Lake Agnes Tea House hike

Get to the main Lake Louise (not the ski hill, the actual lake) parking lot early, as it fills up quickly, even midweek. When you leave the parking lot, head in the direction of Lake Louise. Once you’ve arrived, continue hugging the right-hand side of Lake Louise, passing the beautiful Chateau Lake Louise (5725ft).

Continue going around Lake Louise for a short while before a sign indicates the path leading off to the right towards Lake Agnes. This path through the forest rises steadily uphill and you will likely see many people on this path huffing and puffing if they aren’t used to the altitude.

During your ascent you will get flashes of Lake Louise through the trees. You will reach Mirror Lake (6654ft) roughly 1.7mi from the parking lot, having gained 902ft of elevation. This is a lovely little lake, but is a mere appetizer for what will come later. At Mirror Lake you will want to head to the right, following the signposts to “Lake Agnes”.

After another 0.6mi, you will be at Lake Agnes (6988ft), a beautiful mountain lake with a lovely little tea house. The Lake Agnes Tea House operates 8am – 5pm daily from June to October. If you arrive here after 10:30am, expect it to be crowded with other hikers. However, if you manage to get here early, you may be lucky enough to have the place all to yourself.

If time permits, it’s definitely recommended to take a break here. The delicious tea and fresh baked goods they offer will provide the energy you need should you choose to continue on to another trail.

Additional Hiking

While most hikers stop at Lake Agnes Tea House, we recommend that you consider one of the two very good short hikes possible from here. We show both excursions in yellow on the map.

1. Contour around to the far end of Lake Agnes. It is only 2625ft to go to around to the far end of Lake Agnes to where the trail switchbacks up steeply to the Big Beehive. This short hike around Lake Agnes provides a great view back of the Lake Agnes Tea House as well as get a better view of the stunning valley. This route is also a very high avalanche risk, so don’t even consider this route if there is still snow on the mountains above.
2. Hike up to the Little Beehive. The Little Beehive is a wonderful hike, and you get there by taking the path that goes up from the Lake Agnes Tea House past the washrooms. You follow this path as it passes the point where the trail on your left goes up to the summit of Mt St Piran. The hike to the Little Beehive is only 2789ft each way and gains 328ft of elevation, so it is steep in place. That said, it’s a beautiful hike.

To get back head back to the Lake Agnes Tea House and then follow the signed route you came up on, descending past Mirror Lake and then to Lake Louise.

Want to find more amazing Lake Louise hikes? Check out the Plain of the 6 Glaciers, Sentinel Pass, Morraine Lake or the Skoki Lakes hike.

What to know when hiking the Lake Agnes Tea House trail in 2024

This year, the Lake Agnes Tea House hike in Lake Louise might be accessible earlier due to reduced snow levels. However, visitors should anticipate possible delays due to construction on Lake Louise Drive planned for 2024. To avoid the inconvenience of construction traffic and limited parking, taking advantage of shuttle services is advisable. Opting for a shuttle not only eases travel concerns but also supports a more relaxed and enjoyable hiking experience, allowing visitors to take full advantage of the early-season access to this popular trail.

The Lake Agnes Tea House in Banff National Park opens for the season in mid-June and continues serving visitors until early October. They operate daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during this period. Make sure to check if it’s open before your visit!