Over the years I have been to Lake Louise quite a number of times. Located of course in the Canadian Rockies it is truly one of the most stunning natural settings I have ever been to. Nestled west of Banff, Alberta, Canada it can be found just of the Icefields Parkway, in itself a must see, which connects Banff to Jasper.
The challenge here is that the time of year you can visit without the lake being iced over can be somewhat limited, and during that time period, tourists do tend to reign. There were a couple of times we drove there mid to end of May to beat the tourist rush, which we did, but found the lake mostly iced over, so no canoeing, but on one occasion were still able to hike. Even when it is iced over, it is still truly a beautiful stop and well worth a visit.
If you are there when the trails are open, a great hike is to the Teahouse around, behind and up from the lake. Apx 3 mile walk, but the scenery is incredible, and even though the glaciers behind seem to be within reach, they are much further back then you may think. Great views of the lake below, and range above, well worth doing. Depending on the time of year you can also rent a canoe or kayak to go on the crystal clear lake, hike around the many trails nearby, have a coffee at the Fairmont Chateau, or just sit on a bench and take it all in.
Nearby Lake Louise is another visually stunning lake setting, that being Moraine Lake. Instead of going straight to Lake Louise coming out of the main intersection, you will make a left, a drive for about 20 km...not bad. Well worth the side visit. If you want to see what awaits you, take a look on the back of a Canadian $20 bill!
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