Where is moraine lake banff

Stay where the crisp mountain air will take your breath away. Tucked away in world-renowned Banff National Park, each luxury accommodation at Moraine Lake Lodge has adventure right outside your door.

There is no shortage of outdoor experiences to be had out here in the heart of the Rockies, and there is certainly no shortage of incredible dining to experience either. Our award-winning dining services and locally inspired dishes are something we proudly call our own. Reward yourself with our much-loved dining services at the Walter Wilcox Dining Room, featuring fresh, local and certified organic dishes.

Whether your stay is for romance or for family, adventure is never far away. Absolutely stunning, breathtaking scenery, a gorgeous lodge with fantastic views, excellent staff and great food!!

Paddles, life jackets and basic instruction are provided. The canoes available can accommodate two or three people. Reservations are not accepted, the canoes available on a first-come, first served basis. Guests of the Moraine Lake Lodge take priority.

The operation of the canoe dock is weather dependent. It can shut down without notice due to inclement weather such as snow, rain or strong winds. Yes, you can bring your own canoe or kayak to Moraine Lake or any of the lakes or rivers within Banff National Park. Parks Canada offers more information here: Paddling in the parks. Absolutely, these two beautiful attractions are just a 15 minute drive apart.

Both Lakes are accessed from Lake Louise Drive. See the directions below or keep reading further for bus and shuttle options that are available to get you to both lakes. Look for the turn on the left hand side for Moraine Lake Road. If you keep going past the turn off to Moraine Lake Road and continue up Lake Louise Drive you will reach the parking area for Lake Louise within a few minutes.

The beautiful setting of Moraine Lake continues to increase in popularity. The parking is very limited and in recent years the traffic volume has become so high that Parks Canada has implemented restrictions. From late May to October traffic control is in place 24 hours a day. Vehicles will only be granted access to Moraine Lake Road if parking is available. If the lot is full you will be turned away at the beginning of the road. If you are set on driving to the lake yourself be prepared get there very early.

In the summer months and through September the parking lot can be full by am. You can take a chance that it will be quieter in the evening after 6 pm or 7pm. The Larch hiking season is another crowded time at Moraine Lake. This is when the trees in the Larch Valley are showing off their golden coloured needles.

The peak of the colours usually occur in the 2nd and 3rd week of September and can continue to retain some colour through the end of the month. Locals come from all around the area to hike and its become very popular with visitors as well.

Expect the surrounding trails that are accessed from the Moraine Lake area to be extra busy at this time.

You can try to avoid some of the crowds by planning your hike for mid-week. The photo below shows the small parking area for Moraine Lake.

There are approximately parking spots. To help alleviate traffic congestion Parks Canada offers a park and ride shuttle service to Moraine Lake. An advance seat reservation must be made. There is no walk up seating available. The shuttle also runs between Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.

Schedules, fares and information can be found here. Keep in mind that taxi service is limited in the area and it will be the most expensive option for getting to the lake.

The fares are usually a per person charge, not by a meter. There are daily shuttles from Banff that run directly to Moraine Lake from the 3rd week of September to mid-October. Schedules and fares are available here: Roam Bus Moraine Lake. The drawback to this beautiful lake is that due to its high elevation it receives heavy snowfall and the setting is prone to high avalanche risks. For safety the road is closed to all vehicle traffic during the winter.

The road opens in late May and closes on the Tuesday after the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday the second Monday in October. The dates for opening and closing the road can be subject to change depending on the conditions. If you attempt to bike the road when it is open to vehicle traffic extreme caution is needed on this narrow road.

There are alternative trail ride options to get to the lake. More information for road and trail riding can be found here: Biking in the Lake Louise area. In some years the road to Moraine Lake is still free of snow for a short period after being closed for the winter season. If you choose to ride a bike to the lake at this time check first with Parks Canada for the most current road and avalanche conditions.

This is the most frequent question we get about Moraine Lake. To clarify there are no vehicles of any kind permitted on the road once it is closed for the season. There are no tour companies, shuttles, dog sleds or any other type of transport that is available to get to the lake.

The road is closed for good reason. Visitors are so eager to see the lake they contemplate walking through the deep snow or attempting to snowshoe. If you are a cross country skier you can enjoy the tracks that are set on the first half of the road. See below for more information about skiing. In the winter the road becomes a popular spot for cross country skiing. The total distance is The trail has a steady climb with gentle rolling and hilly stretches.

Going past the track sets the road crosses large avalanche chutes and is not recommended. Anyone attempting to go past the end of the grooming should be equipped and trained in avalanche rescue and first aid.

There is a high avalanche risk from November to late April. No waiting area is available. Plan ahead and reserve your spot on the Parks Canada shuttle. These privately operated teahouses open mid-May and close after Canadian Thanksgiving in mid-October.

The hikes to the teahouses are not safe from November through mid-May due to avalanche hazard. In May and June, check the trail report before departing. Throughout the summer season, parking lots at these locations are often full by sunrise and remain full throughout the day. Moraine Lake Road only opens to private vehicles as space becomes available in Moraine Lake parking lot. If taking your private vehicle, expect full parking lots, traffic control personnel, traffic congestion, long waits, and paid parking Lake Louise Lakeshore only.

Visitors are encouraged to have a backup plan. Visitors are encouraged to leave their cars at home and take transit from either Calgary, Banff or Lake Louise. Visit Getting around for transit information. From November through April, Lake Louise is a winter wonderland! We receive more snow than other parts of Banff National Park and are proud to have one of the longest ski seasons in North America.

The busiest weekends during the winter are:. During the summer and fall, parking at the lakeshore fills before sunrise. The best way to access Lake Louise Lakeshore and Moraine Lake between May and October is to leave your car at home and arrive by public transit. The parking lot fills before sunrise. Moraine Lake Road only opens to vehicles as space becomes available in Moraine Lake parking lot.

No waiting area is available and vehicles with the exception of shuttles and transit are not permitted on the road if parking is not available. Plan ahead and reserve your spot on the Parks Canada shuttle to provide certainty in reaching your destination. Learn more about shuttle and transit options to Moraine Lake.

The road to Moraine Lake is closed during the winter due to heavy snowfall and high avalanche risk. Depending on the conditions, the road opens sometime between the third week of May and the first week of June and closes in October after the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend the second Monday in October. This website uses cookies so we can give you a better online experience.

By using this website or closing this message, you are agreeing to our use of cookies as per our Privacy Policy. This website uses cookies for various purposes, including enhancing your website experience. To learn more about the types of cookies this website uses, see our Privacy Policy.

We need your consent to use marketing cookies. Marketing cookies are used to track visitors across websites. The intention is to display ads via third party services that are relevant and engaging for individual users. Please select the checkbox below to indicate your consent. Your location is used to serve you the most appropriate content.