The Big Beehive hike at Lake Louise starts on the classic Lake Agnes Tea House Trail, one of the most iconic hikes in the area. The views of Mt. Whyte and Devils Thumb behind the turquoise waters of Lake Agnes are truly special.
After a stop at Lake Agnes Tea House, continue on the Big Beehive Trail if you still have the time and energy. It’s a short but sometimes steep climb, with some of the best scenery above Lake Louise. Read on to discover why we feel the Big Beehive Trail is not only one of the best hikes in Lake Louise, but also one of the best hikes in Banff National Park.
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Is the Big Beehive Hike Right for You?
How Long is the Lake Louise Big Beehive Hike?
The Big Beehive hike is 10.8 km return from the Lake Louise lakeshore. This includes the section of the hike along the Lake Agnes Trail.
How Steep is the Big Beehive Hike?
The Lake Agnes Trail is a steady but reasonable incline. Once you pass the lake and begin the switchbacks, it becomes much steeper, but for a short period of time. Overall, the Big Beehive Trail has 645 m of cumulative elevation gain.
How Hard is the Big Beehive Trail?
Because of the distance and steady climb, we’d rate the Big Beehive hike as a “moderate Banff hike”.
At 10.8 km and 645 m elevation gain, the Big Beehive trail is a moderate Lake Louise hike. The best part is you can take a break at the Lake Agnes Tea House before continuing up to the Big Beehive.
It’s a steady climb almost the entire way up. If you’re a beginner hiker or don’t hike often, this hike will probably feel more difficult than moderate. If you are up for the challenge, the trail is well groomed and there are plenty of spots to take a break along the way (except on the switchback section that climbs up to the Big Beehive, as this is quite narrow).
How Long Does the Big Beehive Hike Take?
It should take a typical adult 3-4 hours to hike to the Big Beehive and back. We did this hike in late October and it took us 1.5 hours to get to the top of the Big Beehive.
We didn’t head straight back down, but instead went and enjoyed the nearby Little Beehive trail. Hiking to Lake Agnes, Big Beehive and Little Beehive took us a total of 3 hours and 40 minutes including stopping for pictures.
Alternative Hikes to the Big Beehive
While we think that most hikers should be able to make it to the top of the Big Beehive, it’s not for everyone. If you’d like to enjoy some amazing hikes in the Lake Louise area which are a little easier than the Big Beehive, consider some of these alternatives.
One good strategy would be to hike the Lake Agnes Trail first, and then while you are enjoying a treat from the tea house, you can decide whether or not to continue on to the Big Beehive.
Another easier hike in the area which gives amazing views of Lake Louise is the Fairview Lookout hike. It’s quite steep in spots, but short.
For more selection, don’t miss our list of hikes in Banff National Park sorted by difficulty.
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What to Expect on the Big Beehive Trail
Lake Louise to Mirror Lake
As you begin your hike along the shores of Lake Louise, take a moment to admire the incredible Victoria Glacier at the far end of Lake Louise. Then, look up and to the right where you’ll get your first view of the Big Beehive. This is your destination.
To reach the Big Beehive trail, you hike the Lake Agnes Trail first. The hiking trail to Lake Agnes begins with a moderate incline and remains this way throughout the entirety of this Lake Louise tea house hike.
As you gain more altitude the glimpses of Lake Louise become less prominent, but Fairview Mountain begins to loom large overhead on the left.
The trail also becomes a little more rugged, with more roots and rocks to manage. Huge boulders add visual interest to the trail as you gain more elevation. Bright red paintbrush flowers and large wild roses (Alberta’s provincial flower) grow in sunny patches along the side of the hiking trail in summer.
You’ll arrive at Mirror Lake after 2.9 km of hiking. Mirror Lake is a small mountain lake in front of the majestic Big Beehive.
Mirror Lake to Lake Agnes Tea House
The final leg of the hike to Lake Agnes is short, with several switchbacks. It’s a little steeper but still manageable.
Along this stretch of the trail to the Lake Agnes Tea House, you’ll be able to see beyond the nearby mountain valley to the main Bow Valley beyond.
Shortly after passing the horse stable, the trail leads to the edge of the waterfall. This is an incredibly beautiful spot and a rare opportunity to stand near a beautiful Banff waterfall. Be very careful here. The standing area is small, and the drop beyond the waterfall is significant.
Once you’ve had your fill of waterfall pictures, your final task is to climb 57 stairs. At the top, you’ll be greeted by the Lake Agnes Tea House, and the iconic Lake Agnes just beyond.
Lake Agnes to Big Beehive Lookout
The Big Beehive trailhead is found just past the Lake Agnes Tea House by the sign for their toilets. The toilets are up and to the right, while the Big Beehive trail continues straight ahead along the northern shores of Lake Agnes.
The beginning of the Big Beehive hike is a single-track trail through the bottom of a rock slide. As you’d expect, there are lots of rocks and roots on the trail, but at least it’s level.
As you walk along the shores of Lake Agnes, the views of Mt. Whyte (2,983 m) and Mt. Niblock (2,976 m) straight ahead are awe-inspiring. As mesmerizing as that view is, be sure to look to your left, as the Big Beehive is the large rock hill directly across the water.
As with most rock piles in Banff National Park, you’ll be sure to hear the telltale “eeeeeep” sound of a pika as you pass through. If you have the time, stop and try to spot one.
Pikas look like tiny little rabbits with small round ears. They are the size of a mango and love to sit on the top of rocks. Trust me, it’s worth the effort to see one. We were lucky enough to have a cute little pika sitting on a trail-side rock on our most recent hike up the Big Beehive
About halfway down the shores of Lake Agnes, you’ll pass the first of many larch trees along the hike. If you are lucky enough to hike Big Beehive in September, it’s a very nice larch hike in Lake Louise (and a great alternative if you can’t get to Moraine Lake to hike Larch Valley).
At the 0.6 km mark of the Big Beehive hike, you’ll cross a stream at the back of Lake Agnes over a bridge of large rocks. You can hear the sounds of the rushing water as it rushes below your feet.
After the stream, the trail starts to climb up through a rockslide below Devil’s Thumb. It doesn’t take long for the elevated views of Lake Agnes and the tea house to become spectacular. It’s amazing how much better the colour of the water becomes the higher you go.
The trail to the top of the Big Beehive massif leads you through a series of eight switchbacks up a rocky mountain slope. The trail up the switchbacks is steep and steady but is rarely too challenging.
The hardest part might be keeping your eyes on the trail, because the views of Devil’s Thumb overhead are incredible. The switchback trail is very narrow in spots, so all kidding aside, watch your step.
The switchbacks end at the 1.3 km mark of the Big Beehive trail. This is an important trail junction with three hiking trails leaving from here (plus the one back the way you came).
Go right to climb the challenging Devil’s Thumb Trail, go straight to continue on to the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail (another of our favourite Lake Louise hikes), or turn left to continue along the Big Beehive hike.
The Big Beehive
The last stretch of the Big Beehive hike is fairly level, with large rocks to walk over and around. As you walk through the large stand of larch trees atop Big Beehive, take a moment to enjoy the brilliant turquoise waters of Lake Louise below. From this vantage point, you can see the entire length of this iconic Banff lake.
In addition to the views of Lake Louise at this incredible Banff viewpoint, you’ll be treated to outstanding vistas of the mountains behind the lake, including Fairview Mountain (2,744 m), Haddo Peak (3,070 m), Mount Aberdeen (3,152 m) and Mount Lefroy (3,423 m).
You’ll reach the end of the Big Beehive hike at the 1.7 km mark of your hike. A covered wooden shelter (built in 1916 by the CPR) sits on the spot.
From this spot at the end of the Big Beehive hike, you’ll be rewarded with some of the best views in Banff National Park. The 360-degree views are simply incredible.
Behind you are the mountains you’ve been looking at around Lake Agnes, including Mt. Whyte, Mt. Niblock and Devil’s Thumb.
To your right, you can see Lake Louise below with Fairview Mountain standing guard behind.
In front, you’ll see the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise sitting on the shores of the lake, the Lake Louise ski hill and an enormous number of mountain peaks across the Bow Valley.
And finally, to your left, you can see Mt. St. Piran (2,649 m) with Cataract Peak (3,333 m) off in the distance. If you stand on the bench in the gazebo, you can also see Lake Agnes below.
The Big Beehive hike is an out-and-back, so you’ll head back to the Lake Agnes Tea House the same way.
Returning by the Lake Agnes Loop Trail
From Lake Agnes, most people return to Lake Louise the exact same way they came, and there’s nothing wrong with this approach. There is an opportunity to take an alternate trail down to Mirror Lake from Lake Agnes, which we highly recommend.
The Lake Agnes loop trail begins near the Lake Agnes waterfall (after you’ve crossed the little bridge). You’ll find a longer set of stairs leading down on the opposite side of the waterfall from the route you came up.
One of the many benefits of this alternate trail down from Lake Agnes is excellent views of the towering waterfall.
