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Outdoors

Plain of Six Glaciers Hike

You follow the Lake Louise shoreline, then climb the valley beyond the lake towards the peaks and glaciers at its head, to a seasonal teahouse. A further 1.5 km each way takes you to the Abbot Pass Viewpoint, where you look down on the crevasses of the Lower Victoria Glacier.

For The Reps · Updated

hike scenery for Plain of Six Glaciers near Banff, Alberta
Photo: Plain of Six Glaciers by learningis1st, CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0). Via Wikimedia Commons.
Where
Banff, Alberta, Canada
Distance
11.8 km return (5.9 km each way)
Climb
595 m
Time
4 hours
Difficulty
Moderate

The route

Plain of Six Glaciers Trail from the Lake Louise Lakeshore, out and back.

The trail starts at the Lake Louise Lakeshore, 4 km from the community of Lake Louise. Parking there is paid and usually full before sunrise in summer, so most people come on a reserved Parks Canada shuttle from the Lake Louise Park and Ride or on Roam Transit Route 8X from Banff.

When to go

The teahouse opens from early June to early October; Parks Canada says the trail is exposed to avalanche hazard and does not recommend it from mid-October to mid-June.

Permits and fees

You need a Banff National Park pass (adult day pass $12.25 in 2026). You also need either paid parking at the Lake Louise Lakeshore ($42 per vehicle per day, 15 May to 12 October 2026) or a reserved Parks Canada shuttle seat (adult $12.75 plus a $3.50 online booking fee in 2026), which does not include park entry.

Before you go

  • The Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse opens 9 am to 5 pm in season and takes cash only; bring your own water.
  • The side trip to the Abbot Pass Viewpoint adds about 1 hour return and 50 m of climbing.
  • You can link this trail with Lake Agnes via the Highline Trail for a 14.6 km loop of about 5 hours.
  • If you want an early start, the paid Alpine Start shuttle leaves the Lake Louise Lakeshore at 4 am and 5 am (1 June to 12 October in 2026).

What to bring

  • Shoes with grip that you have already worn in
  • At least 1.5 litres of water
  • Food you will actually want to eat
  • A warm or waterproof layer
  • The route, saved offline
  • Sun cream and a hat

Getting ready for it

If your longest walk lately is under two hours, do a few longer walks first, ideally with some climbing and the pack you will carry.

Step-ups and lunges twice a week make the descents much easier on your knees.

Staying safe

  • Avalanche terrain: Parks Canada advises against high-elevation trails in this area from November to June.
  • Bear warnings, minimum group size requirements and closures may be in place; check the Banff trail report before you go.
  • Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
  • Turn around if the weather turns or the footing gets sketchy. The trail will still be there.

Route details checked September 30, 2026 against pcweb2.azureedge.net, web.archive.org, parks.canada.ca and parks.canada.ca. Rules and closures change, so check before you go.