Lakeshore Trail

The Lakeshore Trail is a classic, highly accessible walk winding along the northern and western shores of Lake Louise in Banff National Park. Beginning directly in front of the historic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, this wide, well-graded gravel path offers a flat and easy route suitable for hikers of all ages and abilities, including families with strollers. As it traces the edge of the water, the trail provides constant, spectacular views of the lake's iconic turquoise waters, framed by Mount Victoria and the towering Victoria Glacier. The trail proceeds for approximately 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) one way, totaling 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) round trip with minimal elevation change. Along the route, hikers pass beneath sheer rock walls popular with rock climbers and through pockets of subalpine forest. The trail ends at the far end of the lake at a gravelly delta where glacier-fed streams deposit rock flour into the lake, giving it its famous color. This point also serves as the trailhead for more demanding hikes, such as the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail.