Lake Louise’s VIP balcony view without paying Fairmont prices🐝🏔️

The Big Beehive is one of those hikes that can up your whole Lake Louise experience. You start in full postcard chaos at the lakeshore, go up past Mirror Lake, round the back of Lake Agnes, then finish with switchbacks to a lookout (The Big Beehive) with a stunning view of Lake Louise.

It’s busy for a reason, but the crowds do start to thin out after Lake Agnes (as beyond this point is where the novice-to-casual hiker stops for snacks at the teahouse). Any trails beyond Agnes start to get up there in terms of difficulty for the average person.

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🏔️ TRAIL STATS & DETAILS

• Best Seasons: Summer & Fall

• Distance: 10.6 km

• Trail Type: Out & Back

• Elevation Gain: 736 m

• Max Elevation (altitude): 2270 m

• Bike Friendly?: No

• Dog Friendly?: Yes (on leash)

• Trailhead Toilets?: Yes

• Parking: $42.00 (for day)

🚗Directions to trailhead: Google Maps

🗺️AllTrails route: Big Beehive (suggestion only)

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✨ TRAIL HIGHLIGHTS - Why you should go

• The Lake Agnes Tea House

• Mount Victoria & Victoria Glacier

• Beautiful overhead view of Lake Louise

• Mirror Lake and Lake Agnes on the way up

• Great sunrise payoff if you start early enough

• Big summit feeling without needing scrambling skills

• 360 peak views at the summit. The peaks from left to right at the lookout would be Fairview, Haddo, Aberdeen, Lefroy, Victoria (and the glacier).

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🏕️ CAMPING OPTIONS

• Campsite On Trail?: No

• Close Camp Recommendation: Lake Louise Campgrounds

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✅ TIPS FROM DEV, LINKS & SAFETY

• Teahouse: Make Lake Agnes your mid-hike break, then push the final climb to Big Beehive after.

• Lake Louise area hikes (including the Lake Agnes zone and beyond) are exposed to avalanche hazard and are not recommended from mid October - mid June.

• Lake Louise parking is paid, pricey, and BUSY. The parking lot is often full in peak season before 8am - even by 7am you will be short for parking spots sometimes. For more details on how to get here, be sure to check my Travel Tip section on: Lake Louise & Moraine - Parking & Shuttle Access.

• See Parks Canada for the latest National Park trail conditions.