(My solo road trip of western Canada – Wednesday 23rd September)
Someone in Banff told me that if I visit Lake Louise and I have time I should do the hike to Agnes Lake and then have some tea at the lovely Agnes Tea house…I obliged and it was a bit of a treat to be honest. The hike was not too demanding and lovely throughout, a few steep switchbacks, great views and gorgeous trees. Just before you go up the steps to the lake and the tea house, you are greeted with a waterfall which is a pleasant surprise. The tea house is beautifully made and the lake is small but very pretty. The walk after that was to Little Beehive where you a re blessed with some incredible views, especially of Lake Louise.
Lake Agnes is a small mountain lake in the Banff National Park of Alberta, Canada. It has a surface of 0.52 km² and is located approximately 3.5 km (one-way) hiking distance from Lake Louise. A teahouse is situated along the eastern shore at an elevation of 2134 metres (7002 ft). A hiking trail continues down the northern shore, making a 180° turn before ascending to the Big Beehive. Just before the trail starts the arc, a scrambling route up Mount Niblock can be found. The Little Beehive can be ascended to the east of Lake Agnes. At the top, there are excellent views of the Continental Divide.
Lake Agnes was named in honour of Lady Agnes Macdonald, second wife of Canada ‘s first prime minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. Lady Agnes visited the small lake in 1886, and her words, “This is lovely!” still ring true today. Hikers are treated to a mixture of trail that begins in old-growth forest of spruce and fir before leading to an open view of the waters below (the magical blue of glacier-fed Lake Louise )
Time: Half-day (approx. 4-hour return trip)
Distance: 7 km (4.5 miles) return
Level of Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation Gain: 367 m (1,204 feet)
Map: Lake Louise, 82 N/8 East
http://www.lakeagnesteahouse.com/getting-here.php
http://www.banff.com/banff-hiking/lake-agnes-teahouse/
