Last minute plea: Lake Louise w/ a disability
 

I have only now discovered this wonderful message board just several days before our 7/21 departure for 8 nights in Lake Louise. Thank you to the many prolific posters on this forum, I have already learned much from your generous reports and advice.

Here is our situation: my traveling companion and boyfriend is recovering from major leg surgery due to cancer. At the moment, he is able to walk with the assistance of a cane and a foot brace, but not much farther than several city blocks at a time. For those of you familiar with the Banff-Lake Louise-Jasper area, I'd love to hear your suggestions for favorite activities that would be accessible for someone who is mobility impaired. There seem to be many options, but I'd love some insight into choosing, e.g., among the several gondola rides, or the several boat rides available. Favorite restaurants or cafes with fabulous views is another item of interest. Also particularly welcome would be suggestions for pullovers from the main roads where one might picnic or see some scenery without having to really hike. Many thanks in advance for any suggestions!

FYI, we are staying at the Chateau Lake Louise, which we selected for the fabulous view and wealth of services and such on the spot. I was very disappointed -- read heartsick -- to learn from another message board that there is a major earth-moving project on the stretch of land between the lake and the hotel. If anyone here has been there recently to observe, I would be interested in your comments.

Many thanks -- Kate

I was there on July 3, and yes, the grounds between the hotel and the lake is all dugged up.

However, I don't see why one should be disheartened. You will be looking at the lake, the glaciers, and mountains; not the garden or whatever in front. And if your room is high enough, you won't notice it.

Only place where you may notice it is one of the restaurants and cafe in the lower floors, facing the lake. It was my first time there, and I don't know the hotel well enough to tell you specific which restaurant or cafe is most affected.

Hello Kate,

I agree with rkkwan that you should not despair.

We went to Moraine Lake, Lake Louise and Banff townsite with out-of-town family members on Friday, July 15th.

Yes, workers were excavating the gardens in front of Chateau Lake Louise. That was indeed a shame, because those gardens usually have poppies and other colourful flowers in them. There was a sign explaining that the Chateau, in conjunction with Parks Canada, was re-landscaping its grounds to form a natural space that would be home to indigenous wildflowers. I consider that to be a worthy project in the long run, but it does not help you right now.

However ...... as rkkwan indicated, when you think of that garden in the context of the surrounding mountains, lakes, glaciers, etc., it's peanuts.

We had a picnic lunch at Moraine Lake. As I have said so often on this forum, we've had many picnic lunches at Moraine Lake. No matter how full the popular parking lot has been, we have NEVER experienced an occasion on which all the picnic tables have been occupied. Friday was a particularly bizarre experience because, in spite of the well used parking lot, we were the ONLY family using a picnic table. I suppose it might have been different if it was a Saturday or Sunday. However, as I said before, even on the very busiest day, we've never known all the picnic tables to be taken.

The picnic tables at Moraine Lake are particularly nice because they're scattered in the forest below the parking lot in such a way that each table has privacy. Since we had our pick of the lot on Friday, we took our favourite one, which is next to the stream that flows out of the lake.

If you want to picnic, you can buy a take-away lunch from Laggan's Bakery and Deli in Lake Louise village.

The restaurant at Moraine Lake, which overlooks the lake and is surrounded by colourful flower boxes, also is a pleasant place to eat.

There is a flat, easy lakeshore path at Moraine Lake, and I'm sure your boyfriend would be able to walk a few yards of it. If you cannot find parking close to the restaurant and scenic viewing area, I suggest you drop him off there, find parking, and then walk back to join him in the vicinity of the restaurant / viewing area.

Lake Louise also has a flat, easy lakeshore path with handy benches at intervals. They are useful for stopping to rest and look at the scenery from a comfortable position.

A place that I've seen mentioned on the travel discussion boards, but which I have not visited myself, is Eagle's Eye Restaurant outside of Golden, British Columbia. Being at 7,700 feet, it apparently is the highest restaurant in Canada. If I understand correctly, you reach it via gondola. It is said to be a fine dining establishment with prices to match. However, as with most restaurants, lunch prices are more reasonable than dinner prices. I've put it on my wish list for future reference.

