How to Get to Moraine Lake Banff: Step-By-Step Guide

If you’re going to Banff, I am assuming you want to see Moraine Lake. The crazy beautiful lake featured on Instagram and wall calendars and dreams. And you should! It’s incredible. But getting there feels a bit confusing. Fortunately for you, I am here to tell you exactly how to get to Moraine Lake. I’ll go through it step-by-step, and I’ll also include some alternative options.

This is like how to get to Moraine Lake for dummies.

(I don’t like calling people dummies, but I felt dumb when trying to figure this out. It’s really not that difficult; I just felt that none of the sites explained it super well.)

We visited Banff National Park and Moraine Lake this summer, and Moraine Lake is a MUST. We got there easily – even with a toddler! But I had to do a ridiculous amount of googling to figure it out. Just read this post and enjoy 🙂

How to Get to Moraine Lake Jump To:

About Moraine Lake in Banff National Park

It’s freaking beautiful. BEAUTIFUL.

The road to Moraine Lake is closed every winter from October to June.

Moraine Lake is located in Banff National Park, 14km/8.7 mi from the village of Lake Louise.

It is a glacier and snow-fed lake, which equals a brilliant blue color. It is surrounded by the Valley of the Ten Peaks and is entirely natural.

Because of how awesome it is, it is very busy.

Important Things to Know about How to Get to Moraine Lake

• You cannot drive to it. Due to crazy tourism, you can no longer take personal vehicles to Moraine Lake.
• If you’re taking the Parks Canada Shuttle (you should; we’ll talk more about this in the post), know that the parking for the shuttle is near Lake Louise – not in the town of Banff.
• The shuttle from Lake Louise Ski Resort to Moraine Lake takes 30 mins.

How to Get to Moraine Lake – Use The Parks Canada Shuttles (this is the BEST way)

I will go through this step-by-step because it is the best and cheapest way to visit Moraine Lake.

To know:

• Parks Canada releases 40% of the shuttle passes in April of each year. 60% of the shuttle passes are released 2 days before at 8am MST (mountain time).
• You must get a shuttle reservation ahead of time. Walk-ups are not allowed.
• Park your car at Lake Louise Ski Resort (1 Whitehorn Rd.) at your designated time slot and board your shuttle. Parking here is free, and there’s a large lot.
• The Parks Canada Shuttle also has a Parks Canada Connector Shuttle, allowing you to see both Lake Louise AND Lake Moraine with one pass.

#1. Figure out your Itinerary.

Book your flights and accommodations. Then figure out what days you could see Moraine Lake.

#2. Head to Parks Canada and make an account.

Having an account makes the reservation process easier. It’s free, you just have to make a username and password and provide some information.

#3. Go to the Parks Canada Reservations site.

Click on Day Use. Pick Shuttle To Lake Louise and Moraine Lake. Enter the date you want to go and how many people are going. Include children in party size – later you will edit the ages of your party. Children under 18 are free.

Click List and Click Shuttle. This will pull up different time frames for you to book.

Shuttles start running at 4am – awesome if you’re going to summit a mountain or want to see the sunrise – and the last shuttle leaves Lake Louise Ski Resort from 5-6pm. The last shuttle leaves the Lakes at 7:30pm.

I recommend playing around with this if you don’t immediately see shuttle passes available. Try different days, different times of day, and different routes. Flexibility definitely helps here!

#4a. If there are times available – Book your Shuttle!

Finish your reservation, pay your fees, and take a screenshot of your shuttle pass barcode.

#4b. If there are no times available – Wait Until 2 Days Before.

If you truly aren’t able to find a time that’s available ahead of time, it’s ok. 60% are released 2 days before at 8am, so you still have a chance to see Moraine Lake and Lake Louise this way.

Make a Parks Canada account ahead of time. Seriously, it takes a few minutes. Don’t risk waiting until 8am to make an account.

Log in right at 8am and know exactly what time you’re aiming for. If you can have more than one person try to get passes, do that. My husband and I both had accounts and were both ready to go at 8am.

Have Plan A, Plan B, Plan C. If your ideal time slot sells out, try for the next one, and so on.

Seeing the Lakes is better than not seeing the Lakes. A less than ideal time is better than not being able to go at all.

Finish your reservation, pay your fees, and take a screenshot of your shuttle pass.

#5. Arrive to Lake Louise Ski Resort a little before your scheduled time.

The address is 1 Whitehorn Rd. Lake Louise, AB. It takes around 45 minutes to get there from Banff.

