Everyone talks about Lake Louise when they mention a trip to Banff, but I think (and hear me out here) that Moraine Lake is by far the more superior Lake in the Rockies. Moraine Lake is also a glacially-fed lake (giving it that stunning turquoise colour like Lake Louise) that is nestled in the heart of Banff National Park. I found Moraine Lake far more interesting than Lake Louise. There were more photographic opportunities around every corner.
Moraine Lake is also slightly less packed with tourists, which made it all the more peaceful. Lake Louise can often feel like Disneyland. I found that Lake Louise is a destination, while Moraine Lake is an adventure. One of the reasons that Moraine Lake was less frequented by visitors in the past years was because it was so difficult to access. But thanks to the Park and Ride Shuttle the lakes are now more accessible than ever!
Moraine Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in Canada. With its deep blue water and lush green scenery, it really is a sight to see. Towering mountains and a pristine blue sky almost always surround the lake. The backdrop is so magnificent it’s been dubbed “one of the most beautiful places on earth.” If you’ve been planning a trip to Banff for a while, definitely consider adding Moraine Lake to the top of your list! And honestly, if you are short on time and had to choose between Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, I’d put my votes on Moraine Lake! Here are some great tips on how to make the most of your visit to this spectacular location.
When to Visit?
Being located in the mountains means that Moraine Lake is much much colder than in the city just a few hours away. Even in the summer, you might find snow in the forest. Summer and early fall make for the best times of year to visit. Try to avoid weekends and holidays as this is the busiest time to visit with lots of locals flocking to the mountains for a day of hiking. Try to avoid at Moriane Lake early in the morning. This gives you the best chance of having the lowest crowd levels and also will allow you to see all there is to do around the Lake itself.
In the fall, you will also be greeted by the Golden Larch. The Larch is a needle-laden tree whose leaves turn the most beautiful yellow hue in the early fall. The nearby Larch Valley is the best place to see these changing colours. Late fall is my favourite time to visit as the crowds are much lighter. Plus, the incredible fall colours add another element of dynamism to the area. It is a lot chillier than in the summer but just dress in layers to survive those frigid mornings. Although the winter is the quietest season in Lake Moraine, the lake generally freezes over, so you won’t be able to appreciate the gorgeous turquoise colours of the water.
How to Get to Moraine Lake
As mentioned before, Banff and Lake Moraine is an easy day trip from Calgary, and there are many different ways to get there. While many people think renting a car is the only option, Banff is much more accessible than you might think via public transport!
By Car
To get to Calgary by car, you’ll need to rent one from the airport or any car rental locations downtown. Car rentals in Calgary for a simple, mid-size vehicle can be found as low as $60/day. The prices go up in the summer months, so I would plan on about $100/day if travelling in high-season. If you are travelling in the summer or during busy holidays, book your rentals months in advance. You might be surprised to find car rentals book up relatively quickly as a drive into the mountains is such a popular activity. If you can’t find any rentals downtown, consider looking at the airport since they usually have more rental availability there.
By Bus
What really surprised me was that you can actually take the bus from Calgary, directly to Banff and Canmore! On-It Regional Transit offers weekend-only service to and from Calgary. You can book a spot on their Saturday service 6:40 am bus which arrives in Banff around 9:15 am. Return buses to Calgary run about every hour after 5 pm. This means you can easily spend a whole day in Banff without a car!
If you’re looking to stay in Banff overnight or for the entire weekend, you can book one of their Friday Night tickets. They will get you into Banff at 8:30pm and you can stay the entire weekend, returning Sunday afternoon. There is only one bus on Friday Night so book those tickets in advance. Sunday buses run six times a-day. Each one-way tickets only cost $10! Super affordable, and great for any budget. Be sure to book your spots in advance as there are only so many buses available.
Shuttle Bus
If you are driving, please please consider taking the Park and Ride Shuttle Bus. This shuttle bus runs to and from Lake Louise and Moraine Lake! Parking at Moraine Lake is extremely limited! The parking lot is full by sunrise (!) and remains full throughout the day. Unless you’re willing to get to the parking lot at 6 am this is a real shot in the dark and could easily ruin your trip! And don’t think if the parking lot is packed, you can just park down the road. No, park rangers patrol the area and pretty much anywhere you could think of parking is restricted. But not to fear! This is where the Parks Canada Shuttle Bus comes in hand.
