Moraine Lake

About Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake is a stunning glacially-fed lake located in Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. It is one of the most famous and iconic destinations in the Canadian Rockies and is renowned for its breathtaking turquoise-blue waters and stunning surrounding mountain peaks.

Moraine Lake Features

Moraine Lake's Turquoise Waters

The lake's mesmerizing turquoise color is due to the presence of rock flour, which is finely ground rock particles that are suspended in the water. These particles reflect sunlight and give the lake its striking color.

Valley of the Ten Peaks

Moraine Lake is situated in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, which is named after ten prominent peaks that encircle the lake. Mount Fay, Mount Babel, and Mount Wenkchemna are among the notable peaks in the area.

Glacial Origins of Moraine Lake

The lake is primarily fed by the runoff from the nearby Wenkchemna Glacier. As the glacier grinds against the rock, it creates the fine particles that give the lake its unique color.

Moraine Lake Accessibility

Moraine Lake is easily accessible by car during the summer months. The lake is approximately 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) from the popular town of Lake Louise. The road leading to Moraine Lake is open from mid to late June until late September or early October, depending on weather conditions.

Activities

Visitors to Moraine Lake can enjoy a variety of activities, including hiking, canoeing (rentals available on-site), photography, and simply taking in the breathtaking scenery.

Rockpile Trail

The Rockpile Trail is a short and easily accessible hiking trail that leads to an elevated viewpoint offering stunning panoramic views of Moraine Lake and the surrounding peaks. It is one of the most popular spots for taking photographs of the lake.

Moraine Lake's Seasonal Variations

Moraine Lake's appearance can vary significantly depending on the season. During the summer, the lake is surrounded by lush greenery, while in the fall, the surrounding forests change to vibrant shades of red, orange, and gold.

Moraine Lake is a very popular destination, and the parking lot often reaches capacity quickly during peak times. To avoid crowds, it's best to visit Moraine Lake early in the day or later in the afternoon. While Moraine lake is awe-inspiring, visitors are encouraged to respect the natural surroundings and practice responsible tourism to help preserve this beautiful natural gem for generations to come.

Moraine & Lake Louise Hop On Open-Top Double Decker Shuttle Explorer

Moraine & Lake Louise Open-Top Shuttle

Embark on an exciting ride to beautiful Lake Louise & Moraine Lake. Take in panoramic views & learn about the area from a local host, ready to answer any questions. Marvel at the Canadian Rockies including the famous Mt. Victoria & Valley of the Ten Peaks. Take time for yourself once at the lakes. Many stunning hiking trails are accessed right from the drop-off area. Explore at your own pace. Ride the open top bus to the next lake & end your journey back at the Lake Louise Ski Resort.

Tickets are valid all day with Shuttle buses departing every hour from the Lake Louise Ski Resort between 8:00am to 3:00pm.
Selection of a departure time is required upon checkout, but Not required. Simply show up at the hour you wish to depart. Moraine Lake Shuttle Buses depart Lake Louise & Moraine Lake at the following hours: Lake Louise=8:30am,9:30am,10:30am,11:30am,12:30pm, 1:30pm,2:30pm,3:30pm, 4:30pm Moraine Lake=9:00am,10:00am,11:00am,12:00am,1:00pm,2:00pm,3:00pm,4:00pm,5:00pm
Book Moraine & Lake Louise Open-Top Shuttle

Shuttle Service between Banff & Moraine Lake and Lake Louise

Banff & Moraine Lake and Lake Louise Shuttle Service

Moraine Lake is closed to public vehicle access in 2023. With new visitation restrictions in place, taking our shuttle service is the best way to guarantee your visit to Moraine Lake, leave the driving to us, and enjoy the breathtaking beauty of Moraine Lake and Lake Louise up close and personal. » Ticket is for one way ride, but can be also used for further transfer in the same day when there's seats available.
» Long range ticket holder (from/to Banff), can hop on from any stop point after the initial booked transfer when seat is available.
» Short range ticket is for any transfer in Moraine Lake and Lake Louise area, but after the initial booked transfer, it can be still used to hop on for any transfer within Marine lake and Lake Louise area when seat is available.
Book Shuttle Service between Banff & Moraine Lake, Lake Louise

Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Guided tour from Banff

Banff National Park Tour with Lake Louise and Moraine Lake

Discover Lake Louise and Moraine Lake on this guided tour from Banff. Located inside the Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the lakes are well-known for their distinct turquoise hues. Gain insight into the area’s mountaineering history, admire views of the Valley of Ten Peaks and leave with plenty of frame-worthy photos. Round-trip transportation is included on this small-group tour. Don’t miss this seasonal tour that operates from April to November.

