Lake Louise, nestles in the Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies. To reach Lake Louise, it is quickest to fly into Calgary airport and hire a car from there. The drive is just an hour and 45 minutes. However, you can also fly into Edmonton with a 4.5 hour drive or approach from Vancouver ... Read review
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Advantages: Totally Relaxing Disadvantages: Gets Very Busy
Lake Louise, nestles in the Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies. To reach Lake Louise, it is quickest to fly into Calgary airport and hire a car from there. The drive is just an hour and 45 minutes. However, you can also fly into Edmonton with a 4.5 hour drive or approach from Vancouver with a 9 hour drive.
The lake itself is at approximately 5,500 feet above sea level and is renowned for its turquoise colour. The colour is ... ...the water. Rock flour is created by the movement of glaciers grinding rocks together forming fine silt. The meltwater then carries the small rock particles down and feeds them into the lake via streams. Unfortunately, this glacial stream makes the lake far too cold for swimming, even in the height of summer.
In 1882, Tom Wilson was the first white man to see the lake. He named it Emerald Lake due to its colour but it was later renamed ... more
Lake Louise, nestles in the Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies. To reach Lake Louise, it is quickest to fly into Calgary airport and hire a car from there. The drive is just an hour and 45 minutes. However, you can also fly into Edmonton with a 4.5 hour drive or approach from Vancouver with a 9 hour drive.
The lake itself is at approximately 5,500 feet above sea level and is renowned for its turquoise colour. The colour is due to the light reflecting off of rock flour in the water. Rock flour is created by the movement of glaciers grinding rocks together forming fine silt. The meltwater then carries the small rock particles down and feeds them into the lake via streams. Unfortunately, this glacial stream makes the lake far too cold for swimming, even in the height of summer.
In 1882, Tom Wilson was the first white man to see the lake. He named it Emerald Lake due to its colour but it was later renamed Lake Louise after Queen Victoria's fourth daughter, Princess Louise Caroline Alberta. The native Stoney Indian name for the lake though was Ho-run-num-nay, Lake of Little Fishes.
The only place to stay, in my opinion is the Fairmont Lake Louise Chateau, that sits on the bank of the lake and is also known as "The Diamond in the Wilderness". Despite the sheer size of the hotel and the number of guests, luxury and service is abundant. I have to admit that the sight of the bell boys all dressed in traditional alpine gear, complete with plus fours, did make me smile though. The facilities include a health club and European style spa, an indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna, steam rooms, 6 restaurants and 3 lounges, shops, a beauty salon and barber shop. All budgets are catered for in the restaurants from formal dining down to a takeaway deli. There are other more affordable places to stay in the Lake Louise townsite though if you prefer.
In winter, Lake Louise is the perfect spot for winter sports with excellent ski-ing. For those who want more sedate activities though, you can skate on the lake and take dog sled or sleigh rides. In summer, skating is replaced by canoeing on the lake, sleigh rides with horseriding and ski-ing with hiking.
There are numerous hiking trails around the lake area. You can follow the path around the lake edge for a gentle stroll, or you can hike up to Lake Agnes, as we did, for a more strenuous work out. The trail snakes up through the pine forest for 3.4Km each way and takes you 2000 feet above Lake Louise. About three quarters of the way up, you will see Mirror Lake, also known as The Goat's Looking Glass, with a mountain called the Beehive and at the end of the trail you will find Lake Agnes, named after the wife of Canada's first Prime Minister.
It is worth taking some money as you will also find the historic alpine teahouse. First built in 1901 and rebuilt in 1981, the teahouse serves refreshments hikers. Believe me, after the climb up you will be very grateful for soup, hot chocolate or cake. Or all three! Numerous chipmunks are only too happy to help you eat your prize though. If you do undertake the climb, it is also worth taking a bottle of water with you, as you will definitely need it. The tea house staff hike in, together with all of the supplies, and camp there on a rota basis. With no running water, If you need the toilet, I would really not recommend the ones at the tea house, if you can hold on, do!
The climb is fairly demanding even for quite fit people, due to the altitude and thinner air but the views at the top are spectacular. No photo can ever do it justice. If you do not fancy the climb, you can trek to the tea house on horseback from the Brewster stables for a price of about £45. Thankfully, we had a great reward when we returned to our room. As we were on our honeymoon, not only had we been upgraded upon check in, but the Chateau management had also left us a bottle of champagne on ice in our room. It was very much appreciated, together with a long soak in the bath!
If you are able to get up early in the morning during summer, you will be able to enjoy the lake at its best. As the sun rises, the water on the lake is absolutely still, creating a huge mirror that reflects the surrounding mountain peaks. It is well worth a photo. During the day though, the whole area can be crawling with tourists. Having said that, somehow Lake Louise still manages to maintain a magical charm.
