Want to Visit Moraine Lake This Summer? Here’s What You Need to Know
We tried out the Parks Canada shuttle last year and have advice
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Cailynn at Moraine Lake after biking there in June 2020
There’s a reason Moraine Lake is one of the most photographed places in all of Canada. Tucked away in Banff National Park’s Valley of the Ten Peaks, this glacier-fed lake is famous for its turquoise waters (yes, it's really that blue), dramatic peaks and postcard-perfect views that have long made it the destination for travellers and outdoor lovers alike.
But all that attention causes issues. Two years ago, Parks Canada announced it was closing the road to Moraine Lake to personal vehicles starting in the summer of 2023, citing safety concerns, dangers to wildlife and the environment, and visitors’ growing frustration with the chaotic parking situation. This year-round vehicle closure came after an estimated 5,000 vehicles a day (!) were being turned away from Moraine Lake over the summer. At that time, we wrote about the closure and Parks Canada’s difficult balancing act.
Access to Moraine Lake is now via Parks Canada Shuttles, Roam Public Transit, or a tour or shuttle from a private company. If you want to get on the Parks Canada shuttle, reservations for the 2025 summer season open at 8:00 a.m. Mountain Time on Wednesday, April 16. Yes, this means you need to navigate your Parks Canada account (or set one up in advance) and prepare for launch day. Check out these tips we’ve previously shared for a semi-seamless booking experience on Parks Canada’s system.
If booking months in advance feels too ambitious (🙋♀️), Parks Canada also offers a rolling reservation window. Additional seats are released daily at 8:00 a.m. Mountain Time, two days before departure. This was how we booked the Parks Canada shuttle last year — twice.
Cailynn, Annalise and their two little ones visiting Moraine Lake in August 2024
Our first attempt was in July, and we snagged seats, but ended up canceling them due to wildfire smoke and an air quality warning. We tried again in August and made it out, on a very rainy day, excited to show our babies Moraine Lake for their first time. Never have we ever seen so many people in disposable rain ponchos!
The booking process itself was its own mini adventure. Annalise did both bookings and found you have to be extremely quick on the fingers and log in exactly at 8 a.m. to the second. Note that initially, you choose from a broad time window — morning (6:30 to 11 a.m.), midday (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.), or afternoon (3 to 6 p.m.). But after you’ve selected that, you actually select a specific one-hour time slot.
We hoped for late morning departures both times, to give us more time at the lake. In July, the only available slot was 2 to 3 p.m., and in August we grabbed 12 to 1 p.m. This was a helpful time to remember Annalise’s toddler’s current favourite piece of advice: “You get what you get, so don’t get upset.”
There were also a few details that weren't immediately clear to us: did we need to book seats for our two babies travelling with us on our laps? Could we bring a stroller on the bus? After a call to Parks Canada, we were told yes to both — book seats for your littles at no cost, and strollers are allowed (in the end we didn’t bring the stroller). Parks Canada, if you're reading this, adding such information to your website would be so helpful for all the parents out there!
Lots of helpful signage
Compared to booking, the shuttle experience itself was quite smooth. We parked at the Lake Louise Park and Ride at the ski hill, following clear signage to get us there. We showed our reservation confirmation and ID, and climbed on board. The buses are comfortable, full-sized coaches. The last return shuttle from Moraine Lake leaves at 7:30 p.m., so keep that in mind when planning your visit. The waiting area to catch a return bus was clearly marked and even offered shelter from the rain. It wasn’t super clear where the front or back of the line was (helpful when it’s first-come-first-served), but we’re not sure if that’s normal or had to do with everyone cramming under the tents to stay dry.
Now, this whole booking a shuttle, waiting in line, travelling together with many others, etc., is a fairly new experience for those of us in the Rockies. When the personal vehicle closure was announced, many people were not happy. But such shuttle services in tourist destinations are common in other parts of the world, and we expect we’ll see more of them in the busy mountain national parks. Does this take some getting used to? Certainly — it’s a much different way to visit the mountains. But was the old system working? No, we don’t think it was.
Overall, aside from our booking annoyances, we had a pretty smooth experience — and that involved travelling with two tiny humans. Speaking of the babies, what did they think? Cailynn’s then-two-month-old slept through most of the adventure, while Annalise’s then-six-month-old was a happy guy and surprisingly tolerant of the rain.
Something you can do but we did not due to the rain: travel between Moraine Lake and Lake Louise on a first-come, first-served basis. The Lake Connector Shuttle is included with your Parks Canada Shuttle ticket, letting you explore both lakes in one day — if you choose.
There’s another way to get to Moraine Lake
And one more way to get to Moraine Lake: hike or bike it! Cailynn has biked here twice, once in June 2020 (when the road was closed to cars due to construction but open to bikes), and again in October 2022 (when the road was closed for the season but the snow hadn’t arrived yet). She parked in the Lake Louise townsite and rode the 14-kilometres to the lake (there’s approx 527m elevation gain and 202m elevation loss). Note Parks Canada’s website warns that there’s very limited all-day parking in Lake Louise, and cyclists should expect commercial vehicle traffic on the road from June to October. For a quieter ride, early or late in the day is best.
So, all this to say, if you want to visit Moraine Lake, it requires a bit of extra effort, but in our opinion, it’s still worth it. With some prep, quick fingers and a bit of flexibility, you can experience this iconic spot this summer. Good luck booking — and let us know how your visit goes!
If you are cycling up to the lake, its a good idea to take the tramline trail from Lake Louise townsite to the Moraine Lake road. It starts from the Railway Station restaurant and avoids the narrow congested road until it intersects the Moraine Lake road. Since it is an old tramline right of way, the grade is moderate, and it is in the woods, so much more peaceful.
I loved your photo from June 2020. That was one highlight of covid... biking up there in June and finding myself with only 3 others at the lake. I have to say, despite the closure to personal vehicles, I find it just as busy up there. Perhaps it's due to the fact that now it's all buses and shuttles with 10-50 people aboard using the road. I wish there was a good solution, but it all makes me so grateful for the many visits I've had in the past before things got out of control.