The Johnston Canyon hike was beautiful and invigorating and, after a brief lunch in the town of Lake Louise, it was now time to drive to Moraine Lake for an early afternoon mini-hike.
I met several hikers (both tourists and locals) that each told me the same thing: “Lake Louise is great, but Moraine Lake was the more beautiful of the two”. After seeing it in many photos in the gift shops of Banff National Park and Jasper National Park, I was looking forward to finally hiking Moraine Lake.
Like Lake Louise, Moraine Lake is known for the distinctive shade of blue that colors the lake – the result of light refraction due to “rock flour” material deposited in the lake by glacial activity.
The Location of Moraine Lake:
Moraine Lake is a glacial lake in the “Valley of the Ten Peaks”. It is located about 20 minutes south of the town of Lake Louise.
Like other parking lots in Banff National Park, the parking is extremely limited. Although Moraine Lake has a relatively large parking lot, the spaces fill up quickly. If you don’t get a space in the parking lot, be prepared to park up to several kilometers away on the side of the road.
Hiking Moraine Lake:
Moraine Lake has several easy and combinable hikes including the Rock Pile Hike and the Moraine Lake Shoreline Hike. The hike is rated as “easy” and officially listed as 3km round-trip.  It will take you 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete.
Pro-Tip: The Rock Pile Hike has one of the best picture opportunities atop the Rock Pile itself. Known as the “Twenty Dollar View”, this is a shot of Moraine Lake surrounded by the “Ten Peaks” that was once on the Canadian Twenty Dollar Bill.
The Moraine Lake Shoreline Hike:
The trail head begins in the parking lot area. Facing the lake, you can head left for the Rock Pile Hike, or right for the Lake Shoreline Hike.
The Shoreline Hike takes you near the lake through a relaxing flat trail through the woods.
#nofilter
Looking Back at the Rock Pile:
The Rock Pile (background left)
The lake’s distinctive blue color “pops” in the sunlight
Looking Up the Lake (Westward Toward the Ten Peaks):
Canoes on the lake
Looking Back On “Goliath”:
Further down the hike, you get a better view of the monolith peak they call “Goliath”.
Looking Westward Toward the “Ten Peaks”:
As you hike further west, the “Ten Peaks” come into view.
The Helicopter Emergency Rescue:
As we hiked back to the parking lot, we watched as a helicopter made several attempts to reach a hiker stranded on “Goliath”. Â I snapped this photo of the rescue in progress.
Final Thoughts On Hiking Moraine Lake:Â
This was a great little easy after-lunch hike. If you are thinking of canoing or kayaking, this is a popular spot – but it is far less crowded than the nearby (and larger) Lake Louise, although it’s a further drive off of Highway 1.
I’d say it’s definitely worth a quick stop to see the lake, especially on a sunny day when the colors of the lake really “pop”.
Cheers!
