The Rocky Mountains had an early visit from old man winter, sprinkling Lake Louise, Sunshine and Kicking Horse with snow.

Given the recent moisture levels and drop in temperature, Dan Markham, Director of Brand and Communications for Lake Louise, said he wasn't surprised by this weeks snow fall.

"When you get up a couple more thousand feet up in elevation it certainly makes a difference. We're 1000 feet higher in Lake Louise than we are in Banff, and then when you start heading up to the top of the mountain you add a couple more thousand feet, your going to get up into the areas that drop down below zero overnight."

Markam said that Lake Louise experiences at least one surprise snow fall each year before the start of fall.

For anyone who still wants to head out to the mountains for a hike and sight seeing, Markam said that the Grizzly Gondola is still open and does not go up high enough to reach the snow.

"It certainly will be brisk in the mornings until it warms up, but you can still access without getting into the snow up to the top of the gondola and then over to the Whitehorn Lodge where the interpretive center and restaurant is."

The official ski season does not begin until November 10, when Lake Louise will prepare for this years World Cup Races.