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
From the Lake Louise hotel promenade
Trail around Lake Agnes to the Big Beehive switchbacks
Approaching the Big Beehive switchbacks
Looking back at the Lake Agnes tea hut
Route to Mt Niblock and My Whyte from back of Lake Agnes trail
Big Beehive switchbacks
Big Beehive Gazebo - nice views!
Lake Louise hotel from the top of the Big Beehive
Little Beehive to the north
Jean on the Highline Trail hiking to the Plain of the Six Glaciers Tea Hut
View from the Highline Trail
Heading down the Highline Trail to intersect the Plain of the Six Glaciers trail
The Ledges on the Plain of the Six Glaciers trail
Looking back to the hotel
The Mitre
Plain of the Six Glaciers Tea Hut
Mt. Lefroy
On the trail back to the hotel
On the trail back to the hotel
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)