Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse — Attraction in Alberta

The Plain of Six Glaciers is my favourite hike in Banff. This approx. 11 km hike climbs high into the mountains through forests, a rocky avalanche path and along the ledge of a cliff and has some of the most beautiful views of glaciers, mountains, valleys and Lake Louise and eventually leads to a charming and rustic teahouse with delicious home-cooked food and beverages.

The trail began from the shoreline of Lake Louise in front of the Fairmont Chateau Hotel along the paved and flat Lakeshore Trail which followed alongside this beautiful turquoise glacial lake for the first 2 km, then crossed a wooden boardwalk over a portion of the lake and ascended into the mountains.

The well-graded trail entered into a beautiful and peaceful forest. The path continued on a moderate incline for the remainder of the way as it gained a total of 365 metres of elevation with some steeper and more challenging switchbacks in the last section of the trail leading to the teahouse. It wasn’t too gruelling but it wasn’t simple either and there were some areas where the trail levelled out to give your legs a rest too. The hike was moderately challenging but I took my time and stopped for frequent breaks along the way.

The forest opened up to a wide open area with stunning landscapes and incredible views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, the Victoria Glacier, a large rocky avalanche path, and Lake Louise in the distance behind you. It continued through this landscape for most of the hike and then followed along a narrow rocky ledge on the side of a cliff before switchbacking up to the teahouse. The scenery on this hike was breathtaking, impressive and just so beautiful with plenty of wonderful photo opportunities.

The final section of the hike was a series of steeper switchbacks up the mountain leading to the Plain of Six Glaciers Tea House. The views of the Victoria Glacier were stunning! The teahouse was a rustic and adorable two-storey log building with balconies all around it on both levels for seating. It was quite busy when I arrived there but managed to find a seat. I ordered the hand-ground hummus and salsa with tortilla chips and a hot chocolate and everything tasted incredible. The views from the teahouse were spectacular and it was so quiet and serene. There were outhouse washrooms here as well. From the teahouse, there is the option to continue hiking an additional 1.6 km to a closer viewpoint overlooking the six glaciers, however I was exhausted at this point and didn’t end up doing it, although I am sure it would have been amazing. If you’re lucky you may hear the rumbling of an avalanche in the distance here as well (I heard one last year but not this summer).

The trek down the mountain was such a welcome reward for my sore legs and the scenery was just as amazing coming down. I completed the entire 10.6 km round-trip hike in roughly 4 hours, including my stop at the teahouse.

Make sure to dress in layers and bring some warmer clothing on this hike, as the temperatures get quite a bit cooler as you gain elevation. Bring plenty of water and snacks and cash if you plan to eat or drink at the teahouse. Also be aware that this hike is mostly uphill on a moderate incline the entire way, with a steeper section shortly before reaching the teahouse. The air gets a lot thinner as you get higher in the mountains making it more difficult to catch your breath, so go slow and take breaks if you’re feeling exhausted. I found that my hiking poles really helped with the elevation and they took some of the pressure off my legs. This trail can get quite crowded during the day, so I suggest starting early in the morning in order to beat the crowds and secure yourself a good parking spot at Lake Louise.

The Plain of Six Glaciers is an incredible half-day hike from Lake Louise in Banff and I would highly recommend adding this one to your itinerary. This hike has some of the most amazing views and landscapes that I have experienced in...

It’s cute and worth checking out. The hike to the tea house wasn’t terribly difficult and worth the view.

Be warned! Take CASH if possible! They charge $4 to use a credit card if you don’t have cash. They took my credit card info since apparently they don’t have dial up. However I am giving them 3 stars because they accidentally charged my card TWICE, which makes me a touch nervous. Check your bill if you use credit card!!!!

It cost $4 per drink. Extra water in your tea is an extra charge, but the vanilla tea I had was delicious! Cups are a little small but when you’re parched, it’s worth it. I liked the raspberry drink, albeit it tasted like regular fruit punch.

I didn’t know how to contact them so I messaged them on Facebook. Initially they apologized and responded quickly, but they never issued a refund! Apparently the owner was camping in the bank country. Fine. However, when I followed up, I got no response! That was super frustrating! Eventually someone else responded and they were super kind and refunded my money, but I’m assuming they don’t have great connection and it was a little spotty when they responded.

Overall it’s cute and I really appreciated being able to get a hot drink, especially after hiking to the glaciers, which is super super windy. Grateful it is there, and it was fun to be able to pause and take a break and have something nice and hot before or after your trek the rest of the way up towards the glaciers if you dare~ It’s not a far hike afterwards, but it can get quite windy so I would definitely bundle up by the tea house before...

The tea house offers a selection of soups and baked goods either to eat at the hut or to take away.

If you are looking to get away from the crowds and want to hike for a few hours then go! Amazing views and a chance to experience one of the original stone huts built by Swiss guides to help bring people into the classic peaks of the Canadian Rockies. With any luck, you can see Arlo, the tea house dog. He spends every summer at the tea house. Maybe you'll see a horse train (which has happened to me the last two times I hiked up to the Plain of the Six Glaciers) or a marmot (one walked through the tables on my last visit). Also, look up at the cliffs at the end of the lake... they are popular with local climbers. All in all, an intro to the alpine environment around Lake Louise. Budget 4-6 hours, depending on how fast you hike and how long you want to linger.

Cash is preferred, but you can pay by credit card though there is a service fee. When I went the tea house was in full COVID mode. Hand sanitizer was provided at the front archway and all the staff were wearing masks. Special attention was made to space out patrons. To help minimize the chance of infection they were using disposable plates and cups. You are asked to take your garbage with you so that the staff don't need to worry about handling and storing used materials. But don't let this deter you. Everyone was very polite and all materials were compostable or recyclable. You are even provided with paper bags...