Great Divide Nature Interpretation
Best hiking trails in the Canadian Rockies

 

Plain of Six Glaciers - Abbot Pass view

Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse trail
Plain of Six Glaciers
Viewpoint & Trail

 

Helen Lake trail
Helen Lake Trail

 

 

 

Arriving at Paget Lookout

Snack with a view, Paget LookoutPaget Lookout 

 

Sherbrooke Lake
Sherbrooke Lake

 

 

Moraine Lake

 

Hiking above the Valley of 10 Peaks
The Valley of the Ten Peaks
 

Hikers at Bow Glacier Falls
Bow Glacier Falls

Above Peyto Lake, Bow Summit Lookout trail

Going to Bow Summit Lookout

 

Fireweed on the Stanley Glacier trail
Fireweed on the Stanley Glacier trail.

Stanley Glacier
Stanley Glacier

 

Larches at Lake O'Hara
Larch reflection
(Lake O'Hara area)

Lake Oesa, Lake O'Hara area
Lake Oesa
(Lake O'Hara area)

 


Consolation Lake, Moraine Lake area
Consolation Lake

 

Big Beehive seen from the Little Beehive, Lake Louise

Big Beehive from Little Beehive Trail

 

Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park

Emerald Lake
 

To book or for more information contact us:

info@greatdivide.ca


Box 343 Lake Louise,
AB Canada T0L 1E0
Phone: (403) 522-2735
Toll free: (866) 522-2735

Hiking season...
June 1 - September 30

Snowshoeing season...
December 27 - March 31

The Top 9 1/2 Lake Louise Area Trails

 

"So many trails, so little time..."

- everyone who hikes in Lake Louise
 

Lake Louise is a hub for the best hiking in the Canadian Rockies because of its central location and its proximity to the Great Divide – the tallest glacier-clad peaks. Trails in the area all start at a high elevation, so you quickly arrive at open views and rewarding scenery!

There are many fabulous trails to be found within a 45 minute radius: at Lake Louise itself, at Moraine Lake and Lake O'Hara, in Yoho and Kootenay National Parks and along Banff's Icefields Parkway.

When you book a guided hike with us (by phone or email), we discuss your interests and abilities to find the best trail for you - from flat as a board to a high mountain aerie. We love to stroll as much as we like to hike! Our focus is learning and discovery... and that can be done on any trail.

Here are just a few of our favourites.

1. The Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse and Viewpoint

The "Plain of Six" is probably the most famous Lake Louise hike, and for good reason. No other trail gives you so much for a moderate effort. Starting at the Chateau Lake Louise, the path follows the lakeshore and continues to the back of the valley where the views just get better and better. Glaciers, vaulting peaks, avalanche paths and high mountain wildlife are all on the menu.

w Moderate full day hike
w 12-14 km (7.5-8.5 mi) return trip
w 365 m (1200 ft) elevation gain
w Note: this trail is busy and also used for horseback riding trips.
w On private trips, we offer a special geology theme hike to the Plain of Six Glaciers.

 2. Helen Lake

The Helen Lake trail, off the Icefields Parkway, takes you into some of the most extensive alpine meadows in Banff. Wildflowers cover the meadows from mid-July to mid-August. There are wonderful views of the Crowfoot Glacier and Dolomite Peak, and a good chance you'll see marmots. For stronger hikers the trail continues to Helen Lake headwall where glimpses of the Wapta Icefield can be had.

w Moderate full day hike
w 12 km (7.5 mi) return trip
w 457 m (1500 ft) elevation gain
w On private trips, we offer a special grizzly bear theme hike to Helen Lake (July 25 to August 15).

3. Paget Lookout

Located right on the Great Divide, the old Paget fire lookout boasts some impressive views of the surrounding peaks, including one of the biggest drops in the Canadian Rockies - the north face of Mt. Stephen. The trail winds its way up through a varied subalpine forest and across avalanche paths, ending high above the valley. This is a quiet, beautiful trail perfect for those seeking solitude.

w Moderate full day hike
w 7 km (4.5 mi) return trip
w 518 m (1700 ft) elevation gain
w Fondue with a View available
w On private trips, we offer a special co-evolution theme hike to Paget Lookout.

3½. Sherbrooke Lake

Despite its short length, Sherbrooke Lake is a quiet trail with a wonderful wilderness feel. The lake's aquamarine waters are fed by the Wapta Icefield and the forest has many stories to tell - of past fires, powerful winds and grizzly bear life. Because of the wide variety of habitats along the way, the trail boasts an amazing diversity of wildflowers in mid-summer. A must-do trail for flower lovers.

w Easy half day hike
w 6 km (4 mi) return trip
w 190 m (630 ft) elevation gain

4. The Valley of the Ten Peaks

The famous Valley of the Ten Peaks surrounding Moraine Lake is seen to its best advantage on this trail. All ten summits, each over 10,000 feet high, loom over the Wenkchemna glacier below. The trail crosses meadows filled with wildflowers during the mid-summer season. The trail continues to Wenkchemna Pass, but we generally only go part way, because the views are great no matter where you end up!

w Moderate full day hike
w 9-11 km (6-7 mi) round trip
w 365 m (1200 ft) elevation gain
w Current park regulations may require a group size of 4 or more people on this trail due to grizzly bear activity.

