Lake Agnes Tea House – Banff National Park, Alberta

Established in 1885, Banff National Park is Canada’s oldest National Park. It’s known for the incredible mountain views and turquoise glacial lakes. There is one lake in particular that should be on every tea lover’s bucket list because there is a historic tea house situated on its shores! A few years ago I heard about the Lake Agnes Tea House and was excited to learn about its history in my home country. I started day dreaming about the moment I would get to go on this tea adventure. I say adventure because the destination is only part of the fun. It can be quite the journey to visit this tea house as hiking is the way to get there. Is it worth the trek? Here’s a Lake Agnes Tea House Trail hiking guide along with my personal review of the tea house.

History

The lake itself was given its name in 1890 and technically it was named after 2 different early visitors who were both named Agnes. The first being Agnes Know, a noted public speaker from Toronto. The second being Lady Susan Agnes MacDonald. She was the wife of John A. MacDonald, Canada’s first Prime Minister.

Lake Agnes Tea House was originally built in 1901 by the Canadian Pacific Railway as a refuge for hikers. It started serving fine loose leaf tea in 1905.

The log building that can be visited today though was constructed in 1981. It still features pieces of history as it has the original windows, tables and chairs.

Today this tea house is one of the top-rated tourist attractions in Banff National Park.

How to Get to Lake Agnes Tea House

Unlike other tea rooms I have visited and reviewed, no reservations for Lake Agnes Tea House is probably for the best. This hike can take anywhere from 1 hour to 2 hour one way, depending on your experience level.

It begins at Lake Louise and is a 3.8 kilometer journey. So, keep this in mind if you’re planning to arrive at the tea house at a specific time!

My husband and I did this hike in the beginning of July. Any time we go hiking we like to wake up and start early! The weather is a bit cooler, sunrise in the mountains is absolutely phenomenal and parking is easier to find. Plus, with a tourist area like Banff National Park, crowds are much smaller.

By the time we arrived to the starting point, Lake Louise, it was around 7a.m. This was a great starting time because we arrived at the tea house shortly after they opened so it wasn’t too busy.

After we took some stunning landscape shots we started our AllTrails navigation and were on our way!

Lake Agnes Tea House Hike

The hike begins with the Lakeshore Trail near the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Parking there is limited, so if needed, you can check out shuttle options provided by Parks Canada here.

Directions told us to look out for the Lake Agnes trail that branches off past a Swiss mountain guide statue.

I was expecting this to be a much larger statue, so it could be easy to miss (see photo above). This will take you to a fork in the trail. Hiking on the right hand path will lead you to the Lake Agnes Tea House.

This hike takes you through a forest. There isn’t anything too difficult about the terrain, but the trail is uphill the entire way and pretty steep at some points. But, there are several resting spots on the way to stop and admire the view.

A few things to keep in mind…

I would say a beginner could handle this hike, even though it is considered moderate. Just be sure to pace yourself! There were times I struggled but knowing a tea house was waiting for me at the top made it easier.

When we went on this hike there were quite a bit of mosquitoes, making it difficult to break for long. Bug spray is definitely recommended along with lots of water.

It’s also quite possible that you will encounter wildlife on the trail. Please keep a respectful distance and because you are in bear country, bear spray is something you should be carrying and know how to use when hiking.

You will eventually cross a trail for horses. Yes, you can do this trail on horseback or aboard a horse drawn sleigh!

The trail will keep going uphill. There will be signs that direct you to the proper tea house trail, because there is actually a second historic tea house in Lake Louise called Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse. However, that trail is in the opposite direction and much longer.

Mirror Lake

You’re more than halfway through the one-way hike when you pass a horse gate and reach Mirror Lake. This lake is also known as the Goat’s Looking Glass as mountain goats populate the area. Legend has it that they used the lake as a mirror to comb out their beards.

Look up and you will see the Big Beehive. It’s not an actual beehive, but a large cliff that looks like a giant beehive. This is another hike you can do from the tea house.

A sign at Mirror Lake will tell you that you only have about 1 mile (less than a kilometer) left to reach Lake Agnes Tea House and 4 miles (over 6 kilometers) for Plain of the Six Glaciers. Take the trail to the right to continue on to the Lake Agnes Tea House.

Depending on your fitness level you may be getting tired at this point (I know I was!) but just remind yourself that your destination is soon. From Mirror Lake, you are roughly 20 minutes away. There’s a tea house at the top to reward you. I promise it’s worth it all!

When you reach the waterfall by a set of stairs, you’re almost there! Stop to take in the waterfall view and sounds then walk up the stairs. They will take you right to the destination.

You made it, yay!

At the top of the stairs is a house with log exterior and tea interior. There is a mature tree with a bench underneath for a rest in the shade before you turn the corner. To the left is the Lake Louise view from where the hike began. To the right is the gorgeous, clear Lake Agnes and the Tea House’s veranda.

Before heading up the steps for the Lake Agnes Tea House, you may want to spend some time snapping photos and videos. There is a small bridge to go over to the other side of the lake and hang out in more of the rocky area. Don’t forget to admire the views and how the mountains reflect on Lake Agnes.

When greeted at the top of the steps for the Tea House entrance my husband and I were given the option of sitting on the veranda or taking our order to enjoy elsewhere on the property.

Due to restrictions at the time of visit, the public was not allowed inside the Tea House. For the full experience, we opted for the veranda. It’s hard to say no to those views.

The veranda is outlined with log railings and beautified with hanging baskets filled with more greenery. The furniture was mix and matched but entirely made out of wood. There were a few picnic tables and other tables with handcrafted stools.

