Overview

Lake Louise is our favorite base for exploring Banff National Park, part of the Canadian Rocky Mountains Parks and a UNESCO World Heritage site, and celebrating its 125th anniversary as Canada's first National Park. Located within Banff National Park, Lake Louise, 35 miles northwest of the town of Banff, is a spectacularly beautiful mile-long lake flanked by mountains and the Victoria Glacier.

We are not morning people, but waking up early at Lake Louise brings a spectacular reward: a sun rising on Victoria Glacier's peak perfectly reflects its ice-covered slopes in the lake's emerald green waters.

Banff National Park is known for its scenes of majestic mountains, glaciers, lakes and woods. During the summer, the park offers miles of hiking trails from easy lakeside and valley walks to challenging mountain climbs. During the winter, the snow is plentiful and the lifts operate into May, making the area a great place for spring skiing, long after the American slopes shut down for the season.

Written by Candyce H. Stapen