9 Once-In-A-Lifetime Activities Near Lake Louise
Lake Louise, in the heart of Banff National Park, has been mesmerising visitors for centuries.
Originally built by the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise has sat proudly on the shoreline of Lake Louise since 1882, and the allure of the azure blue water still attracts travellers from all around the world through its doors to this day.
Having lived and worked in Lake Louise for an entire year, we were fortunate enough to have some incredible, bucket-list worthy adventures and in this article we are going to guide you through 9 once-in-a-lifetime activities in and around Lake Louise.
Whether you plan to visit Lake Louise in the summer, winter or off-season, we will have an incredible activity that you won’t want to miss.
Once-in-a-lifetime activities near Lake Louise available in Summer Only
Voyageur Canoe
Everybody has heard of the iconic red canoes. Canoeing on Lake Louise is one of the most acclaimed summer activities in Lake Louise, attracting visitors from around the globe annually.
Floating on top of the world’s most photographed lake has become a bucket-list activity for many travellers across the world. But what is less spoken about, is the chance to float on Lake Louise in one of the 26ft cedar-strip voyageur canoes.
With prices starting from CAD$225 (Per Canoe), the voyageur canoe allows you to experience Lake Louise just as others have been doing for over a century.
The voyageur canoe experience at Lake Louise differs from the regular canoe rental as you can have up to 12 guests in one voyageur canoe at a time (8 during social-distancing covid-times).
On the voyageur canoe experience you are accompanied by a knowledgeable mountain guide from the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. They walk you through the correct techniques to steer such a large vessel, before guiding you through the history and beauty of the Lake Louise Area.
Your guide will share knowledge about the early explorers, indigenous peoples and the local wildlife - if you are lucky, you may be able to spot a resident Grizzly Bear skulking along the shoreline.
With the Canadian flag flying proudly from the stern of the canoe, the voyageur experience is a quintessential activity for any Lake Louise summer vacation.
Hiking Larch Valley
There are a plethora of hikes, walks and strolls in Lake Louise but there is one that stands head and shoulders above the rest - the Larch Valley Hike.
Although the trail is accessible all summer-long, it comes alive during the early Autumn months of September and October, when the larch trees turn a vibrant, golden colour.
The trail itself begins at nearby Moraine Lake, a short 15-minute drive from Lake Louise along the winding Moraine Lake Road.
The 3-4 hour round-trip hike takes you through the heart of the stunning valley of 10 peaks, weaving through the remarkable golden larch forest, before reaching Sentinel Pass - where you are greeted by incredible panoramic views of Paradise Valley below.
‘Larch Season’ only lasts for a few weeks in Alberta before the famous larches shed their needles, so the Larch Valley trail is highly-trafficked and it can often be difficult to find parking space at Moraine Lake. Arriving early in the morning (6.00-7.00am) during the height of Larch season should enable you to get a head start of the commuters due to arrive throughout the day.
Our advice: it is not uncommon to come across a grizzly bear while up to Sentinel Pass. Remember to bring bear spray with you and stick to the main trails.
Once-in-a-lifetime activities near Lake Louise available in Winter only
Night-time Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing has long been renowned as one of the best winter activities in Lake Louise, but only in the dead of night can the famous Canadian past-time be truly appreciated.
Snowshoes were first invented by Native Canadians after being inspired by the snowshoe hares and their ability to run across thick pockets of icy tundra without sinking into the snow. Desperately needing something to aid their hunting efforts, Native Canadians crafted what we now know as snowshoes, from flexible ash or birch wood.
Snowshoes were able to distribute the weight more easily on firmer snow, allowing the Native Canadians to hunt over larger distances. Today’s snowshoes are typically made from lightweight plastics and metals, and serve a more recreational purpose. A purpose that is best experienced once the sun sets over the Rocky Mountains.
Journeying into the woods late in the evening, you experience a brand new world of stillness and calm. Only fleeting crunches of snow beneath your snowshoes break the meditative silence.
