BANFF NATIONAL PARK - Canadian Rockies: Including Banff and Jasper National Parks - page 118

“LAKE OF LITTLE FISHES”
During the summer of 1882, Tom Wilson, an outfitter, was camped near the conflu-
ence of the Bow and Pipestone Rivers when he heard the distant rumblings of an
avalanche. He questioned Stoney Indian guides and was told the noises originated
from the “Lake of Little Fishes.” The following day, Wilson, led by a native guide,
hiked to the lake to investigate. He became the first white man to lay eyes on what
he named Emerald Lake. Two years later, the name was changed to Lake Louise,
honoring Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, daughter of Queen Victoria.
A railway station known as Laggan was built where the rail line passed closest
to the lake, six kilometers (3.7 miles) away. Until a road was completed in 1926,
everyone arrived by train. The station's name was changed to Lake Louise in 1913
to prevent confusion among visitors. In 1890, a modest two-bedroom wooden hotel
replaced a crude cabin that had been built on the shore of the lake as word of its
beauty spread. After many additions, a disastrous fire, and the addition of a con-
crete wing in 1925, the château of today took shape, minus a convention center that
opened in 2004.
HIKING
The variety of hiking opportunities in the vicinity of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake is
surely equal to any area on the face of the earth. The region's potential for outdoor recre-
ation was first realized in the late 1800s, and it soon became the center of hiking activity
in the Canadian Rockies. This popularity continues today; trails here are among the most
heavily used in the park. Hiking is best early or late in the short summer season. Head out
early in the morning to miss the strollers, high heels, dogs, and bear bells that you'll surely
encounter during the busiest periods.
The two main trailheads are at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Two
trails lead from the village to the château (a pleasant alternative to driving the steep and
busy Lake Louise Drive). Shortest is the 2.7-kilometer (1.7-mile) Louise Creek Trail. It
begins on the downstream side of the point where Lake Louise Drive crosses the Bow
River, crosses Louise Creek three times, and ends at the Lake Louise parking lot. The oth-
er trail, Tramline, is 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) longer but not as steep. It begins behind