A busy mountain Tea House
Lake Agnes Tea House at Lake Louise, AB
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In early June I went to the Canmore for the weekend with some friends and on Saturday hiked at Lake Louise, AB. We decided to do the Lake Agnes Tea House trail. It’s an out and back trail that goes up from Lake Louise to Lake Agnes with options for continuing to a number of peaks including Mount Whyte, Mount Niblock and Mount St. Piran. Our destination was the Lake Agnes Teahouse which had opened for the season that day.
The weather had threatened rain all weekend but we were treated to partly cloudy skies Saturday with only a light drizzle near the end of our day. We started out early and it was good we did. Lake Louise is an incredibly popular spot for people to go and even by mid-morning the parking lot was almost full.
NOTE: You have to pay for parking at the lakeshore and parking is limited (parking attendants will turn you around when the lot is full). There are shuttle busses running from 6:30 am - 7:30 pm from Lake Louise Village. The shuttle up to Lake Louise lakeshore needs to be booked and there will likely be a decent wait in line to get back to the Village. Shuttles can be booked HERE.
The Travel Banff Canada website is a great resource for current information about the shuttle service and all outdoor recreation in the Canmore/Banff/Lake Louise area.
We had to weave through people to get near the lake and then through more people to get to the trailhead. If you are looking for a quiet, spacious hike, this is not the trail for you. It was incredible how much snow was still up in the mountains this year, fortunately we were prepared with layered clothing and proper footwear. We saw people on the trail who looked like they were out for a leisurely stroll in a city park and who had very wet feet by the time they got halfway up to the teahouse.
I always struggle with incline and this hike was no different. During the first part of the hike we set a pretty good pace and I kept having to stop and catch my breath. This part of the hike was basically snow free, although there were some icy patches. I am used to being the last hiker in a group but always feel bad when I hold people up. Our group split about midway and I ended up hiking with one of our group and a lovely family from Holland, who hiked more at my pace. It was fun to meet people from other parts of the world and interesting to hear their impression of Canada. By the time we got half-way, the trail was really quite busy and most of it was covered in snow. It had been a cool, wet spring so the melt was delayed. Some hikes in the area were still closed due to snow and avalanche risk.
Hiking this type of trail in shoulder seasons poses some risks that during the height of summer you will not encounter. There can be risk of avalanche, overflowing creeks/rivers or sinking in the slushy, melting snow pack. The snow was really deep this year but was packed down where hikers/snowshoers in the winter had used the trail. The packed snow was solid early in the day, it was the snow around it that was starting to slush and if you happened to step off the packed trail, you would sink up to your hip or further in the slushy snow. As we travelled farther up the mountain people were passing us in both directions. There were packed down places where previous hikers had moved off the trail to let others pass and these we made sure to use. As there were so many people, it made for a slower journey but a better pace for me.
Lake Agnes trail is in an area with high risk of avalanche from November until June. Always research a hike before setting out, especially in the mountains where avalanches occur regularly, and never use a trail marked with avalanche warnings unless you have taken an Avalanche Training course and have the appropriate gear. On our way up we heard a couple avalanches from other peaks. Avalanches sound like sustained thunder or a loud, long cracking noise. On our way back down we heard more avalanches and at one of the good viewing spots over Lake Louise, some of our group got video footage of an avalanche on the peak across the lake.
My group made it to Lake Agnes Teahouse well before me, but the benefit was they already had a table and were ready to order by the time I arrived. We enjoyed a beverage on the patio of the teahouse and marvelled at the narrow trail the staff had carved out of the snow in order to open that day.
The journey down took less time than up as is the nature of hiking. It was getting hot on the trail as we neared the trailhead and the icy patches became really slick. I ended up delayed as I witnessed an older woman slip on some ice and stopped to make sure she was okay. They had no water nor snacks for the hike and the woman needed some of both. I gave her some of what I had and suggested that they pack water and protein rich snacks next time. Knowing my group was waiting for me, I left them when colour returned to her cheeks but it was a good reminder to always be prepared.
Family Friendly: YES - In summer this hike would be family friendly if your family has done some longer distances or mountain peaks before. It is not a hard climb but the elevation combined with the distance would be hard for some children.
Seasons: Primarily Summer - As previously mentioned, this hike is best suited for the average hiker in Summer. Winter hiking/snowshoeing is possible but requires specialized training and gear for avalanche country
Nature: This one is a non-paved trail in the mountains so you are surrounded by nature, however, if you are looking for a quiet hike with only the sounds of nature, this is not the hike for you. Thousands of hikers travel this trail in the summer so it is not the trail for a silent walk in solitude.
NOTE: Bathrooms are scarce - The trailhead is located close to the Chateau Lake Louise and bathrooms are available there, however, there are only 2 outhouses at the Lake Agnes Teahouse with no other options along the way, so plan accordingly.
All in this was a lovely day with some friends on a trail that had been on my To-Do List for years and I was not too sore the next couple of days.
Until we meet on the trail,
Kara
Have you hiked Lake Agnes Trail, what was your experience? What other trails around Lake Louise would you recommend? Leave a comment below.