Walking the Louise Creek Trail, Banff National Park, Alberta Canada

Fairmont Château Lake Louise through the trees, Alberta Canada.

Fairmont Château Lake Louise
Originally built as a luxury destination hotel by the Canadian Pacific Railway in the early 1900s, the Château Lake Louise stands as a stately beacon to days gone by.

Lake Louise in Alberta’s Banff National Park has always held an attraction for me. When I was a child, we would camp in the vicinity regularly. Many years later, my husband and I treated ourselves to a winter stay at the majestic Fairmont Château Lake Louise and I was able to introduce him to this beautiful area.

This last Northern summer, as part of a Western Canadian road trip (see: A Mountain Village in Spring), I stayed in the township of Lake Louise for a few days: not in the luxurious Château, but in the more modest Lake Louise Inn downtown. Naturally, the first thing I did was check out the walking trails. I discovered that the Louise Creek Trail would take me up to the Château and allow me to revisit my memories.

AllTrails call it a “moderately challenging” 6.9 kilometre (4.3 mile) “out and back” trail; I clocked 14.71 kilometres (9.1 miles) on my walking app, and was very ready to put my feet up at the end. But, it’s a delightful climb along the rushing creek – and to see the magnificent hotel at the end was a real treat.

Join me for a walk in the Canadian woods:

Lake Louise Inn, Banff National Park, Canada

Lake Louise Inn
Encircled by the majestic Canadian Rockies, the Inn is a sprawling accommodation a short walk from town centre.

Columbian Ground Squirrel, Lake Louise Canada

Columbian Ground Squirrel – Spermophilus Columbianus
There is plenty of wildlife around the grounds.

Crossing the Bow River
Originating here in the Canadian Rockies, the Bow River winds through the National Park and the Alberta foothills towards the South Saskatchewan River to the east.