- The other must visit spot in Banff National Park, along with Lake Louise. It is an absolutely stunning piece of beauty, marked by exquisite turquoise blue colored water, and snow capped mountains in the background.
- Need Parks Canada Shuttle reservation to visit the lake. Private vehicles are not allowed – https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/parkbus/louise
- Best time to Visit: Any time of the year.
Quick Tips on Reservation
The reservation opens early. Additional tickets are opened two days before at 7 AM PST (8 AM MDT). Tickets sale out fast, within seconds. Make sure to get up early, have your account opened and be ready before 7 AM PST.
While booking Moraine Lake reservation through Parks Canada Website, if you happen to have another reservation for a different place on the same day, the system won’t allow you to reserve with the same name. You can provide another person’s name on the trip and complete the reservation
Rock Pile Hike
- This is the spot from which you get the iconic picture of Moraine Lake with its turquoise color and mountains in the backdrop.
- It is the best spot to get the picture of Moraine Lake.
- Very Easy Hike: 0.5 miles out and back, 32 ft elevation gain
Larch Valley Hike and Sentinel Pass Hike
- Both Larch Valley hike and Sentinel Pass Hike start from Moraine Lake.
- Sentinel Pass is an extension of Larch Valley Hike
- Larch Valley hike is 5 miles round trip with ~1800 ft elevation gain.
- If you go 1 mile further and ~700ft high from Larch Valley, you will reach Sentinel Pass. From Sentinel Pass, you get to see both Larch Valley and Paradise Valley on either side of the mountains.
- The hike is beautiful, mostly shaded, and views are stunning all throughout.
- Larch Valley is also called Valley of 10 peaks. There is also a beautiful lake at which you can sit and enjoy a nice snack.
- You climb one of those peaks and reach Sentinel Pass.
