Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada

A thrilling helicopter tour over the Rocky Mountains in Alberta needs an activity on ground level to balance it out. We were staying at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel, and, after checking in, we went for a hike.

A packed lunch from the hotel had us feeling a little bit pretentious. Neatly packaged into a small Fairmont paper bag, it was more like a shopping bag than a picnic lunch. We got over ourselves pretty quickly, though, as our guide, Michael, got us away from the hoard of people snapping photos of the lake and into what he called the “Wild Side of Lake Louise.”

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel in Banff National Park, Alberta (Canada).

Within a handful of steps we were alone on the mystery trail and alone with Michael’s grizzly bear stories. (These hikes with him and his colleague Bruce are available through the Fairmont’s Mountain Heritage Program, which is a great way to see the Lake Louise that most tourists will never get to.)

After perching on a large rock to eat our lunch, watching canoes glide past and hearing more of Michael’s stories, we were off with an empty bag in one hand and a hiking pole in the other.

The trail began gently enough but then began to climb. It wound around bends and kept heading upwards through un-maintained trail (well, maintained by the feet treading on it). It was a moderate workout and, thankfully, we didn’t run into any grizzly bears (although there were a few people who came out reeking of weed, who Michael immediately said must be from BC!).

View from the Fairmont Lake Louise Hotel Room in Alberta, Canada.

When it was time to go back to the real world again, we had one more good laugh at our apparel of hiking stick in one hand and Fairmont bag in the other, and walked back to the crowds gathered around Lake Louise.

What I Liked:

• Seeing the lake from the “Wild Side” is definitely worth getting to. You can also get up to Lake Agnes and a Tea House, a 7 km, 1,260 foot elevation gain (half day hikes range from $49-$69 CAD if you hire a guide). There are many trails in this area, so get away from the masses of tourists!
• The guided hiking offered through the Fairmont is quite good. You’re paying for the stories and anecdotes from the guides, as well as someone who knows wildlife safety if you’re new to the Canadian wild.
• Rooms at the Fairmont Lake Louise hotel overlooking the lakeside are INCREDIBLE. Book a room with a view- sitting there looking at the lake as a backdrop is just breathtaking.
  

Tags: Alberta, Chateau Lake Louise, Fairmont hotel, grizzly bears, hiking, Lake Agnes tea house, Mountain Heritage Program, western canada, wildlife safety