Your Guide to Hiking the Teahouse Trail

The Teahouse Trail is one of the most popular and scenic hikes in all of Banff National Park. Spanning a total of 8.9 miles with a 2,447 ft elevation gain and stops at BOTH of this beautiful park's iconic teahouses (Lake Agnes Tea House and Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House), this is a little bit of a challenging experience with exceptional rewards throughout the trek. To learn everything you need to know about this hike including when to go, where to park, stops to make along the way, and more, read below!

MAP OF THE TEAHOUSE TRAIL IN BANFF NATIONAL PARK

Whether you're planning on going hiking in the Canada Rockies or another peak in a different city, state, or country, the first step of the trip is always to look at the map. When I visited Banff National Park and decided that I was going to try and do the Teahouse Trail, the first thing I did was download this app called AllTrails. AllTrails will put all the information about the hike, including the difficulty rating, how long it should take you, the latest updates on weather, and more. Then, it will tell you where the trailhead is and help you to navigate during your hike! Below is a picture of what the trail map looks like on AllTrails, as well as a button to go directly there so you can use a map in real time during your hike.

WHAT TIME OF YEAR IS BEST TO HIKE THE TEAHOUSE TRAIL?

The best time to hike the Teahouse Trail is definitely from June to the end of September. The weather hits a high peak in July, averaging about 22°C (21°F), which makes for great hiking weather! After September, Banff gets approximately 12 cm of snow in October, and it continues to snow in this area for the next few months every year until late spring/early summer. From mid-October to mid-June Banff National Park gets an average of 183'' per year, and temperatures can drop to as low as −15 °C (5 °F). There are also avalanche warnings in this area, so it is not recommended to visit during this time. If you are not sure about the conditions when visiting, make sure to follow a great map, look for trail updates about ice/unsafe areas on AllTrails and the Banff National Park website, and dress appropriately. These factors can also affect the length of time it takes to complete the hike, and the tea houses are only open during peak season! 

WHAT TIME SHOULD I WAKE UP TO HIKE THE TEAHOUSE TRAIL?

The answer to this question depends on if you've reserved a shuttle or not. If you are traveling to Banff National Park during peak hiking season (June to the end of September) then you will need to reserve a shuttle ride from one of the parking lots to the bottom of Lake Louise about a month to two months in advance to get a spot. Then you pick your shuttle time, and you don't have to worry about parking lots being closed or anything like that. In that case, I would still choose the earliest time so you can try to beat the crowds (and possible any mid-afternoon heat).

Unfortunately (and yet also fortunately?) my friends and I did not know about the shuttles until a couple weeks prior to our September trip, and the shuttle was already booked up. Because of this, we decided to wake up suuuper early and arrive to the Lake Louise parking lot before it opened with around 4:30 am with our rental car from Discover Cars. Once we pulled in, we saw about 20 cars with groups already there, which means that the parking lot was already about 1/4 filled. Even though this may seem very early, it actually worked out in our favor because we started the hike around 5:30am and got to go at a great pace while still stopping to see all the sites along the way up, and nobody else was there. We didn't see a single other person on the hike up, so we felt like the whole trail was ours. We also got to see the most gorgeous sunrise ever, and arrived at the Lake Agnes Tea House around 8:00 am, when it opened. I personally advise doing this instead of taking the shuttle and just starting as early as possible because when we were coming down the trail from about 10:30 to noon it was PACKED. There was a constant stream of people up and down, and the teahouse was packed.

HOW TO TAKE A SHUTTLE TO LAKE LOUISE

The best way to reserve your shuttle to Lake Louise, where the trailhead for the Teahouse Trail is located, is to visit the Parks Canada website. They have shuttles operating throughout the day and you can reserve your ticket weeks in advance there. They even have pet-friendly shuttles! There are also shuttle options from the town of Banff using Roam Public Transport to Lake Louise!

Should I Use Shuttles or a Rental Car in banff national park?

I would personally advise renting a car because of the flexibility and convenience it offers in exploring the area. I use Discover Cars whenever I get a car rental and I absolutely love them because of their competitive prices and convenient pickup and drop off locations, so that's who we used on this trip. However, within the park, there are limited parking spaces, especially at popular trailheads like the Teahouse Trail. Because of this, I would advise booking the park's shuttles a couple months in advance when traveling within the park to the more famous destinations (Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, etc). If you miss the shuttle or don't book early enough, having a rental car allows you to park at designated lots near your destination so that you can still enjoy the hike hassle-free. Combining both modes of transportation can enhance your overall experience, providing the freedom to explore while minimizing parking challenges which is exactly what we did.

What Trail pass do i need to hike the teahouse trail?

Individuals looking to hike The Teahouse Trail overlooking Lake Louise must get a Park Pass, which you can obtain by clicking here. There are two pass options: a Day Pass for a singular day, or a Discovery Pass, which allows you to visit over 80 Parks Canada destinations for 1 year.

Regardless of the pass that you purchase, you must printed out a physical copy and display it on your vehicle's dashboard to get into Banff National Park! In addition, make sure you are not just printing the receipt you are emailed, but the actual pass.

SUMMARY OF THE TEAHOUSE TRAIL HIKE

HOW LONG DOES THIS TRAIL TAKE?

The Teahouse Trail can take individuals anywhere from 5 hours to 8 hours. My group made many stops along the way, including at Mirror Lake, the Lake Agnes Tea House, and the Big Beehive. We decided to forgo the Little Beahive and the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House. For us, this hike took 5 hours and 8 minutes, not including the stops or 6.5 hours with stops. Therefore, I would advise setting aside about 1/2 a day for completing this trail, and an extra hour or so if you plan on starting after 10:00 am because of possible crowds at the most common stops/viewpoints.

While the Teahouse Trail is good for both kids and dogs, I would advise you to be careful. The Teahouse Trail is rated as a hard hiking, spanning just shy of 9 miles long. There are definitely narrow areas and plenty of cliffs. If it was me, I would likely bring my kids up to the Lake Agnes Tea House, and then see whether or not they have enough energy to do the switchbacks up to the Big Beehive. If not, I think that the Lake Agnes Tea House has amazing views and there plenty of stops on the way to keep your children excited, even if you just do that first part! They will probably love being able to have tea and snacks on top of a mountain too!

Dogs must be kept on a leash and owners must pick up after them on the trail. The trail is long and while there are some stops where I'm sure you can find water for your dog (like at both of the tea houses) I would bring them a little disposable cup that you can fill up with bottled water as well. Dogs are not allowed inside the tea houses, but they can sit on the deck and enjoy the view with you!

Ready to Plan Your Hike on The Teahouse Trail?

Are you excited to embark on an unforgettable journey along The Teahouse Trail? This is your chance to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Banff National Park and experience an adventure like no other. From the stunning views of Lake Louise to the quaint charm of the tea houses, every step is filled with wonder. Don’t just read about it, come and see it for yourself! Grab your hiking boots, pack your camera, and prepare for a day full of breathtaking scenery and delightful discoveries. Adventure awaits!