How to Get to Moraine Lake: Hassle-Free in 2024

---

Moraine Lake is an incredible place to visit. Unfortunately, it is also an incredibly difficult place to visit!

Without putting in the time to plan ahead for your trip, you may end up missing the opportunity to see one of the most popular attractions in the Canadian Rockies. And that, in our opinion, would be a huge loss.

We have spent plenty of time hiking, exploring and photographing Moraine Lake over the years, so we definitely know what you would be missing.

With the major changes that rolled out for the 2023 season, we have decided to put together an updated guide.

From The Moraine Lake Bust Company (our fave) to riding a bike or hiking to the lake, there are many different choices for you to consider.

We have included the best pointers and advice on how to get to Moraine Lake so that your family won’t miss experiencing the incredible views.

Is Moraine Lake a Popular Attraction?

Moraine Lake is usually at the top of a visitor’s must-see list when they plan a trip to Banff National Park. The problem in recent years has been trying to make sure that you can actually get there to see it!

Saying Moraine Lake is popular, is a huge understatement! You will really need to plan ahead. If not, your options on how to get to Moraine Lake will be very limited.

When is Moraine Lake Open?

Many people are surprised to learn that Moraine Lake actually closes for the duration of the winter season. With its huge popularity, most would think that it would be better for it to stay open all year round.

Unfortunately, Moraine Lake Road is located in avalanche country. This means that Parks Canada closes the road from early October (typically right after Canadian Thanksgiving), until the end of May because of the high risk of avalanches.

Why Were Changes to Moraine Lake Access Necessary?

Over the years, Moraine Lake has grown substantially in its popularity. 10 years ago, you could easily drive to the lake at any time of the day, enjoy the views in peace or go for a hike, then head out.

Fast forward to 2022, when Parks Canada was forced to manage entry into the parking lot 24 hours a day!

People were arriving at all times of the night and sleeping in their vehicles, just to ensure a parking spot.

And considering that you were not supposed to be allowed to camp overnight at Moraine Lake, including in your car, it was a sign that things were getting out of hand.

The increase in visitors was also creating chaos at the entrance to the road, not to mention the constant stream of traffic heading up to Lake Louise to turn around.

Being turned away from Moraine Lake because the parking lot was full was now a regular occurrence, leaving a lot of people disappointed.

And worse than the traffic nightmare, was the environmental impact that all these visitors were having on Moraine Lake’s ecosystems.

The 24-hour stream of people (especially throughout the night) was most definitely not a good thing for the wildlife that calls the area home.

So while the changes may not be to everyone’s liking, and there may need to be further tweaks made in the future, hopefully, the new system will alleviate some of the problems at Moraine Lake.

After all, improvements that will bring about a better visitor experience, while also helping to preserve the ecosystems around the lake, would definitely be welcome.

Is There Parking at Moraine Lake?

No. As of the 2023 season, you are no longer allowed to park at Moraine Lake.

Let’s face it, the Moraine Lake parking lot is tiny!

How to get to Moraine Lake should be as simple as getting in your vehicle and driving up to the Moraine Lake parking lot.

As we mentioned, in recent years this was no longer the case. And with the 2022 season seeing the lot at full capacity ALL DAY LONG, it was definitely time to try something new.

So, starting in the 2023 season, you can no longer park at Moraine Lake (with a couple of exceptions – but more on that later).

In fact, due to the overwhelming volume of people wanting to see Moraine Lake, Parks Canada has decided to close Moraine Lake Road to ALL personal vehicular traffic.

How to Get to Moraine Lake by Car?

As we have mentioned previously, Moraine Lake closed to personal vehicles in 2023.

However, the exception to this rule is if you have a Handicapped Pass. If that is the case, read on for directions on how to get to the lake.

Moraine Lake is located just outside of the village of Lake Louise in Banff National Park. And the village of Lake Louise is conveniently located just off the Trans Canada Highway (Highway 1).

Once you have arrived in the village, the signs to Moraine Lake are fairly easy to follow. Just continue along Lake Louise Drive until you see all the pylons indicating the entrance to Moraine Lake Road!

You will not, however, be able to make the left onto Moraine Lake Road.

Instead, you will need to continue a little further up the road, where you will eventually be able to make a U-turn, and then head back down to the entrance.

And hopefully, with the reduction of vehicles allowed in, you will be waved in by Parks Canada employees. It is then an additional 10 kilometres to get to Moraine Lake.

How to get to Moraine Lake Without a Car

With Parks Canada’s decision to close Moraine Lake Road to any private vehicles, you may be wondering how to get to Moraine Lake without a car.

Not to worry, there are still plenty of options available to get you there. However, a little advanced planning may be necessary to ensure that you don’t end up disappointed.

1. How to Get to Moraine Lake by Shuttle

There are actually three different shuttle bus options that will help you get to Moraine Lake:

A. Commercial Shuttle

Although not as budget-friendly as some of our other options, the commercial shuttles make up for it in both comfort and ease.

