Call me crazy, but I never knew that Lake Louise was in Banff National Park. Hey, Canada is a big country. Anyway, After our rock climbing adventure, we were off to canoe on the emerald waters of Lake Louise.
It is a beautiful setting surrounded by the Rocky Mountains and we were glad to be able to fit our second item on the itinerary into our Chevy Equinox Rocky Mountain Adventure Drive.
We were running short on time so we had to make our canoe ride quick, but I am glad that we managed to get out on the water. Now if we were paying for it, that would be another story.
The price to canoe on Lake Louise in front of the Chateau Lake Louise is outrageous. $50 for 1 hour, or $40 for a half an hour. We only had a half an hour until we had to leave for our interview with TheRealBanff, so we paid our two twenty's and paddled our hearts out.
They make a killing on overcharging tourists. People lined up continuously to give away their $50 to hop into a canoe. It was non-stop and the boardwalk was cluttered with people even at this late hour in the day. Luckily the lake is pretty large so you didn't feel like you were taking part in a bumper boat ride on the duck pond at an amusement park.
Unfortunately, evening is not the best time to visit Lake Louise. The glacier is completely back lit making photo's almost impossible. So I suggest going early in the day for optimal picture taking opportunities.
Once we were out on the water we really wished that we had more time. We paddled like mad to make it to the other side and situate ourselves under the shade of a mountain. Dave managed to take some great shots of the Glacier from a different angle. People stuck on the boardwalk could not have gotten this view. Also, looking back towards the hotel was quite beautiful, and having the structure in front of the hills and forests gave a great perspective of just how large the land is.
While paddling Dave commented on what an “Authentic Canadian Moment” we were having – Canoeing in the Rocky's on the majestic Lake Louise. It was nice. We also could not get over how cold the water was. It is a glacier fed lake after all and once we dipped our hands into the water we realized why they were so strict with their rules before we started paddling. If anyone fell in the water in the middle of the lake, they would be in serious trouble.
So we managed to cover quite a lot of ground and we only came back to the dock a little over 10 minutes late. The boys were very sweet and didn't charge us any more money for the extra time. In peak season however, I don't think that we would get away with it.
We hightailed it in our Lovely Chevy Equinox and tried to make it to our lodge Num Ti Jah at Bow Lake where Reality was patiently waiting to interview us for Banff/Lake Louise Tourism. The temperature dropped quickly and we were shivering a bit during the interview, but I am very glad that we did it outside because the views were stunning.
We laughed when the interview was over because a squirrel ran by. It was the BanffSquirrel after all that runs the Banff Tourism Website and set up our interview through twitter, so we enjoyed the little reminder that he was there with us in spirit.
That night we settled into our rustic accommodations and met down by the fire in the dining room to talk about the days events. I got to know Leslie Crowell from the YummyMummyClub and what a fireball of a lady. We had a great time talking about her white water rafting experience with her husband Alex and we all enjoyed some pre-dinner cocktails and appetizers.
We all had a great laugh that writer and photographer Chris and Drew from Outpost Magazine decided to go golfing for their Rocky Mountain Adventure. They said that it was some of the best golfing that they had ever done with stunning views and difficult holes.
So after catching up, we were dining in the grand Elkhorn Dining Room, where we kept the adventure going…Dave and I ordered the Elk for dinner. Oh, we could feel the souls of the dozens of trophy's from the bygone days of Jimmy Simpson staring down at us in judgement. Wolverines, Badgers, Moose, Elk and Bear hides and heads overlooked the dining room. You couldn't help but think about how barbaric the human race can be. And yet, I was being a hypocrite because I ordered the elk!
It was during that meal that I seriously considered going back to my vegetarian days and talked about how my dad is completely vegan, healthy and running everyday! We should all follow his lead.
So we collapsed in our giant king size bed with a thick and cozy duvet where we slept like babies after our jam packed day on the Chevy Equinox Rocky Mountain Adventure Drive. Whew!
By Alberta Travel Guide - A Road Trip Through Cowboy Country September 23, 2013 - 5:01 am
[…] itinerary, it can easily be done by adding another four days. Many people only visit Banff/Canmore/Lake Louise. These are amazing destinations but they are not the only spot in Alberta to visit. There is an […]
By Alberta Bound - Back to my Roots at the Bar U Ranch August 11, 2013 - 12:19 pm
[…] and I have only been to Alberta once before, where we’ve explored the usual haunts of Banff, Lake Louise, Canmore and Jasper, but this time we’re eager to show off a different side of the […]
By Three Canadian National Parks we Like - The Planet D: Around the World Adventure Couple June 24, 2011 - 5:00 am
[…] is one of the most impressive accessible glaciers on earth and Victoria Glacier, which overlooks Lake Louise boasts some of the most picturesque scenery in the world. Between Banff and Jasper National Parks, […]
By Tweets that mention Canoe Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Alberta | The Planet D: Around the World Adventure Couple -- Topsy.com November 4, 2010 - 4:16 pm
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Marilyn Terrell and Dave&Deb Travel Duo, Cam & Nicole. Cam & Nicole said: Love it there. RT @theplanetd: Canoe Lake Louise in #Banff National Park, Alberta http://bit.ly/ckLXIj #TNI our day there. […]
By jen laceda September 23, 2009 - 4:54 pm
Was that a mean-looking badger hanging on the wall? 🙂
.-= jen laceda´s last blog ..Le Comptoir de la Folie: Merging Fashion and Interior =-.
By Amy @ The Q Family September 16, 2009 - 10:10 am
Wow!! Stunning pictures. Ok. This adventure I can probably do but at $50 per hour.. Yike!
So how did the Elk taste like? 🙂
By davendeb September 16, 2009 - 12:29 pm
Hi Amy, Ah yes, I should have described the elk in the post. They described it as gamey, but I didn’t think it was. It just tasted like a cheap cut of meat. Not overly tender and maybe even a bit gritty. But it is always an adventure to try. I thought really, what is the difference between the steak or the elk, they are both animals that have feelings too. So let’s just go for it. $50 is way too much money I think, but it didn’t seem to prevent people from going. I guess when You are on vacation you will pay anything. I wouldn’t recommend it as an activity. You can hike around the lake for free instead.
By davendeb September 15, 2009 - 10:35 pm
That was our first time there as well. The canoe on Lake Louise wasn’t really that great, couldn’t really go anywhere and to rent a canoe for an hour it was $50. I think that you have to rent to be able to paddle it. But there are other rivers everywhere and yes, it would definitely be a great place for a canoe trip!
By Travel Tuesday #1 September 15, 2009 - 5:19 pm
[…] a cool couple from Canada, has a new blog post about one of the places that is on my must see list, Banff and Lake Louise. Looks like a great place for canoeing as well as […]
By Gourmantic September 15, 2009 - 3:29 am
If I didn’t read the article, I would have thought you were paddling on a Pacific island! Stunning water shots. Chateau Lake Louise looks like it belongs somewhere on a river in Europe!
By Anil September 14, 2009 - 10:23 pm
Incredible, the water looks like it belongs more in the tropics 🙂
By Mark H September 14, 2009 - 9:12 pm
Looks a great way to see one of the most beautiful places in the world.
By Shannon OD September 14, 2009 - 11:50 am
These shots are just gorgeous – can’t wait to see what you guys get going with a photo site – these are really stunning, truly.
By Tweets that mention Canoe Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Alberta | The Planet D: Around the World Adventure Couple -- Topsy.com September 14, 2009 - 11:36 am
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Travel Industry and Shannon O'Donnell. Shannon O'Donnell said: RT @theplanetd Canoe Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Alberta #travel http://bit.ly/3K1TPf […]