The trailhead of this hike is sandwiched between an enormous Fairmont Hotel and the incredibly beautiful Lake Louise. This no doubt makes it quite a popular hike. While this may be a detractor to some, one look at the landscape that you hike into and you’ll think differently. Adding to the allure is a teahouse situated near the apex of the hike.

 

Once you embark from the Fairmont, you hike along the northern length of Lake Louise in absolute awe of the color for the entirety. At the other end, you’ll begin a somewhat moderate climb up into the glacier filled canyon through a young forest for a kilometer or so. On the day of our hike, it was pretty overcast with intermittent sprinkles of rain, so the forest area was nice. A thick fog stuck to the mountains as we hiked, hiding their peaks and the freshly fallen snow that covered them. The forest doesn’t last for long as it gives way to fields of rock and debris caused from glacial wear and avalanches.

 

Soon enough, you reach the teahouse, which is a nice welcome, because at this point you’ll probably have to pee. All of the goods at the teahouse are brought in via horseback or helicopter so the cost of the items are priced to reflect their difficulty of delivery. $7 for chips and salsa is shocking at first, but worth it for the experience of snacking near a glacier. We got there around 11am just in the knick of time as the entire place filled up just after we had sat down. If you are going to come here, come early. 

 

After snacking, you can and definitely should continue on past the teahouse up to the glacier lookout point for some views that will make you feel inspired and incredibly small. Pictures cannot justify the scale of the environment you find yourself in here. At this point you are as far up the trail as you can go, but you have options! About halfway back towards Lake Louise, you can choose to divert up towards the Beehive Lookout and Lake Agnes which is home to another teahouse.

 

The hike up to the Beehive Lookout is easily the most strenuous part of this hike – steep switchbacks. We were cruising and it probably took us forty five minutes, but the view from the top offers you a view of Lake Louise that makes you feel almost on top of it. If you’ve got the time and the energy, this is suggested.

 

The hike down to Lake Agnes from the Beehive Lookout are more switchbacks, but are much less steep and therefore more forgiving on the knees. While Lake Agnes is far less inspiring than Lake Louise, it’s still a beautiful site and the teahouse is situated at the edge of a lake on a cliff with a waterfall created by the overflow of the lake. It’s nice. I am told less people come to this teahouse, so if you want less of a crowd, come here.

 

Lizzy looks out over Lake Louise up into the canyon we are about to hike.

  

 

Glacier melt finds it's way into Lake Louise as the epic Fairmont sits in the background.

 

Brian and Lizzy lead the way up into glacier territory.

  

For most of the day, these glacier-covered mountains hid in the clouds.

  

Lizzy and the path we've hiked so far with Lake Louise down below.

  

  

The lovely tea house we stopped at for a quick break.

  

On a less cloudy day, the views from these tables would be absolutely epic. Nevertheless, it was still quite enjoyable scenery.

  

Our teahouse bounty.

  

After our teahouse break, we are back on the trail and climbing once again.

  

 Selfie!

   

A panorama of the incredible sight that awaits at the top of The Plain of Six Glaciers hike.

   

Another shot for scale. Brian and Lizzy are tiny.

   

Brian and Lizzy look in complete awe. We witnessed a shelf of snow fall off the face to the right.

   

   

  

  

Instead of making our way back down to the lake, we decided to hike up to the Beehive.    

  

The color of Lake Louise is absolutely mind-blowing.

  

 The view across the canyon. Amazing.   

Much of the hike to the Beehive takes place amongst Larch trees. We were just a couple weeks too early as you can see they are just starting to turn their magnificent golden yellow.

 

 

 

As we made our way from the Beehive to Lake Agnes, we hiked down into a bowl and found ourselves enveloped by huge walls.

 

See what I mean?

 

 

Lake Agnes reflection. The second teahouse can be spotted just at the other side.

    

Making our final descent back to Lake Louise.