And when it comes to trying to get to Moraine Lake with as little effort as possible, we think the extra money is definitely well spent.

🚌 Moraine Lake Bus Company

The Moraine Lake Bus Company offers Moraine Lake shuttles throughout the day. They even have several time slots throughout the day that make a stop at Lake Louise.

Their regular shuttles leave from the Lake Louise Ski Resort Park and Ride, which means that you won’t have to worry about finding somewhere to park your car.

Of course, if you really have your heart set on seeing the 🌅 sunrise over Moraine Lake, the Moraine Lake Bus Company also offers sunrise shuttles!

As the only company providing 🌅 sunrise shuttles to Moraine Lake, you know these tickets are going to sell out fast! The buses depart from Samson Mall at 4:00 am and arrive at Moraine Lake by 4:35 am.

But just a heads up, there is NO PARKING at SAMSON MALL. You must park in the parking lot behind the Shell Gas Station across Village Road. It’s only a 5-minute walk, so no worries there.

The cost for a Moraine Lake Bus Company shuttle is $35 per adult and $25 per child for a round-trip ride.

B. Parks Canada Shuttles

The most cost-effective way to get to Moraine Lake would be to take the Parks Canada shuttle buses.

The shuttles run approximately every 20 minutes between 6:30 am and 7:30 pm, from the Park & Ride (located at the Lake Louise Ski Resort) to Moraine Lake.

The cost is $8 per adult and free for kids 17 and under. There is also a $3 surcharge on all online reservations and a $6 surcharge on all phone-in reservations. The Parks Canada Moraine Lake shuttle operates from June 1 to October 9 in 2024.

You will need to pre-book your shuttle time online prior to arrival, as reservations are required. This can be done on the Parks Canada Reservation System.

If you missed the April release day for 2024 shuttle reservations, don’t worry. Additional seats will be released at 8 a.m. MDT two days prior to departure day.

So, for example, if you are looking for tickets on a Wednesday, you would need to try and book them at 8 am on Monday morning.

Tickets are booked for a one-hour window. This means that you can show up anytime during that hour.

Once at the lake, you can stay as long as you like. Your ticket includes a return shuttle service from the lake back to the Park and Ride when you are ready.

This means that so long as you make the last return shuttle of the day, you are good to go!

Pets are not allowed on the shuttles. Bear spray must be in your bag for the duration of the ride.

Shuttles are not accessible for wheelchairs. However, strollers and backpack carriers are allowed on the Moraine Lake shuttle.

Insider Tip: Make sure to print your confirmation or take a screenshot of your Moraine Lake shuttle reservation. You will not have cell service when you arrive at the Park and Ride.

C. Parks Canada Connector Shuttles

Park and Ride Connector

If you are staying in the village of Lake Louise and don’t have a car, Parks Canada runs a free connector shuttle from the end of May until mid-October.

This shuttle loops between the Lake Louise Campground, the village of Lake Louise (Samson Mall), and the Lake Louise Park and Ride located 6 km east of the village, on the Trans-Canada Highway.

Keep in mind that while the Park and Ride Connector is free and doesn’t require reservations, you’ll still need a reservation for either the Lake Louise Shuttle or the Moraine Lake Shuttle from the Park and Ride.

Lake Connector

The Lake Connector runs from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake every 15 minutes between 9 am and 6 pm, daily from June and mid-October. This is the best way to visit both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake on the same day.

The Lake Connector bus is free of charge for all visitors who booked a Parks Canada shuttle ride from the Park and Ride to either lake destination. And you do not need to book a specific time for the Lake Connector shuttle.

2. Stay in a Hotel Near Moraine Lake

An easy, though pretty expensive, way to get to Moraine Lake without any hassle at all, is to stay at the Moraine Lake Lodge. This is the only hotel located right at Moraine Lake.

You will literally be able to step out your door and have access to the lake. No parking worries at all!

There are several other hotel options available in Banff National Park. These hotels are not on Moraine Lake, but they are within easy walking distance of the Park and Ride Connector. This shuttle bus leaves from Lake Louise Village and has stops at both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.

• Moraine Lake Lodge: This is the closest hotel to Moraine Lake, and is very family-friendly.
• Lake Louise Inn: This Lake Louise hotel is budget- and family-friendly.
• Chateau Lake Louise: A luxury hotel located right on the shore of Lake Louise.

3. How to Get to Moraine Lake by Bike

If you are the truly adventurous type, it is also possible to ride a bike up to Moraine Lake. This would be a great option in the spring when Moraine Lake Road has been cleared but is not yet open to vehicular traffic.

Otherwise, keep in mind that you will be sharing the road with a constant stream of traffic. Also, keep in mind, that it is approximately 14 kilometres from Samson Mall to Moraine Lake, much of it uphill!

And if you are not travelling with your own bicycle, another alternative is to rent a bike in Lake Louise Village from Wilson Mountain Sports.

