Planning a trip to Banff National Park and wondering how to visit Moraine Lake at sunrise? This blog post is here to answer all of your questions and list all the options you have!
Moraine Lake is without doubts one of the most beautiful lakes in Canada, if not the whole world, and it always feels special to see it even for us, locals. There is no wonder that catching a sunrise at Moraine Lake is on many people’s bucket lists, because – it is simply magical. However, since Parks Canada decided to close the road for public vehicles, it may feel a bit more overwhelming to figure out how to get there, especially if you’re looking to visit at sunrise. Thankfully, with a bit of planning ahead of time, it is still possible, so let’s get into it!
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PLANNING A TRIP TO CANADIAN ROCKIES?
Checkout these helpful links to plan your trip from start to finish:
- Flights: Calgary Airport is the best starting point for a trip to Canadian Rockies. For getting the best possible rate, we recommend browsing and comparing the prices on multiple flight aggregator websites like Expedia or Kiwi. We personally also subscribe to Thrifty Traveler Premium that delivers amazing flight deals from our home airport right into our inbox.
- Accommodation: Booking.com is our go-to platform for finding best accommodation deals. Check out some of our favourite stays in these blog posts: Unique Stays in Canadian Rockies, Best Places to Stay in Banff for Couples
- Getting Around: You’ll need to rent a car to get around Canadian Rockies easily. Check out affordable car rental deals on RentalCars.com.
- Travel Insurance & eSIM: Travelling to Canada from abroad? Check travel insurance from Heymondo and get 5% off through our link and make sure to set up an eSIM from Airalo to stay connected.
WHEN IS IT POSSIBLE TO VISIT MORAINE LAKE?
Moraine Lake is a high elevation alpine lake and the 12 km long road leading to it is exposed to complex avalanche danger. For that reason, the Moraine Lake Road is closed seasonally from October to May. Furthermore, personal vehicles are not allowed on Moraine Lake Road year round. This decision has been made by Parks Canada in 2023 due to the popularity of the lake that caused unmanageable level of traffic.
So when and how to get to Moraine Lake in 2024?
The road is set to open again on June 1st 2024 and closes on October 14th 2024 (weather dependent). This is when the various shuttles are permitted on the road and take visitors to the lake in both regular times as well as for the sunrise. Aside from that, this is also a good time to bike the road as it’s typically snow free. We’ll go through all of your options below.
Now, the fact that the road is closed outside of these dates doesn’t mean that it’s illegal to access it on foot, bike or skis. However it’s important to realize that the road is snow covered from October to May and crosses multiple extreme avalanche paths. While part of the road even has official XC skiing tracks maintained by Parks Canada during the winter months, venturing beyond the maintained trail should only be attempted by those with proper avalanche training and equipment.
Some years, there may be a short window of time before or after the official dates, when you’d be able to bike the road without snow, but this isn’t guaranteed as conditions in the mountains can vary a lot year to year.
CAN I DRIVE MY CAR TO MORAINE LAKE?
No. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the road and parking at Moraine Lake are closed to personal vehicles year round with an exception for visitors with valid disabled parking placards and guests of Moraine Lake Lodge.
This is to reduce the traffic congestion, carbon emissions as well as to protect wildlife that uses the road as an important corridor.
IS SUNRISE AT MORAINE LAKE REALLY WORTH THE HYPE?
We’ve personally seen Moraine Lake nearly 10 times over the past few years of living here and the visits for sunrise were definitely our favourites. It is when the water is often at its stillest, providing amazing reflections of the mountains behind the lake. And it gets even better when the sun touches the peaks for the first time in a new day, painting the entire scene with a vibrant palette of colors.
That being said, Moraine Lake is one of the most popular sunrise spots in Banff NP and although sunrise tends to be the quitter time of a day, crowds are still to be expected. Generally, people get to find their spots to enjoy the sunrise and the whole experience is very peaceful. So if this is something you’re fine with (together with setting up your alarm at a very unreasonable time), we believe that seeing Moraine Lake at sunrise is absolutely worth the hype.
MORAINE LAKE SUNRISE TIMES THROUGHOUT THE SEASON
Mid June – 5:27 am
Mid July – 5:46 am
Mid August – 6:31 am
Mid September – 7:20 am
Mid October – 8:09 am
HOW TO VISIT MORAINE LAKE AT SUNRISE
Parks Canada Alpine Start Shuttles
Parks Canada operates daily sunrise shuttles from June 1st to October 14th at 4 am and 5 am. While the ticket price is the same as for the regular shuttle times, these shuttles depart from Lake Louise Lakeshore. Therefore you’ll have to pay an additional $36.75 per vehicle per day for parking and show the proof of payment before boarding.
