With jewel-colored water, mountains topped with glaciers, and a tree-covered lakeshore, it’s easy to see why Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are two of the most visited sites in Canada! We immediately fell in love with the breathtaking views, excellent hiking, and fresh air, but first-time visitors should be aware that this is not just a place you can drive to on a whim. This post will tell you what you need to know before you go so you don’t miss out.
A First-Timer’s Guide to Visiting Moraine Lake & Lake Louise
Whether you are in the mood to paddle a canoe, take in the view, or go for a hike, Moraine Lake in the beautiful Valley of The Ten Peaks and Lake Louise are an outdoor-lover’s dream come true. Both lakes are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of their priceless natural beauty.
But you have to get there first and with recent changes to the Canadian national park system, it can be logistically tricky. It’s totally doable with a little planning, but be aware that this is not a spontaneous stop as part of your Banff itinerary. Consider this a first-timer’s guide to help you if you have never been to Banff before and don’t want to miss these jewels.
You Need a Reservation Before You Go
If Moraine Lake and Lake Louise are on your bucket list, you’re not alone. And if you’re confused about how to actually get there, you’re definitely not alone. When we were planning our trip, I found the logistics far more stressful than expected. Friends from Canada kept saying, “Just drive up and park,” which used to be true… but isn’t anymore.
Frankly, there is confusion around access and reservations, which are relatively new and trip people up, especially Canadians who remember “just driving up”. My close friend, Jana, is Canadian and she grew up visiting her relatives in Banff every year. This was their exact reaction when we told them about our experience!
Since the summer of 2023, Moraine Lake no longer allows private vehicles. Instead, you need shuttle reservations, a tour, or to make use of the Lake Louise Park & Ride. It is a year-round ban on cars in an attempt to relieve the traffic congestion and improve safety for visitors, although from what I have seen individuals with valid accessibility tags might still be permitted to drive up.
Where Are Moraine Lake & Lake Louise?
Both lakes are located in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada, just 45 minutes away from the town of Banff. They are only about 15 minutes away from each other so it is easy to visit both lakes on the same day with just a little planning (though for longer hikes, you may want to include extra days in your itinerary!).
How to Get There (The Part That Trips Everyone Up)
First you will need to drive the 45 minutes from Banff to the Lake Louise Park & Ride where there is plenty of public parking. This is at the Lake Louise ski resort and there is the Lake Louise gondola that you might want to keep in mind for another day. I personally wouldn’t combine them because I wanted to maximize my time at the lakes.
From there, you can hop on a Parks Canada Shuttle that will take you to both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. This is the most common option, but bear in mind that it does require advance reservations. I wouldn’t risk the drive up there without them.
The alternative is to book a guided tour, which is more expensive, but definitely simplifies things if you don’t want to deal with logistics. You can also look into private or hotel shuttles, although they tend to have limited availability and can sell out quickly.
Key Takeaway: If you don’t plan transportation in advance, you may not get to Moraine Lake at all, which would be a bummer.
When to Go
The lakes don’t fully thaw until early summer, so the best time to visit in between mid-June through September. For lighter crowds and better lighting for photography, I recommend getting there early in the morning or waiting until later in the afternoon. Midday is harshest for lighting and the crowds are at their peak by that time of day. You might be tempted to book a later shuttle and sleep-in, but I think the early start is totally worth it for this day.
What to Do at Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake feels wilder and more dramatic than Lake Louise (it’s easily my favorite of the two and where I would spend most of my time) so I’m going to start here.
Rockpile Trail
The first thing I would recommend is to take a short walk up to the Rockpile, where you’ll find the famous viewpoint of the turquoise water surrounded by the Valley of the Ten Peaks in most of these pictures. It is so special that for a time it was on the back of the Canadian $20 bill.
Canoeing
There are lots of canoes available to rent and take out on the lake, and it is a really popular activity, although it seemed much calmer and less busy here than the canoes at Lake Louise. It is expensive, but memorable, and for most people, 30 minutes is probably plenty.
Moraine Lake Lakeshore Trail
This flat trail starts from the canoe docks and runs along the lake’s forested shoreline, with incredible lake and mountain views the entire time. I was surprised how uncrowded and calm this trail was compared to the Rockpile.
The trail only goes partway around the lake to a boardwalk where you can see waters flowing down to the lake from Wenkchemna Pass, then you turn around and head back. You can do as much of the trail as you like and then turn back whenever you want to.
Or find a bench, rock, or log to sit down and soak in the beauty of the area while watching the canoers paddle around the serene deep blue water and gaze at the glaciers topping the rugged peaks surrounding the lake.
