Little Beehive trail is one of the best day hikes in the Banff area of Canada. It’s short enough that it’s accessible for many people, but it’s long enough that it feels like a challenge! Along the way you’ll get to enjoy waterfalls , stunning lakes, and a scenic teahouse. At the end you’ll get fantastic panoramic views over the vibrant Lake Louise and jagged mountain peaks.
If you’re looking for the perfect day hike, then look no further.
I’ve done this trail twice and both times it completely blew me away. 🤯 I would do it 100 more times, because it’s💦 that stunning! I loved getting to sip on hot tea while enjoying the views and the spectacular overlooks at the summit are incomparable.
Lake Louise is fed by glacial melt which means that the color and depth of water changes over time. So, the hike will look different depending on the time of year! It varies from a seafoam green color to bright blue, but it’s remarkable to see no matter which color appears.
Read further for everything you need to know to complete the Little Beehive trail!
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Little Beehive Trail Details
Little Beehive is one of the most popular trails in the Banff area and for good reason. It provides incredible views over the Canadian Rockies with a stop at an adorable Teahouse.
In this blog post I will try to outline everything you need to know about hiking this trail including a detailed trail description, directions on getting Lake Louise shuttle reservations, the best time to hike, and a packing guide!
I hope you enjoy this spectacular hike ✨ as much as I have and add it to your Banff itinerary!
Quick Hike Info
Distance: 5.7-6.1 miles
Elevation: 1750 feet of gain
Type: Out and Back
Length: 3-5 Hours
Difficulty: Hard
Little Beehive Trail Location
The Little Beehive trail is directly on the shores of Lake Louise in the heart of the Canadian Rockies 🇨🇦 in Banff National Park. The Canadian Rockies are in Western Alberta Canada near the border of British Columbia. Lake Louise is about 40 minutes from Banff and 2 hours from Calgary.
This trail follows the shoreline past the Fairmont, then it turns off into the forest and goes up into the mountains ⛰. At the top, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views over the bright blue lake.
How to Get to Lake Louise
There are a few ways to travel to Lake Louise, including flying, taking the train, and driving 🚗. I have flown into both Calgary and Edmonton airports and they were both good experiences.
I recommend having a car to get around the rockies. But, parking lots at Lake Louise fill early so you can get shuttles reservations here!
Fly to Lake Louise ✈️
You can either fly into Calgary (2 hour drive) or Edmonton (4.5 hours) and drive to Lake Louise from there. There are plenty of rental cars at those airports or you can book a shuttle on the Brewster Express.
Rocky Mountaineer Train
One of the most popular, but expensive, ways to visit the Canadian Rockies is to take the Rocky Mountaineer. This train will take you from Vancouver, stopping in Kamloops and to the Canadian Rockies. It’s one of the most scenic trains in North America and it’s a bucket list trip!
Getting a Lake Louise Shuttle Pass
Parking lots fill up early at Lake Louise, so you should either plan on getting there before sunrise or reserving a shuttle. These shuttles will take you from the ski resort to Lake Louise or to Moraine Lake and back. Directions are below!
- You’ll need to go onto the Parks Canada Reservations website and click on Day Use.
- Then, select the “Shuttle to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake”
- Choose the date, time, and number of people you have.
- Checkout and take a picture of your reservation to have on hand!
Best Time to Hike the Little Beehive Trail
The best time to hike the Little Beehive Trail is from summer to early-fall. During that time trails will be free of snow, the temperatures will be warmer 🌡, and there’s plenty of daylight hours. July and August is when Lake Louise is the most turquoise.
I recommend hiking the Little Beehive trail from the months of June through September. ☀️☀️
Little Beehive trail gets very crowded in the summer, so go early or later in the day to avoid dealing with the crowds 🚷. We hiked it at 4 pm in June and only saw a few other people.
Because the Little Beehive trail is up in the Canadian Rockies, it gets a lot of snow during the rest of the year. Avalanches are also possible, so I do not recommend hiking it from November to early May. If you do, remember to bring spikes and safety gear! 🦺
Things to Know Before You Go
💵 Lake Louise is in the Banff area, so you’ll need a Parks Pass for Banff. These cost $22 CAD a day for a family/group or you can get the Discovery Pass ($151 CAD), which covers you for all Canadian National Parks and lasts a year.
🚗 The parking lots fill up before sunrise in the summer. So, as of 2023, there is a new shuttle system. You can book reservations for shuttles here.
☀️ Weather changes quickly up in the mountains, so make sure that you are prepared with layers and proper gear.
