must-visit in BanffNational Park & Nature

Moraine Lake

📍 Moraine Lake Rd, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

1 photos

4.8/ 5.0

★★★★★

Quick Facts

Location: Canada, Banff
Category: National Park & Nature
Duration: Shuttle ride 25 minutes; Rockpile 30 minutes round trip; add the lakeshore path for 1–2 hours total.
Opening Hours: Seasonal 1 June–12 October 2026: shuttles every 30 minutes from 06:30 to 17:00, last return 19:30. The road closes in winter.
Ticket Price: Adult: Free · Lake and trails are free; a park pass is CAD 12.25 per adult day, free under 17. Shuttle CAD 12.75 adult, 6.00 senior, 4.00 youth one way, plus a CAD 3.50 online fee.
Address: Moraine Lake Rd, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Coordinates: 51.3217, -116.1860

Introduction

Moraine Lake sits in Banff National Park's Valley of the Ten Peaks at about 1,884 metres, 153 metres above Lake Louise. Its vivid blue comes from glacial rock flour scattering light, making it the most photogenic alpine lake in the Rockies. The short Rockpile Trail climbs about 35 metres for the classic view of the lake with all ten peaks behind it — the image printed on the back of Canada's twenty-dollar note. Since 2023 the lake road has been closed to private vehicles year-round, so between 1 June and 12 October the only ways in are the Parks Canada shuttle, a licensed operator or a guided tour.

✨ Highlights

The twenty-dollar view

The Rockpile Trail is a 0.7 km loop with about 35 m of climbing, roughly 30 minutes round trip. From the top the whole lake lines up with all ten peaks, including Deltaform Mountain (3,424 m) and Mount Fay.

Rock-flour blue

The colour comes from suspended glacial rock flour scattering light, strongest from late June to September. Water is darkest before dawn and turns full blue once the sun reaches it, usually by mid-morning.

Lakeshore trail

A flat 1.3 km one-way path starting by Moraine Lake Lodge opens up views of Mount Fay and the Fay Glacier along the far shore; combined with the Rockpile it makes about 1 h 15 min.

Larch season

In the third week of September the larches turn gold and the Larch Valley trail becomes the area's most popular hike, with blue water below autumn forest.

Sunrise departures

Parks Canada's Alpine Start buses leave the Lake Louise lakeshore lot at 04:00 and 05:00, need CAD 42 parking on top of the fare, and are booked separately — they sell out well ahead.

Car-free sanctuary

Private vehicles have been barred year-round since 2023, and in 2026 accessible-parking placards no longer grant access either, leaving only shuttles and licensed operators.

🛈 Practical Info

→No private cars：Moraine Lake Road has been closed to private vehicles year-round since 2023, and since 2026 even accessible-parking placards no longer grant access. Use the Parks Canada shuttle, a licensed operator (see CarFreeBanff.ca) or a tour.

→Shuttle fares：The Parks Canada shuttle is CAD 12.75 adult one way, CAD 6.00 senior and CAD 4.00 for 17 and under in 2026, plus a non-refundable CAD 3.50 online booking fee (CAD 5.50 by phone). The park pass is separate.

→Booking rules：For 2026, 40% of season seats went on sale at 08:00 Mountain Time on 15 April; the remaining 60% release at 08:00 two days before travel. Every leg needs its own booking and popular slots sell out within minutes.

→Operating dates：The shuttle and lake road run 1 June–12 October 2026. Departures run every 30 minutes from 06:30 to 17:00, the last return is 19:30, and from 18:00 you walk back to the stop.

→Both lakes：One shuttle ticket includes unlimited use of the Lake Connector between Moraine Lake and Lake Louise every 30 minutes from 07:00 to 19:00, so both lakes are doable in a day.

→Without a car：Roam Transit's Reservable Super Pass is sold only 1 June–12 October and bundles the Route 8X express to Lake Louise plus the Lake Connector round trip to Moraine Lake: CAD 30 adult, CAD 15 senior or youth 13–18, free under 12 (still needs a booking). It starts in Banff.

→Other routes：Licensed operators run sunrise and daytime vans from about CAD 32–99 depending on slot and company. Cycling the 12.5–14 km road is also possible: almost all uphill with about 250 m of climbing, easy downhill back.

→Free options：The lake and trails are free; the only required spending is the park pass and getting there. Sharing a shuttle or tour spreads the cost.

→Worth it?：Yes — it is Banff's signature view. Access depends entirely on securing a seat, though, so the itinerary is out of your hands. To see the blue water alone, take only the Lake Louise shuttle and ride the Lake Connector.

→Pitfalls：Assuming you can drive up (private cars are banned year-round); forgetting the park pass and shuttle ticket are separate purchases and one of them makes you an unregistered visitor; no mobile signal in the valley, so screenshot your booking; and the lake can still be partly frozen in early June, which is normal.

→Opening Hours：Seasonal 1 June–12 October 2026: shuttles every 30 minutes from 06:30 to 17:00, last return 19:30. The road closes in winter.

→Transportation：The official shuttle departs the Lake Louise Park and Ride, 25 minutes away. You can also transfer on the Lake Connector or use Roam Transit's Super Pass from Banff.

Ticket Information

Ticket Information
Adult	Free

Lake and trails are free; a park pass is CAD 12.25 per adult day, free under 17. Shuttle CAD 12.75 adult, 6.00 senior, 4.00 youth one way, plus a CAD 3.50 online fee.

💡 Tips

• The Rockpile is stepped and rocky, so pushchairs and wheelchairs cannot go up; Parks Canada asks you not to climb on the boulders themselves because they are loose.

• Water is darkest before sunrise and palest around midday. Pick an early bus for sunlit peaks, a midday one for the full blue water.

• At 1,884 m and 153 m above Lake Louise the wind is stronger, so bring an extra layer if you plan to wait an hour on top for the light.

• The 1.3 km lakeshore path has no picnic areas or services; food is limited to Moraine Lake Lodge.

• Swimming is banned, and from 2026 canoes, kayaks and paddleboards are no longer permitted because the lake is a designated water-preservation zone.

• The last return leaves the lake at 19:30; from 18:00 you walk about 15 minutes back to the stop, so keep an eye on the clock.

FAQ

What are the opening hours of Moraine Lake?

Seasonal 1 June–12 October 2026: shuttles every 30 minutes from 06:30 to 17:00, last return 19:30. The road closes in winter.

How much is the admission for Moraine Lake?

Adult: Free; Lake and trails are free; a park pass is CAD 12.25 per adult day, free under 17. Shuttle CAD 12.75 adult, 6.00 senior, 4.00 youth one way, plus a CAD 3.50 online fee.

Any practical tips for visiting Moraine Lake?

The Rockpile is stepped and rocky, so pushchairs and wheelchairs cannot go up; Parks Canada asks you not to climb on the boulders themselves because they are loose. Water is darkest before sunrise and palest around midday. Pick an early bus for sunlit peaks, a midday one for the full blue water.

How long should I spend at Moraine Lake?

A typical visit takes Shuttle ride 25 minutes; Rockpile 30 minutes round trip; add the lakeshore path for 1–2 hours total..

Fares, shuttle and booking rules verified against the official Parks Canada fee page and reservation.pc.gc.ca (October 2026). The 19 June–7 September 2026 free window waives park entry only; shuttles and parking are still charged. Access is seasonal — check the official site before travelling.