Banff National Park

The Fairview Lookout offers an excellent perspective on the famous Lake Louise and the majestic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. This viewpoint is reached via a short, yet steadily ascending trail winding through the forest. You'll gain about 100 meters in elevation over a distance of approximately one kilometer (round trip). Once at the top, a classic view unfolds of the turquoise lake, framed by the Victoria Mountains and the Victoria Glacier in the background. The area around Lake Louise was developed for tourism as early as the late 19th century, with the Chateau playing a central role and remaining an iconic structure to this day. Our Tip: Visit the Lookout in the early morning to enjoy the tranquility and capture the soft light of the rising sun on the lake. This also helps avoid the largest crowds. For impressive photos, position yourself so that the lake, the hotel, and the mountains are all captured in one composition.

The turquoise Lake Louise lies at around 1,730 m below the Victoria Glacier; its colour comes from fine rock flour in the meltwater. On the eastern shore stands the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. A flat lakeside trail leads to the lake's western end; popular hikes ascend to the Lake Agnes Teahouse or the Plain of Six Glaciers. Parking lots at the lake fill up early in summer and require payment; the Parks Canada shuttle from the Park & Ride is the more relaxed alternative. The lake is usually ice-free only from June.

Moraine Lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks is among Canada's most photographed sights. The classic view is from the Rockpile, a short climb up a scree hill at the lake's north end. Since 2023, Moraine Lake Road is closed to private vehicles; reach the lake via the Parks Canada Shuttle (pre-booking advised) or commercial operators. The road is usually open from June to mid-October.