Best Times and Tips for Moraine Lake Visit

Moraine Lake is one of the crown jewels of Banff National Park. It captivates visitors with its stunning turquoise waters. Visiting it is truly a bucket-list experience that offers breathtaking views and unparalleled natural beauty. I had this on my bucket list for at least the last 20 years. I eagerly dreamed of the day I would stand at its shores. Finally, I got to see it in person. The moment I arrived, I was awestruck by the vibrancy of the lake’s color. The lake’s color changes throughout the day, reflecting the surrounding peaks and the bright blue sky above. Yet, due to its overwhelming popularity and fragile environment, getting there requires careful planning. Since 2023, all personal vehicles have been banned from Moraine Lake. You need to plan alternative ways to reach the lake. Keep reading to explore all the options to see the majestic Moraine Lake and our personal experience.

How to reach Moraine Lake

🚐 No personal vehicles allowed – Moraine Lake Road is closed to personal vehicles year-round. The only ways to access the lake are:

Parks Canada shuttle (runs June 1 to October 13, every 30 minutes from 6:30 am to 6 pm)
Roam Public Transit Super Pass (includes access to the Lake Connector shuttle)
Licensed commercial tour operators – More on this below
Biking or hiking (for the adventurous!)
Guests of Moraine Lake Lodge or those with accessible parking placards

Best time to visit

Mid-June to late September: From mid-October to late May, the Moraine Lake road is completely closed to vehicles due to avalanche risk and heavy snow
Early morning or evening for fewer crowds and magical lighting

Must-do activities

Hike the Rockpile Trail for the famous “Twenty Dollar View”
Rent a canoe and paddle across glacier-fed waters
Explore nearby trails like Larch Valley or Consolation Lakes

Shuttle Services to Lake Moraine

🚌 To reach Moraine Lake, several licensed commercial operators offer shuttle services from Banff, Lake Louise, and surrounding areas. Here’s a roundup of the most popular and reliable ones.

Pro tip:

Park canada shuttle is the cheapest/Budget way to reach Lake Moraine

🎟️ Reservations required Shuttle seats sell out fast—especially early morning slots. Parks Canada releases 40% of seats in April, and the remaining 48 hours before departure

🚐 Licensed Shuttle Operators

Operator	Departure Locations	Highlights
Parks Canada Shuttle	Lake Louise Park & Ride	Frequent service consists of the Lake Connector shuttle
Moraine Lake Bus Company	Lake Louise Village & Summer Gondola	Sunrise shuttles, flexible booking, pet-friendly
Fairview Limousine	Lake Louise Inn	Luxury limos, hourly shuttles, sunrise access
Radventures	Banff & Lake Louise	Guided sunrise tours, small groups, photo tips
Ten Peaks Shuttles & Tours	Banff, Bow Valley Parkway, Lake Louise	Sunrise tours, wildlife viewing, hotel pickups
Mountain Park Transportation	Banff town	Combo tours to Moraine Lake & Lake Louise
Via Via Moraine Lake Shuttle	Banff, Canmore, Harvie Heights, Lake Louise	Extended stays, hotel pickups, hot drinks & blankets

🗓️ Season: Most shuttles operate June 1 to October 13, with sunrise options starting as early as 4 am.

🐾 Pet Policy: Fairview and Moraine Lake Bus Company allow pets (some restrictions apply). Service animals are welcome across all services.

Our personal experience with Moraine Lake Shuttles

We used both Radventures and Fairview Limousine to visit Lake Moraine. Since Lake Moraine had been on my bucket list for such a long time, I didn’t want to take any chances and wait until the last day of our trip for our sunrise shuttle to Lake Moraine in case the weather wasn’t cooperating, as I’ve heard so much about its stunning beauty. To ensure we experienced the breathtaking views, I decided to plan ahead. We stayed at Lake Louise Inn, which was a perfect choice, given its proximity to all the amazing attractions. Fairview Limousine operates out of the Lake Louise Inn, making it incredibly convenient for us. When I found out they had availability for the next morning, I took a solo trip to Lake Moraine on day 1. I embraced the quiet morning solitude. It made the experience even more magical. We also used Fairview to visit Lake Louise for our afternoon hike to Lake Agnes. We truly had the best experience with them. Their drivers were friendly and knowledgeable. They added incredibly valuable insights about the area along the way. One of the great things about Fairview Limousine buses is that they allow dogs, including large dogs.

🌄 Radventures offers some of the most sought-after guided experiences to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, perfect for catching golden-hour magic or exploring Banff’s alpine beauty without the crowds. We did the Moraine Lake Sunrise and Lake Louise golden hour adventure.

Here are a few standout tours:

🧭 Moraine Lake Sunrise & Lake Louise Golden Hour Adventure

Duration: 7 hours
Highlights: Exclusive sunrise access to Moraine Lake, hot drinks, photography-trained guides, and a peaceful visit to Lake Louise before peak hours
Price: From CAD $269 per person

🌅 Moraine Lake & Lake Louise Sunset Wildlife Adventure

Duration: 5 hours
Highlights: Golden hour at Moraine Lake, sunset at Lake Louise, and a wildlife safari along Bow Valley Parkway with a 95% sighting success rate
Price: From CAD $209 per person

🏞️ Best of Banff National Park Adventure

Duration: 8 hours
Highlights: Full-day tour of Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, and other scenic stops like Vermilion Lakes and Mount Norquay
Price: From CAD $269 per person

All tours include small group sizes, expert local guides, and comfy transport. You’ll get insider tips, storytelling, and plenty of time to explore or take photos.

We were picked up at 4:45 AM from the Lake Louise village and arrived at Lake Moraine by 5:15 AM. We spent the next hour drinking coffee and waiting for sunrise at one of the 3 viewpoints on the rock pile.

🚐 Fairview Limousine and Shuttle Services is Lake Louise’s only locally based transportation company. They’ve built a stellar reputation for getting visitors to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise with ease and style.

🌅 What they offer:

Sunrise shuttles to Moraine Lake (arrive ~1 hour before sunrise)
Hourly shuttles to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise throughout the day
Connector shuttle between the two lakes (8 times daily)
Private charters for weddings, airport transfers, and sightseeing
Luxury limousine service with leather seating, ice bar, and entertainment system
Pet-friendly rides (even large dogs are welcome!)

📍 Departure Point: Lake Louise Inn 🕒 Operating Hours: Daily from 7:15 am to 6:30 pm (varies by season) 💰 Pricing:

Moraine Lake: ~$35 CAD
Lake Louise: ~$25 CAD
Sunrise Shuttle: ~$75 CAD
Combo tickets and group discounts available

Fairview is a fantastic alternative to Parks Canada shuttles—especially if you’re staying in Lake Louise Village or want more flexibility. We had an incredible experience with Fairview Limousine. We took it twice, once to visit Lake Moraine and again to visit Lake Louise. On our way back, the bus was full and we couldn’t get on until next shuttle which was an hour later. The driver of the earlier shuttle called the main desk, and they sent us a car to pick us up without any additional charges.

Final thoughts

At first, planning a trip to Lake Moraine seems like a lot. Nevertheless, it is not difficult once you know which shuttle to use. We prefer convenience and found Fairview Limousine worked best with our location and schedule. Sunrise is definitely a better time to go, but if you can’t make it to the sunrise, any other time still works as well, and the color and beauty of the lake can still be admired throughout the day.

On the flip side, the sunrise is very crowded, and the photo below shows the behind-the-scenes crowd. Be prepared with lots of patience and good humor.