World Traveller 73 
Winter Hiking the Lake Louise Fairview Lookout Trail, Banff National Park, Canada.
In the second part of local hikes within the Lake Louise area, we took in the more energetic Fairview Lookout trail from the Fairmont Château Lake Louise. Complimenting our experience on the Lakeshore trail, the Fairview trail offered those spectacular crystal blue lake views of Lake Louise that were missing from the ground level lakeshore view points. The trail was a little more energetic that I expected, although it was well worth the climb.
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Winter Hiking the Lake Louise Fairview Lookout Trail, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
The Lake Louise region of Banff National Park is full of hikes and trails. Two of the most popular are the Fairview Lookout trail, the Agnes Teahouse Trail and the Lake Louise Lake Shore Trail as described here.
About the Lake Louise Fairview Lookout Trail:
The Lake Louise Fairview Trail is located within Banff National Park. To enter (and park your vehicle) in the park, you’ll need a daily park pass from the Banff National Park entry gates.
During the time of our visit, the admission fees were $10.50 CAD per person per day. In our case, we passed through the park gates at around noon, and were given a twenty eight hour pass lasting until 4 PM the next day. If you are a regular visitor, or are staying a longer period of time, an annual pass may be a more economical version for you at $72.25 CAD for a single person or $145.25 CAD for a family.
The Lake Louise Fairview Lookout Trail is an short one kilometre trail that runs up along the eastern side of the Lake Louise lake. Unlike the Lakeshore trail, there is about 100 meters of elevation gain on this trail, and it is a fairly steady climb upwards.
The trail is rated to be approximately 45 minutes round trip between trail head and the look out. In our experience, we completed in with a leisurely one hour and twenty minutes with a leisurely fifteen minute stop at the lookout.
The trail head is located immediately behind the Fairmont Château Lake Louise hotel, between the lake and the hotel itself on the left hand (east side) of the boardwalk.
Preparing for Winter Hiking:
On the day of our walk, we arrived into town and checked ourselves into the Fairmont Château Lake Louise. It was not recommended by Banff National Parks administration (Parks Canada) to walk many trails in the winter for reasons of slipperiness, avalanche debris and other hazards. I was interested to see how easy this experience would be in our early winter weather.
After touching down and getting dressed for the weather, The Fairmont Château Lake Louise Concierge was able to loan us some winter crampons for the trail. We were recommended not to use them within the hotel to avoid breakage against the hard floors of the hotel.
The crampons were really easy to put on and off. We were also loaned a precautionary can of bear spray. Although there were a fair amount of people on the trail and with winter setting in, most bears were probably nearing or into hibernation states of deep sleep.
Unlike our Lakeshore trail experience which was completely flat and level, the winter crampons were a life saver on the ascending Fairview Lookout trail. The spikes on the crampons made the trail a lot less slippery and easier to manage with a lot less effort.
Starting at Fairmont Château Lake Louise:
We started off from Fairmont Château Lake Louise trailhead. After exiting the hotel doors, we took left to head towards the Lake Louise Lakeview Trail.
Lake Louise was looking a little clearer compared to yesterday. We would get to experience Lake Louise in picturesque simple beauty, set across a light winter backdrop.
Getting to see Lake Louise in good weather is a wonderful experience. It represents everyyhing you’d imagine about Canada and it’s natural beauty.
Locating the Fairview Lookout Trailhead:
The Fairview Lookout trailhead was located immediately to the left of the Fairmont Château Lake Louise. Like our Lake Louise Lakeshore trail, the train condition was packed snow during our early November visit.
We eventually arrived to the intersection and trail head that split the walking trail towards the Fairview Lookout, the Saddleback Pass, the Paradise Valley Junction and the overflow parking lots. While the area was signed a little bit, I wouldn’t call the area heavily signed.
The Ascent:
Although the trail only marked about 100 meters of actual elevation ascent, my exercise skills have been lacking lately with many long days and nights on the road. It’s fair to say that I’ve missed a few gym workouts lately as I found the climb to be more tiring that it would have been when I was in my younger years.
We climbed up through a wonderfully wintery alpine forecast. We had a solid forty five minute climb upwards. With all the winter clothes, and the temperatures just below freezing at about -3 Celsius, I had a sweaty hiking experience.
The climb itself was completely forested and didn’t offer any views along the journey. As a result, we just appreciated the forest and it’s silence, in the winter solitude.
Arriving to the Lakeview Lookout:
After the climb, we rounded the corner to what my eyes first thought was a blue construction tarp. In actuality, it was the beautiful blue color of the Lake Louise lake.
There is nothing like the joy of seeing the end of your destination after a substantial climb. In this case, it was in the form of a snow covered lookout that was completely empty and without other travellers.
The Fairview Lookout:
The Fairview Lookout gave us the ability to have views of Lake Louise. The elevation gain allowed for more of the deep blue color to shine through the lake shores; something we wouldn’t experience as strongly from the lake shore elevation at ground level.
The Fairmont Château Lake Louise looked absolutely stunning in the valley, with the Lake Louise ski area located behind it, covered in a dusting of early winter snow.
After the hike, we returned to the Fairmont Château Lake Louise hotel, to collect our car and head off for a walk towards Bow Falls, Banff in the afternoon.
My Thoughts on Winter Hiking the Lake Louise Fairview Trail:
The Lake Louise Fairview trail was a bit of a climb up towards a view point that offered terrific Lake Louise views. Although not as easy as the Lakeshore viewpoint, it was certainly one of the hallmark views of our time in Lake Louise.
Hiking this trail in conjunction with the Lakeshore trail allowed us to get a great feel of the Lake Louise area, despite the winter season visit.
World Traveller 73 
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