Big Beehive and Devil's Thumb

Hike Name: The Big Beehive and Devil's Thumb
Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: 12.4 km (RT)

Altitude: Big Beehive 2,270 m / Devil's Thumb 2,458 m

Elevation Gain: 990m (total)

Area: Banff (Lake Louise)

Crew: Julia and Mom

Time to Summit: 2 hours (Big Beehive), +40 minutes (Devil's Thumb)

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: Chateau Lake Louise

Getting There:

Heading west on the TransCanada (Hwy 1) from Banff, take the exit towards Lake Louise village. Continue straight through the stop sign and take this road until the parking lot at Chateau Lake Louise.

Additional Info:
Take the trail up to the Lake Agnes Teahouse. You will pass Mirror Lake. Once at the teahouse, continue around the lake and then up the switchbacks. Once you reach the saddle, you can go left to the Big Beehive, or right to Devil's Thumb (unmarked). We chose to do the Big Beehive first and then Devil's Thumb. We began our hike at Lake Louise at 9am and still managed to be the first ones at both lookouts! The switchbacks were still slippery and snowy so this may have turned people off. Our descent however, was extremely crowded. I was once again reminded 1. Why I try to avoid Lake Louise - it is so crowded and 2. Why Lake Louise is so crowded - it is insanely beautiful!
Once back at the saddle between the Big Beehive and Devil's Thumb you can:

• Continue over the pass down to the trail that will either bring you to the Plain of 6 Glaciers, or back to Mirror Lake or,
• Go back down the way you came up to see the Little Beehive, or Mount St. Piran.

 Lake Louise from the Big Beehive

 Looking back at Julia and Mom and up at Mount Whyte (from near the top of Devil's Thumb)

 On Devil's Thumb. From Left to Right: Lake Agnes, Big Beehive, Me, Lake Louise

Cool summit cairn on Devil's Thumb