This is still the most affordable way to get to the lake, provided that you’re staying in one of the hotels close to the Lake Louise lakeshore or have a car to get there, and secure a reservation.
Parks Canada releases 40% of the tickets for the entire season on April 18th, 2024. The remaining 60% of tickets are released daily throughout the season at 8 am MST, 2 days before departure.
Check Parks Canada Reservation System to check the schedule and book your tickets.
PARKS CANADA SHUTTLES - GOOD TO KNOW
- Prices: Adult (18 – 64 years) – $8.00, Senior (65+ years) – $4.00, Youth (17 and under) – free.
- Walk-up tickets may be available if there is a space, but it is very unlikely and we absolutely don’t recommend it. Secure your tickets ahead of time to avoid disappointment.
Roam Transit
The Roam Transit is a great option for those who stay in Banff and don’t have a car to drive to Lake Louise, however the Moraine Lake Express (Route 10) which is a direct bus between Banff (Banff High School Transit Hub) and Moraine Lake only runs during the larch season in the fall between mid September to mid October. Since this is late in the season, Roam Transit can get you to the lake in time for sunrise that happens between 7 to 8 am during those months. The round-trip cost is around $20 per adult and booking ahead is highly recommended. Specific dates and times will be posted here.
PRO TIP: ROAM TRANSIT RESERVABLE SUPER PASS
- Prices: Adult (19+) – $25.00, Senior (65+) – $12.50, Youth (13-18 y.o) – $12.50, Children (12 and under) – free.
- The Reservable Super Pass offers unlimited travel on all Roam Transit services between Banff, Canmore and Lake Louise and includes a round-trip on Parks Canada’s Lake Connector Shuttle from Lake Louise Lakeshore to Moraine Lake during the shuttle’s operating hours (7 am to 7 pm).
- This means that you can take the Roam Route 8x from Banff to Lake Louise Lakeshore and then hop on the Lake Connector Shuttle. You’ll need to show your Roam Pass to Parks Canada staff at the Lake Louise Lakeshore or Moraine Lake to get your boarding passes.
- Note that the buses going back to Banff depart from Lake Louise Lakeshore, which means you’ll need to get back from Moraine Lake to Lake Louise Lakeshore via the Lake Connector Shuttle.
- Tickets must be purchased online at Roam Transit website.
Hotel Shuttles
Staying in a hotel in Lake Louise doesn’t give you any special access to Moraine Lake, but it can make the whole process of getting there a bit easier.
Some of the hotels in the area offer guest-exclusive private shuttles, however this is something you better confirm with the hotel you’re looking at.
Commercial Buses
Since these are private companies, the tickets will be more costly, but they’re great alternatives in case you can’t secure Parks Canada Alpine Start Shuttles. Bonus points? You don’t have to deal with parking at Lake Louise as these companies have it figured out and you can take a nap on the way.
- Moraine Lake Bus Company – provides two sunrise shuttles to Moraine Lake every morning at 4:00am and 5:05am from June 3rd to October 14th. Their shuttles depart from Samson Mall, so you don’t have to pay for the parking at the lakeshore. They’re our favourite shuttle as the company is the only Alberta Living Wage employer in Banff, which means they pay a fair living wage to all of their employees and do something good for the community. Book your tickets here.
- Fairview Limousine – departing daily from Lake Louise Inn at 4 am and 5:15 am between June 1st ans October 14th, this is another option for those who can get to Lake Louise by car. They also offer group discounts, so this is something to look into if you’re coming in a bigger party.
- Via Via – a new company offering multiple daily departures from Canmore & Banff that get you to Moraine Lake for sunrise. This can be a great option for those visiting Banff without a car.
- Moraine Lake Sunrise Shuttle – provides sunrise shuttles from multiple pick-up locations in Banff & Canmore. Once again, perfect for those visiting Banff or Canmore without a car.
Guided Tours
If you want to have a completely worry free expeirence and let someone else to set it up all for you, here’s a few guided tours that include sunrise at Moraine Lake:
Biking
Biking is a great active option to get to Moraine Lake, provided that you’re comfortable with biking from the village – around 14 km uphill on a narrow road. That being said, if you want to bike up to Moraine Lake for sunrise, it means you’ll going up when it’s still dark. Since this is a bear country, you should think twice if this is something you’re comfortable with.
As we mentioned before, there may be a short window of time before or after the official road opening dates (June 1st to October 14th), when you’d be able to bike up without the snow and traffic, but this isn’t guaranteed or officially announced anywhere as conditions in the mountains can vary a lot year to year.