Park and walk over to the shuttle area. There’s a place to get coffee/snacks and use the bathroom before you board the shuttle bus.

Present your shuttle pass and board your shuttle. The drive to Lake Louise is around 15 minutes, and the drive to Moraine Lake is around 30 mins.

#6. Visit Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.

Board the shuttle to whichever lake you have passes for, go see that lake, and then take the shuttle to the other lake. Once you’re on the shuttle, they don’t care when you board a shuttle to the other lake or back to your car. You can take as much time as you want as long as you catch a shuttle back before 7:30pm when they stop running.

Cost of Parks Canada Shuttle to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise

It’s $8 per adult. Kids under 18 are free.

For my husband, me, and our almost 3 year old, the total cost was $19. $8 per adult and a $3 reservation fee.

How to Get to Moraine Lake — Other Options:

The Parks Canada shuttles are the easiest, cheapest, and best way to get to Moraine Lake. These next options are for if you’re out of luck or prefer other modes of transportation to the Lakes.

Use Roam Public Transit to Get to Moraine Lake

Roam Public Transit has shuttles from Canmore and Banff to Lake Louise, and their Super Pass ($25 per person) allows you to use the Parks Canada Lake Connector Bus to Moraine Lake. You can (and should!) reserve your spot ahead of time. They don’t offer last minute bookings like the Parks Canada shuttles.

This is also a great option if you’re exploring Banff without a car!

I tried booking this ahead of time and couldn’t find any availability. But it’s worth a shot!

Buy a Lake Louise Gondola + Moraine Lakeshore Pass

Buy a Lake Louise Gondola + Moraine Lakeshore Pass. The gondola looks amazing and costs $40 USD typically. If you add the Moraine Lake Shuttle, it’s an extra $28 USD per adult at $68 for the gondola + shuttle (price may change depending on when you go). While this is still quite a bit more expensive than the Parks Canada Shuttle and you only get to visit one lake, I still think is better than some of the following tours/private companies.

Book a Shuttle through a Private Company

If you cannot get a Parks Canada Shuttle Ticket ahead of time, but you REALLY want to make sure you see Moraine Lake…. you can book a shuttle through a private company.

I almost did this, and it was going to cost over $200 for the 3 of us. Compared to the $19 with Parks Canada. For the SAME thing.

But if you have the money and you don’t want to risk waiting until 2 days before to try your luck with Parks Canada, you can look into the following:

• Ten Peaks Shuttle: $65 or more per adult
• Fairview Limousine: $35 or more per adult
• Moraine Lake Bus Shuttle: $60 or more per adult

Book a Guided Tour

You could also book a tour with a guide and see Moraine Lake this way. While these are a bit more expensive, sometimes having a great group and a fun guide can be worth the cost.

This blog is a great resource for picking a tour.

How to Get to Moraine Lake? Yes, you can bike!

If you are an experienced cyclist, you could try biking to Moraine Lake. It’s around 16 miles RT and hilly.

Check out this site.

Can kids join on these shuttles?

Yes! And if they’re 17 and under, they ride the Parks Canada Shuttles for FREE. 12 and under can ride Roam Transit for free as well.

Most of the tours/private companies allow children as well, but you’ll have to check their sites for cost.

Moraine Lake and Lake Louise are honestly awesome things to do with your kids. The shuttle drops you off right by the lakes, and you can walk/hike as far as you want. Beauty without a lot of effort!

Amenities at Moraine Lake

No wifi/cell service.

There’s a gift shop, water, and bathrooms.

There is a lodge that is probably insanely expensive.

You can rent canoes, but it is $160CAD for 1 hour.

Tips for Visiting Moraine Lake

• Climb the Rockpile.
• Take a hike to escape the crowds. Consolation Lakes Hike is supposed to be beautiful.
• Pack a lunch to have more time to enjoy this beautiful place.
• Pack layers; you never know what the weather will do!
• Go at sunrise if you can.
• Carry bear spray if you’re going to do any sort of hiking.
• Do not leave any trash or food.

How to Get to Moraine Lake — ENJOY.

Hopefully you now know how to get to Moraine Lake. If I didn’t explain it clearly enough, PLEASE comment below so I can fix the post. I write this blog to help people do cool things.

Try to savor Moraine Lake’s beauty when you’re there. Yes, take some pictures, but then put your phone down and stare at the blue lake and the mountains behind it. Nature is the best.