Lake Louise Alpine Hiking
Stay in Lake Louise village and hike classic trails, including the Plain of Six Glaciers, Larch Valley, O'Hara Lake and Sunshine Meadows.
Designed for fit hikers, with one classic 4–6 hour alpine trail each day: Agnes Lake linked to the Plain of Six Glaciers, Larch Valley from Moraine Lake to Sentinel Pass, the alpine lakes around O'Hara Lake in Yoho, and Sunshine Meadows. Staying in Lake Louise village cuts down on early starts. O'Hara Lake requires a shuttle lottery; if you don't get a spot, switch to trails around Takakkaw Falls.
Alpine trails are mostly free of snow only after mid-July. Larch Valley turns gold in mid to late September.
Day by day
Day 1 · Arrival and Johnston Canyon
Banff & Lake Louise（Johnston Canyon）
Drive about 2 hours from the airport to Johnston Canyon. The round-trip walk to the Upper Falls takes about 2 hours, then it's 30 minutes to the village of Lake Louise.
Stay: Lake Louise Village
Day 2 · Agnes Lake and the Plain of Six Glaciers
Banff & Lake Louise（Lake Louise、Lake Agnes Tea House、Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House）
Take the shuttle to the lakeshore at Lake Louise, pass Agnes Lake, then join the Plain of Six Glaciers via the High Line Trail. The loop is about 14.6 km.
Both tea houses accept cash only, and queues are long in peak season.
Stay: Lake Louise Village
Day 3 · Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass
Banff & Lake Louise（Moraine Lake、Larch Valley & Sentinel Pass）
Take the early shuttle to Moraine Lake. The one-way trail is about 5.6 km with roughly 750 m of elevation gain, so allow about 5 hours round trip.
During bear season, groups of at least four may be required.
Stay: Lake Louise Village
Day 4 · O'Hara Lake in Yoho
Banff & Lake Louise（Lake O'Hara）
Drive about 15 minutes to the O'Hara Lake parking lot, then take a booked shuttle up for about 20 minutes. Lake trails take 3–6 hours.
Shuttle seats are allotted through an online lottery in spring. If you don't win, switch to Takakkaw Falls.
Stay: Lake Louise Village
Day 5 · Sunshine Meadows and Departure
Banff & Lake Louise（Banff Sunshine Village & Sunshine Meadows）
Drive about 50 minutes to the Sunshine Village parking lot, take the gondola up, and spend 3 hours wandering the meadows. Then drive about 1.5 hours to the airport.
The summer gondola runs roughly late June to September. Allow time to reach the airport.