The Lake Agnes Trail is a scenic hike at Lake Louise that leads to a historic tea house beside a picturesque mountain lake.
The Lake Agnes Tea House hike is one of the most popular hikes in Lake Louise. A short, steep hike up a mountain slope on the north side of Lake Louise, hikers will be rewarded with stops at two stunning mountain lakes.
Mirror Lake is the first lake you’ll visit on the Lake Agnes hike. Mirror Lake is a small, but beautifully set lake below a rounded massif known as the Big Beehive.
The second lake you encounter is, of course, Lake Agnes. Surrounded by magnificent jagged mountains, Lake Agnes is one of the most scenic lakes in Banff National Park. A fun tradition is to reward yourself with a treat from the iconic Lake Agnes Tea House.
We’ve been hiking in the Canadian Rockies for decades now, and can confidently say that the Lake Agnes trail is one of the best hikes in Lake Louise.
Lake Agnes Trail Overview
Distance: 7.7 km / 4.8 miles out and back.
Elevation Gain: 502 meters / 1,650 feet.
Estimated Time: 3-4 hours.
Important Things to Know:
Parking at Lake Louise is $42 per day.
It’s better to take a Lake Louise Shuttle than try to drive to Lake Louise.
Public toilets are located in the main parking lot at Lake Louise and at the tea house.
There is a water station in the washroom facilities in the parking lot.
On-leash dogs are allowed on the Lake Agnes trail.
Bring cash for the tea house.
The tea house is open June 4 until Canadian Thanksgiving.
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Lake Agnes Trail Highlights
Leg 1: Lake Louise Lakeshore to Lake Louise Viewpoint
The hiking trail begins with a moderate incline and remains this way through the entire Lake Agnes Tea House hike. The views of the turquoise colors of Lake Louise and the impressive Victoria Glacier get better and better with every step.
The early stages of the hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House are through a dense evergreen forest, with a deep green carpet of shrubs and moss, with occasional bursts of color from wildflowers.
The air is filled with the sound of happy birdsong. You’re still close enough to the lake surface that the intermittent views of Lake Louise through trees on the left are a real treat.
At the 690 m mark of the Lake Agnes hike you’ll cross a little stream, although it can dry up in summer. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the whitebark pine trees lining the trail. Sadly, the whitebark pine tree is endangered, so please don’t touch and definitely don’t carve anything into the trunk.
The incline of the Lake Agnes trail remains steady. You can expect to breathe a little harder, but you’ll notice there are hikers of all abilities on this beautiful Lake Louise hiking trail. While taking a break to catch your breath, try to spot tiny kayaks floating on the brilliant blue water of Lake Louise through gaps in the trees.
At 1.4 km the roots of a massive whitebark pine spill like an octopus onto the Lake Agnes hiking trail. As you gain more altitude, the glimpses of Lake Louise become less prominent, but Fairview Mountain begins to loom large overhead on the left.
At 1.7 km a glacier appears through trees atop Mount Aberdeen. Lake Louise is known for its beautiful glaciers, and you’ll spot several of them on the Lake Agnes trail.
Just 200 m later, the trail does a single switchback, taking hikers further up the mountain in the opposite direction. At the spot of the switchback, an opening in the trees allows for an amazing view of Lake Louise below. The water color on a sunny day is indescribable.
Leg 2: Lake Louise Viewpoint to Mirror Lake
This section of the Lake Agnes trail becomes a little more rugged, with more roots and rocks to manage. Huge boulders add visual interest to the Lake Agnes hiking 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.
At 2.3 km, you’ll arrive at a break in the forest which allows for amazing views of Fairview Mountain, which rises dramatically along the south shore of Lake Louise.
You’ll pass a horseback trail 2.8 km of hiking. I’m sure the people who take a horseback ride to Lake Agnes enjoy it, but the rest of us hikers now need to watch our step as we continue on the hiking trail.
You’ll arrive at Mirror Lake after 2.9 km of hiking the Lake Agnes trail. Mirror Lake is a small mountain lake in front of the majestic Big Beehive.
As you can imagine, after nearly 3 km of hiking uphill along the Lake Agnes trail, Mirror Lake is a popular place for hikers to stop and rest. There are plenty of rocks to sit on near the shores of Mirror Lake.
The relaxing sound of a mountain stream flowing into this beautiful Banff lake is complemented by the sound of happy dogs leaping into the water to fetch sticks. You’ll be able to find a shady spot on a hot day, but don’t stay too long as Lake Agnes is the final goal.
Leg 3: Mirror Lake to Lake Agnes Waterfall
From Mirror Lake you can choose between hiking across to the Plain of Six Glaciers (another Lake Louise tea house hike) or continue another 0.8 km to Lake Agnes.
The final leg of the hike to Lake Agnes is short, with several switchbacks. It’s a little steeper than the rest of the Lake Agnes hike, but it’s not too bad.
