How to Avoid Crowds at Banff’s Moraine Lake

This is possibly Banff National Park’s most well-kept secret. Did you know that you can bike up to Moraine Lake before the road opens to cars each year? That’s right, avoid the crowds and have the lake views all to yourself before the rockpile is crawling with tourists and you have to fight to get that perfect picture with no strangers in the background.

I had no idea that this bike ride was a possibility when we started planning our trip to bike the Bow Valley Parkway to Johnston Canyon. I stumbled upon an article that mentioned there is a brief window when the park service plows Moraine Lake Road, but the road isn’t open to shuttle buses yet. Hence the perfect time to bike the road without traffic! We just happened to get into Banff on the last day before the road opened this year on June 1st and couldn’t miss out on this rare opportunity.

Banff is a 6-hour drive from our Montana hometown and then Moraine Lake is an additional hour from downtown Banff. We drove directly to the lake parking lot so we would have enough time to complete the ride. Moraine Lake is very easy to navigate. It’s located about halfway between Lake Louise Village and Lake Louise. Take a left off of the TransCanada Highway onto Lake Louise Drive and then another left onto Moraine Lake Road after about a mile. The parking lot is immediately on the left when you get to the road. The parking lot is small and does tend to fill up quickly. We timed it just right where someone was pulling out and we arrived. You’ll see the gate shortly up ahead, closing the road to vehicles

The only bad news of this ride? It is 7 miles of steady uphill to get to the lake. Luckily, the climb is never super steep, just a steady incline the entire way. But I promise the staggering mountain views on the way up will distract you from any discomfort. We were in a group of 6 people who had differing levels of bike experience. Some did struggle at times, but everyone made it fairly easily and still enjoyed the ride. 

The first 4km is a fairly steep uphill and the hardest part of the ride. We were so not prepared for that after sitting in a car for 7 hours. The road is mostly tree lined until the last 3km and then it opens up and you’re hit with the most amazing views of the Valley of the Ten Peaks mountains. I can’t even describe how breathtaking the sight is and so much better not in a car. 

Once you coast down the only decline of the ride to the large empty parking lot, there are plenty of bike racks near the rockpile to lock up. The Rockpile Trail is the most popular and must-do walk at the lake. You’ll see signs for the trail on the left side of the parking lot near the restrooms. Follow the stairs for about 5 minutes to reach the top of the pile and the best lookout point over Moraine Lake. Here is where you really get to enjoy the solitude and what makes the uphill climb worth it. 

However, be prepared: the shocking bright blue color of the lake water that has become so famous on Instagram will not be present. Most likely if you’re here in the spring the lake will still be partly or mostly frozen. But, the mountains are even more gorgeous with a dusting of snow on the peaks. Even missing the turquoise waters, the beauty of Moraine Lake does not disappoint. And the best part? You can have all the pictures you want without strangers in the background!

There is also a 3 mile shoreline trail that goes around the lake if you’re interested in more walking. We did not take this trail as it was muddy and it was getting late for our ride back. I highly recommend the Larch Valley hike, just not in the shoulder seasons. The view of the Valley of the Ten Peaks from the summit was absolutely incredible. Unfortunately most of the main hiking trails, including this one, don’t open until later in the summer due to snowy conditions

Moraine Lake Lodge is not open in the off-season. Make sure to bring your own snacks and water. I was hoping for a souvenir, but I had to wait until we got back to downtown Banff to shop. When you’re ready to start the journey back to the start of the road, be prepared for the one climb right out of the parking lot until kilometer marker 9. There is one surprise hill at kilometer 7, but after that, it’s smooth cruising downhill the entire way to the parking lot. The ride back takes about half as long as the ride up and with basically no effort–the best reward for all that climbing earlier. 

Be sure to stop by Lake Louise on the drive back to Banff. Take a left out of the parking lot instead of a right and it’s a short drive to the lake. Be prepared for packed parking lots and tons of people walking around. It’s a staggering 36 CAD to park in the lot. Now I’m not recommending this, but we risked it and didn’t pay because we knew we were only going to stay for about 20 minutes. 

We dashed to the lake viewpoint (again the water is not as bright blue as usual) and walked quickly around the Fairmont Chateau Resort. We didn’t get ticketed, but if you really want to enjoy your time at Lake Louise, I would buy a parking pass. I personally like Moraine Lake much better than Lake Louise. The mountains are so much more dramatic and it doesn’t seem as touristy. But Lake Louise is an icon of Banff and still is a must-see.

• Lake Louise is the highest town in Canada at 5,200 ft
• There are hundreds of glaciers in Banff. The bright blue water of Moraine Lake is because of the glacial silt from the melting in the summer. You can actually walk on a glacier during a tour at Icefields Parkway
• The max depth of Moraine Lake is 46ft. Swimming is not prohibited, but beware the water is only 41 degrees in the summer!