Snowshoe to Mirror Lake and Lake Agnes

Lake Agnes is an extremely popular and crowded hiking trail in the summer. In the winter, however, you will meet very few people on this trail. The mountain peaks are breathtaking and this area almost always has good snow for snowshoeing.

Beyond Mirror Lake the terrain is rated callenging Class II for avalanche hazard and checking the current avalanche conditions and carrying appropriate equipment is highly recommended.

Begin your adventure by parking at the public parking area to the left of the Fairmont Chateau Hotel. Follow the Lakeshore Trail past the hotel grounds. You will see a small bronze statue where the trail for Lake Agnes branches off to the right. A branch to the right of the main trail follows the horse trail. If you take this route, turn left when you reach a T-intersection. Both routes switchback and climb steadily through old-growth forest of spruce and fir and join to continue to Mirror Lake.

Signs announce your arrival at Mirror Lake and the "Beehive" looms above it. The trail climbs steadily from Mirror Lake to Lake Agnes. A tricky icy flight of stairs is the final climb to the teahouse on the shores of Lake Agnes and the stunning views of the surrounding windswept peaks.

Return the same way, or continue behind the teahouse along the trail to the Little Beehive (about 1 km) and loop back to the main trail above Mirror Lake.