A day spent in Banff National Park is always a good day. There's hiking galore, stunning alpine lakes, incredible views, outdoor activities a-plenty and best of all, a secret teahouse tucked high up in the mountains. Yes, you read that correctly!
In celebration of our two-year anniversary, Sam and I headed out of Calgary for the mountains in search of an adventure. We spent the beautiful autumnal day hiking from Lake Louise up to the Lake Agnes Teahouse, a 3.4 km one-way trek on an easy trail that is graveled and well-maintained. After a rest stop to sip on hot tea with a breathtaking view of Lake Agnes, we went around the lake and attempted to climb Big Beehive, but turned back due to treacherous snow and ice. Instead, we left the crowds behind at the teahouse and climbed a further 0.8 km to the top of Little Beehive.
If you ever get a chance to do this trail, I strongly recommend going in September - the perfect combination of fall colours and stunning wintery backdrops make this one of the prettiest hikes I've ever done. Please be cautious of changing weather conditions and be wary of snow/ice at the top. I suggest a good pair of sturdy, waterproof hiking boots.
LITTLE BEEHIVE VIA LAKE AGNES TRAIL HIKE DETAILS
When: June to October
Where: Banff National Park, trail starts at Lake Louise
Difficulty: easy-intermediate
Length: 45-60 minutes to Lake Agnes (3.4km one way) then another 20 minutes to Little Beehive (0.8km one way) - plus lots of time hanging out at the teahouse and the summit!
Directions: the trail to Lake Agnes is a clearly marked, graveled hike that begins to the right-hand side of Lake Louise. There is only one trail heading up and it's usually busy, so you won't get lost. Big Beehive continues around the back of Lake Agnes; Little Beehive curves up behind the teahouse past the bathrooms.
Bathrooms: yes, at Lake Louise and at Lake Agnes Teahouse
Public Transit: no