You can sit on the side looking out to Lake Agnes, but the opposite direction has an equally incredible view of mountain peaks and evergreen trees. You really can’t go wrong!

Tea House Menu

There were menus outside the building for visitors to take photos of and order from when seated. It may change daily but usually consists of sandwiches made with homemade bread, soups, chips, salsa, and desserts like banana bread, cookies, scones and more.

Everything is made by hand and cooked in a propane oven on site first thing in the morning. There is a slight challenge though. The tea house actually has no electricity or running water.

To get fresh supplies, the staff hike them up regularly. For heavier items like dry goods, propane and bottled water a helicopter flies them in once a year.

Plus, water is pumped from Lake Agnes and boiled for service. Having tea prepared with water from Lake Agnes was a big selling point for me.

Tea

The tea menu is quite large with 100 different types of loose leaf tea ($4.50 per cup). It consisted of black, white, oolong, green and herbal teas. I really appreciated the variety of pure teas and flavoured teas.

They even had a selection of Lake Agnes Exclusive Blends. This included 4 black teas, 1 green tea and 2 caffeine-free teas.

– Mountain Masala Chai black tea
– Cream of Earl Grey black tea
– Canadian Maple black tea
– Lake Agnes Breakfast Blend black tea
– Blueberry green tea
– Lake Agnes Wildberry herbal tea
– Top of the Mountain Zen rooibos

In addition to tea, they serve hot chocolate ($4.50) and apple cider ($4.50). Cold drinks like lemonade ($4.50) and bottled water ($4.50) are available.

Food

For my lunch I ordered their Sandwich with Tortilla Chips and Salsa combo ($16.00). There was a small selection of sandwiches to pick from. At the time this was Tuna, Hummus, Peanut Butter & Jam or Cheese.

I decided on a tuna sandwich that was prepared on homemade oatmeal brown bread. I paired it with their Lake Agnes Breakfast Blend.

The meal was served on cardboard plates and the loose leaf tea was prepared with a tea filter inside a to-go cup.

I could tell that the bread from my sandwich was made on site that morning because it smelled so fresh the moment it was served. The tortilla chips and salsa were a nice accompaniment.

More importantly, the tea was everything I wanted in a breakfast blend — robust black tea and great with a splash of milk. At the time, milk and sugar was provided in the cup when requested. There was not an option to add it yourself.

My husband ordered the same combo, but had the Hummus sandwich instead. It was prepared on the same homemade oatmeal brown bread and also had thinly sliced cucumbers inside.

I was thrilled to see Scones & Jam ($7.00) on the menu when we arrived. So, I made sure to order that for an after lunch treat. The order comes with 2 scones and jam.

Their scones were more rustic looking on the outside. They were also listed as biscuits so I was worried that they may have been more like an American biscuit than an English scone. However, the texture inside was tender and crumbly, much like a classic scone.

You can view their full food and beverages menu here along with their list of teas here.

Heading Back

After our lunch we explored more of Lake Agnes and enjoyed the beautiful weather before the trek down.

Before leaving, check for any garbage you may have left behind. In addition to hiking supplies daily, the staff also hike down the garbage. To help, you are asked to hike down everything you hiked up or even any garbage from your lunch at the Tea House. You can ask the staff for a bag to put your garbage in before leaving if you forgot to bring one.

This area is beautiful, but fragile – just like a teacup. Help keep it intact for future visitors. – A sign at Lake Agnes

Don’t forget to also check out the Lake Agnes merchandise they have for sale to pick up a memento from your phenomenal visit. They have retail items like stickers, patches, postcards, t-shirts, travel mugs and more.

We headed back around lunch hour and noticed a lot more hikers going up as we were going down. So, we were glad we planned for an early morning visit!

Lake Agnes Tea House is open June 4 until Canadian Thanksgiving (the second Monday in October). Their hours of operations are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

I’m excited I am finally able to check this spot off my tea room bucket list and definitely plan to visit again!

Lake Agnes Trail Hiking Information

Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 3.8 kilometers one way
Duration: 1-2 hours one way
Elevation Gain: 1300 feet
Altitude: 7005 feet
Views: PRICELESS
Worth it?: 10000%!!

Helpful Tips for the Lake Agnes Tea House Trail

• Start the hike early to arrive within an hour or so of opening time. Less traffic on the trail and visitors at the tea house!
• You need a Canada Park Pass to enter Banff National Park. Make sure you display this pass in your vehicle when parked before hiking. You don’t need to bring it on the trail.
• Check forecast beforehand and plan accordingly. The tea house can close early due to inclement weather.
• Use the washrooms at Lake Louise before hiking. There is no electricity or running water at the tea house. They only have an outhouse.
• Bring sunscreen, bug spray and bear spray.
• Wear comfortable hiking gear. I recommend hiking boots or at least very comfy running shoes.
• Carry cash if you plan to order food or drinks at the tea house.
• Pack an empty bag to help take your garbage from the tea house back down.
• Don’t forget water to stay hydrated!
• Get lots of rest and arrive prepared if you want to take the “Tea House Challenge” (aka hiking to both of the historic tea houses in one day!)

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Visit Lake Agnes Tea House:

Lake Agnes, Lake Louise
Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
www.lakeagnesteahouse.com

*If you plan to visit, Canadian and US cash or travellers cheques are the current methods of payment. So, make sure you are prepared before you start the trek up to the tea house! 

**Prices and tea/food options may change. All were accurate at the date of this tea room review.