Lake Agnes Little Beehive Hike

Looking over to Lake Agnes and the Big Beehive
You can see Lake Agnes from the Little Beehive Trail

The Lake Agnes Tea House – Little Beehive hike delivers some of the best scenery in the Alberta Rockies – though the hike up to the tea house is often ridiculously busy. The locals often avoid the area like the plague because of the crowds – but if you’ve come from afar you need to see Lake Louise and Lake Agnes.

If you’ve made it as far as the Lake Agnes Tea House, then I’d recommend you do the full Little Beehive hike. It will only add an hour of hiking time. The view is actually grander that what you get on the Big Beehive hike.

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Little Beehive hike summary

Distance: 9 km (5.6 miles) return 

Elevation gain: 490 m or 1,608 feet

Level of difficulty: Easy to moderate depending on your fitness level.

Time needed: 2.5 – 3 hours

Dogs allowed: Yes, on a leash.

Best time to hike: Mid – June until mid-October

Getting to Lake Louise

Drive up the hill from Lake Louise Village to reach a large parking lot by Lake Louise. It’s usually full by 8 AM and you have to pay $12.25/day to use it. You can count on the parking attendants to turn you around if it’s full. They won’t let you wait for a parking space to open up.

There is an option to book a shuttle from the Lake Louise Ski Hill to Lake Louise. Reservations open on April 13, 2023 at 8 AM MST on the Parks Canada website. The shuttle is available from May 19 – October 9, 2023.

Another option is to use Roam Transit from Banff to Lake Louise. Reservations for the summer open in May.

Enjoying the Lake Louise view; that’s Fairview Mountain across the lake
Enjoying the Lake Louise view; that’s Fairview Mountain across the lake

Finding the trailhead for the Little Beehive hike

The Little Beehive hike starts beside Lake Louise. To find the trailhead, follow the shoreline path as it winds around the lake in front of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Look for a trail intersection on your right and you’ll see signs at the north corner of the lake.

The hike starts at Lake Louise
The hike starts at Lake Louise

Little Beehive hike description

Take the signed trail disappearing into the woods to start on the Little Beehive hike. The first part of this trail is also used for the Big Beehive hike, Mirror Lake hike and Lake Agnes Tea House hike.

The Little Beehive hike follows a wide dirt trail through the forest. There isn’t much in the way of views for the first few kilometres as you hike up steadily up towards Mirror Lake. When you start to get breaks in the trees you’ll be able to see the turquoise waters of Lake Louise hundreds of feet below, and then distant mountain peaks and glaciers.

Mirror Lake is the first notable stop

At the 2.6 km mark you reach Mirror Lake – which in August some years looks more like a puddle. To continue on the Little Beehive hike, stay right on the main trail towards Lake Agnes. In another 10 minutes the first of many fine views appears. At this point too, you’ll start to see larches.

Mirror Lake at the end of August when water levels have
Mirror Lake at the end of August when water levels have dropped

The hike to Little Beehive

At the 3.0 km mark, take the signed trail on the right to the Little Beehive. It’s a moderate climb and within 20 minutes you should be on the summit.

Plan to spend some time at the Little Beehive. It’s a gorgeous area with a fraction of the crowds you’ll find at Lake Agnes.

The trail to the teahouse and Little Beehive starts with a long series of switchbacks
The trail to the Lake Agnes Tea House and Little Beehive starts with a long series of switchbacks
Looking over to Lake Agnes and the Big Beehive
You can see Lake Agnes from the Little Beehive Trail
Playing around on the rocks looking for the best view en route to the Little Beehive
Playing around on the rocks looking for the best view on route to the Little Beehive
A hammock tucked in the trees with a view of Lake Louise
A hammock tucked in the trees with a view of Lake Louise
The top of the Little Beehive
The top of the Little Beehive hike
There's been some feeding in the past judging by the tameness of this Golden-mantled ground squirrel
There’s been some feeding in the past judging by the tameness of this golden-mantled ground squirrel

Option to hike Mt. Saint Piran

There is the opportunity to lengthen the hike by several hours if you climb Mt. Saint Piran. To find the trail for Mt. Saint Piran look for a sign with the name scratched and barely visible about 15 minutes up from the junction to Little Beehive. Hike up on a mossy floor even for a few hundred metres as its thick with larches and very beautiful, especially in fall.

The junction of Little Beehive and the Mount St. Piran trail
The junction of Little Beehive and the Mount St. Piran trail

Little Beehive to Lake Agnes

To get to back to the Lake Agnes Tea House retrace your steps to the first intersection but keep right or you’ll be descending all the way down to the main trail. Signs will lead the way. It’s only 1 km between Little Beehive and the Lake Agnes Teahouse. (You must sit down if you want anything to eat or drink at the tea house.)

Hiking towards Lake Agnes from the Little Beehive
Hiking towards Lake Agnes from the Little Beehive
Lake Agnes without a soul in the photo - but if you turn around its very busy
Lake Agnes without a soul in the photo – but if you turn around its very busy
Lake Agnes Teahouse on a July summer weekend
Lake Agnes Teahouse on a July summer weekend

The Highline Trail from Lake Agnes to Mirror Lake

Instead of joining the throngs on the descent from Lake Agnes Tea House, take the trail that goes along the lake directly in front of the Lake Agnes Tea House that is signed for Lake Louise and the Highline Trail.

It descends steeply to Mirror Lake where you then pick up the trail you ascended earlier in the day. You’ll be back at Lake Louise in just 2.6 km.

A less busy route down from the Agnes Lake Tea House delivers this view
A less busy route down from the Agnes Lake Tea House delivers this view

How much time do you need to do the Little Beehive hike?

All told you can do the hike in 2.5 – 3 hours – but it’s worth packing a lunch and lingering. Or bring your knitting like the person in the hammock did (pictured in one of the photos below) and get lost in the view.

Finish with a paddle on Lake Louise

If you like solitude this loop hike is probably not for you – unless you’re prepared to get a very early start. I’m a fan of the hike – because it’s beautiful and accessible. And afterwards if you’ve got an hour and $95/hour to spend (if you are an house guest) or $145/hour (if you are a visitor), you could rent a canoe and paddle to the end of Lake Louise for a great, albeit touristy way to finish off the day.

Canoeing on Lake Louise is a fun way to wrap up a day
Canoeing on Lake Louise is a fun way to wrap up a day

Where to stay in and close to Lake Louise

For a splurge stay right on Lake Louise at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. 

For value priced accommodations stay at the Lake Louise Hostel.

Deer Lodge is very close to Lake Louise and the renovated rooms are excellent. They also have a popular outdoor hot tub.

The Mountaineer Lodge offers comfortable rooms. 

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in winter

Further reading on hikes in Banff and Yoho National Parks

Do you have a favourite Lake Louise area hike?

Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterest boards.

The Lake Agnes -Little Beehive hike in Banff National Park

 

 

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