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Ski, Skate and Sleigh in Stunning Lake Louise

Published by Tammy Burns, Writer

Country: Canada

The Experience

Picture-perfect Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada, is one of the country’s most famous images. Nestled between towering, snow-capped mountains, with the gleaming Victoria glacier in the background, Lake Louise is a place too perfect to be real.

First, spend the day tackling the slopes of Lake Louise Ski Area, which has been called the most scenic ski resort in North America. Then, when your legs are burning and your fingers are numb, strap on some skates and venture onto the lake’s frozen waters. One glide across the smooth surface, and you’ll be hypnotized by the mountains around you and forget all about your exhaustion. Warm up at a bonfire on the edge of the lake, then skate around the crystal walls of an ice castle that’s built every year by the nearby Fairmont hotel. Then, once your legs really can’t take any more, climb aboard a horse-drawn sleigh for a ride around the lake, towards the base of the Victoria glacier, where the adventurous can climb (and slide down) a frozen waterfall.

Located in Banff National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Lake Louise is a glacial lake fed by run-off from the nearby, massive Victoria glacier (covering some 3.5 km, the view of the glacier from the lake only hints at the incredible size of it). In summer, the lake is a shimmery turquoise that reflects the mountains like a mirror; in winter, it is a slick, frozen piece of glass that gleams white with sticky, untouched snow. One look and it's no wonder Lake Louise is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Canadian Rockies.

People visit year-round, but if you arrive in winter, when the air is crisp and cold and the snow is thick and fluffy, you’ll encounter a real-life winter wonderland, not to mention some of the best skiing and skating in the world.

Photos

Map

Puzzle

When to Go to Lake Louise

Anytime is the best time of year to visit Lake Louise, but if you're going for skating or skiing, December to March is when you'll want to go. Be warned, though, that snow storms can make the drive from Banff to Lake Louise pretty treacherous. If you plan to rent a car and drive yourself, be sure it's one with good snow tires.

Mid-winter (January and February) are the absolute best times for skating, as it's when the lake is most likely to be thoroughly frozen.

Odds n' Ends

Lake Louise is pretty secluded, so you have limited options for eating and sleeping in the area - really, the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and the Deer Lodge are the only places to eat, unless you want to trek down to the ski hills. Be prepared to spend quite a bit of money if you plan to stay at either hotel.

The Fairmont hotel offers skate rentals for those who forgot to pack their own.

Places to Eat

Fairview Dining Room
Located in the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and offering expensive - but positively delicious - Canadian cuisine.
Mount Fairview Dining Room
Located in the Deer Lodge and offering expensive, delicious Canadian cuisine.
Glacier Saloon
Casual dining with soups, salads, burgers, and pizzas. Located inside the Fairmont Chateau.

Recommended Places to Stay

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Ultra luxurious resort on the shores of Lake Louise, with shuttle service to the ski hills.
Deer Lodge
Rustic hotel within walking distance of the lake. Boasts a rooftop hot tub with an out-of-this-world view.

More Experiences Nearby

Unwind Under Nature's Canopy at the Banff Upper Hot Springs
Tucked away above a small resort town amid beautiful alpine scenery, the Banff Upper Hot Springs is a perfect place to relax and enjoy the incredible mountain views of Banff National Park. Discovered in 1884 by settlers, the streams that formed the Banff Upper Hot Springs were once considered to have sacred healing powers by Natives in the area. These naturally-heated mineral-rich waters come from deep within the appropriately named Sulphur Mountain, and are enjoyed by visitors from all over the world. Today, the ancient waters of the Banff Upper Hot Springs are fed into a large modern pool which ...34 miles away.

Carpe Diem! Book to do this experience now!

Book now
Lake Louise and Icefields Tour
Learn about the mountaineering history and how a tragic accident at Lake Louise shaped Canadian mountain culture. Finally, visit the source of the Bow River ...
Starting from $45.86 per person.

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Books and DVDs

Frommer's Banff and the Canadian Rockies Day by Day
Canadian Rockies Trail Guide
Scenic National Parks: Glacier Banff & Jasper [Blu-ray]

Elsewhere on the Web

Banff National Park of Canada - Pc.Gc.ca
Lake Louise

Media References

Banff and Jasper National Parks Alberta, Canada - NationalGeographic.com (magazine)
36 Hours | Banff, Alberta - NYTimes.com (newspaper)

Language Guides

French , Italian , Japanese , Lao , Portugese , Russian , Spanish , Turkish , Vietnamese are some of the languages spoken in Canada. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!

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