Monday, August 15, 2005 –

This morning we drove through Waterton Lakes National Park and admired the views from our car. It looked very similar to Glacier with its glacially carved valleys. Then we headed north towards Banff, the crown jewel of Canada’s national park system. We traveled to one of its most popular areas, Lake Louise.

Heading into Banff National Park

Lake Louise is located up a mountainous and curvaceous highway about 34 miles northwest of the town of Banff. We arrived at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, one of the world’s most beautiful hotels, located on the eastern shore of the spectacular emerald green lake. The Canadian Pacific railway built the grand hotel at the end of the 19th century.

The Beehive at Lake Louise

After touring the enormous and classic hotel, we decided to go for a 6-mile hike around the lake to the top of the Beehive Mountain. The hike was pretty mountainous and gained about 1,500 feet.

Not long after leaving the shore of Lake Louise, we ascended the trail for about 1.5 miles before we arrived at Mirror Lake. At a trail junction, we turned left on to the highline trail under towering peaks to Lake Agnes, where we saw a beautiful waterfall before arriving at the Lake Agnes Tea House.

We stopped for a beverage before heading around the north side of the small lake on the trail to the Bee Hive summit. We then reached some very steep switchbacks. Once we arrived at the summit, we came to an overlook shelter. The views of Lake Louise and the Fairmont Chateau were absolutely breathtaking.

Lake Agnes

Jeff getting ready to ascend the Beehive

Jeff looking down on Lake Louise and the Fairmont Hotel

We couldn’t stay too long because it was getting late, so we started to make our way back to Chateau. What a beautiful hike! When we arrived at our car, we drove to our hotel to check in. We were staying at the Post Hotel & Spa in Lake Louise. We had supper at the restaurant and then watched CTV News before going to bed that evening.