Not long after the stairs end, look up on the right and you’ll see you are immediately below the summit of the Big Beehive. It’s a pretty incredible sight, considering you were just up there!
This trail from Lake Agnes to Mirror Lake passes through a beautiful, lush forest, likely helped by the moisture from the nearby waterfall. It’s much less busy than the main trail.
As you pass the Big Beehive cliff, the mountain views really open up in front of you. You’ll be standing in a boulder field enjoying a stunning vista of Mt Aberdeen, Fairview Mountain and Haddo Peak. You can also see Mirror Lake through the trees below as well as the massive Big Beehive cliff overhead.
A few hundred meters beyond the boulder field, yet another beautiful mountaintop glacier comes into view. The views up here are truly breathtaking.
After 5.1 km of hiking, Mirror Lake appears through the trees on your left. On a sunny day, you can really appreciate the turquoise colour from this vantage point.
Beyond Mirror Lake you’ll be back on the main Lake Agnes trail heading back to the Chateau Lake Louise.
Read More
We like the Big Beehive Hiking Trail so much, we included it in our 7 Day Banff Hiking Itinerary.
Big Beehive Trailhead
To reach the Big Beehive trailhead, you must first hike to Lake Agnes.
From the Lake Louise parking lot, walk past the busy lakeshore photo area with Lake Louise in the background. You’ll find the Lake Agnes trailhead just past the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, one of the best hotels in Lake Louise. (Find out why in our review of the Fairmont Lake Louise hotel).
The Big Beehive trailhead is found just past the Lake Agnes Tea House near the toilet sign. The toilets are up and to the right, while the Big Beehive hike continues straight ahead along the northern shores of Lake Agnes.
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How to Get There
Lake Louise is about 55 km west of the Town of Banff on the Trans-Canada Highway. In normal conditions, the drive is roughly 40–50 minutes from Banff and about 2 hours from Calgary.
Take the Trans-Canada Highway 1 west, then exit toward Lake Louise. Turn left towards the village of Lake Louise then continue on Lake Louise Drive until you reach the parking lot.
Lake Louise lakeshore parking is extremely limited and expensive in summer, and Parks Canada does not recommend relying on a personal vehicle. If you don’t have a confirmed shuttle, transit, or commercial operator reservation, you are unlikely to find parking at Lake Louise Lakeshore during busy periods.
A better way of getting to Lake Louise is to book a spot on one of the Parks Canada shuttle buses. We have a full post about the Lake Louise shuttle bus with everything you need to know.
Big Beehive Trail Map
The Lake Agnes trail to the Big Beehive is easy to follow and is well marked. If you are feeling uncertain, you can use the AllTrails app while hiking to the Big Beehive, but the trail is popular enough that you’ll usually see other hikers along the way.
To find the Big Beehive trail map in AllTrails, simply click here for the “The Big Beehive”. Be sure to download your hiking maps prior to leaving.
Banff App Pick
AllTrails is one of our most recommended apps for visiting Banff, and your trip is the perfect time to try AllTrails Plus. Start with the 7-day free trial to download maps, save hikes, and use premium features before heading into the mountains.
Hiking the Big Beehive Trail with Kids
If you are visiting Banff with kids, we only recommend this hike for kids who are frequent hikers and are able to manage this distance and elevation. Keep in mind that the switchbacks leading from the end of Lake Agnes to the top of the Big Beehive are narrow and there won’t be many places for them to stop for a break.
Because our kids had hiked Sentinel Pass the previous year, we felt comfortable taking them on the Big Beehive Trail (now aged 9 and 7) during the larch season this year. They not only were able to hike to the top of the Big Beehive without issue, we also took the long way down to the Plain of Six Glaciers trail.
Read More
Don’t miss these other best Banff day-hikes with kids.
Where to Stop for Lunch or a Break
The obvious place to stop for lunch on the Big Beehive trail is at the Lake Agnes Tea House. You can find the Lake Agnes Tea House menu here. While some may find the Lake Agnes tea house prices to be high, it’s important to remember that all supplies need to be carried up to the tea house.
If you are traveling to Banff on a budget, there are plenty of places to sit and enjoy a packed lunch at one of the most scenic places in Banff. We often pack a lunch when hiking with kids, so we can stop when we need to. Even on a very busy day at this Lake Louise tea house, we had no issue finding rocks along the lake to stop and enjoy our lunch.
Another option is to wait until you reach the wooden shelter at the Big Beehive Lookout. You’ll find plenty of benches to stop and have lunch.
Big Beehive Hiking Safety
Aside from the usual rocks and roots, there are relatively few hiking hazards along the Big Beehive hiking trail. The hiking trail is well maintained and easy to follow all the way up to Big Beehive Lookout.