Since you'll be based in Lake Louise, I suggest you do different drives on different days, radiating out like the spokes of a wheel.

On one day you could see how far up the Icefields Parkway you could get. I bet you could get to Sunwapta Falls and back.

On another day you could drive through Yoho National Park to Golden, which I've already mentioned. Something else I've seen mentioned on the travel boards, but have not visited myself, is a wolf refuge in or near Golden.

On still another day you could drive through Kootenay National Park to Radium Hot Springs. If the spirit took you, you could drive further south to Fairmont Hot Springs.

On one or two other days you could drive to Banff townsite. There you could ride the gondola up Sulphur Mountain. Another excursion that would be nice in the Banff area is the cruise across Lake Minnewanka. I have hiked the length of Lake Minnewanka, but have not done the cruise. People who've done both cruises tell me it's similar to the one across Maligne Lake in the Jasper area, and I sure like the Maligne Lake cruise.

Mount Whitehorn in the Lake Louise area also offers a gondola ride.

There are at least a couple of bookstores in downtown Banff. When you're there, do consider picking up a copy of "Walks and Easy Hikes in the Canadian Rockies" by Graeme Pole. The book covers everything from wheelchair accessible paths through full-day hikes.

If you happen to access the Rockies via Calgary, I've also seen that book in the bookstore at Calgary Airport.

Next to Chateau Lake Louise is a smaller, quaint hotel called Deer Lodge. It has a nice restaurant and a patio that's surrounded by colourful flower boxes.

Another cute location is the Station Restaurant on the edge of Lake Louise village.

In addition to asking on this forum, ask actual people when you're in the area. Make enquiries at the tourist information offices in Banff townsite and Lake Louise village. Ask hotel receptionists, waiters, store clerks for advice. Ask fellow tourists what they've enjoyed.

You may well receive more information than you're able to act on.

Oh, by the way, quite a few attractions have parking spots for disabled people. If your boyfriend's current condition has earned him a permit to use parking for disabled people in your current location, bring it with you. I don't have a definitive answer to this, but I have a feeling that a disability permit from another jurisdiction would be honoured here.

All the best.

This area is actually a good place for mobility impaired guests because so much of the beautiful scenery can be viewed from your car or by taking a short paved walkway. You will see many senior citizen tours on buses for this reason.

As Judy has suggested, there are many beautiful drives. On a clear, sunny day, drive the Icefields Parkway---fantastic views.

There are paved walkways that are accessible including:
Johnson Canyon (drop him off and then go park the car)
Takakkaw Falls Trail is paved.
Moraine Lake has paved walkways.

Have a wonderful time--I wish you and your boyfriend the best.

I agree with everyone else- some of the area round the side of the hotel was dug up when we visited at the beginning of July, however with such amazing views of the lake and mountain ranges surrounding it, we hardly paid any attention to it. Don't worry.

Oh my goodness, so many responses so quickly. You folks are really great. Thank you so much for all of the detailed suggestions -- especially your very substantive post, Judy -- and also for reassuring words about the state of construction at the Chateau. The post I saw on TripAdvisor made the situation sound absolutely dreadful; from the descriptions here, though, it sounds much more like a minor annoyance than a trip-spoiler. (After all we've been through in the past year, I'm sure we can handle it in stride. :) )

I'll keep checking the board through Wednesday night, so if others have additional suggestions feel free to chime in. Otherwise, I promise to do my part by filing a trip report when I get back, and will address the specific issue of disabilty in case that's helpful to others in the future.

We are SO looking forward to this trip -- thanks to everyone for your assistance! Kate

I do not know if you are flying in and renting a car or driving your own car.
There are many camping supply stores in Banff.

Either way, may I suggest a couple of aluminum framed folding picnic/patio chairs in the trunk?

For example; at the icefields, a couple of chairs set up at the edge of the parking lot would be a nice vantage point.