Hike to Consolation Lakes
If the crowds at the Rockpile have got you reconsidering spending time here, I highly recommend the Consolation Lakes hike as a quieter option. It was absolutely beautiful and peaceful, with far fewer people, and a good chance to get in some exercise with the kids.
It’s about 4 miles round-trip, so you can plan on about 2-3 hours to do this hike, but it is well worth it and can easily be done with the Moraine Lake Rockpile trail. There is only moderate elevation gain with the excellent reward of seeing the pristine Consolation Lakes, as well as rock features like Mount Babble, Mountain Fay, and Quadra Mountain.
Our group ranged in age from 5 to 65 and everyone was able to do this hike with no trouble, despite typical trail conditions like some roots and a few wet areas from recent rains. There are also some boulders to scramble over if you want to get down to the actual lake shore, but you can still get great views from the trail itself.
We stopped at the first lake (like most people), but there is actually a second lake that you can reach if you continue on.
Where to Eat (Spoiler Alert: Bring Snacks)
We were not well prepared for this aspect of our day and didn’t realize there were limited food options with extremely long lines at either lake.
At Moraine Lake, the only place we saw was the Moraine Lake Cafe where you could buy prepackaged items (to be fair, this was the best nanaimo bar of the entire trip – seriously so good), drinks, ice cream bars, etc. The wait was pretty terrible though and it took more than 30 minutes to get to the single register to pay. I wouldn’t have done it except we were light on snacks.
Lake Louise has more options for food, including the Guide’s Pantry where you can get sandwiches, salads, and pastries. But again, expect long lines.
What to Wear & Bring
Mountain weather changes fast in Canada, even in summer, so you should plan to wear layers and consider bringing good walking or hiking shoes and even a waterproof jacket.
You might also want to bring a water bottle and snacks or lunch (especially for longer hikes like Consolation Lakes or Lake Agnes), a hat and sunscreen (we don’t mess around with UV rays), bear spray (recommended), and a small backpack for things like a phone charger.
What to Do at Lake Louise (Beyond Just Standing There With Your Mouth Agape)
Lake Louise is considered the “Jewel of the Canadian Rockies” and it really is an apt nickname. Framed by towering peaks and glaciers with pearlescent turquoise water, this stunning body of water has been captivating travelers since the late 1800’s.
Long before Instagram, Lake Louise became famous thanks to the Canadian Pacific Railway, which brought early tourists west by train and built the grand Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise as a destination in itself. It is now one of Canada’s most iconic and recognizable landscapes.
You can walk the lakeshore trail for an easy stroll with views of the Victoria Glacier and the famous Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise Hotel at your back.
Or rent a canoe for a paddle around the lake with a friend. It’s pricey, but memories will be made, one way or another.
If you’re hungry, you can also eat lunch or grab a drink at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, even if you aren’t staying there.
You can also go for a hike from Lake Louise to the Lake Agnes Tea House. This very popular 4.5 mile round-trip moderate hike takes about 2-3 hours and it is a classic hike in Banff National Park.
The path immediately starts climbing through pine and spruce, with a steady incline that feels manageable but definitely gets your heart rate up thanks to the elevation. Along the way, you’ll hear rushing water from nearby waterfalls and catch occasional glimpses back toward Lake Louise below.
When you arrive at Lake Agnes, the effort feels instantly worth it. Tucked beneath dramatic mountain peaks, the tiny tea house sits right at the water’s edge, offering hot tea, simple snacks, and a place to sit, rest, and soak in the alpine setting.
For an option away from the crowds, consider hiking the Plain of Six Glaciers. This longer, quieter alternative to the Lake Agnes hike is a great way to experience the scale of the Lake Louise area. The 8.7-mile round trip hike starts along the lakeshore before opening into a wide glacial valley with dramatic mountain walls and hanging glaciers overhead. The climb is also more gradual than Lake Agnes, and much more remote feeling. There is a Teahouse here also, but bring cash to get a slice of their famous chocolate cake! They do not accept any card or digital payments.
There is no right answer to this question. Both are incredible, although if pressed I would admit a preference for Moraine Lake as the more spectacular of the two. But I didn’t get a chance to do two of the most talked about hikes at Lake Louise – the Lake Agnus Tea House and the Plain of Six Glaciers.
Yes, your shuttle access (required now to get to either lake) includes access to the Lake Connector shuttle that takes you between the two lakes at no additional cost. Travel time is short (only about 15-20 minutes) but allow time for waiting for the next shuttle and boarding.
