Moraine Lake is one of the most popular destinations in Banff National Park. New this year, Parks Canada decided to close the road to personal vehicles due to the high volume of traffic going to and from Moraine Lake. It is not impossible to get there, you just need to plan ahead!
Moraine Lake is In Banff National Park 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) outside the hamlet of Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. approximately 94 km or 58 miles west of Canmore.
It is situated in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, at an elevation of approximately 1,884 metres (6,181 ft). The lake has a surface area of 50 hectares (120 acres).
In 2023, Parks Canada announced that personal vehicles would no longer be allowed on the road year-round. Visitors would need to use the park's shuttles, public transportation, or registered commercial operators to access the lake. People with disabilities are exempt if they have a permit, and the road is also still accessible by bike and foot. The change was necessary because parking could not accommodate the surging traffic, with only a "very small percentage" of cars being allowed on the road in 2022 and the rest having to be turned away. It also noted how having to turn away so many vehicles was creating a safety hazard, with staff being confronted and harassed by disgruntled visitors.
If you choose a shuttle or tour that leaves from Lake Louise or Banff make sure you have transportation to get there. Lake Louise is about an hour drive west of Canmore. Banff is about a 20 minute drive west of Canmore.
Rent a car - Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Roam Bus - You would need to catch the bus from Canmore to Banff and then a different bus from Banff to Lake Louise. Here is the schedule.
Looking for accomodation in Canmore?
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