Guided tour of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake

» Visit two beautiful lakes located in Banff National Park
» Snap photos of the ‘Jewel of the Canadian Rockies’
» Stroll to a viewpoint in the Valley of Ten Peaks overlooking Moraine Lake
» Learn about the local mountaineering history This small-group tour ensures a more memorable experience.
Book Moraine Lake Guided tour from Banff

Moraine Lake, Lake Louise and Icefields Parkway Tour

Full-Day Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Icefields Parkway Tour

The Rockies boast some of Canada’s most spectacular scenery, but the rugged mountain terrain poses a unique set of challenges. On this full-day sightseeing tour, enjoy round-trip travel from Banff and reach far-flung attractions including Lake Louise and the Icefield Parkway in comfort. Stop at picturesque spots including Bow Falls and Moraine Lake, and enjoy personal attention from your guide on this small group tour limited to 22 people.

» Explore Lake Louise and the Icefield Parkway with ease in one day
» Sweeping views over natural attractions such as Bow Falls and Moraine Lake
» Small-group tour limited to 22 people ensures a personalized experience with your guide
» Includes round-trip travel from central Banff.
Book Moraine Lake, Lake Louise and Icefields Parkway Tour

Moraine Lake Sunrise and Lake Louise Earlybird Adventure

Moraine Lake Sunrise and Lake Louise Tour

The Earlybird Explorer - Join Banff's top-rated tour operator on this exclusive experience visiting Moraine Lake for sunrise & Lake Louise before the crowds arrive.

On this tour, you'll have guaranteed & expedited access to Moraine Lake, where your expert local guide will show you to the best locations to watch the sunrise hit the glaciers above The Valley of the Ten Peaks and the stunning turquoise Moraine Lake.

Sip on a complimentary hot chocolate, coffee, or tea as you eagerly await the sunrise, and utilize your expert local guides' photography skills & knowledge to set yourself up for an amazing sunrise photoshoot.

Explore the trails of Moraine Lake before all the big buses arrive before heading into Lake Louise Village for a delicious hot breakfast & barista-made drink (optional).

After breakfast, visit beautiful Lake Louise before all the big buses arrive, taking in the sunrise colours and the neon blue waters from a canoe (optional) or the trails.
Book Moraine Lake Sunrise and Lake Louise Tour

Lake Louise, Banff, Moraine Lake Tour from Calgary or Banff

Calgary or Banff to Lake Louise & Banff & Moraine Lake

Explore the magnificent scenes of Banff National Park with your small group tour. On this full-day tour, enjoy being picked up from Calgary, Banff or Canmore. Explore the dramatic Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. This iconic stop will offer the opportunity to explore the historic hotel and take some pictures of bright blue waters of Lake Louise.

» Comprehensive: See everything that you must in Banff National Park in one day. Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, Johnston Canyon, Banff town.
» Small group guarantee! A personalized experience. Feel like a family.
» Our guides will help you to take amaizing pictures.
» Husttle-free. Leave the driving part to us and just immerse yourself with the amaizing nature.
Book Calgary or Banff to Lake Louise & Banff & Moraine Lake

Lake Louise & Yoho National Park from Calgary or Banff

Lake Louise & Yoho National Park (Moraine Lake June to mid-Oct) from Calgary or Banff

Immerse yourself in stunning Canadian Rockies scenery on this guided tour from Banff to Yoho National Park and beyond. Marvel at Moraine Lake's opalescent waters; learn about the human history of the landscapes; look for moose, bear, and elk, and make a stop at Lake Louise to snap photos of its famously turquoise waters.

» Guided tour from Calgary to Yoho: Leave the driving to others
» See the most stunning Rockies landscapes, from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake
» Learn about the history of the area from your tour guide
» Includes snowshoeing during the winter season
Book Lake Louise & Yoho National Park from Calgary or Banff

Moraine Lake, Lake Louise & Banff Tour

Moraine Lake, Lake Louise & Banff Small Group Adventure Tour

Experience one of the best adventures while holidaying in Banff. Visit Banff National Park's most popular locations as well as a few secret spots. Check out the turquoise glacier-fed lakes, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, where you can explore the lakeside trails or go kayaking, canoeing, or paddle boarding.

