The Plain of Six Glaciers Hiking Trail in Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada

Winding through the strikingly scenic terrain of Alberta's Banff National Park, the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail leads hikers to a remote mountain tea house alongside the rugged slopes of Mount Victoria and Mount Lefroy. As its name suggests, the trail also gives you a chance to view no fewer than six individual glaciers, all the while escaping most of the crowds that gather around nearby Lake Louise during the busy summer months.

Finding the Trailhead

• The hike begins near Lake Louise Village, just west of the Trans-Canada Highway. From the village, drive uphill for about 2.5 miles -- bear in mind that the road signs are marked in kilometers -- to the Lake Louise public parking lot. You'll have to continue on foot from here, crossing Louise Creek on the foot-bridge and making your way to the lakeside Chateau Hotel. From the hotel, the Lakeshore Trail leads around to the back side of Lake Louise, where the clearly-marked Plain of Six Glaciers trail begins. The Plain of Six Glaciers Trail itself is a roughly 4-mile, one-way hike, but many visitors continue along the Highline and Lake Agnes trails to form a complete 9-mile loop that will bring them back to the starting point without ever having to retrace steps.

Trail Features

• The entire 9-mile hike typically takes about five hours to complete, and the terrain is generally moderate, beginning on fairly level ground and eventually utilizing a series of switchbacks to gain a little over 1,200 feet in elevation. You may cross paths with returning hikers along the way, but most of the crowds will be behind you once you reach the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail. The route is largely shaded by towering pines, occasionally breaking out into the open as you cross avalanche fields and glacial moraines.

  The Tea House is 3.4 miles from the starting point and provides a resting place with benches and an outhouse. Less than a mile past the Tea House, the trail reaches Victoria Glacier, and it is from this vantage point that you can gaze across the chiseled landscape to the six glaciers from which the trail gets its name. You can turn back here, or bear left on the Highline Which leads to The Lake Agnes Trail, a longer return route that takes you through Abbot Pass and offers spectacular views of Lakes Agnes and Louise.

The Tea House

• The Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House, unlike the better-known and more easily accessible Lake Agnes Tea House, can only be reached by following the Plain of Six Glaciers Trail. Originally built by Swiss guides in 1924, the tea house is open during July, August and, weather permitting, the beginning of September. The tea house serves refreshments including soups, sandwiches, lemonade and tea, and since there is no electricity or running water, all the food is prepared on-site using propane stoves. Supplies are taken to the tea house at the beginning of the season by helicopter, and later on throughout the summer by horses and park employees who use the same trail that visitors do.

Considerations

• The Plain of Six Glaciers Trail is not among the most difficult hikes in Banff National Forest, but it would be a mistake to underestimate the terrain. Durable shoes are essential, and layered clothing is a necessity due to the weather, which can change rapidly at any time of year. Several quality maps and guidebooks are available online, and you should take one with you, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area or if you plan to take any route more complicated than a simple out-and-back trip. More information on the Plain of Six Glaciers and other hiking trails in the area is available through the Canada National Parks website.