Moraine Lake is Beautiful…and Crowded 

Be Prepared for Crowds at Banff’s Moraine Lake

If you have an Instagram account, you’ve likely come across photos of Moraine Lake in Alberta’s Banff National Park.  It’s one of the most popular destinations in the park, and for good reason. The distinctive gatorade-blue water flanked by the majestic ten peaks is as picturesque as it gets…And yes, the water really is as blue as it looks in the photos.

While the photos may make Moraine Lake look like a mountainous oasis tucked away in a remote corner of the Canadian Rockies, the unfortunate reality is that it is constantly inundated with hordes of selfie-stick-wielding tourists, all seeking to capture the same photo. Look, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to take photos of beautiful places around the world. People have been doing that since the camera was invented and that’s basically what this blog is all about. But in the social media era, it’s getting out of control. People see “influencers'” photos taken with Moraine Lake as a backdrop and they want to recreate it themselves. The number of tourists we saw at Moraine Lake trying to take cliché “artsy” photos was painful…Just be aware that if you want to take that all-too-common canoe photo, a rental will run you north of $100/hour (try canoeing the Bow River as a cheaper option).

The accessibility of Moraine Lake is a major contributor to the crowds. You can leave your office in downtown Calgary or step off a plane at the Calgary Airport and be at Moraine Lake in 2 hours. Not many major national parks in Canada or the US are this accessible from a major metropolitan area. On top of that, the fact that you don’t have to exert any physical effort to get to the lake makes it a draw for tourists of all ages and physical abilities.

If you’re visiting in the summer, you will want to arrive at the parking lot no later than 6:00 AM or later in the evening if you want to have a chance at a parking spot. The parking area at the lake is small and fills up quickly. Once it’s full, the road leading to the parking lot will be blocked off and you will need to go a few miles back down the highway and take a shuttle from the overflow lot. The shuttle costs $15 per person. We showed up around 7:00 in early September and the park rangers directing traffic said that the parking area had filled up “hours ago”. We had to turn around and park in the overflow lot, but we did see a couple of moose along the drive, which was nice.

We’re not trying to be Debbie downers. Moraine Lake is one of the most breathtaking views we’ve ever seen (although we’d argue that the nearby Peyto Lake is equally if not more beautiful). If you’re going to Banff, then this should absolutely be near the top of your list of places to visit. We’re merely lamenting the fact that enjoying such an amazing natural wonder feels like you’re at Disney World. And it’s not just Banff and Moraine Lake. Crowds are becoming more of an issue in national parks throughout Canada and the US and are resulting in people doing incredibly stupid and dangerous things.

Get Out on the Trail

Most tourists just hop out of their cars or tour buses to take some photos and then leave once they’ve had their fill. The best way to escape the crowds is to explore the nearby hiking trails, most of which provide unique perspectives of the lake and/or the ten peaks. While many of these trails are quite popular, the relative solitude compared to what you’ll encounter at the designated viewpoints is a welcome change. Just don’t forget to carry bear spray because the area around Moraine Lake is frequented by grizzlies. Some of the best trails near Moraine Lake are:

– Consolation Lakes

– Sentinel Pass via the Larch Valley Trail

– Lakeshore Trail

– Eiffel Lakes

You won’t regret visiting Moraine Lake. But if all you plan on doing is observing the scenery from the shore, don’t expect it to be a tranquil experience.

In summary, here’s how to avoid the crowds:

1. Go before 6 AM or after 7 PM
2. Go on a weekday
3. Go for a hike
4. Go in the shoulder season (although the lake could be frozen)