» Visit popular and secret spots in and near Banff National Park
» Check out Lake Louise and Moraine Lake with expedited access
» Walk the lakeside trails around Lake Louise or Moraine Lake
» A small group means more attention from your guide
Book Moraine Lake, Lake Louise & Banff Tour

Wildlife You might Encounter near Moraine Lake

Wildlife Near Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake is surrounded by some of the most impressive wildlife habitat in the Lake Louise area of Banff National Park. Dense subalpine forests, avalanche paths, rocky slopes, alpine meadows and the Valley of the Ten Peaks create habitat for bears, small alpine mammals, deer, mountain ungulates and numerous birds. The broader Moraine Lake–Paradise Valley landscape is also an important wildlife movement corridor used by wary species including grizzly bears, wolves and lynx.

Grizzly Bears
Grizzly bears are among the most important large mammals around Moraine Lake. The surrounding forests, avalanche slopes, berry-producing areas and alpine terrain provide valuable seasonal feeding habitat. Bears can occur around Moraine Lake itself as well as Larch Valley, Consolation Lakes, Paradise Valley and other surrounding backcountry areas. Parks Canada has periodically issued bear warnings and restrictions for this landscape.

Black Bears
Black bears also occur within Banff National Park and may travel through the forested environments of the greater Lake Louise and Moraine Lake region. They generally favour forested slopes and productive vegetation at lower elevations more than the exposed alpine terrain surrounding the highest peaks.

Wolves
Wolves use the larger Lake Louise landscape, including wildlife corridors surrounding Moraine Lake and Paradise Valley. These corridors allow animals to move between feeding areas, seasonal ranges and quieter sections of the park. Wolf sightings around the busy Moraine Lake day-use area are uncommon, but their presence is an important part of the surrounding ecosystem.

Canada Lynx
Canada lynx are secretive forest predators that occur within the greater Moraine Lake and Lake Louise landscape. Parks Canada identifies lynx among the wary species using wildlife corridors in this region. Their forest habitat and elusive behaviour make actual sightings extremely rare.

Cougars
Cougars inhabit Banff National Park's forests and mountainous terrain. They are exceptionally secretive and usually avoid areas with concentrated human activity. The extensive wilderness surrounding Moraine Lake provides suitable habitat, but encountering one would be unusual.

Mule Deer
Mule deer can occur in the forests and mountain terrain of the Lake Louise region. They are generally more likely around lower-elevation forest edges and open areas than around the busy lakeshore itself.

White-Tailed Deer
White-tailed deer also occur within Banff National Park, although they are more strongly associated with productive lower-elevation environments. They are less characteristic of Moraine Lake's high subalpine setting than some other Banff wildlife species.

Elk
Elk are abundant in parts of Banff National Park but are more closely associated with productive valley bottoms and montane grasslands. Moraine Lake's higher-elevation subalpine environment is not one of Banff's primary elk-viewing areas, although elk occur within the larger park ecosystem.

Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn sheep inhabit rocky mountain environments throughout Banff National Park. They favour grassy slopes close to steep escape terrain. They are not as strongly associated with Moraine Lake as they are with lower and drier areas such as Lake Minnewanka, but suitable mountainous habitat exists throughout the surrounding region.

Mountain Goats
Mountain goats occupy steep cliffs and rugged alpine terrain throughout the Canadian Rockies. The high mountains surrounding Moraine Lake provide the type of landscape associated with goats, although sightings around the developed lakeshore are uncommon. Visitors exploring higher terrain have better opportunities to scan distant cliffs and ridges.

American Pikas
Pikas are one of the most characteristic small mammals around Moraine Lake. These tiny relatives of rabbits inhabit rock slides and talus slopes, and Parks Canada specifically identifies Moraine Lake's rock slides as a location where pikas are often seen. Their sharp, high-pitched calls frequently reveal their presence before they can be spotted among the rocks.

Hoary Marmots
Hoary marmots inhabit alpine environments, generally favouring rocky slopes, boulder fields and alpine meadows. Hikers travelling into higher terrain around Moraine Lake, Larch Valley and Sentinel Pass enter the type of habitat where these large mountain rodents can occur.

Columbian Ground Squirrels
Columbian ground squirrels are among Banff National Park's most commonly observed summer animals. They occur from montane valleys into alpine environments and can inhabit grassy openings and meadows around the greater Moraine Lake region. They spend the short mountain summer feeding intensively before returning underground for their long hibernation.

Golden-Mantled Ground Squirrels
Golden-mantled ground squirrels also inhabit Banff National Park. Their striped appearance sometimes causes them to be mistaken for large chipmunks. Rocky areas, open forest and mountain environments provide suitable habitat around the Lake Louise region.