Along this stretch of trail, the views really open up. You can see beyond the narrow mountain valley to the Bow Valley, along with Fairview Mountain, Mount Aberdeen, Haddo Peak, Devil’s Thumb, and even the Trans-Canada Highway.
At the 3.5 km mark of the Lake Agnes trail, the jagged peak of Mt. Whyte appears through the trees. Watch carefully on your left for a chance to see the beautiful waterfall which flows from Lake Agnes. There are not many chances to see it from afar.
You’ll arrive at the trail junction for the Little Beehive trail after 3.6 km of hiking. Continue straight for Lake Agnes. At this elevation, the mountain views become more regular along the Lake Agnes hike.
Shortly after passing the horse stable, the Lake Agnes 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.
As you’d expect with an opportunity as good as this, the area under the Lake Agnes waterfall gets very crowded. Be very careful, as the area to stand is small and the drop down beyond the waterfall is significant.
Leg 4: Waterfall to Lake Agnes Tea House
Once you’ve had your fill of Lake Agnes waterfall pictures, your final task is to climb 57 stairs. At the top, you’ll be greeted by the historic Lake Agnes Tea House, and the iconic Lake Agnes just beyond.
The Lake Agnes Tea House is a very popular place for a snack and a drink after completing this popular Lake Louise hiking trail. There are a few picnic tables, benches and rocks to sit down around this Lake Louise tea house area.
It’s hard to describe the beauty of Lake Agnes, with jagged Mount Whyte and Devil’s Thumb looming high overhead. The setting couldn’t be more dramatic.
If you are lucky enough to visit Lake Agnes in fall, the lake is surrounded by larch trees. Lake Agnes is incredibly beautiful in fall when the needles on the larch trees change color.
If you can peel your eyes off Lake Agnes for a moment, you’ll enjoy some amazing vistas looking southeast. You’ll be able to see the Chateau Lake Louise hotel and across the valley to the Lake Louise Ski Resort.
The day before our most recent hike to Lake Agnes, we took the Lake Louise Summer Gondola. We were on the opposite side of the Bow Valley looking towards Lake Louise and Lake Agnes, now just 24 hours later, we were enjoying the inverse view.
Add-on Hikes to the Lake Agnes Trail
By itself, the Lake Agnes trail is one of the best hikes in Banff National Park, but once you reach the lake, there are many excellent Lake Louise hiking trails which begin at Lake Agnes. If you are up for it, there is some excellent hiking to enjoy:
- The lakeside trail around edge of Lake Agnes
- Big Beehive Hike
- Little Beehive Hike
- Mount St. Piran (blog post coming soon!)
- Devils Thumb
Optional Leg 5: Alternate Route Back to Mirror Lake
After enjoying their time at Lake Agnes and the tea house, most hikers return to Lake Louise along the main Lake Agnes hiking trail. If you have proper hiking shoes, there is an alternate trail back to Mirror Lake, which is a lot of fun.
The Lake Agnes loop trail begins near the Lake Agnes waterfall (after you’ve crossed the little bridge). You’ll find a much longer set of stairs leading down on the opposite side of the waterfall from which you came.
One of the many benefits of this alternate trail to Mirror Lake is the excellent views of the towering Lake Agnes waterfall.
Once the stairs are over, the hiking trail is much more natural and comes with lots of rocks and roots. It should be manageable for almost everyone, but hiking shoes would be a big help here.
Not long after the stairs end, look up on the right and you’ll see you are standing directly below the cliff face of the Big Beehive. It’s a pretty incredible sight!
This trail from Lake Agnes to Mirror Lake is through a beautiful, lush forest likely from the humidity of the nearby waterfall. It’s much less busy than the main trail, but watch your step, as there are lots of small, loose rocks on the trail which have fallen off the Big Beehive cliff above.
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. It’s hard to compete with the scenery at Lake Agnes, but this spot could very well be the most scenic spot on the Lake Agnes hike.
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 its turquoise color from this vantage point.
Beyond Mirror Lake you’ll be back on the main Lake Agnes trail heading back to the trailhead near the Chateau Lake Louise. The views coming down are amazing, especially as you are working less hard and are more able to look around and soak in the world-class Lake Louise scenery!
The Lake Agnes Trail is a must-do hike, which is included in our 5 Day Banff Hiking Itinerary.
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Lake Agnes Trail Stats
How Long is the Lake Agnes Tea House Hike?
The round-trip distance of the Lake Agnes trail is 7.7 km (4.8 miles). This is measured from the Lake Agnes trailhead near the Lake Louise lakeshore to the Lake Agnes Tea House.
We recently recorded our hike using the alternate route back down to Mirror Lake. Our recording on AllTrails showed the Lake Agnes Loop is slightly shorter, coming in at 7.5 km.
How Hard is the Hike to Lake Agnes Tea House?
Due to the length and incline, we rate the Lake Agnes hike as “moderate”.
