Canoeing at Lake Louise in Banff – A helpful planning guide for first time visitors

Lake Louise, undoubtedly, is one of the most beautiful and surreal lakes in Banff National Park. The beautiful turquoise blue water set by a backdrop of Mount Victoria and a hanging glacier makes for a spectacular sight. I bet you will be left mesmerized the minute you step foot here. Some say it’s the crown jewel of Banff National Park and I wouldn’t doubt that for even a second. Its natural beauty can really draw your soul in! And that makes it the most popular tourist attraction in Banff.

So with this blog, I am going to share here a few helpful and important tips that you should know before you go here.

It was a highlight of my trip to Banff in August this year. On our recent trip to Banff, we visited this lake over a period of two days. We dedicated almost half a day to hiking up the beautiful trails to soak in the top views of this stunning beauty. And we then set aside 1-2 hours early in the morning to canoeing on the lake which, by the way, was my best canoe experience. Canoeing on such beautiful water and in such an amazing backdrop made me feel like I was in a wonderland.

However, given that it’s the most popular tourist destination in Banff, it also gets super crowded throughout the day, especially in summer months. Everything can get challenging, from finding a parking spot to finding a canoe rental in Lake Louise. But, you really have to check this off your bucket list if you’re visiting Banff because this will be an unforgettable and priceless experience. I promise!

When I was planning the trip, I came across some helpful tips online through a few blogs on canoeing at Lake Louise. But, some others are based on my personal experience and I really would like to share with you all so that you can plan your trip better. So let’s dive right in!

Rent the canoe from the Lake Louise dock or bring your own

Canoes on Lake Louise can be rented from the dock at the lake. This dock is owned by the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel which is right by the lake so that’s the only option you need to go with if you want to rent a canoe. They do not take advance reservations over the phone or online so you’ll just have to walk in at the dock and rent the canoe. The price is $115 USD+GST for a one hour canoe that can fit up to 3 people. This is a bit more expensive than canoe rentals at other lakes like Moraine lake or Lake Emerald. But this is the best lake to canoe in so it’s worth paying a little more. Here’s more information on the canoe rentals at Lake Louise.

Go as early as you can in the morning

Since they don’t take advance reservations, the canoe rentals here operate on a first-come-first-serve basis. And given that it’s the most popular lake to canoe in, you can always expect a long queue. That’s why, going as soon as the dock opens would be the best way to guarantee a canoe. The boat dock opens at 8:30 AM every day so plan to get there by 8 AM so that you can line up and ensure your spot before it opens.

The dock only operates 30 canoes at a time so if you go right at 8:30 AM or even after that, you may lose your spot in the first batch and may have to wait for an hour or more to go in the next batch. Sometimes, you may have to wait in line for more than 2 hours if you go during the afternoon or evening. So, I would highly recommend planning to go early in the morning before the dock opens.

Take a shuttle to Lake Louise instead of driving up to the lake

This is because the lake parking usually gets filled by 9 AM every day during peak months. So, if you’re going to be heading there after 9 AM, try to leave your car at the shuttle pick up point (free parking at Lake Louise Ski Resort) and take a shuttle from there to the lake. But be very fast with shuttle booking because these bookings also get sold out pretty fast.

You can book the shuttles here and they usually have two options – regular and last minute. If all regular spots are full, don’t worry as you still have a chance to book through the last minute reservations. But keep in mind that the last minute slots open 48 hours before the desired date around 10 AM EDT and get sold out in literally 5-10 minutes. So as soon as the window opens, make sure you’re able to book.

One tip from our personal experience is that they may say the parking spots in the lake are full but that may not always be the case. So, if you really want to try your luck you can take your car to the parking lot of the lake and even if they say it’s full, you can try to find a spot. You might get lucky if there’s 1 or 2 spots still open.

Go before 8 AM if you want to park your car in the lake’s parking lot

Lake Louise has paid parking from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. between May 19 to October 9, 2023. Usually, this parking lot gets filled up completely by 8 AM on peak summer days so try to get there before 8 AM if you’d prefer to drive up to the lake rather than taking a shuttle. The paid parking dates align with the operation of the shuttle. You will also need a valid Parks Canada Pass to enter the lake parking lot. Look for pay stations when you arrive at Lake Louise and the fee is $21 per vehicle per day. There is no free parking around here.

Best months to canoe at the lake are July through September

Usually, the lake starts thawing in June and the canoe rentals run through the end of September. The summer is at its peak in July, which would be the best month weather wise but also the most crowded. We went at the end of August and the weather was nice and sunny. So be sure to check the weather when you plan.

Don’t go when its cloudy or windy

Canoeing on the lake is the best experience when its sunny as you can see the beautiful turquoise color of the lake and the stunning mountains in the background. If you canoe when it’s cloudy, you may not be able to get the same colors and it may look dull. So if you have the option, try and go on a bright and sunny day.

Also, my recommendation is to absolutely avoid canoeing on a windy day if you’re a non-swimmer or have fear of water. That is because on a windy day, the water gets very choppy and that can make it difficult to canoe. We heard of some cases where the water was really choppy in the evening and some of the canoes toppled midway. They not only had a bad experience but also lost all their belongings in the water. So, avoid that at all costs. Usually the wind picks up in the evening so mornings are the best time to canoe as the water is really calm.

Allow 1 hour to canoe around the lake

The canoe rentals on Lake Louise have two time options – a 30-minutes canoe and a 1-hour canoe. The 1-hour canoe rental is only $10 more than the 30-minutes option so it makes more sense to take the 1-hour option and spend more time at the lake. We took the 1 hour option for the same reason and also because we wanted to take our own time. I would suggest doing the same. Given that the lake is very crowded, you won’t be able to cover much of it if you only book a 30-minute canoe. So, allow 1 hour to go around most parts of the lake and come back.

Don’t take any valuables with you on the canoe

The canoe rental provides a life jacket and you don’t really need anything much other than your phone for some nice pictures, a sunscreen and a water bottle. You can leave behind all your other valuables and not bring them on the canoe. You don’t even need your wallet and can leave that in the car if you drive up to the lake. The only other thing you will need is a jacket because the weather is always unpredictable here. And if you’re going early in the morning, it’s going to be cold even in the summer months so dress accordingly.

If you’re staying at the Fairmont Chateau lodge on the lake, you get priority treatment

The guests of the Fairmont Chateau hotel get priority treatment. There is a separate queue for them at the dock for the rentals. They have priority lines over non-guests and reduced rental rates. There’s also a few other experiences such as sunrise and sunset canoe experiences for them. So, if you’re staying at this hotel, be sure to check out all the packages for canoe experiences. 

Remain calm and don’t rock the boat

If it’s your first time canoeing on the lake, I bet your excitement will be through the roof. I know you’ll want to take a lot of nice pictures and videos. But be careful to not turn around too much or stand up. Don’t fidget a lot when on the boat and try to remain stable. The lake water can be frigid so it’s best to take precautions.

Other good options for canoeing are Moraine lake and Emerald lake

If you’re unable to canoe in Lake Louise, two other great options are Moraine lake and Emerald lake. Both of these lakes also have beautiful water and amazing backdrops. And these lakes are usually less crowded and less expensive so you can always try canoeing here. That is if Lake Louise is not an option.

And that completes the list of all helpful tips that I had to share with you. I hope this guide will be helpful in planning your trip better. Let me know in the comments below if you have already visited or plan to visit Lake Louise. And if you liked this blog, sign up to the newsletter to get regular updates on new travel and lifestyle blogs.

If you need help planning a complete itinerary for Banff, check this blog out.