Advantages: It's Where I'm From Disadvantages: nothing at all
Prenote- My teacher who happens to go onto Ciao suggested me to write a whole series on Traveling in Canada. Well who'd know more about Canada than a true, 100% pure, blood Canadian? So I agreed and am starting on a volume of 10 Provincial and 3 Territorial Guide on them. So I hope you enjoy. The first in the series is about my home Province of ALBERTA!!!
Alberta- Descrition and facts
Alberta is the Wild Rose Country of Canada. With a population ... ...Alberta is more than 4 times larger than the English Isles! Alberta has two big cities of Edmonton and Calgary (There are still quite small compared to London.) They have great shopping and tourism there. Here are some general facts...
Name: Alberta
Founded: Sept. 1st, 1905
Capital: Edmonton (Population 650,000)
Taxes: 0% Provincial, but 7% Federal on all purchases
Flights: There are some flights going into Calgary and Edmonton from Heathrow ...
cyclone88 14.02.2003 (02.03.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Alberta (Canada)
Advantages: clean air, amazing scenery, real wild wildlife, music, the people Disadvantages: it's a long way from home
I have recently returned from my latest trip to Canada and already it feels like it was years ago.
I arrived at Calgary into the nearly finished, almost total rebuild of the airport complex, though still in the middle of work, with typical Canadian efficiency there were no delays, I took the bus from outside arrivals which runs direct to Calgary centre or to Calgary transit LRT station at Whitehorn (about 5min).
The trains are similar to those ... ...litter and graffiti free and clean, this takes about 15-20 minutes to the centre of Calgary though the bus goes to the same destinations the train journey is twice as fast.
Once in Calgary proper there is no end of things to do and be amused by, there is of course the normal plethora of tourist traps and big chain coffee houses etc.. The streets are very user friendly with pedestrian right of way at most junctions and street maps on almost every ...
reg1971 01.11.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Alberta (Canada)
Advantages: Something different Disadvantages: Gets busy
A visit to the Athabasca Glacier made a great stopping off point on our journey between Jasper and Banff. The glacier extends from the Columbia Icefield (it covers 325 square km and is over 1000 feet thick in places. My kids were less than enthusiastic about the impromptu geology lesson given by the snocoach driver but we adults found it very informative. Access to the glacier is by a Brewster snocoach, specially designed with enormous tyres. Don't ... ...minutes on the glacier can be pretty chilly. Walking boots are advisable too as it is very slippery. We arrived just in time (about 10 am) and managed to beat the coach trippers. By the time we left after lunch the parking area was packed. The restaurant and cafe at the centre also fill up early. We were there just after 12 and the restaurant was full and the self service cafe had a huge queue. ...
carolinecook2000 06.09.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of General: Alberta (Canada)
Advantages: A once in a lifetime experience Disadvantages: You get wet and the river is icy cold
I can really recommend white water rafting on the Athabasca river just outside Jasper. It is a grade 2 river and provides enough thrills (and the odd spill) to keep everyone happy but also the knowledge that it is quite safe. I went with my husband and two teenagers and had a brilliant time. We went with the company White Water Rafting (Jasper) Ltd who were fun but professional. They do a pick up service on a school bus, drive you to the drop off ...
carolinecook2000 26.08.2000
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Review of General: Alberta (Canada)
Advantages: Breathtaking. Disadvantages: Time spent travelling.
Where do I start.My trip to Canada was possible due to the M.O.D. sending me there for eight weeks in the Summer of 1993.A long time ago,but it still feels like yesterday.The military business aside,I had the best time ever.
The frist part of my journey I found myself on a camp site between lake Louise and the town of Jasper.
The frist day there I had to prove my proficiency in a canoe on lake Louise,before venturing onto the Athabasca river for ... ...time. Riding the rapids certainly got the adrenalin going.
At times the river rode quite clam and it gave you time to take in the views of the surrounding scenery,which i have to say was breathtaking.
Day 2 arrived and i found myself sitting in a giant inflatable raft with a paddle in one hand,I could see this wasn't going to be an easy day taking in more breathtaking views. The ride started smooth enough,and then i found out why it is called whitewater ...
star696969 15.12.2004 (16.12.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of General: Alberta (Canada)
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a romantic blockhouse accommodation, where we you could watch hummingbirds from our terrace.
Jasper NP is a good starting-point to get to know the Rocky Mountain area. At first we were impressed by Mt. Robson (3.954 m), the highest mountain of the Canadian Rockies (only Mt. Kinley in Alaska is higher). There is a hiking trail (starts at the visitor center) around Mt. Robson that takes three days, take a tent with you.
Our trip continued to Alberta. I’ll write an op there and general information about Canada in the Canada/General section.
Other area worth a visit in BC is the Okanogan valley, a series of valleys carved out by glaciers and linked with a series of lakes, the largest is Okanogan Lake. The landscape should be very interesting, but we preferred to go to the Yellowstone National Park.
The rugged landscape of Vancouver ...
