Lake Louise Gondola

The Lake Louise Gondola operates between May and the end of September for sightseeing and hiking. The Lake Louise Gondola whisks visitors up the face of Mount Whitehorn to Whitehorn Lodge in either open chairs or enclosed gondola cars. The view from the top—at an altitude of more than two kilometres (1.2 miles) above sea level across the Bow Valley, Lake Louise, and the Continental Divide—is among the most spectacular in the Canadian Rockies.

Short trails lead through the forests, across open meadows, and, for the energetic, to a viewpoint overlooking the resort’s Larch area. Visitors are free to walk these trails, but it pays to join a guided walk if you’d like to learn about the surrounding environment.

After working up an appetite (and working off breakfast), head to the Whitehorn Lodge, try the outdoor barbecue, or, back at the base area, enjoy lunch at the Lodge of the Ten Peaks, the resort’s impressive post-and-beam day lodge. The lift operates 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily May to September, with extended summer hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ride-and-dine packages are an excellent deal.

Lake Louise Gondola.