5. Bow Glacier Falls

A slot canyon, old moraines, blue glaciers, braided streams, beautiful Bow Lake and spectacular Bow Glacier Falls all combine to create a lot of scenic beauty for a modest effort. If you love water, this is the trail for you! Families will enjoy both the opportunity for skipping rocks, but also the "adventure" of crossing a rocky landscape to reach the waterfall itself. You can go as far as the great view of Bow Glacier Falls, or go right to their base.

w Easy full day hike
w 8-10 km (5-6 mi) round trip
w 152m (500 ft) elevation gain
w On private trips, we offer a special wonder of water theme hike at Bow Glacier Falls.

6. Bow Summit Lookout

Another great family trail, but this time it's all about the alpine - alpine meadows, alpine flowers and alpine wildlife! Bow Summit is the highest place you can drive to in the park and so the trail quickly gets you above the trees and to expansive views, including two of the most famous lakes along the Icefields Parkway: Peyto Lake and Bow Lake.

w Easy full day hike
w 6.5 km (4 mi) round trip
w 245 m (805 ft) elevation gain

7. Stanley Glacier

As of 2003, the Stanley Glacier trail has become one of the most interesting day hikes in the Rockies. A wildfire set the ecological clock back in time. The result is surprisingly beautiful! Flowers bloom prolifically in the newly fertilized soil, their brilliant colours standing out against a black background. Unusual plants like liverworts thrive and each trip yields new surprises. The trail leads from fire to ice, ending in a dramatic setting with the Stanley Glacier hanging above.

w moderate full day hike
w 8.4 km (5.5 mi) return trip
w 365 m (1200 ft) elevation gain

7½. Stanley Glacier Valley

The Stanley Glacier trail can be done as a half day trip that still features fire, flowers and fine views of the glacier.

w Moderate half day hike
w 6 km (4 mi) return trip
w 230 m (750 ft) elevation gain

8. The Lake O'Hara Area

Moderate to difficult full day hikes to choose from. Please note that Lake O'Hara is a hiking destination, not a sightseeing destination. Even the most moderate full day hike involves walking in rocky, uneven terrain. Good footwear is essential.

Lake O'Hara Hiking On Your Own
w Lake O'Hara is only available by making bus reservations. This destination is so "in demand" that you must make reservations 3 months in advance - to the day! Guided trips, however, can be arranged with less advance planning (see below).
w Season runs from about June 17 to October 6, varying slightly from year to year.
w The fees (charged by the national park) are: reservation fee of CDN $12, plus bus fees of $15 per person or $7.50 for people 16 years and under. Group size is limited to six.
w The phone number for reservations is 250-343-6433, Monday to Friday. They open at 8 am Mountain Time. The phone will ring busy, so plan to redial many times until you get through.

Lake O'Hara Guided Hiking Trips
w In Lake O'Hara, we take only full day private hikes. There is a group limit of 5 people, plus guide.
w Season runs from July 1 to September 30.
w
Moderate to difficult full day hikes to choose from. Please note that Lake O'Hara is a hiking destination, not a sightseeing destination. Even the most moderate full day hike involves walking in rocky, uneven terrain. Good footwear is essential.
w Please email us for more information on booking a guided hike to Lake O'Hara.
w We offer a special larch theme hike at Lake O'Hara (September 17 to 27).

8½. Consolation Lake

This pretty and short trail is perfect for families. It begins at one exquisite mountain lake — Moraine — and ends at another — Consolation. The forest in between is beautiful, filled with lichen, mushrooms, moss-covered logs, grouseberry and maybe even... grouse.

w Easy half day hike
w 6 km (4 mi) return trip
w 90 m (300 ft) elevation gain
w Current park regulations may require a group size of 4 or more people on this trail due to grizzly bear activity.

9. Lake Agnes and the Beehives

This beautifully graded trail through old-growth forest gives way to expansive views of the mountains above Lake Louise. In fall, larch trees turn vivid gold, lighting up the longer trips to the Big or Little Beehive — or both! These trails can also be connected to the Plain of Six Glaciers for an even bigger day.

w Lake Agnes: moderate half day hike, 7 km (4.5 mi) round trip, 390 m (1280 ft) elevation gain
w Little Beehive: moderate full day hike, 9 km (5.5 mi) round trip, 510 m (1680 ft) elevation gain
w Big Beehive: moderate full day hike, 10 km (6 mi) round trip, 540 m (1770 ft) elevation gain
w Note: the trail to Lake Agnes is busy and the upper sections also used for horseback trips. The Big Beehive trip can avoid most of the horse use.

9½. Emerald Lake

Emerald Lake is another jewel of the Canadian Rockies, and is one of the few lakes with a trail all the way around it. Thanks to its position on the west side of the Great Divide in Yoho National Park, a 360 degree tour of Emerald yields up four very different environments: a huge avalanche path, the normal forest, a dry and dramatic alluvial fan and the towering trees of the coastal rainforest.

w Easy half day walk
w 5 km (3 mi) return trip
w no elevation gain


Pika with grass in mouth

To book a walk or hike, or
for more information e-mail us now.

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