Days of Noah are Here!

Big Beehive Lake Agnes Tea Hut Plain of the Six Glaciers Tea Hut Loop - Lake Louise

You can still take your vehicle to the actual lake at Lake Louise but parking is limited in the high season and you must get up the road very early to get one!

Unfortunately for 2023 there is now paid parking at the Lake Louise lake parking lot. It is in effect from May 10th to October 10th from 7 am to 7 pm each day at a cost of $12.25 per day.

New in 2021: Parks Canada is offering daily shuttles from the Lake Louise Park and Ride (6km east of Lake Louise village) to the Lake Louise Lakeshore and Moraine Lake. Available from May 21 - October 11, 2021. Shuttles must be reserved ahead of time to guarantee a seat. Walk up seats are not available.

 

Banff Lake Louise Transit and Shuttles Link

Big Beehive Tea Hut Loop

 

From the Lake Louise hotel promenade

Big Beehive Tea Hut Loop

Trail around Lake Agnes to the Big Beehive switchbacks

Big Beehive Tea Hut Loop

Approaching the Big Beehive switchbacks

Big Beehive Tea Hut Loop

Looking back at the Lake Agnes tea hut

Big Beehive Tea Hut Loop

Route to Mt Niblock and My Whyte from back of Lake Agnes trail

Big Beehive Tea Hut Loop

Big Beehive switchbacks

Big Beehive Tea Hut Loop

Big Beehive Gazebo - nice views!

Big Beehive Tea Hut Loop

Lake Louise hotel from the top of the Big Beehive

Big Beehive Tea Hut Loop

Little Beehive to the north

Big Beehive Tea Hut Loop

Jean on the Highline Trail hiking to the Plain of the Six Glaciers Tea Hut

Big Beehive Tea Hut Loop

View from the Highline Trail

Big Beehive Tea Hut Loop

Heading down the Highline Trail to intersect the Plain of the Six Glaciers trail

Big Beehive Tea Hut Loop

The Ledges on the Plain of the Six Glaciers trail

Big Beehive Tea Hut Loop

Looking back to the hotel

Big Beehive Tea Hut Loop

The Mitre

Big Beehive Tea Hut Loop

Plain of the Six Glaciers Tea Hut

Big Beehive Tea Hut Loop

Mt. Lefroy

Big Beehive Tea Hut Loop

On the trail back to the hotel

Big Beehive Tea Hut Loop

On the trail back to the hotel

Big Beehive Tea Hut Loop

 

Big Beehive Lake Agnes Tea Hut Plain of the Six Glaciers Tea Hut Loop - Lake Louise

  • Hiking Loop Class 1 - Pleasant hiking with some steep switchbacks to the Big Beehive
  • Altitude: Highest Point The Big Beehive 2,270m (7,448 ft)
  • Elevation Gain: 700m (2,300 ft) Full Loop - Return Distance 14.4km (9 miles) extra 2.4km return if you hike the 1.2km past the Plain of the Six Tea Hut
  • Loop Time: For fairly fit hiker 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 hours with stops at the Big Beehive and Plain of the Six Glaciers Tea Hut, 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 if you take a less aggressive pace
  • Best Season to Scramble: June to October - the Tea Huts open early June and close early October ie generally Thanksgiving Weekend

Highlights

This loop is pleasant hiking in amazing scenery and a worthy one if you want a break from scrambling the bigger peaks that are all around the area

Getting There

Head west out of Calgary on the TransCanada highway # 1 to the Lake Louise town-site 187km (116.9 miles). If your base is Banff head west on the TransCanada for 56km (35.0 miles) to the Lake Louise town-site. There is only one exit so keep your eye out for it. Go straight through the town- site and up the hill to the Lake Louise hotel parking lot (around 4-km more). Park in the lower or upper parking lot. Washrooms are in the parking lot.

See the link above for shuttle services as parking is very limited in high season.

Route Description

Head over to the promenade in front of the Lake Louise Hotel. From there keep going as if to go counter clockwise around the lake. There is a small sign for the Lake Agnes Tea Hut, take this trail. Don't take the lower trail that says Plain of the Six Glaciers. That trail continues counter clockwise alongside the lake to the back of the lake.

Once on the Lake Agnes trail follow it past Mirror Lake (take right side of Mirror Lake) and follow the signs to the Lake Agnes Tea Hut. Circle around Lake Agnes lake and hike the steep switchbacks to the top of the Big Beehive. Once at the top you have to go left and traverse back along the top to the gazebo and lookout point. After enjoying the great views head back along the top and take the trail left to drop down to the Highline Trail. Head right on the Highline trail. The Highline Trail traverses high above Lake Louise and gradually descends to intersect with the Plain of the Six Glaciers Trail.

At this intersection head right and follow the trail back to the Plain of the Six Glaciers Tea Hut. After you have enjoyed the views its 5.5 km back to the Lake Louise hotel along the lake shore.

Lake Louise hotel to the Lake Agnes Tea Hut 3.6 km allow 1 to 1 1/2 hours, elevation gain 1,320ft Lake Agnes Tea Hut to the top of Big Beehive 1.0km allow 45 minutes, elevation gain 445 ft Big Beehive to the Highline Trail 0.9km. Highline Trail to the intersection with the Plain of the Six Glaciers trail 2.3 km Plain of the Six Glacier trail intersection to the Plain of the Six Tea Hut 1.1km Plain of the Six Glaciers Tea Hut back to the Lake Louise Hotel 5.5km Approximate total loop distance 14.4km elevation gain 700m (2,300ft)