Parking
Start at the Lake Louise lakeshore access behind the Fairmont Château. Parking at the lakeshore is paid and limited; roadside parking is prohibited. Check current Parks Canada parking and shuttle directions.
Overview
About Mirror Lake Trail
Why go
- The Big Beehive rises over the lake and its reflection.
- A satisfying shorter turn-around before the Lake Agnes tea house.
Heads up
- A steady uphill climb on a branching, shared trail.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,738–2,045 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
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
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Mirror Lake 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 tourRecorded for this trailhead
Lake Louise and the Lakeshore0:00 / 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 Map Drawn from Memory
- The Bird That Spirals Up a Tree
- Lake Louise Village: Advice, Lunch and the Old Tram Route
- 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.”
Trail guide
Hiking Mirror Lake Trail
A shorter Lake Louise climbThe mapped Mirror Lake walk is a 5.7 km round trip (about 2.
The mapped Mirror Lake walk is a 5.7 km round trip (about 2.85 km each way) from the lakeshore, with roughly 350 m of cumulative climbing. Allow around 2½ hours. It suits you if you want an uphill forest walk to a small alpine lake, then a clear turn-around before the longer Lake Agnes hike. Published return distances differ, from about 5.3 to 7.6 km. This route follows the shorter lake-to-lake line; if you use a GPS track, check that its start and turn-around match.
Follow the Lake Agnes signsStart at the Lake Louise shore and follow the paved path to the signed Lake Agnes route.
Start at the Lake Louise shore and follow the paved path to the signed Lake Agnes route. The climb then winds uphill through forest on a dirt path and switchbacks. There are occasional openings back toward the turquoise lake below. Several trails branch around this area, so keep to the Lake Agnes signs until you reach Mirror Lake.
The turn-around at Mirror LakeThe little lake sits below the pale rock wall of the Big Beehive.
The little lake sits below the pale rock wall of the Big Beehive. That cliff and its reflection are the main payoff; still water gives you the clearest mirror. Benches and flatter resting spots sit beside the shore. Lake Agnes and its seasonal tea house continue farther along the same trail, but they are a separate extension from this row’s turnaround.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Banff
123 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
150 sightingsBrown BearMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
44 sightingsGray WolfMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
12 sightingsRiver OtterMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
69 sightingsMooseMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
466 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 9 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Banff. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
