Lake Louise, Alberta
Serene beauty in the land of little fishes
Located in the heart of historic Banff National Park, Alberta, Lake Louise is a scenic area with wild alpine beauty, first-class lodges and warm hospitality. Banff National Park, Canada's first national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a protected wilderness offering stunning scenery and excellent powder skiing. Lake Louise offers adventure opportunities as diverse as the Canadian Rocky Mountain landscape itself.
The Lake Louise area includes the village of Lake Louise, Lake Louise itself, Moraine Lake and the gondola and ski area. Lake Louise is the highest permanent settlement in Canada at an elevation of 5,039 feet (1,536 m). Referred to by native Indians as "Lake of Little Fishes," Lake Louise's turquoise water set against the towering Victoria Glacier is the most photographed landscape in the Canadian Rockies.
Lake Louise village's relaxed pace attracts travelers for its simple charm and excellent outdoor activities year-round. The famous Chateau Lake Louise offers views of the Victoria Glacier within the wilderness and the lower village of Lake Louise offers fine dining, accommodations and shopping.
There are many ways to experience the natural beauty of Lake Louise. In summer, walk along the many nature trails, hike into the backcountry or climb mountain peaks. In winter, participate in canyon ice walks, ski the "champagne" powder or fly across snow in a dog sled. Snowshoeing is also available, and backcountry lodges offer the opportunity to truly get away from it all.
Lake Louise's downhill ski area, spread over four mountain faces and connected by a lift and trail system, offers magnificent scenery and its sheer size ranks with the finest ski resorts in the world. Helicopters can take you to top of a remote mountain for an exhilarating run through untouched powder. Banff National Park and the surrounding areas offer a network of cross-country skiing trails as well, and advanced skiers can tackle a high-alpine glacier traverse. In summer, the ski gondolas offer access to panoramic views and hiking trails.
Over 621 miles (1,000 km) of hiking trails, ranging from novice to expert, await you here, and you can experience backcountry hiking via helicopter. Rock climbing is also popular, and there are a variety of training programs available for mountaineering and ice climbing as well. If water is your thing, enjoy spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery from a canoe on Lake Louise or Moraine Lake or get wet whitewater rafting or kayaking on local rivers.
