W hen you think of Lake Louise at Banff National Park in Canada, the following view is probably the first image which comes to your mind:
Lake Louise From a Slightly Different Perspective
Sure — I have plenty of photographs like the one shown above; and I intend to share some of them with you in a future article pertaining to Lake Louise…
…but in addition to a trail which will take you to the opposite end of Lake Louise — of which I also have photographs to share in a future article — do not miss taking a short hike up the Fairview Lookout trail, which will reward you with a view of Lake Louise from 100 meters in altitude.
The trail of approximately one kilometer starts near the boathouse area of Lake Louise and will ascend for approximately half of a kilometer until a junction in the trail appears. Follow the signs; keep to the right; and continue to hike until you reach the viewing platform.
On the day I visited, there was snow on the ground — as much as one foot deep in some places. The deep snow was not the problem — rather, it was the icy areas of the trail which were extremely slippery and wet with melting snow and caused ascension along the steeper grades of this trail to be significantly more difficult…
…but once I arrived at the observation platform at the end of the trail, I saw the view shown in the above photograph…
…and I decided that even with the snow and ice, hiking that trail was well worth the views to which I was treated.
The view was literally breathtaking.
To exacerbate the situation of deep snow and slippery ice on the trail, nothing but trees will stop one from falling down the steep side of the mountain should one slip the wrong way.
On the other side of the lake is a flat trail which runs alongside the lake.
I would have rather stayed at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel rather than at the Delta Hotels Banff Royal Canadian Lodge at which I stayed.
Fortunately, I was able to maneuver the slippery trail back down to near the boathouse of Lake Louise.
Summary
I did not take the Lake Agnes Teahouse trail; but I understand that that trail can be a bit strenuous due to the significant gain of elevation over a short distance.
You should allow yourself a minimum of 45 minutes for the round trip of two kilometers; but if there is snow and ice on the trail, add at least another 30 minutes — and take your time and take it easy.
Other than admission into Banff National Park — which has been suspended for 2017 while Canada celebrates 150 years as a confederation — there is no admission fee to visit; and you can stay as long as you like.
All photographs ©2017 by Brian Cohen.