Wildlife Safety
When hiking in Banff National Park, you are responsible for your own safety. Before hitting the hiking trails, we highly recommend you read our Essential Banff Hiking Tips for information about bear safety, trail conditions, wildlife warnings and possible closures.
Big Beehive Trail Logistics
On-leash dogs are allowed on the Big Beehive hike. Mountain biking is not allowed. There are toilets in both the Lake Louise parking lot and up at the Lake Agnes Tea House.
Plan to pack plenty of water and snacks for this hike. Fill your hydration packs before you leave. You also have the option of buying lunch or a snack at Lake Agnes Tea House.
Do not count on reliable cell service for this hike, especially once you are away from the Lake Louise lakeshore.
What to Bring for Hiking the Big Beehive Trail
As the Big Beehive Trail is a moderate Banff day-hike, you need to be properly prepared for a day of safe hiking in the mountains. Before hitting the trail, please take the time to review our recommended Banff hiking gear.
Hiking the Beehive Circuit Trail
If you only have one day to see the best Lake Louise hikes, there are connector trails along these Lake Louise hiking trails to complete a Beehive Circuit.
Starting up the Lake Agnes trail, shortly after Mirror Lake, there’s an unmarked junction where you can turn right toward Little Beehive. From there, you’ll come down the main Little Beehive trail to Lake Agnes.
Continue the Beehive Circuit by passing the Lake Agnes Tea House towards the Big Beehive trail. Once you’ve been to the Big Beehive Lookout, head back the way you came.
Instead of turning right to go back to Lake Agnes, go left and follow the Beehive trail to the Lake Louise Highline Trail. A left on the Lake Louise Highline trail will take you back to Mirror Lake, where you can connect to the Lake Agnes trail back to the Lake Louise lakeshore.
This should be a total distance of about 13 km and 900 m elevation gain. The AllTrails description of the Beehive Circuit doesn’t do the out-and-back to the Big Beehive Lookout. Don’t miss this part. It’s only about another 1 km, and this is where you’ll get the best views!
If you really want to see it all, you could add on the Plain of Six Glaciers hike to this circuit. Instead of turning left on the Lake Louise Highline Trail toward Mirror Lake, turn right to the Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse (and past for incredible views).
On the return from the Plain of Six Glaciers, don’t take the Highline trail back, but stay on the Plain of Six Glaciers to finish the hike on the Lake Louise Lakeshore trail.
This Plain of Six Glaciers and the Beehive hike on AllTrails has a map of exactly this. It’s 20 km round-trip and 1,140 m elevation gain. It would be an epic day of Lake Louise hiking but you’ll get to see it all!
Hiking Big Beehive in Fall
In September, everyone goes crazy for the best larch tree hikes around Lake Louise, such as the Larch Valley Trail.
If you’d like to avoid the madness of Moraine Lake and Larch Valley, a great alternative is to see the golden larch trees along the Big Beehive trail. Given the proximity of Lake Louise to Moraine Lake, you can still expect these trails to be busy hiking in fall in Banff.
Once the final golden larch needles have fallen, the Banff hiking trails get a lot quieter. This doesn’t mean it’s a bad time to hike – in fact Banff in October can be a wonderful time to hike, depending on the weather conditions in that given year (which are extremely variable).
Hiking to Lake Agnes and the Big Beehive in October, you’ll find there is often snow on the mountaintops, which makes them especially beautiful. Lake Agnes may or may not be frozen over at this time.
When hiking in Banff in October, it’s critical to dress properly for hiking in Banff in fall. We recommend dressing in layers and always having some traction devices in your bag. When we last hiked the Big Beehive trail in October, there was a good layer of ice on the hiking trail about halfway up.
We had our microspikes on and had no traction issues at all. 90% of the hikers on the Big Beehive trail were really struggling and nearly everyone stopped us to ask about our microspikes. If you intend to do a lot of fall or winter hiking in Banff, microspikes are a great investment! Learn more in our post on the best winter traction devices for hiking.
If incredible views are what you’re after, you’ll find them on the Big Beehive hike in Lake Louise!
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Celine Brewer, a local Canmore resident, is the co-owner of Travel Banff Canada. She has a passion for being out in the mountains any time of year. In the summer, you'll often find her hiking or mountain biking. In the winter, she enjoys cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and winter hiking the most.
As much as she loves the mountains, she also loves travel! When she's not playing outdoors at home, she's either traveling the world with her husband and two kids or working on their other two travel sites: Family Can Travel and Baby Can Travel.