Moraine Lake, the Jewel of the Rockies!

Moraine Lake will leave you breathless! It provides a scenic vista of the stunning beauty of the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Also of the pristine splendor of the turquoise-coloured lake.
This definitely is one of the most photographed locations in all of Canada!

This iconic image was on the back of Canadian twenty dollar bills from 1969 – 1979

The Ten Peaks are: Fay, Little, Bowlen, Tonsa, Perren, Allen, Tuzo, Deltaform, Neptuak and Wenkchemna

The spectacular turquoise blue or green colour of the lake is given by the sunlight that reflects off the rock flour from the glaciers, suspended in the water. That’s why the lake is brightest during the day when the sun is directly overhead.

Points of interest

Some of the things that can be visited in Banff National Park :

• At first, the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, including the underground Cave with bubbling thermal waters
• Second, Lake Minnewanka also known as the “the Lake of the Water Spirits”
• Later, Banff Legacy Trail, built as a testament and celebration of the values of the national park
• Afterwards, Upper Hot Springs Pool, a soothing natural hot springs
• Also, Johnson Lake to canoe, fish or kayak on its waters
• Eventually, Vermilion Lakes to enjoying wildlife viewing and bird watching
• Then, Bow Valley Parkway (Hwy 1A), Between Banff and Lake Louise, an scenic heritage road with perfect viewpoints
• After, Johnston Canyon on the Bow Valley Parkway or Highway 1A
• Maybe Lake Louise (The Lake)
• Or, Lake Agnes Trail, the of the most hiked trails in the area
• Probably Plain of Six Glaciers Trail. Get great satisfaction for a moderate effort.
• Least but not last Bow Lake and Bow Glacier. From the turquoise blue water of the lake you can admire the majestic Bow Glacier

Beautiful places nearby:

• Yoho National Park that has some spectacular waterfalls between towering rock walls of the 28 peaks over 3 000 metres in height.
  From Spring through Fall you can visit: Spiral Tunnels, Kicking Horse Pass National Historic Site, Takakkaw Falls and the Yoho Valley, Burgess Shale Fossil Beds
  And, all year round: Village of Field, B.C., Emerald Lake and the Natural Bridge, Kicking Horse River, Wta Falls, Lake O’Hara (bus only runs in summer)

The Icefields Parkway (Highway 93 North) Definitely one of the most scenic highways in the world! Admire the mountains with broad sweeping valleys, pristine lakes, waterfalls and glaciers flowing down.

Things to see: The lakes Herbert, Bow and Peyto, the Crowfoot Glacier, the Mistaya Canyon, Weeping Wall, the Big Bend, Parker Ridge, Wilcox Pass, Columbia Icefield, Glacier Discovery Centre and Skywalk, the Falls Sunwapta and Athabasca

Just remember that there is no cell coverage on the Icefields Parkway

Things to do

At Moraine Lake are a variety of great day hikes trails around the lake, ranging from the easier to the more difficult ones

Trails around Moraine Lake:

First: The Rock Pile, 5 miles / 8 km. Straight ahead to the location pictured on the old Canadian Twenty Dollar Bill.
Second: Lake-shore Trail 1.8 miles / 2.9 km. Definitely an easy walk. Certainly beautiful views of the famous alpine lake
Third: Consolation Lakes 3.7 miles / 6 km. Above all, a moderate round trip into the mountains
Fourth: Larch Valley, 5.4 miles / 8.6 km. Although a moderate / difficult trail, is very popular during Fall. In particular for the golden colour that it turns to.
Fifth: Sentinel Pass. 7.2 miles / 11.6 km trail. Surely difficult. At the same time, amazing views over the Larch Valleys and Paradise Valley and Ten Peaks.
Sixth: Eiffel Lake. 7 mile, 11.2 km. Also an moderate/difficult trail that crossing the scree slope above Eiffel Lake. Amazing scenery
Seventh: Wenkchemna Pass, 12 mile / 19.4 km. Even though a difficult trail, has at the top excellent viewpoints! Admire the Valley of Ten Peaks and the hidden Wenkchemna Glacier

Besides hiking and trekking around Moraine Lake is possible to:

For example can go kayaking and canoeing. It’s one of the best manner to visit and experience everything the lake has to offer.

But, also you can keep in mind that it is one of the most tranquil places on Earth. So, one can just spend several hours soaking up the views and snapping pictures.

In the area of Moraine Lake also are:

• For instance, some trails that are open to mountain biking and horseback riding
• On one hand, rock climbing possibilities on the surrounding mountain faces
• On the other hand, helicopter tours are also available
• Or, can enjoy a gondola ride
• Also, can see one of the tallest waterfalls in Canada on the Bow River
• Or, even hike to a wild glacial moonscape above Bow Lake

Noteworthy, fishing and swimming are not permitted at Moraine Lake.

Still, keep in mind that in the winter the road To Moraine Lake is closed for vehicles traffic. Although, it but becomes a popular spot for cross country skiing. The tracks ends at the viewpoint for the Consolation Valley and the Ten Peaks.

Over the year

May through September. This is the period when Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are extremely busy.
The 13 km road to Moraine Lake opens in mid-May

From late June to August the weather is warmer, with averages high temperatures of 72 °F / 22 °C and averages low temperatures of 45 °F / 7 °C.
Also you’ve got the best chance to see the beautiful colours of the water.

The to Moraine Lake closes in mid-October

During winter months, temperatures are moderated. In January averages temperatures are between 5 °F / −15 °C and 23 °F / −5 °C.
From November through April the road to Moraine is trackset for skiing, but the the lake is inaccessible due to avalanche hazard.
In this season Lake Louise is a winter wonderland!

Location

Lake Moraine is located at 3.1 miles / 5 km west of the Hamlet of Lake Louise and the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) at 55 km west of Banff, Alberta.
More exactly, in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada, on Alberta’s western border with British Columbia, at 8,7 miles / 14 km outside the Village of Lake Louise.

The Banff National Park is the oldest national park in Canada and has a surface of 2564 sq miles / 6,641 sq km. Located in the Rocky Mountains, has numerous glaciers and ice-fields, alpine landscapes and dense coniferous forest.

How to get there

From the Lake Louise Village follow Lake Louise drive and turn on the left hand side for Moraine Lake Road. Lake Louise is at 8.7 miles / 14 km road to Lake Moraine
From Banff drive west for about 1 hour.
The best viewing platform is at 980 ft / 300 m from the parking lot

Useful information