Snowshoes can be hired from the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Rental Shop for as little as $20 per person, making night-time snowshoeing accessible to almost anyone visiting Lake Louise.
So grab a large flask of hot chocolate, a few headlamps and wrap up in plenty of warm layers - a magical winter adventure in the Canadian Rockies awaits.
Ice-climbing at Maligne Canyon
Picture yourself at the bottom of a 55m deep canyon, at the foot of a frozen waterfall, desperately trying to figure how you’re going to navigate your way out of the canyon - that is what awaits you on your ice-climbing adventure.
A 3-hour drive from Lake Louise along the icefields parkway, lies the sleepy, little, mountain town of Jasper. Deep in the heart of the Rockies, Jasper is home to the imposing Maligne Canyon. A 1.2km long gorge that plays host to kayakers in the summer and climbers in the winter.
Beginning at the Rockaboo Mountain Adventure Office in Jasper, you are given all the gear you will need to tackle the intimidating day of climbing ahead - ropes, ice-picks, crampons and helmets are all necessary to conquer the frozen waterfall.
Transport is provided to whisk you away to Maligne, where you are fortunate enough to bypass the tourist trails and head straight into the canyon. The tourist trails offer wonderful views into Maligne, but it’s only once you’re standing on the icy floor of the canyon itself, that you are able to appreciate the vast openness of the gorge that surrounds you.
The 6-hour tour (CAD$225 per person) begins with a brief safety demonstration and introduction to ice-climbing, before you’re let loose on the frozen falls.
Unlike traditional rock climbing, there are no handholds on a frozen waterfall, so you must use your strength to carve out a hold with your ice-pick and hope it remains as you ascend up the canyon wall.
Ice-climbing, a perilous and enchanting winter undertaking that cannot be missed.
Ice-climbing Tour: this beginner friendly tour introduces you to ice-climbing in Maligne Canyon, allowing you to climb to the top of a frozen waterfall.
Ice-magic Festival in Lake Louise
The annual Ice-magic International Ice-carving Competition hosted on the grounds of Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is an extraordinary spectacle of precise artistry and intense, gruelling physicality.
Each block of ice, weighing a staggering 300lbs, is expertly crafted and manipulated by teams of 2 sculptors, working together over a 34-hour period to create a dazzling, icy masterpiece.
As a spectator, you can choose to watch the event live as the sculptors go about their craft, or indulge in the finished article once the carvers have completed their treasure.
The ice-sculptures remain in situ until nature takes it toll and they begin to melt - when, mercifully, the grounds staff at the Fairmont remove them before they are reduced to a sorry puddle on the ground, and a shadow of their former selves.
Tickets are needed to enter the Fairmont grounds on the weekend of Ice-magic, but free viewing of the sculptures is available during mid-weeks and evenings. The carvings look particularly impressive when viewed under the moonlit backdrop at nighttime.
The ice-magic festival is an impressive demonstration of craftsmanship and perseverance - a spectacle that has to be seen to be believed.
Lululemon Pond Hockey Tournament on Lake Louise
Dubbed the ‘most Canadian Hockey Tournament ever’, the Lake Louise invitational has been running since 2003, and has been hosted by Lululemon since 2019.
The famous athletic apparel retailer gathers competitors from all around the globe to take part in the weekend event, showcasing athletic prowess and Canadian spirit in equally healthy doses.
The frozen water of Lake Louise plays host to the tournament in late February each year. As the athletes skate their way around the rink in the foreground, you can marvel at the scenic backdrop of the mighty Victoria Glacier - standing proud in the distance at 11300ft.
Couple your experience with a visit to the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Ice Bar, where a luxurious hot chocolate or apple cider is sure to refresh you before the next round of competition.
Hockey, Hot Chocolate and Lake Louise - the unlikely combination that makes for a truly authentic Canadian experience in the heart of Banff National Park.
Once-in-a-lifetime activities in Lake Louise available all year round
Canmore Cave Tours
The best adventure in (literally) the Canadian Rockies is only a short 45-minute drive from Lake Louise and is an adrenaline-filled adventure that you do not want to miss.
