A Winter Weekend in Lake Louise: Skating, Sleighs and Snow

Plan my Lake Louise weekend · What's on this weekend

Find a place to stay in Lake Louise

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Two winter days in Lake Louise fit a skate on the frozen lake, a horse-drawn sleigh ride, a day on the ski hill, a snowshoe tour or a dog-sled run, and a fondue dinner. Day 1 stays at the lake and in the village. Day 2 goes up the mountain and out onto the snow. It suits a first winter trip into the park.

Start with breakfast at Laggan's, a counter-serve bakery and cafe on Village Road. The kitchen turns out house-baked pastries, sandwiches, soups and breakfast plates.

Across the road in Samson Mall, the Lake Louise Visitor Centre is the place to ask about winter conditions in the park before you head up to the water.

Then go up to the lake and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. The lake is a skating rink from December to March, with the Victoria Glacier at the far end of the ice. Skates rent from the hotel's ski and snow shop.

Beside the Chateau, Brewsters Lake Louise Stables runs horse-drawn sleigh rides from the lakefront, from mid-December to early April. Day rides look out to the Victoria Glacier and its icefalls. Night rides go out under the stars with the Chateau lit behind you.

For lunch, Lakeview Lounge in the Chateau looks straight out at the lake and the glacier. The menu runs from French onion soup to Alberta beef striploin, fish and chips and a lobster roll. Book ahead if you are not staying at the hotel.

The Chateau also houses the spa, the afternoon stop once the cold has done its work: massages and facials, and a start in the Tea Garden with an elixir made in house. Treatments book online.

Dinner is Walliser Stube, a small Alpine room in the Chateau. The house dish is a three-cheese fondue made with white wine, with schnitzel on the menu and a Toblerone fondue for dessert.

Find a place to stay in Lake Louise

Start in the village at Cafe Lake Louise on Village Road, an independent coffee shop with espresso drinks, pastries, breakfast sandwiches and wraps, and paninis for the lunch you carry.

Then drive up to Lake Louise Ski Resort on Whitehorn Road, where the ski season starts in early November. The hill has lifts for skiers and snowboarders, terrain parks, a tube park, lessons for adults and children, and rentals at the base. Anyone who skips the runs can ride the resort's sightseeing gondola instead.

Off the lifts, you can still be on the snow. Great Divide Nature Interpretation guides snowshoe tours in Banff National Park, private or in a group. The guides go looking for fresh snow, and snowshoes, poles and a hot drink come with the tour.

Kingmik Dog Sled Tours is the other way across the snow, with Alaskan huskies and groups of no more than ten. Its Narnia Tour, a short introduction to the country around Lake Louise, begins in January. The kennel is on Highway 1A, outside the village, so plan to drive.

Dinner is Saffron on Village Road, an Indian restaurant with North and South Indian dishes: curries, tandoori, biryanis and naan, and plenty for vegetarians and vegans. Its site takes reservations.

End at The Outpost, the English-style pub at the Post Hotel on Pipestone Road. It pours craft beer, serves pub food and takes walk-ins.

• Every visitor to Banff National Park needs a national park pass.
• Moraine Lake Road takes no personal vehicles, so this plan stays at Lake Louise, the village and the ski hill.
• Roam Transit's Route 8X runs to the lake all year, which helps when the lakeside car park is full.

Got another weekend? Go down the valley for a weekend in Banff or a weekend in Canmore.

Start from this plan, set your dates and swap any stop you like.

Make this my trip