss!
- The Best Moraine Lake Hikes for Families
- Mt. Norquay Via Ferrata in Banff – Why Your Family NEEDS to Try This!
- 11 Incredible Things to Do in Banff with Kids