⛺️ There are two campgrounds at Lake Louise a hard-sided and a soft-sided one. The campgrounds are open from end of May to end of September. Reservations open up in late January.
🐻 There are grizzly bears in the the Canadian Rockies! They recommend hiking in goups of 4 or more and packing bear spray.
🦮 Pets are allowed on trails in Banff and Lake Louise. However, you must keep them on a leash and please clean up after them!
⚠️ Lake Louise is open year round, but lookout for bad weather and road closures during the winter!
🍃 Remember to follow the Leave No Trace Principles. As always, you want to leave nature looking better than you found it.
Packing Guide for the Little Beehive Trail and Banff
Even in the summer, the mountains can get chilly and the weather can change rapidly ⛈. Make sure to check the weather before going out on the trails. It’s best to always be prepared with plenty of layers and safety gear!
If you plan on hiking in the Rockies, I also recommend bringing bear spray 🧸. There are bears in the area and although they tend to stay away from popular trails, it’s always possible that you could see them.
Packing Guide for Lake Louise
- Comfortable Hiking Boots
- Day Pack
- Hiking poles
- Water Reservoir
- 1-2 Liters of Water
- Snacks and Food
- First Aid Kit
- Sunscreen
- Bug Spray
- Bear Spray
- Headlamp
- Rain jacket
- Light winter jacket
- Satellite phone
- Camera Clip
Where to Stay in Lake Louise
Lake Louise and Banff are popular areas to visit in the summer, so it can be pricey 💸 to stay around there! You can find a few nice hotels or airbnbs in the area or stay further away in Golden (56 km) or Canmore, Canada (80 km).
If you have money to spend and plan early, then I recommend staying at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, it’s right on the shores and it’s stunning! It’s the premiere place to stay.
Best Lodging Near Lake Louise
- Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (Pricey, but beautiful)
- Mountaineer Lodge (I stayed here with my friends in 2019 and liked it!)
- Post Hotel & Spa
- Moose Hotel & Suites
Little Beehive Trail Description
Start at Lake Louise Shoreline
Take the shuttle or park at the Lake Louise parking area. From there, you’ll walk along the shoreline to the right. You’ll pass the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and continue along the path.
Luckily, this trail is flat and easy, so it’s a great way to get your legs warmed up. Once you’ve gone about a quarter mile around the lake, then you’ll see the trailhead 🪧 sign for Lake Agnes and Little Beehive. Take that path up towards the hike!
Up to Lake Agnes Teahouse
From the beginning of the trailhead, you’ll start your ascent up the mountain. The hike is fairly steep from the beginning, but luckily plenty of it is under the shade of the forest.
You’ll go over a few switchbacks before you start to get views of the lake through the trees. It can be a challenging climb, so make sure to stop for water and take breaks. Once you get 2 miles and 900 feet in you’ll see the turn off for Lake Agnes.
Take this trail for .2 miles to get to the Lake Agnes teahouse. You’ll see a waterfall right before you get to the teahouse 🍵. It’s a fantastic spot to take a break, use the restroom, get a bite to eat, or a tea to drink.
Their menu changes, but they have a great selection of teas and snacks. Make sure to bring cash, because it’s cash only! I love stopping here and enjoying the view over the lake! But, watch out for chipmunks who like to eat your food.
Little Beehive Hike Summit
Once you’ve had your fill at the teahouse, you can continue the journey up to Little Beehive. From the teahouse you only have about a mile and 800 feet of elevation left to gain to the end.
The trail starts to climb out of the forest and above the trees below. So, you’ll have a lot more sun exposure on the last portion of the trail. Finally, you’ll get to the Little Beehive summit area 🙌🏻.
There are multiple viewpoints to stop while marveling the rugged mountain peaks and the stunning changing color of Lake Louise. Choose your favorite to take a break, capture beautiful photos 📸, and congratulate yourself on getting to the top!
It’s all downhill from here ↘️ as you make your way back down the trail! But, this time you can skip over the Lake Agnes detour to get to the end.
Final Tips for Hiking Little Beehive
Little Beehive is the perfect hike to tackle on your next trip to the Banff area 🥾. It’s a great way to spend a day really absorbing the beauty of the Canadian Rockies.
Just make sure to follow all the trail signs, watch out for wildlife, and prepare for inclement weather. Even though it’s popular, it’s still tough! So, take breaks and drink plenty of water 💧 along the way. If you keep all that in mind, you’ll have a fantastic hike!
Let me know in the comments if you enjoyed this trail guide!
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