Moraine Lake

Improvement District No. 9, Alberta

4.8/5

based on 23 reviews

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Description

Added by Julian Brezden

Moraine Lake is one of the most visited and photographed lakes in Banff National Park, in Alberta Canada.

Showing up at Moraine Lake before dawn is a must as to avoid the multitude of tours busses. The morning sun is subtle and magical. The lake, being glacially fed, does not reach its crest until mid to late June. When it is full, it reflects a distinct shade of blue. The color is due to the refraction of light off the rock flour deposited in the lake on a continual basis.

There are viewpoints of the lake a short distance from the parking area (5 minute walk). There is also a trail along the northern edge of the lake.

If you want to stay overnight, the Moraine Lake Lodge is located at the bottom of the lake. Canoe rentals are also available to explore the lake, which is certainly a must do activity.

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Moraine Lake Reviews

PRO

Jackie Vaughn

PRO

Explorer

Moraine Lake

09/01/25

Great hike. Totally worth the required bus ride from town to visit. No private cars allowed. You must go up Rock Pile hike to see the beauty of the blue lake. Make sure to come when the sun is out above the mountains and shining on the water. 10am or later is probably ideal and before late afternoon.

5.0

Explorer

Shawn Grenninger

Explorer

Moraine Lake

08/31/22

This place is a photographer's dream, likely on many peoples bucket list. My two visits were not the most conducive to photography but were still absolutely amazing. Even with haze in the sky from BC wildfires, it was still a sight to see.

5.0

Sami Smith

Explorer

Moraine Lake

08/31/22

The mountains are so grand and beautiful here, it makes for a great back ground for any kind of pictures. Get there early to avoid the crowds. It gets really busy and people will hang out on the frozen part of the lake which is hard to get a photo without people in it

5.0

S Sahir

Wanderer

Moraine Lake

08/23/22

Beautiful place, easy hike and enjoy the view

5.0

PRO

Kelly Drake

PRO

Explorer

Moraine Lake

10/02/21

Filters can’t even make this look better. We reserved a spot on the park & ride shuttle, since the parking lot was full by 5:15a. We did a short hike up to the rock piles for picture taking by 7:15a. It wasn’t crowded at that time and the light/color of the lake was outstanding!

5.0

Andy

Explorer

Moraine Lake

10/23/20

Another beautiful lake in Alberta. The water is an unreal blue.

5.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Scramble the Tower of Babel

Starting at the Moraine Lake parking lot follow the trail East along behind the large pile of boulders along the lake shore. Once you reach the foot of the Tower of Babel scramble up the slope to heading towards the valley between the two peaks. The easiest route is along one of the cliff faces which can be used for extra traction on the loose scree. Once on top you'll have a 360 degree view of...

Climb the Tower of Babel

Fairly short approach that begins to the left of Moraine Lake on the consolation lakes trail. Follow a foot path until you see a faint trail in the scree that moves up towards the tower-would recommend wearing a helmet on the approach. This is active grizzly country- It would be a good idea to carry bear spray with you if your visiting this area. You can check the Canada Parks website for any t...

Eiffel Lake via Valley of Ten Peaks

Hike with amazing views of Valley of Ten Peaks, including Mount Fay (10,613 ft), Mount Little (10,131 ft), Deltaform Mountain (11,234 ft), and Wenkchemna Peak (10,401 ft) to two breathtaking glacial lakes in the heart of the Continental Divide. From the lake, the trail is quite easy to follow, and clearly marked with signs and maps. Follow the lakeshore west 0.1 km (300 ft), then head up the L...

Scramble Mount Temple

Mount Temple is a stunning iconic mountain in Banff National Park located in the Canadian Rockies. It overlooks the Lake Louise area and stands at a massive 3542m (11,624ft) , making it one of the many sought after 11,000ers.To reach the mountain you will be headed down highway #1 and take the turn-off for Lake Louise and then follow the road signs up to Moraine Lake. Once at the lake you will ...

Eiffel Peak

Take in stunning alpine views of the famous Valley of the Ten Peaks as you head to Eiffel Peak. A much more unique photo opportunity of Moraine Lake. Views of several prominent glaciers and the gorgeous Paradise Valley. The Eiffel Tower rock formation viewable from the summit. 11km roundtrip. 1300m of Elevation gain. Starting from the parking lot at Moraine Lake follow the trail as it switchba...

Larch Valley Trail to Minnestimma Lakes

Starting at the Moraine Lake parking lot take, take the main trail the leads down past the cafe and lodges on the lake shore. A short way down the trail splits, to the left is just the lakeside walk. For Larch Valley take a right, it is clearly signed. Depending on the time of the year there are hiking restrictions. I would always recommend going with groups of 4-6 people. The area is frequentl...

Moraine Lake

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Moraine Lake Reviews

Leave No Trace

Nearby

Scramble the Tower of Babel

Climb the Tower of Babel

Eiffel Lake via Valley of Ten Peaks

Scramble Mount Temple

Eiffel Peak

Larch Valley Trail to Minnestimma Lakes

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