Moraine Lake: shuttle, canoes and shoreline trails
The road to Moraine Lake is closed to private vehicles. You can only drive along Moraine Lake Road on a Parks Canada shuttle, a Roam public bus, or with a licensed operator. Find this out before buying tickets, otherwise your trip will end at a gate.
The water color here is very dense, so people head to the lake early in the morning. Regular shuttles run from 6:30, and 40% of seats are taken on the day booking opens (as of 09/2026, Parks Canada shuttle page). The remaining 60% are released two days before the travel date.
Below you will read what the lake looks like, where its color comes from, how much entry and the shuttle cost, where to rent a canoe, and which trails start right at the shore.
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Description of the lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks
💡 In short:
- The Parks Canada shuttle runs to the lake from June 1 to October 12, every 30 minutes.
- Book your spot in advance: without confirmation you cannot leave your car at the Park and Ride.
- Prices and booking: 09/2026, verified on the official Parks Canada website.
Moraine Lake lies in the Valley of the Ten Peaks at an elevation of 1,884 m. Its surface area is small, about 0.5 km², and its depth reaches 14 m. The color comes from glacial flour: tiny rock dust suspended in the water column scatters light.
© Chensiyuan · CC BY-SAPhoto: Chensiyuan, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe ten peaks above the water provide the lake's main backdrop. In the morning the sun is low, the water looks most saturated, and by midday some of the turquoise shifts to blue. You will see the postcard with your own eyes if you arrive on the first shuttle.
How Moraine Lake was formed
The water is held back by a rock ridge. It was built up by rockfalls from the slopes of the Valley of the Ten Peaks, so the lake sits not in a rock basin but behind a dam of debris. The lake was named after this ridge, although moraine means a ridge left by a glacier, not by a rockfall.
The lake is fed by meltwater from glaciers higher up the valley. The water level rises with the melting and peaks in June and early July, when the color becomes especially dense (as of 09/2026, seasonal water levels). By August the water gradually lightens.
The hue is created neither by salts nor by algae. Glaciers grind rock into dust, and this flour does not settle quickly but stays suspended. The stronger the melting, the denser the turquoise, which is why the water looks brighter after a cold night.
For a long time the lake was not on any routes. In 1899 explorer Walter Wilcox reached its shore and named the body of water after the rock ridge at its outlet. The road here was built later, and only then did tourists start coming to the lake.
Later the lake appeared on money. The image of Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks was printed on the Canadian 20-dollar banknote, a series issued in 1969. Today this view is familiar to almost anyone who has held a Canadian souvenir.
How to get to Moraine Lake
You cannot drive to the water in your own car. Moraine Lake Road is closed to private vehicles year-round, and there is no parking at the lake either (as of 09/2026, lake access rules). There are only three exceptions: Parks Canada shuttles, licensed operators with permission for this road, and guests of Moraine Lake Lodge.
The lake is 14 km from the village of Lake Louise and about 200 km from Calgary if you take the Trans-Canada Highway. Gas stations, stores, and cell service end in Lake Louise, so bring water and food with you.
Shuttles run from June 1 to October 12, 2026, every 30 minutes, from 6:30 to 17:00, and the last departure from the lake is at 19:30 (as of 09/2026, schedule and routes). There is one meeting point: Lake Louise Park and Ride at 1 Whitehorn Road, which also has free parking for those with a reservation.
Booking opens on April 15, 2026. On the opening day, 40% of seats are released, and the remaining 60% are released at 8:00 Mountain Time two days before the trip (as of 09/2026, booking rules). Seats are reservation-only, there are almost no walk-up seats on the day of travel, and shuttle wait times in summer can reach an hour.
The ticket includes both lakes, the Lake Connector transfer between them, and the return trip to the Park and Ride (as of 09/2026, trip conditions). Entry to the national park is paid separately, and you will need both documents.
There is an option for early risers. The Alpine Start shuttle leaves the Lake Louise parking lot at 4:00 and 5:00, but parking there is paid (as of 09/2026, parking and ticket costs). From Banff, the Roam Public Transit bus runs to the lakes year-round.
Remember that Moraine remains a remote corner of the park. There is no cell service or internet, no running water either, only basic toilets, and you can get a signal about 5 km down the road (as of 09/2026, information about the park's dead zone). Download an offline map in advance.
How much entry and the shuttle cost in 2026
Costs break down into two parts: transportation and national park entry. One payment does not replace the other, you need both.
What you pay for | Price |
|---|---|
Parks Canada shuttle, adult | 12.75 CAD |
Shuttle, guests 65+ | 6.00 CAD |
Shuttle, under 17 | 4.00 CAD |
Online booking fee | 3.50 CAD |
Banff park entry, adult, per day | 12.25 CAD |
Entry, family or group in one vehicle | 24.50 CAD |
Discovery Pass, adult, annual | 83.50 CAD |
The booking fee is non-refundable, and it is higher by phone: 3.50 CAD versus 5.50 CAD (as of 09/2026, Parks Canada rates). The annual Discovery Pass pays for itself in almost seven days in the parks if you are traveling around Canada.
In 2026, park entry was free until September 7 under the Canada Strong Pass program; regular pricing returned on September 8 (as of 09/2026, entry terms). For youth under 18, entry remains free year-round.
