Being hidden inside the tranquil Canadian Rockies, one of the world’s best alpine lakes and Moraine Lake is the most sought after spot for many tourists. Famously known for its blue-green water and must-visit getaway for nature lovers and outdoor adventurers, Moraine Lake is a place you can’t afford to miss out on. Here I am going to discuss almost every aspect of this exceptional natural feature.
IS MORAINE LAKE OPEN?
Continue reading for all the information about this gorgeous lake.
ABOUT MORAINE LAKE
Moraine Lake is found in the confines of Banff National Park, in the province Alberta, Canada. It is at around 14 km (8.7 mi) away from the Lake Louise village. A valley called the peaks of ten, the area at 1,885 meters above sea level (6,183 feet) is the location of lake.
These mountain ranges of the Canadian Rockies add incredible panorama and a diversity of outdoor activities which are offered here. The city of Calgary, which is a drive of a little more than 2 hours to the east from Lake Louise, is the nearest major city.
HOW MORAINE LAKE IS SO BLUE?
Moraine Lake’s striking blue color is due to the presence of fine particles of rock, known as rock flour or glacial flour, suspended in the water.
IS MORAINE LAKE FROZEN?
If there is no extreme change in the weather, Moraine Lake wont be frozen from June 1st to October 15th. So you can see the amazing turquoise color of the Moraine Lake
ARE THERE ANY OTHER LAKES BLUE AS MORAINE LAKE?
Other glacial lakes in the Canadian Rockies, such as Lake Louise and Peyto Lake, exhibit similar blue-green colours due to the same phenomenon of rock flour and light refraction. But they are not exactly the same as Moraine Lake
MORAINE LAKE OR LAKE LOUISE?
If you have so limited time and to make a choice between these lakes definitely choose Moraine Lake. The atmosphere in Lake Moraine is not describable with the words.
But if you don’t have to do that decision why not visiting both lakes at the same day with our tours? Enjoy visiting Moraine Lake and Lake Louise without hassling about parking and hear interesting stories from our guides. Click here to see the tour.
CAN YOU VISIT MORAINE LAKE IN WINTER?
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT MORAINE LAKE?
You can only visit Moraine Lake from June 1st to Mid-october unless you are and experienced hiker with avalanche knowledge. Because the road is closed in winter for avalanche risk. It snows a lot to these beautiful mointains in winter.
WHAT TIME OF THE DAY IS BEST TO VISIT MORAINE LAKE?
The best time of the day to visit Moraine Lake is early in the morning, preferably around sunrise. Watching the sunrise from these gorgeous mountains is a the most special activity you can do. Also it’s a great opportunity for proposals. We do have unique sunrise tours pickup from Canmore and Banff. You can reach them from here. Let us know if you will do proposal, our guides did that many times 🙂
HOW TO GET TO MORAINE LAKE?
Previous years parking was a nightmare in Moraine Lake. People was driving all the way from Calgary at night 2-3 am to Moraine Lake just to find an empty parking spot. There was always a chaos over there. That’s why Parks Canada decided to closed to road to public on 2023 and since then the Moraine Lake road is closed for public driving.
Cheapest option to visit Moraine Lake is the Lake Louise shuttles. You can get more information about that on their official website.
BOOK AN ORGANIZED TOUR
Another way to guarantee that you will see Moraine Lake is by booking one of our tours. We do have special licence and access to the Moraine Lake. This way you will be visiting Moraine Lake stress-free with our knowledged guides. Check our special Moraine Lake tours from here.
CANOEING IN MORAINE LAKE
Canoeing is the most popular activity to do in Moraine Lake. Its an amazing experience and on many peoples bucket list. The dock is open from 9:30 am to 5 pm from mid-June to mid-September. Canoe rentals starts at $140 CAD an hour
CAN YOU BRING YOUR OWN CANOE, KAYAK, SUP TO MORAINE LAKE?
You were allowed to bring your own canoe, kayak or sup before to Moraine Lake but not anymore. You have to rent it from the lodge in Moraine Lake.
WHAT TO DO IN MORAINE LAKE?
The best thing to do in Moraine Lake is hiking to the Rock Pile. It takes 10-15 minutes to reach to the rock pile and this hiking trail brings you to the famous “Twenty Dollar View”. This scene was used in Canadian 20 dollar bills before.
WHEN IS THE BUSIEST TIME IN MORAINE LAKE?
Moraine Lake is always busy but here are the holiday dates that makes Moraine Lake even more busier.
Labour day Weekend: First Monday of September
Canada Day: 1st of July
Heritage day Weekend: First Monday of August
Victoria day Weekend: Monday before May 25th each year.
HOW TO GET MORAINE LAKE FROM CALGARY?
FREQUENTLY ASKED MORAINE LAKE QUESTIONS
Is Moraine Lake Open?
Moraine Lake road is closed to public driving on 2023. You cant drive to Moraine Lake by yourself. The Lake is open from June 1st to October 15th. Only tour operators like us with valid licence or Lake Louise shuttles can visit there.
How Far is Moraine Lake from Calgary?
Moraine Lake is roughly 2 hours drive far from Calgary
How Far is Moraine Lake from Banff?
Moraine Lake is around 90 min drive from Banff
How Far is Moraine Lake from Canmore?
Moraine Lake is around 115 min drive from Canmore.
Can you drive to Moraine Lake?
No, you cant drive to Moraine Lake. Park Canada closed the Moraine Lake road to public driving on 2023. You can reach Moraine Lake by bike (13 km uphill), public transport or private tour company like us.
Is it Easy to get Parking in Moraine Lake?
You cannot drive to Moraine Lake and park in Moraine Lake. There is an exception to this rule for disabled visitors. Those possessing a disabled hang tag may proceed to the road to Moraine Lake, and staff will permit access to Moraine Lake Road.
Where is Moraine Lake?
Moraine Lake is located in Banff National Park, 14 km south of Lake Louise in Alberta. It is located in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, with an elevation of 1,884 meters or 6,181 feet.
Can you swim in Moraine Lake?
Yes, technically you can but probably you wouldn’t like to do that. The water temperature is close to 0 degree.
Are there Bears in Moraine Lake?
|There is no recorded bear attack in Moraine Lake. If you stay with the crowded areas you will be fine. If you are going to do some hiking, there are trails with bear danger and it is strongly adviced to read the instructions and carry a bear spray .
Can you Walk to Moraine Lake?
|We have seen some people walking to Moraine Lake when we were passing with your vehicle on our tours. If you want to do that, be ready to walk 13 km all uphill. It takes roughly 3 hours to reach to the Moraine Lake from Lake Louise village parking lot.