You must book your tickets in advance as only a certain number of tickets are sold every day. Walk-up seat sales are not permitted. Tickets are only $8 for adults, $4 for seniors, $2 for youths (6 – 17 years), and children under 6 are free! You need to book your ticket in advance and select your specific departure time. This is to ensure no one timeslot is overcrowded. This requires a little bit of extra scheduling but is worth the effort.
Park and Ride → Lake Louise → Moraine Lake → Park and Ride
This shuttle bus runs from the Park and Ride lot to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. The Park and Ride area is located just off the Trans-Canada Highway as marked on the map. But there are plenty of signs to direct you on your way. Once you arrive you check-in at the desk to get your ticket and wait for your designated bus. Buses depart every 15-20 minutes. From the Park and Ride, you can go directly to Moraine Lake. In less than 20 minutes, you’ll arrive at the entrance to the park with NO STRESS. No worrying about finding parking spots or the need to arrive at 4 am.
I honestly cannot recommend this service enough. Not only does the shuttle bus take you from the parking lot to either Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, you can also take the shuttles between the two lakes. As many times as you want. This guided itinerary to 24-hours in Banff is created around using the public transport system and the shuttle bus as it is truly the BEST WAY to explore the area with ease. The buses run about every 15 minutes, so you never have to wait very long in between shuttles to get where you want to go.
Roam
But how do I get around once I arrive if I take the On-It bus? Well, lucky for you, your On-It tickets allow you to travel for FREE on local Roam Regional services! Roam is the local transit system around the Bow Valley. Even if you don’t have an On-It ticket but want to ditch your car for the day you can get a 1-Day pass for the Roam local transit system. Tickets cost only $5 for adults and $2.50 for students and seniors. Kids under 13 are free!
For a 1-Day ticket onto their expanded network, including buses to Moraine Lake, tickets cost $15 for adults and $7.50 for seniors and students.
Park Pass
Entry into the entirety of Banff National Park and Moraine Lake requires a valid Park Pass. The cost of the pass is necessary for maintaining the national park. A single adult pass costs $9.80 CAD, and children (6- 17) and seniors are $8.30 CAD. You can purchase a family pass for $19.60 CAD which covers your entire vehicle’s party.
You can purchase your Park Pass at the gate when you enter the park’s boundaries. But better yet, purchase it online before your arrival. Buying the pass in advance means you can simply print it off and then drive right into the park. That saves a bunch of time when there is a lineup to buy passes at the gate. Be sure to keep your pass on the dashboard of your vehicle, where it is clearly visible. Park rangers periodically check cars for their passes and you don’t want to get a ticket unduly!
Hiking Tips
Many of the short hikes/walks around Moraine Lake are very easy, even for beginners. They don’t require any high fitness level, so don’t be intimidated. Take it at your own pace and just enjoy the beautiful views. Remember to always dress in layers. You might get outta bed in the morning with frost in the air, but by midday, it could be sweltering! So be prepared for all kinds of weather. Bring a large refillable water bottle, as even with a short or easy hike, you need to keep hydrated. Wear comfortable hiking or running shoes. Even if the trails are flat, you’ll be doing a lot of walking and you’ll want to be comfortable.
Be Bear Aware!
Even if you’re going on an easy, well-populated hiking trail, you need to be careful of bears. In fact, the area around Lake Louise has the highest ratio of grizzlies to humans in Canada! Something no hiker (or walker) should be without is bear spray. Bear spray can usually be purchased at campground stores or even in your hotel. Ask hotel staff if anyone left any bear spray behind. Since bear spray cannot be brought on the plane, people often check out and simply leave it behind.
In addition to bear spray, being bear aware on your walks is of the utmost importance. Walk and hike in large groups. Talk loudly, so you don’t surprise any bears, especially when turning around corners. Watch out for fresh signs of bear activity, including droppings, torn-up logs, overturned rocks, and diggings.
