Moraine Lake

Crazy busy but incredibly beautiful. The lake was not nearly as big as I thought it would be so it was a bit underwhelming after having seen Lake Louise, but it was stunning nonetheless.

This place is stunning even when it’s gloomy, which it was when we went this past summer (early Aug). We waited out a short storm under a tree (8/10 rain protection), and when it cleared up we had the entire view to ourselves. Sure it could’ve been prettier on a sunny blue day, but the water was still turquoise and the mountain view was beautiful even with the clouds.

“𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐊𝐄 - 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐅𝐅” 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐟 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐞 ( 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐛) 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞-𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧, 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐬, 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐚𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭. 𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫, 𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐞𝐝, 𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐲, 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐬𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐬. 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭-𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐡, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬.

This lake is amazingly beautiful. It was difficult to get here (you have to book a bus) and it was very crowded but I’m glad I was able to see it. Also glad I chose not to pay $160CAD to kayak. That’s absurd. I don’t think I would visit again due to the cost and hassle, but I’m glad I came once.

One of the beautiful lake in Banff National Park. We went there just before the winters and views were amazing. There was some snow on the mountains which were enhancing the view of lake.

INSANELY busy. Think Disney World of National Parks. A bit disturbing how many people they allow into the park each day. Hiking is essentially standing in line. It’s rough. But it is absolutely stunning. We did the Rock Pile which be prepared to be patient. There are SO many people here. We also did the Larch Valley Trail. You can’t see the lake but the view of the peaks is phenomenal. You are very exposed at high elevation so hats are an essential!

A SCENIC HIKE FOR ALL AGES Moraine Lake, located in the stunning Valley of the Ten Peaks in Banff National Park, offers a breathtaking hiking experience for visitors of all ages. The hike around the lake is perfect for families, with its relatively short distance and moderate terrain. Here’s everything you need to know about enjoying this iconic trail. TRAIL ACCESSIBILITY AND DIFFICULTY This hike is suitable for all skill levels, including families with toddlers. However, it’s essential to note that the trail is uneven in places due to exposed roots, making it unsuitable for strollers. A child backpack is a much better option for carrying younger children. Walking sticks can be a helpful addition for extra stability, especially for those who prefer a little extra support while navigating uneven terrain. TRAIL HIGHLIGHTS 1. ICONIC VIEWS OF THE LAKE Moraine Lake’s turquoise waters are world-famous, and the trail offers multiple points to soak in the lake’s beautiful colour. The reflections of the Ten Peaks in the water make for incredible photo opportunities. 2. ROCKPILE VIEWPOINT A short climb up the rock pile at the start of the trail provides a panoramic view of the lake and surrounding peaks. This is the most famous spot for photos and a must-visit before continuing your hike. 3. PEACEFUL PATHS WITH TREES The trail winds through peaceful forests of fir and pine, offering a serene environment. The scent of evergreens and the soft crunch of the forest floor underfoot add to the sensory experience. 4. WILDLIFE SPOTTING Keep an eye out for wildlife! Birds, squirrels, and even the occasional deer are common along the trail. Be sure to stay a respectful distance from any animals you encounter. 5. LOVELY STREAMS AND CASCADES Depending on the season, you might come across small streams and cascades flowing into the lake. These add another layer of beauty to the already picturesque hike. TRAIL TIPS 1) Timing: Visit early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds and capture the best lighting for photos. 2) Footwear: Wear sturdy hiking shoes to handle the uneven terrain. 3) Gear: Walking sticks can help with balance on the roots, and don’t forget to bring water and snacks. 4) Weather: Check the weather before your trip, as conditions can change quickly in the mountains. SUMMARY The Moraine Lake hike is a family-friendly adventure offering unparalleled views of one of the most beautiful spots in the Canadian Rockies. While even a toddler can manage the trail with help, it’s best to leave the stroller at home and opt for a child backpack. Walking sticks can add stability, making the hike even more enjoyable. From the iconic rock pile viewpoint to the peaceful forest paths, this trail promises a memorable experience for nature lovers of all ages. Whether you’re seeking beautiful landscapes or a leisurely family outing, Moraine Lake delivers an unforgettable journey into the heart of Banff National Park. Annie W. Master Reviewer Local Guide / Google Maps

4 Starts for the reservation system only. After all the hype around it we finally managed to get a reservation for the 5-6 PM shuttle. That said the reservation system is pretty awfully managed. 48hrs, 7 AM PDT, before the day of visit is when some 50% of bus tickets are released but when I was online exactly at 7 AM all tickets were gone in a fraction of a second. No clue if there are machines buying these or people really trying to get them. Anyways, once we had the tickets it was easy to get to the park and ride and get on the bus to the Lake. Unfortunately there were too many fires around so the air quality wasn’t the best and it was hazy, nevertheless the lake was beautiful. The color of the water was nothing like I have seen before. Pictures don’t do justice to the scenery but that’s what everyone was doing out there anyways!!! We hiked up the rock pile took a few pictures and just sat down and soaked in the beauty of the lake, the mountains around it, the snow caps, the smoky sky, greenery and all the other elements of nature! Walked along the shore for a bit as well. Missed canoeing as they closed at 5:20PM and we got there about 5:45PM. But definitely recommend it. All in all we had a very good time visiting the lake.

