A busy summer trail above Lake Louise in Banff National Park, past the green water of Mirror Lake to an old fire lookout with views over Lake Louise.
A picture of me and my Dad at the top of Little Beehive!
With absolutely nothing to do this summer except lounge around lazily in the New York heat, my Dad and I were bored out of our minds. Hikes in New York State are no good — and considering the fact that he absolutely hates driving, driving three or four hours to hike an easy, flat trail, with mediocre views, was not an option.
Other places, however — like Banff National Park, which offers treks with incredibly stunning scenery, were options. As soon as the idea came into our heads, it was settled. We were going to Banff.
Two weeks later, and we were on a plane to Calgary.
And a day after that, we were packing our backpacks for The Little Beehive trail, a trail that we had both been eager to hike ever since we’d seen the views.
Located in Banff National Park, Canada, The Big Beehive and Little Beehive trails are some of the most sought-out trails in Banff National Park. But that is to no one’s surprise — considering its clear, turquoise waters, towering snow-capped peaks, and evergreen trees are a feast for anyone’s eyes — no matter how many times you’ve seen it.
Despite the fact that most people only view the sight from the shore of the lake, I recommend making the extra effort to hike up to at least the Little Beehive — because you certainly won’t regret it!
A 5.6 mile out & back trail near Lake Louise, Alberta, The Little Beehive trail will take an average hiker around 3 hours and 27 minutes to complete (AllTrails). Of course, if you are planning on completing The Big Beehive trail as well, expect it to take you another hour or so to complete.
The Little Beehive trail is known to be pretty packed on most days. We hiked this trail in the summer months — which span from June to September. Completed in any other time of year, hikers can be faced with snowy, icy, and possibly some slippery trails, too.
As my Dad and I were hiking this trail in peak season — July, hundreds of families were already at the parking lot by seven a.m. This made parking extremely tricky — and after circling the parking lot over and over again for close to fifteen minutes, we eventually decided to park the car in a lot, just a little over thirty minutes away. Due to this delay, we ended up starting the trail an hour or so later than we would have wanted.
The first leg of the Little Beehive (or Lake Agnes trail) was quite easy to complete for the two of us — and I’m sure this would stay the case even for new hikers. With no rocks or roots to trip you up, the first leg of the hike was a breeze with its flat, dirt trails. Throughout the first leg of the hike, we were able to get several short glimpses of Lake Louise. However, this was not the case as we began to gain more elevation.
Only 1.8 miles into the hike, we were greeted with the small but still beautiful Mirror Lake. Although it is just another small mountain lake, the color of the lake was unique enough. Unlike Lake Louise, Mirror Lake features more clear, greener water.
A few minutes after the two of us reached Mirror Lake, we completed the last leg of the Lake Agnes hike. Although the views from this point are still beautiful, my Dad and I were looking for more of a challenge, and so we continued on to the Little Beehive.
And we were right — because it felt like the moment we began this part of the trail, the challenge truly began. The trail became significantly steeper, and significantly more rugged than before.
However, the Little Beehive trail has lots of clearings, and we were able to see several varieties of views and angles of Lake Louise. Compared to the beginning of the hike, which was much more enclosed and felt more like walking through a forest, this part of the hike featured open views from what felt like everywhere.
As we reached the summit of this hike, we saw a strange white concrete structure, which after later research, I found was the site of an old fire lookout.
Nevertheless, the views from the top of the mountain were incredible! There were so many various mountains on display from this point, and the color of Lake Louise looked like a milky turquoise. You’ll be rewarded with a lot of breathtaking views of the luxurious sight down below, and nearby, you can also see the Chateau Lake Louise, a luxurious hotel that sits on the shores of the lake.
Overall, the Little Beehive Trail was a fantastic hike that offered us extremely stunning views of Lake Louise and the surrounding areas. It’s a popular destination, so be prepared for crowds, especially on weekends and holidays. However, the views are definitely worth it, and the hike (which is not too tedious), is a great way to experience the beauty of Banff National Park.