Moraine Lakeshore Trail
Once you arrive at the lake the firs thing you should do, is walk along the Moraine Lakeshore Trail. The pathway weaves itself around the lake, giving you lots of different angles at the water and mountains above. The track is 1.5 km long and takes only about 45 minutes to return. The walk weaves in and out of the forest and down to the water’s edge making it such a beautiful walk. You’ll cross over boardwalks, ending at a small babbling rapids tucked into the edge of the forest. Unlike the Lakeshore trail in Lake Louise, this pathway is more visually dynamic, with much lighter crowds.
Canoeing on the Lake
Canoes can be rented on Moraine Lake for $124/hour. While this is still pretty pricey, many people view a trip to Moraine Lake as a bucket list activity. While this isn’t the type of activity you might splurge on every day, getting onto the waters is a truly unique experience. Don’t break the bank and feel like you MUST do this, but if you have the money saved and are a big fan of canoeing, you will definitely enjoy yourself. The canoe dock is only mid-June to mid-September.
Rockpile Trail
As you head back to the parking lot, you’ll find access to the famous Rockpile Trail. There is a reason this short hike is so popular. The Moraine Lake Viewpoint, located just 0.4km uphill, is genuinely one of the most spectacular views you’ll ever see. The trail is very short, but there are lots of steep steps. But once you get to the top, you’ll be glad you did!
Reaching the top of the rock pile you have the most magnificent view overtop of the lake. The water is simply etheral and you feel like you’re up in the clouds. Moraine Lake is located in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, which become very apparent once you are up here. The “ten peaks” are the ten different mountain peaks that can be seen across the vista.
The views you get from the peak of the Rockpile Trail were featured on the Canadian twenty-dollar bill from 1969 to 1979. Since then, many people also call this vista the, “Twenty Dollar View.” The tallest of all the mountains seen from the viewpoint is the Deltaform Mountain, which stands 3424 meters tall.
Consolation Lakes Trail
If you want to adventure out into the wilderness from Moraine Lake, you must take some time to walk the Consolation Lakes Trail. The entrance to the trail is located right next to the washrooms in the Moraine Lake parking lot. Although the trail is 6.1 km, the path is well paved and heavily trafficked, making it a fantastic hike for newbies. The course is relatively flat, and there isn’t too much elevation gained throughout your hike. The trail takes you from Moraine Lake into the woods towards two picturesque alpine lakes. All the while framed by the backdrop of Banff’s incredible mountains. While very well-trafficked by visitors, you always need to be sure to follow the previously mentioned instructions to be bear aware.
Food at Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake is home to both a small cafe and a luxury dining room inside the Moraine Lake Lodge (open during the summer season). The Snowshoe Cafe is a tiny little takeaway restaurant that offers a daily selection of sandwiches, baked goods, soups, and a large selection of coffee, lattes and tea. You can either take your food with you or sit outside on their outdoor charming patio.
The food inside the cafe is super costly for what it is. Partly this is due to the remote nature of the restaurant and probably partly because it’s your only lunch option if you didn’t pack a lunch. It won’t bankrupt you, but a $4 can of soda definitely gave me some sticker shock! We still grabbed a warm cup of coffee and a latte and were impressed by the quality! It was really nice to walk around in the crisp morning with a hot cup of coffee.
The Walter Wilcox Dining Room is open in the evening from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm. Reservations are required as the restaurant is tiny and has limited seating for guests who are not staying at the lodge. The menu features Alberta Beef Tenderloin, Oven Roasted Rack of Lamb, Venison Rack and Pheasant Supreme. It’s definitely a splurge, but the views inside the floor-to-ceiling windowed dining room are spectacular.
Bring Your Own Picnic
The best option for most people is to bring a picnic with you! There are plenty of benches along the trails for you to stop and enjoy a little picnic. But remember, leave no trace! Bring all your garbage back to the designated garbage bins located in the parking lot and beside the cafe. These bins are specifically designed to keep bears out, so you must be sure to only dispose of garbage in these bins.
I hope you make your way to Moraine Lake and if you do, let me know in the comments if you also liked Moraine Lake more than Lake Louise! Or if you’re a die-hard Lake Louise fan! Honestly, they are both jaw-droppingly stunning but Moraine Lake will always be where my heart lives.
Happy Travels, Adventurers!
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