Red Squirrels
Red squirrels inhabit the dense coniferous forests surrounding Moraine Lake. Their loud territorial calls frequently make them easier to hear than see. They feed heavily on seeds from spruce and other conifers and may be encountered along forested trails.

Snowshoe Hares
Snowshoe hares inhabit dense forest understory throughout Banff National Park. Their seasonal coat changes provide camouflage, with brown coats during summer and predominantly white coats during winter. They are also an important prey species for Canada lynx and other predators.

Golden Eagles
Golden eagles may occasionally be observed soaring above the mountain ridges and valleys surrounding Moraine Lake. The broad alpine landscape provides excellent opportunities to watch the sky for large birds of prey using mountain updrafts.

Ravens
Common ravens are well adapted to Banff's high mountain environment and may be encountered around Moraine Lake throughout the visitor season. They can often be seen soaring above the Valley of the Ten Peaks or travelling between forest and alpine environments.

Canada Jays
Canada jays inhabit the coniferous forests surrounding Moraine Lake. These hardy mountain birds remain in the Canadian Rockies throughout winter and are particularly well adapted to cold subalpine environments.

Clark's Nutcrackers
Clark's nutcrackers are another characteristic mountain bird worth watching for. They inhabit coniferous forests and high mountain environments and play an important ecological role by collecting, storing and inadvertently dispersing tree seeds.

Wildlife Around the Rockpile
The Rockpile is one of Moraine Lake's busiest locations, so large mammals should not normally be expected around crowded viewpoints. Small mammals and mountain birds are more realistic possibilities. Rocky terrain around Moraine Lake is particularly suitable for pikas, which Parks Canada specifically notes can often be seen on the area's rock slides.

Wildlife Along the Moraine Lake Lakeshore
The Lakeshore Trail passes through forest immediately beside Moraine Lake. Squirrels, birds and other small wildlife may be encountered, while larger mammals can occasionally move through the surrounding forest. The popularity of the trail means that large wildlife encounters are generally unpredictable.

Wildlife in Larch Valley
Larch Valley takes visitors away from the busy lakeshore and into extensive subalpine and alpine habitat. Ground squirrels, pikas, marmots and mountain birds are among the animals worth watching for. The area is also bear habitat, and Parks Canada's current trail information warns that bear encounters are possible during berry season.

Wildlife Near Sentinel Pass
Sentinel Pass reaches exposed alpine terrain above Larch Valley. At these elevations, visitors enter habitat better suited to pikas, marmots and alpine birds than elk or deer. Looking across talus slopes and rocky areas can be particularly rewarding for spotting small mountain mammals.

Wildlife Near Consolation Lakes
The Consolation Lakes area combines forest, rocky slopes, talus and alpine terrain. Pikas, ground squirrels, birds and other small wildlife may occur, while the surrounding wilderness remains bear habitat. Grizzly activity has previously resulted in warnings covering the Consolation Lakes Trail and surrounding Moraine Lake area.

Wildlife in Paradise Valley
Paradise Valley is particularly important for wildlife because it provides quieter habitat between the heavily visited Lake Louise and Moraine Lake areas. Parks Canada identifies it as important habitat for wary species such as grizzly bears and is considering visitor-management measures specifically to protect wildlife security and connectivity there.

Best Time to See Wildlife Near Moraine Lake
Early morning and evening generally provide quieter conditions for wildlife, although Moraine Lake access schedules can influence when visitors arrive. Wildlife activity also varies according to season, weather and food availability. Late summer berry season deserves particular caution because bears may be actively feeding throughout the surrounding backcountry.

Bear Safety Near Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake should be treated as genuine bear country. Hikers should carry bear spray, remain alert, make noise where appropriate and follow all posted warnings, closures and group-size requirements. Parks Canada advises visitors throughout Banff to carry bear spray, travel in groups and avoid approaching wildlife.

Wildlife Safety
Wildlife should never be fed, approached or followed for photographs. Parks Canada advises remaining at least 30 metres from animals such as elk and at least 100 metres from bears. Visitors should remain on designated trails because unofficial routes may also be used by wildlife.

Why Moraine Lake Is Important for Wildlife
Moraine Lake's wildlife value extends far beyond the immediate shoreline. The lake sits within a much larger network of subalpine forest, avalanche terrain, alpine meadows, rocky slopes and relatively undisturbed valleys. These habitats connect Moraine Lake with Paradise Valley and the wider Lake Louise landscape, providing important movement and feeding areas for grizzly bears, wolves, lynx and numerous smaller mountain species. Pikas are especially characteristic of Moraine Lake's rocky slopes, making them one of the area's most distinctive wildlife residents.