Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail in Banff National Park

#8 of 162 trails in Banff

Banff National Park, AB

Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail

Walk the open shore to the milky creek at the far end.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Length
4.6km
Time
1.5hr
Elev. change
82m
Difficulty
Easy
  • Dogs allowed
  • High point 1,819 m

Hear the audio tour

Lake Louise and the Lakeshore

Overview

About Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail

Why go

  • The creek flats give this classic lake walk a clear destination.

Heads up

  • You retrace the same shoreline on the way back, and parking is limited.

Map & elevation

The route

Loading the Banff map
Full map
Elevation1,737–1,819 m
TrailheadLake Louise Lakeshore parking lot51.41680, -116.21616
Keep this map with you offline in the Parkwolf app

Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Start at the Lake Louise Lakeshore parking lot beside Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Parking is limited and paid; the Park and Ride shuttle and Roam Route 8X serve the area. Use transit during the busy May-to-October season instead of relying on a space.

Safety

Snow and ice can make the path slippery in winter. Dogs must stay leashed and under control.

8 active Banff alerts

  • ClosureJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area closedJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area are closed to all traffic and travel through December 11, 2026, because construction work requires protecting public and workers’ safety.Official details
  • ClosureBaker Lake and Hidden Lake campgrounds closed to campingCamping is prohibited at Baker Lake and Hidden Lake campgrounds through December 1, 2026, because a grizzly bear entered campsites and investigated tents and gear; the closures reduce risk to…Official details
See all 8 alerts
A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone
Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Banff Tour Guide

Your drive to Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Banff National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

See the Banff audio tour

Recorded for this trailhead

Lake Louise and the Lakeshore
0:00 / 0:32
“You're coming up on Lake Louise, where the public shore looks straight toward Victoria Glacier between the mountains. You don't need a big hike for that view.”

Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.

More stories near here in the app

  • Ice Beneath the Boulders
  • The Bird That Spirals Up a Tree
  • Lake Louise Village: Advice, Lunch and the Old Tram Route
  • Lake Louise Campgrounds: Choose the Right Section
  • 185 audio storiesacross Banff’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
  • Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Brown Bear, Gray Wolf, and 13 more
  • Works offlinemaps, 162 trails, 90 places, and audio download before you lose signal
  • CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
★★★★★
“…Loved the commentary as you drove thru. I’m sure the app can do more than I know but the tips were very helpful. I’m gonna use it when we go to Banff next month.”
tesja22App Store review
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4.7 from 8,600+ ratings

Trail guide

Hiking Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail

The lakeshore walkLake Louise Lakeshore Trail is an easy out-and-back from the lakeshore parking lot to a milky…

Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail is an easy out-and-back from the lakeshore parking lot to a milky creek at the lake's far end. Plan on 4.6 km (2.9 miles) round trip and about 1 to 1.5 hours. It is a good pick if you want to follow the lake without committing to a longer mountain hike.

Follow the north shoreThe path winds through trees toward the far end, with open stretches for long views across the…

The path winds through trees toward the far end, with open stretches for long views across the turquoise water to the peaks. Some up and down is part of the route, so do not expect a flat promenade. Turn around at the creek, where the longer Plain of Six Glaciers route continues.

What makes the water milkyAt the far end, a pale creek runs across shallow flats and gives the lake its distinctive…

At the far end, a pale creek runs across shallow flats and gives the lake its distinctive colour. This is the natural turnaround. The creek channels make a good foreground for a photo with the lake and peaks behind them.

Getting thereStart at the Lake Louise Lakeshore parking lot near Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

Start at the Lake Louise Lakeshore parking lot near Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Parking is limited and paid; a park shuttle and Roam Route 8X serve the area, and an accessible toilet is near the lot. Dogs are allowed on leash. In winter, snow and ice can make the path slippery, so check the trail report before you go.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Banff

All Banff wildlife maps

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Banff. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.

Keep exploring

Near Lake Louise Lakeshore Trail

See it all on the map

Trails that start nearby

Places near the trailhead

Parkwolf’s Banff ranking

Top-rated trails in Banff

All 162 trails
  1. 1Sentinel Pass via Larch Valley TrailChallenging · 11.2 km
  2. 2Plain of Six Glaciers TrailModerate · 11.6 km
  3. 3Lake Agnes TrailModerate · 7.8 km
  4. 4Johnston Canyon Trail to Upper FallsEasy · 4.8 km
  5. 5Larch Valley / Minnestimma Lakes TrailModerate · 9 km
  6. 6Parker Ridge TrailModerate · 5.6 km

Take Parkwolf to Banff.

The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.

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