At 7.7 km and 502 m (1,650 feet) of elevation gain, the Lake Agnes trail is a moderate hike at Lake Louise. Depending on your fitness level, you may find it to be more difficult, but by taking breaks when needed, it’s a hike most anyone should be able to do.
It is a consistent climb on the way up, but you don’t need to be intimidated by this. If you are a beginner hiker or don’t hike frequently, know that the Lake Agnes trail is well-groomed and there are plenty of spots to take a break along the way.
How Long Does the Lake Agnes Hike Take?
It should take a typical adult 2-3 hours to complete the Lake Agnes hike . We did this hike with our two kids (8 and 5 years old) and it took us 3.5 hours including time at Mirror Lake, lunch at Lake Agnes and stopping for pictures.
Lake Agnes Trail Map
The Lake Agnes trail is easy to follow and is well marked. If you are feeling uncertain, you can use the AllTrails app while hiking to Lake Agnes, but the trail is popular enough that you’ll have plenty of people to follow.
To find the Lake Agnes trail map in AllTrails, simply click here to see the “Lake Agnes trail”. Be sure to download your hiking maps prior to leaving.
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Lake Agnes Trailhead
As you walk from the Lake Louise parking lot, you’ll pass the crowds of people taking pictures at the first Lake Louise viewpoint. Keep walking along the lakeshore past the Chateau Lake Louise hotel (one of the best hotels in Lake Louise), until you reach a trail junction.
As you can see in our picture below, the Lake Louise Lakeshore trail and the Plain of Six Glaciers hike are to the left, while the Lake Agnes Tea House trail is to the right.
How to Get to Lake Agnes
If you wish to visit the Lake Louise area, the very first thing you need to do is to learn about how to get there. Due to overwhelming demand, the very expensive Lake Louise lakeshore parking lot will fill up fast in the summer and likely before sunrise. Most of us will find ourselves unable to find a parking spot at Lake Louise and will need to find an alternate way there.
As early as possible in your Banff planning, make sure you read How to Get to Lake Louise first. Then, if you wish to book a shuttle, follow-up by reading about the Lake Louise shuttle bus. It is vital that you know this information – do not risk missing out on Lake Louise on your trip to Banff.
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Hiking Lake Agnes Trail with Kids
If you are visiting Banff with kids, this is an excellent hike for the entire family. It may be challenging for some kids, with the consistent climb, but it’s well worth it to make it to the top. Even kids can appreciate a view like the one you get at Lake Agnes Tea House.
If your kids aren’t regular hikers, there are plenty of opportunities to stop for a break on a log or a large rock. Just hike at a pace which works for your family and you’ll get there.
Our kids, who are 8 and 5 years old, are decent hikers and they really enjoyed this hike. Young hikers are often very popular with other hikers, so they’ll feel special from all the encouragement they will receive.
The hiking trail to Lake Agnes is wide enough for 2-3 people, making it a great hike for families or groups.
There are toilets near the Lake Agnes Tea House, which is especially helpful when you’re hiking with kids.
Read More
If your kids love hiking or you want to find more great Banff hikes with kids, 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 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 lunch at one of the most scenic spots 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 the Lake Agnes tea house, we had no issue finding rocks along the lake to stop and enjoy our lunch.
Lake Agnes Hiking Safety
In the summer, there are relatively few hiking hazards along the Lake Agnes hiking trail. The trail is well maintained and easy to follow all the way to the Lake Agnes Tea House.
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.
What to Bring for Hiking Lake Agnes Trail
Even though this isn’t a very long hike, you need to be prepared with the basic hiking gear. Before you hit the Lake Agnes hiking trail, be sure to check out our list of recommended Banff hiking gear essentials to ensure you safely enjoy your hike.
Hiking Lake Agnes in Fall
In September, everyone goes crazy for the best larch tree hikes around Lake Louise, such as the Larch Valley Trail. While the Lake Agnes trail is not the best larch hike, you can still see some larch trees here, and it’s usually less busy than popular Larch Valley.
If you are visiting Banff in September, you’ll find a few larch trees at the far end of Lake Agnes towards the end of the month. In addition, if you add on the Big Beehive hike or the Little Beehive hike, you’ll be treated to a decent amount of golden larch trees, especially on the former.
Once the final golden larch tree needle has fallen, the Banff hiking trails get a lot quieter. This doesn’t mean it’s a bad time to hike; if you visit Banff in October, you’ll find it’s a wonderful time to hike to Lake Agnes. By this time of year, there is often snow on the mountaintops, which makes them especially beautiful, but Lake Agnes should still be thawed.
When hiking in Banff in October, it’s critical to be prepared for varying conditions. We recommend dressing in layers and always having a pair of microspikes in your bag.
When we last hiked Lake Agnes in October, there was a good layer of snow 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 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, they are a great investment! Learn more about shoulder-season hiking in our posts on Banff winter traction devices and what to wear hiking in Banff.
The Lake Agnes Trail is a “must-do” Lake Louise hike! You’ll find every step worth the effort when you see the views!
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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.