Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail

The trail along Lake Louise's north shore provides a family-friendly and ADA-accessible way to see more of the famous scenery here. By venturing off the pavement and exploring this dirt path, you will get a much better experience of the lake by discovering some of the forest, wildflowers, birds and other wildlife that live here. You will also leave the majority of the crowds behind as you get further from the hotel. Benches are available for resting and taking it all in.

The trail leads to the back of the lake, where meltwater trickles down the mountainsides and fills this glacially-carved basin. At the lake's upper end is a beach of silt that you can walk out on. This is the very fine sediment eroded by glaciers that suspends in the water to give its turquoise color.

The back of the lake is guarded by a steep climb and then a descent, but the work is brief and rewarding. The view across the lake toward the Fairmont Chateau and Lake Louise Ski Resort is beautiful, especially in evening light. In this area near the end of the trail, you may also see rock climbers scaling the cliffs above, using ropes and harnesses and other gear for safety.

There are many more hikes near Lake Louise, and some connect with the Lakeshore Trail, though they are all more demanding as they climb up into the mountains. The trailhead is shared with Lake Agnes Trail, and the start of the climb to Fairview Lookout is nearby. From the far end of Lakeshore Trail at the back of the lake you can continue up the valley on the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail or Highline Trail.