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Interesting Facts
- Although the area was well known to Native Americans, Lake Louise and its environs were first mapped in 1882 by Canadian Pacific Railroad employee Tom Wilson. He dubbed the greenish body of water Emerald Lake, but the moniker didn't last. The lake was renamed just two years later, in honor of Queen Victoria's fourth daughter.
- The highest permanent settlement in Canada, Lake Louise is situated at 1536 meters (5039 feet). Altitude sickness doesn't become an issue until about 2500 meters, though, so if you're tired and queasy, maybe you just stayed out too late last night...
- Until 1930, a primary economic resource of the Lake Louise area of the Canadian Rockies – notably around Field in what's now Yoho National Park – was mining for lead, silver, zinc and iron ore. Around Banff, coal was mined as well. When the entire area was given national park status, mining ceased for the most part and was defunct by the early 1950s.
- In an area this remote, wildlife sightings are quite common. Some of the animals you might see are porcupine, cougar, grizzly and black bear, deer, beaver, marmot, mountain goat, wolverine, coyote, elk and moose, plus a wide assortment of birds.
- Lake Louise is Canada's largest single ski area and one of the largest ski resorts in North America. It boasts the Canadian Rockies' only six-person high-speed chairlift, along with over 100 named runs for all skill levels (the longest of which is five miles). Some 4200 skiable acres are available, featuring 990 meters of vertical rise. Snowboarders love the area too, thanks to the presence of the Rockies' largest terrain park. If you need extra adrenaline, local companies offer back country skiing trips and heli-skiing.
- Located just north of Lake Louise Village at the base of the mountain, the Lodge of the Ten Peaks is Canada's second largest log building. Inside you'll find restaurants and shops.
- When the Canadian Pacific Railway started promoting western Canada as a tourist destination, they brought in mountaineering guides from Switzerland. Chateau Lake Louise became the headquarters of these "Swiss Guides," who led visitors through rough mountain terrain, rescued stranded climbers, and encouraged skiing as a viable winter sport. In 1922, the Guides built Abbot's Pass Hut between Mt. Victoria and Mt. Lefroy, above Lake Louise. At 2925 meters (9598 feet), the stone structure is the highest building in the Canadian Rockies. It was named a National Historic Site in 1997.
- #1 for scenery, #2 for value, and # 18 overall among North American ski resorts. Or so say the readers of Ski Magazine, who regularly rank Lake Louise tops in numerous different categories.
- You don't have to be a skier to appreciate Lake Louise – the scenery alone makes a trip here worthwhile. But if you're looking for activities, you'll find plenty. In addition to traditional downhill skiing, there's cross-country and heli-skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, dog sledding, snowmobiling, sleigh rides and snow shoeing. And that's just in the winter.
- One of the best times to visit Lake Louise is in mid-January, when the Ice Magic International Ice Sculpture Competition and Exhibition takes the village by storm. Sculptors from all over the globe compete, crafting intricate, glittering sculptures from enormous blocks of ice. The completed pieces are available for everyone to see, and they're kept on public display until the middle of March or until the weather warms up, whichever comes first. The main competition takes place in front of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, with additional events at the Lake Louise Inn and Samson Mall.