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What to do at Moraine Lake
Canoeing at the Moraine Lake Lodge dock
Rentals at the dock run from mid-June to mid-September, from 7:30 to 18:30. An hour costs 170 CAD plus tax for a canoe for two or three people, and paddles, life jackets, and a short orientation are included (as of 09/2026, Moraine Lake Lodge). They do not take reservations: boats are first come, first served, and the dock closes in wind and rain.
It is best to get on the water with the first shuttle. The water is smooth at that time, and the reflection of the Ten Peaks fills the entire frame.
© WikiPedant · CC BY-SAPhoto: WikiPedant, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsTrails that start at the shore
The shortest route requires no preparation: the Rockpile boardwalk leads up to the rocky ridge in ten minutes of climbing (as of 09/2026, trails at the lake). From the viewpoint you can see the whole valley and the entire lake.
Consolation Lakes suits those who want to get away from the main crowds: the trail leads to neighboring lakes beneath the cliffs. Larch Valley is best in late September, when the larches turn golden.
Do not split up on the trail. Bears, deer, and moose live in the surrounding forests, and talking loudly helps animals hear you first.
© DXR · CC BY-SAPhoto: DXR, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsMoraine Lake Lodge and a night by the water
The only hotel on the shore is called Moraine Lake Lodge, located at 1 Moraine Lake Road, Lake Louise (as of 09/2026, hotel website). Guests get canoes at no extra charge, breakfast and dinner at the restaurant, and rooms with a view of the water.
© Rejean Hurtubise · CC BY-SAPhoto: Rejean Hurtubise, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsSouvenirs and coffee are sold at Moraine Lake Trading Post: from June 1 to September 29, the door is open from 7:30 AM to 7:00 PM (as of 09/2026, hours of operation). The Snowshoe cafe with a waterside terrace operates nearby.
Available summer dates sell out long before the season. If you want to stay overnight at the lake, book your room and shuttle in one go, otherwise only options in Lake Louise and Banff will remain.
Ready-made tours to Moraine Lake on GetYourGuide include transportation and time on the shore.
Moraine Lake on the map
The village and the lake are connected by a single road, and that road dictates the entire daily schedule. Below is a driving map you can use to check your route before the trip.
Moraine Lake
Places on the map
- Moraine Lake Glacial lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, access only by Parks Canada shuttle
At the shore there is one hotel, one store, and a canoe dock; everything else stays in the village.
Nearby is Lake Louise: the Parks Canada shuttle serves both lakes, and one ticket covers the pair. If you are planning a Canada itinerary, check out our guides to Thousand Islands National Park and the Bay of Fundy.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
Can you drive to Moraine Lake in your own car?
No. Moraine Lake Road is closed to private vehicles year-round, and there is no parking at the water. Only Parks Canada shuttles, licensed operators, and guests of Moraine Lake Lodge can drive in. Everyone else has to take the shuttle from the Park and Ride or the Roam public bus from Banff (as of 09/2026, access rules).
How much does the lake shuttle cost, and what about park entry?
A shuttle seat costs 12.75 CAD for an adult, 6.00 CAD for visitors 65+, and 4.00 CAD for youth, plus a 3.50 CAD online booking fee (as of 09/2026, Parks Canada fares). Park entry is paid separately: 12.25 CAD per person per day, or 24.50 CAD per vehicle with a group (as of 09/2026, shuttle and entry fares).
When is the best time to visit Moraine Lake?
Shuttles run from June 1 to October 12, and the water reaches its most intense color in June and early July. Early morning gives you calm water and a short line. Late September is appealing for the golden larches on the Larch Valley trail, but by then the road can be cold and snow is possible (as of 09/2026, shuttle operating season).
How much time do you need at Moraine Lake?
Two hours is enough for the Rockpile and photos. With canoe rental and lunch, plan for half a day; with a hike to Consolation Lakes, a full day. The last shuttle leaves the lake at 7:30 PM, and missing it means a night in the woods (as of 09/2026, last departure from the lake).
Can you swim and fish in the lake?
Swimming is not advisable: the lake is fed by glaciers, and even on a warm day the water stays icy. Fishing is allowed with a national park permit: a day costs 15 CAD, a year 51.25 CAD (as of 09/2026, fishing permit price). You will need to bring your own gear, but canoes can be rented at the Moraine Lake Lodge dock.
Where can you stay overnight near the lake?
The only hotel by the water is called Moraine Lake Lodge (as of 09/2026, Moraine Lake Lodge page). Guests can drive along Moraine Lake Road in their own car, and canoes are free for them. Options in Lake Louise and Banff require booking a shuttle, otherwise by evening you will be left on the shore without a plan.
In short: what is worth booking
- If you have one day and a car: take the Parks Canada shuttle from the Park and Ride and keep a second morning as a backup.
- If you want quiet: choose the 4:00 Alpine Start and watch the sunrise from the shore.
- If you are going for the canoes: plan your visit from mid-June to mid-September and arrive when the dock opens.
- If you want to stay overnight by the water: the only option is Moraine Lake Lodge, and you need to book well in advance.
- If you are traveling from Banff without a car: the Roam bus is a good fit, it runs year-round.
You can compare day tours to the lake from Calgary and Banff on GetYourGuide.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.