Bike and e-bike rentals are available at Lake Louise Ski Resort or Wilson Mountain Sports and early reservations are recommended. As there is no parking permitted at the base of Moraine Lake Road, your best bet for parking if biking the Moraine Lake Road is the free Park & Ride at Lake Louise Ski Resort (which adds up another 3 km to the biking route). All Roam buses allow bikes, however the space on the bike racks is limited.
Stay at Moraine Lake Lodge
Guests of Moraine Lake Lodge have an exception and are allowed to drive their personal vehicles up to the lake. Since this is the only lodging option at Moraine Lake, the rooms are costly, but this is likely to be an experience of a lifetime. If this is within your budget, hurry up and book now as this is a high demand hotel!
WHERE ARE THE BEST VIEWS OF MORAINE LAKE?
Most of the iconic photos of Moraine Lake that you can see on the internet (and old $20 bills) are taken from top of the Rockpile. This is an easy and short 0.8 km out-and-back trail that starts at the Moraine Lake parking lot and offers amazing views of the lake. Since this is the best spot to watch the sunrise and take photos of the lake, be prepared for it to be busy and respect others.
That being said, if you have more time to spend in the area, don’t limit your visit just to Rockpile. There are many beautiful hikes starting at the shores of Moraine Lake and we’ll list them below.
HIKING IN MORAINE LAKE AREA
Most of the people visit Moraine Lake just to see the lake itself from the Rockpile, which is definitely an amazing experience. But if you’re not short on time, we highly recommend to spend a full day in the area – some of the most beautiful trails of Banff National Park start at the shore of Moraine Lake. Plus hitting the trails right after seeing the sunrise from the Rockpile means that you’ll most likely beat the crowds.
- Moraine Lake Shoreline Trail – 3.7 km out and back, easy and family friendly walk along the lakeshore with a minimal elevation gain.
- Larch Valley – especially beautiful during the fall when the larch trees turn yellow, this is a 8.9 km out and back trail with an elevation gain of 564 m.
- Sentinel Pass via Larch Valley – challenging, but rewarding extension of the Larch Valley trail – this is an 11.1 km out and and back trail with 749 m of elevation gain that offers beautiful views of the Valley of Ten Peaks and Paradise Valley.
- Consolation Lakes – 7.4 km out and back with 262 m of elevation gain, moderate trail that takes you to two alpine lakes.
- Tower of Babel – while only 2.9 km long, this is a challenging scramble that includes steep gully full of scree, basic route finding and elevation gain of 516 m in a short distance. The views of Moraine Lake from the top are hard to match though!
- Eiffel Lake Trail – 12.2 km out and back, elevation gain of 625 m
- Mount Temple – one of the tallest mountains in Alberta, and quite possibly the most epic scramble in Banff with an elevation gain of 1,633 m in 15.1 km. It should only be attempted by experienced adventurers who are comfortable with scrambling and route finding.
WHERE TO STAY NEAR MORAINE LAKE
» Moraine Lake Lodge – Moraine Lake Lodge is the only lodging option at Moraine Lake, therefore it comes with a heavy price tag. That being said, it is a luxurious stay that gives you the privilege to drive your vehicle up to the lake and easily catch a sunrise or sunset right outside of your doorstep. If it’s within your budget, hurry up and book now as this is a high demand hotel! Otherwise these are some other options in Lake Louise:
LAKE LOUISE HOTELS – QUICK OVERVIEW
» Best budget stay: HI Lake Louise Alpine Centre – Hostel
» Best value stay: Lake Louise Inn
» Best luxurious stay: Fairmont Cheteau Lake Louise
OTHER THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING MORAINE LAKE AT SUNRISE
» Moraine Lake is considered backcountry. There is no cell service, so if you plan to venture on the trails in the area, have an offline map downloaded in your phone and make sure your battery will last. We recommend using offline maps from AllTrails offline or Mapy.cz. Consider carrying satellite communicator such as Garmin inReach (Amazon Canada or Amazon US).
» Moraine Lake Lodge Café provides some basic dining options for day visitors. You can get a coffee or tea and some snacks.
» Weather in the mountains can change quickly, make sure to always pack extra layers.
» Always carry a bear spray when hiking in Canadian Rockies, know how to use it and keep it easily accessible at all times! If possible, hike in a group of 4 and more people.
» Pit toilets are available at the lake.
» National park pass is required for visiting Banff NP and needs to be displayed in your vehicle. It can be purchased online here.
MORAINE LAKE AT SUNRISE: FINAL THOUGHTS
We hope this blog post helped you to find out your options of seeing sunrise at Moraine Lake in 2024. More questions? Please drop them in the comments below!
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