Wilson Mountain Sports offers both road and mountain bikes, children’s bicycles, e-bikes, and children’s trailers. You can either rent by the hour, or by the full day.

4. Join a Tour Group to Moraine Lake

There are a variety of tour companies that will do guided tours to Moraine Lake. There are also plenty of excursions to choose from based on your time and budget constraints.

One of the more popular options is Discover Banff Tours with their Half-day tour to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. This tour will take visitors to both of the world-famous lakes, with the added bonus of driving the Bow Valley Parkway.

Once you arrive at Moraine Lake, your guide will take you for a short walk up the Rockpile, where you’ll find the iconic view that was once on the back of the Canadian $20 bill. During the tour, your guide will talk to you about the history of the area, and tell tales of the early mountaineers, who also fell in love with this spot in the 1890s.

Discover Banff Tours offers small group sizes, pick up and drop off from selected Banff hotels, certified guides, as well as water and a maple cookie snack.

5. How to Get to Moraine Lake by Hop on Banff Bus

HopOnBanff gives you the freedom to explore Banff National Park, including Moraine Lake, at your own pace, and without the hassles of parking or traffic!

You can either choose to follow your own route or follow some of the well-put-together schedules created by HopOnBanff. Either way, this option will take away a lot of the stress of getting around the park.

The cost of the HopOnBanff tours is $60 a day, and you are always guaranteed a seat. You can have a look at some of the suggested schedules here.

6. How to Get to Moraine Lake by Roam Bus

Roam is a Regional Transit Service that offers a budget-friendly, convenient and environmentally-conscious way to travel between Banff and Moraine Lake.

Roam services to Moraine Lake feature complimentary WiFi and the space for 3 bicycles on every bus. All Roam Transit routes and buses are equipped with real-time tracking information to let you know when your next bus will be arriving.

Roam fares can be paid on the bus, with the fare boxes accepting both Canadian and American currency. An exact fare is required, however. Tickets can also be purchased from Token Transit and from ticket vending machines in Banff.

Moraine Lake Route 10

The Roam Bus operates a route that will take visitors from Banff to Moraine Lake. The Moraine Lake Route 10 will offer 7 trips per day from Banff High School to Moraine Lake. These are express trips with only two stops.

The first departure starts in Banff at 6:30 AM and the last departure from Moraine Lake to Banff is at 5:30 PM. Each trip takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Each way is $10 for adults and $5 for youth & seniors. Round trip cost is $20 for adults and $10 for youth & seniors. Children (under 13 years old) ride free.

Check current fares here.

There is also a regional bus that operates from Banff to Lake Louise (either express or scenic). Either Roam routes will take visitors to the village or right to the Lake Louise lakeshore. The scenic route, however, only operates until mid-September.

What is Moraine Lake?

Moraine Lake is a glacier-fed lake located in the Valley of the Ten Peaks. The lake is fed by the Fay Glacier and Larch Creek, with the water then flowing out via Moraine Creek.

The word “moraine” actually refers to an accumulation of glacial debris, which is how the lake got its name. In fact, the incredible turquoise colour of Moraine Lake is due to the rock flour deposited by the surrounding glaciers.

The colour is usually at its prettiest in mid-to-late- June, when the lake reaches its crest.

The lake sits at an elevation of 1,884 meters above sea level, has a surface area of 50 hectares (120 acres or 0.19 square miles), and has a maximum depth of 14 meters.

Where is Moraine Lake?

Moraine Lake is located in Banff National Park. You will find it just a short distance away from Lake Louise and the Lake Louise Village.

Banff National Park is not only Canada’s first National Park, but it is also part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Keep in mind, that you will need a parks pass from Parks Canada to visit.

Distances to Moraine Lake

• Banff to Moraine Lake Distance: 70 km or 58 minutes
• Canmore to Moraine Lake Distance: 94 km or 1 hour 10 minutes
• Calgary to Moraine Lake Distance: 200 km or 2 hours 15 minutes
• Jasper to Moraine Lake Distance: 239 Km or 2 hours 59 minutes

How to Get to Moraine Lake FAQs

Final Thoughts on How to Get to Moraine Lake

By following our tips on how to get to Moraine Lake, and maybe just a little luck, you and your family can have a wonderful experience during your visit to Banff National Park.

Pin This Post for Later!

---

Related Posts:

• How to Get to Moraine Lake – NEW Rules
• Can You Swim in Moraine Lake? And Other Fascinating Facts
• Can You Swim in Lake Louise? And Other Interesting Facts
• Is the Banff Gondola Worth it?
• The Amazing Lake Agnes Tea House Hike – Tips and Information
• The Ultimate Hiking Guide to the Plain of Six Glaciers at Lake Louise
• Hiking Lake Louise – 6 Incredible Hikes You Don’t Want to Miss!
• The Best Moraine Lake Hikes for Families
• Mt. Norquay Via Ferrata in Banff – Why Your Family NEEDS to Try This!
• 11 Incredible Things to Do in Banff with Kids