Crazy busy but incredibly beautiful. The lake was not nearly as big as I thought it would be so it was a bit underwhelming after having seen Lake Louise, but it was stunning nonetheless.

This place is stunning even when it’s gloomy, which it was when we went this past summer (early Aug). We waited out a short storm under a tree (8/10 rain protection), and when it cleared up we had the entire view to ourselves. Sure it could’ve been prettier on a sunny blue day, but the water was still turquoise and the mountain view was beautiful even with the clouds.

“𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐊𝐄 - 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐅𝐅” 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐟 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐞 ( 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐛) 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞-𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧, 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐬, 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐚𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭. 𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫, 𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐞𝐝, 𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐲, 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐬𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐬. 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭-𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐞𝐬. 𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐡, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬.

This lake is amazingly beautiful. It was difficult to get here (you have to book a bus) and it was very crowded but I’m glad I was able to see it. Also glad I chose not to pay $160CAD to kayak. That’s absurd. I don’t think I would visit again due to the cost and hassle, but I’m glad I came once.

One of the beautiful lake in Banff National Park. We went there just before the winters and views were amazing. There was some snow on the mountains which were enhancing the view of lake.

INSANELY busy. Think Disney World of National Parks. A bit disturbing how many people they allow into the park each day. Hiking is essentially standing in line. It’s rough. But it is absolutely stunning. We did the Rock Pile which be prepared to be patient. There are SO many people here. We also did the Larch Valley Trail. You can’t see the lake but the view of the peaks is phenomenal. You are very exposed at high elevation so hats are an essential!

A SCENIC HIKE FOR ALL AGES Moraine Lake, located in the stunning Valley of the Ten Peaks in Banff National Park, offers a breathtaking hiking experience for visitors of all ages. The hike around the lake is perfect for families, with its relatively short distance and moderate terrain. Here’s everything you need to know about enjoying this iconic trail. TRAIL ACCESSIBILITY AND DIFFICULTY This hike is suitable for all skill levels, including families with toddlers. However, it’s essential to note that the trail is uneven in places due to exposed roots, making it unsuitable for strollers. A child backpack is a much better option for carrying younger children. Walking sticks can be a helpful addition for extra stability, especially for those who prefer a little extra support while navigating uneven terrain. TRAIL HIGHLIGHTS 1. ICONIC VIEWS OF THE LAKE Moraine Lake’s turquoise waters are world-famous, and the trail offers multiple points to soak in the lake’s beautiful colour. The reflections of the Ten Peaks in the water make for incredible photo opportunities. 2. ROCKPILE VIEWPOINT A short climb up the rock pile at the start of the trail provides a panoramic view of the lake and surrounding peaks. This is the most famous spot for photos and a must-visit before continuing your hike. 3. PEACEFUL PATHS WITH TREES The trail winds through peaceful forests of fir and pine, offering a serene environment. The scent of evergreens and the soft crunch of the forest floor underfoot add to the sensory experience. 4. WILDLIFE SPOTTING Keep an eye out for wildlife! Birds, squirrels, and even the occasional deer are common along the trail. Be sure to stay a respectful distance from any animals you encounter. 5. LOVELY STREAMS AND CASCADES Depending on the season, you might come across small streams and cascades flowing into the lake. These add another layer of beauty to the already picturesque hike. TRAIL TIPS 1) Timing: Visit early in the morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds and capture the best lighting for photos. 2) Footwear: Wear sturdy hiking shoes to handle the uneven terrain. 3) Gear: Walking sticks can help with balance on the roots, and don’t forget to bring water and snacks. 4) Weather: Check the weather before your trip, as conditions can change quickly in the mountains. SUMMARY The Moraine Lake hike is a family-friendly adventure offering unparalleled views of one of the most beautiful spots in the Canadian Rockies. While even a toddler can manage the trail with help, it’s best to leave the stroller at home and opt for a child backpack. Walking sticks can add stability, making the hike even more enjoyable. From the iconic rock pile viewpoint to the peaceful forest paths, this trail promises a memorable experience for nature lovers of all ages. Whether you’re seeking beautiful landscapes or a leisurely family outing, Moraine Lake delivers an unforgettable journey into the heart of Banff National Park. Annie W. Master Reviewer Local Guide / Google Maps

4 Starts for the reservation system only. After all the hype around it we finally managed to get a reservation for the 5-6 PM shuttle. That said the reservation system is pretty awfully managed. 48hrs, 7 AM PDT, before the day of visit is when some 50% of bus tickets are released but when I was online exactly at 7 AM all tickets were gone in a fraction of a second. No clue if there are machines buying these or people really trying to get them. Anyways, once we had the tickets it was easy to get to the park and ride and get on the bus to the Lake. Unfortunately there were too many fires around so the air quality wasn’t the best and it was hazy, nevertheless the lake was beautiful. The color of the water was nothing like I have seen before. Pictures don’t do justice to the scenery but that’s what everyone was doing out there anyways!!! We hiked up the rock pile took a few pictures and just sat down and soaked in the beauty of the lake, the mountains around it, the snow caps, the smoky sky, greenery and all the other elements of nature! Walked along the shore for a bit as well. Missed canoeing as they closed at 5:20PM and we got there about 5:45PM. But definitely recommend it. All in all we had a very good time visiting the lake.