Rain or shine, summer or winter, the Canmore Cave Tour Company offers tours through Rat’s Nest Cave, a wild undeveloped cave formation underneath the impressive Grotto Mountain.
Meeting at the Cave Tour Office on the outskirts of Canmore, you are fully kitted out with all the necessary harnesses, overalls and helmets before embarking on a quick 10-minute drive to the base of Grotto Mountain.
A brisk hike up to the cave entrance and you are ready to crawl, wiggle, squeeze and climb your way through the ancient rock formation.
The Explorer Tour (4.5 Hours - CAD$135+GST) gives you a healthy introduction to the dark world of caving as you make your way through the cave, until you reach the lowest accessible point of the cave network. The Grotto, as it is known, is a room covered with stalactites and stalagmites, and a crystal clear water pool.
For those with less sensitivity to claustrophobia, the Adventure Tour (6 Hours - CAD$175+GST) adds an impressive 18m abseil rappel onto the experience, before conquering the dreaded ‘laundry chute’. The most tight and cramped section of the cave that certainly adds a little extra challenge.
Proudly labelled as the best activity to do on a rainy day in the Canadian Rockies, delving deep into rat’s nest cave is an adventure that is bound to make even the most-intrepid explorer a little weak at the knees.
Rockies Heli Canada
There is surely no better way to appreciate the sheer beauty of the Rocky Mountains than from above. Soar high above Abraham Lake at 100mph and glide over glaciers, waterfalls and mountain peaks.
Rockies Heli Canada, a 1.5 hour drive from Lake Louise along the stunning Icefields Parkway, has been operating its mountain adventures since 1999 and makes for a once-in-a-lifetime activity like no other.
Offering a range of trips, from short 20-minute flights to multi-day fishing excursions, Rockies Heli Canada can provide an unforgettable experience for any Lake Louise vacation itinerary.
The Heli Wilderness Tour provides guests with a scenic helicopter flight over the mountains, before the pilot sets down at the confluence of Cline River and Waterfalls Creek. From here, you are treated to a 1 hour wilderness walk that takes you to the magnificent Twin Falls Waterfall.
In winter, the wilderness tour is accompanied by hot chocolate and a snowshoe walk to the frozen falls and in summer, a slightly different feel of hiking and prosecco awaits.
Whatever the time of year you choose to visit Rockies Heli Canada, one thing will remain the same - it will be a truly unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime feat high above the Rockies.
Walliser Stube Fondue
There are very few dining experiences that can be considered a once-in-a-lifetime activity, but eating at the Walliser Stube in Lake Louise is certainly one of them.
The traditional Swiss restaurant, located inside the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, offers innovative European Alpine cuisine, from the comfort of a luxury 5-star resort.
The Walliser Stube is home to an authentic cheese fondue - a homage to the Swiss Mountain Guide heritage of Lake Louise - and although there are other delicious options on the menu, the signature choice has to be the Chateau Experience.
The 3-course banquet begins with a rich mushroom, truffle shallot fondue before progressing to the Fairmont reserve 8oz Tenderloin Steak, accompanied by farm vegetables, whipped potatoes and a mouthwatering béarnaise.
For dessert, another fondue, but this time of the chocolate variety. Into the fountain of melted goodness you are able to dip toblerone pieces, madeleine cookies, fresh fruit and vanilla cream puffs.
With a floor-to-ceiling wine library housing over 500 unique bottles of the world’s finest beverages, you will have plenty of choice to wash down the Chateau Experience.
The cosy, intimate, alpine feel of the Walliser Stube is sure to live long in the memory.
Did you know? There is a strong Swiss Influence throughout Lake Louise and Banff National Park thanks to Swiss Mountain Guides settling in the area in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Facts like this are interesting things to know before visiting Lake Louise in the summer.
There you have it - a complete round-up of the 9 once-in-a-lifetime activities to experience in Lake Louise. We hope this guide inspires you to try some new and fun activities on your next visit to Banff National Park.
