Sunrise at Moraine Lake is one of those things hard-core photographers used to get up at 5am to witness. However, it turned into one of those things where flocks of tourists (photographer or not) got up at 3am to fight for a coveted entrance spot to see.

Our first attempt to see Moraine Lake at sunrise failed. I’ll show you how to NOT fail and get in to see this beautiful sight!

***Update: As of 2023, Moraine Lake Road became closed to personal vehicles year-round. Visitors can still access Moraine Lake via Parks Canada shuttles, Roam Public Transit, and commercial buses/taxis from June to mid-October. The decision to restrict personal vehicles from Moraine Lake was forced by excessive demand for available parking, causing the parking lot to remain full nearly 24 hours per day. Our visit to Moraine Lake occurred in Summer 2022 back when personal vehicles were allowed, and we definitely felt the pain caused by the lack of parking. You can read about our failed attempt to drive to Moraine Lake below! We ended up utilizing a Parks Canada shuttle to visit Moraine Lake. The vehicle restrictions currently in place make it easier for everyone to visit Moraine Lake, but require a bit more advance planning. You are no longer allowed to drive yourself directly to Moraine Lake.

How Can I Get To Moraine Lake In 2023?

1. Parks Canada Shuttle– Shuttles depart from the Park and Ride parking lot, located at the Lake Louise Ski Resort. Shuttle seats are best to be reserved in advance. 40% of tickets are released for reservation in the spring, and the remaining 60% are released for reservation in a rolling window starting 48 hours before departure. Shuttle tickets include the ride to either lake of your choosing, the Lake Connector shuttle which runs between Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, and the return trip back to the Park and Ride. Shuttle ticket fees can be found here and cost $8.00 per adult as of 2023.
2. Roam Public Transit– Public transportation takes you from the Town of Banff to Lake Louise. Upgrade your pass to the Roam Super Pass to also access the Parks Canada Lake Connector shuttle which can take you from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake.
3. Commercial Transporation Provider or Registered Taxi– this is now the only way to get to Moraine Lake early enough to see sunrise.
4. Bicycle to Moraine Lake via the Moraine Lake Road– Just keep in mind this is a 25 km round trip journey.

What Used To Be: Gambling For A Moraine Lake Parking Spot

**As noted above, as of 2023 personal vehicles are no longer allowed on Moraine Lake Road due to significant congestion. If you like a good story, though, keep reading about our experience!

Don’t try this drive in the summertime like we did. Your chances are just too slim given the crowds. A trip to Banff is a trip of a lifetime and you most likely have a daily itinerary planned already so don’t throw a wrench in your plans with this gamble! This is exactly what we did and we failed to get one of those limited parking spots on our first try.

Our First Failed Attempt At Moraine Lake Sunrise

The day of our planned visit to view sunrise at Moraine Lake, we woke up at 2:45am and departed from our Banff campsite at Two Jack Main Campground shortly after 3:00am. However we were met sorely with disappointment as the parking lot had already filled and closed by the time of our arrival to the Moraine Lake parking area at 4:00am, and we were turned away. Parking at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are notoriously ridiculous, with both lots filling well before the 6:00am sunrise. Still, we didn’t expect the lot to fill a full 2 hours before sunrise. Overnight parking in these lots is technically not allowed, but visitors are allowed to visit the lakes overnight to stargaze. I suspect people were coming earlier and earlier, possibly under the guise of “stargazing,” to claim their coveted parking spot at the lake. In my opinion, you can’t get much earlier than 3-4am without calling it overnight parking… Summer season is the most crowded and offers the worst chances of snagging a parking spot.

The Best Way To Guarantee A Visit To Moraine Lake

***As noted above, personal vehicles are now restricted from Moraine Lake Road. You can still visit Moraine Lake utilizing Parks Canada shuttles, Roam Public Transit, and commercial buses/taxis.

The safest option is to book a spot on one of the Parks Canada lake shuttles. I highly recommend these tickets be booked in advance! You might be able to walk up and get same day shuttle tickets but we witnessed a family being told at 8am that the only available shuttle that day was at 5pm. The Parks Canada Shuttles depart from the Parks Canada Park and Ride which is where you can leave your personal vehicle for the day.

On the day of our initial but rejected attempt to see Moraine Lake, we abandoned our Moraine Lake dreams for the day and instead successfully caught sunrise at Lake Louise. Plans for our Moraine Lake visit were pushed to the following day, and we booked a ride to Moraine Lake on the Parks Canada Shuttle.

Can You Still See Sunrise At Moraine Lake In 2023?

During our visit in Summer 2022, there was a special early shuttle offered in the summer months that arrived early enough to view sunrise at Moraine Lake. We were lucky.

However, as of 2023 there are no more “sunrise shuttles.” Visitor access to the Park and Ride parking area for the shuttles is also restricted from 8:00pm to 6:00am. The Parks Canada website states that it allows “commercial transportation providers” to accommodate visitors wishing to see sunrise at Moraine Lake, but the public shuttles will not run early enough to catch sunrise.

Our Moraine Lake Sunrise Experience

Keep in mind your sunrise experience at Moraine Lake will be different as public shuttles do not arrive early enough for sunrise, but you can still make sunrise at Moraine Lake happen with “commercial transportation providers.”

The day of our Moraine Lake experience, we thankfully did not need to fuss with 4am parking. We booked tickets on the shuttle that drove us from the Parks Canada Park and Ride to Moraine Lake. Pro tip: There is a complimentary shuttle from the Lake Louise Campground to the Parks Canada Park and Ride, or you can drive yourself.

Moraine Lake is much smaller than Lake Louise. We started off with a quick hike to the famous Rockpile where you can get stunning views of the blue Moraine Lake. This is where most people come to witness and photograph sunrise at Moraine Lake.

Sunrise at Lake Moraine versus Lake Louise

What’s my honest opinion regarding this sight? It’s spectacularly beautiful and the trees and water against the background of a sea of sharp-edged snow-peaked mountains is amazing, but the experience of the sunrise itself was more striking at Lake Louise. It’s too hard to beat the Lake Louise sunrise experience: restless anticipation in darkness followed by the slow-motion evolution of a single mountain face essentially glowing in the dark. See both sunrises at Lake Louise and Lake Moraine and decide for yourself!

Consolation Lakes Hike

After soaking in the sunrise view at the Rockpile, we continued on to the Consolation Lakes hike. Other than the Lakeshore trail, these are the only two hikes by Moraine Lake that are classified as “easy.” These are pretty quick to do in a few hours so you’ll still have time if you want to catch the Lake Connector shuttle and head over to Lake Louise afterward.

Consolation Lakes trail ends in a huge field of fallen rocks which bleeds into the lakes.

 

Town of Lake Louise

After a fun lunch of Ketchikan salmon pita tacos enjoyed by the waters of Moraine Lake, we boarded the shuttle back to the Parks Canada Park and Ride.

We spent the rest of the afternoon leisurely wandering around the town of Lake Louise, which is pretty small and essentially encompassed by Samson Mall. There are a few bakeries, restaurants, and small shops to poke around in.

Pro tip: look for little necessities like soap or medicine at the Petro Canada gas station as their prices are cheaper than at the Village Market grocery store. One comical example: bug spray at Village Market cost $18.99! Also, if Petro Canada has run out of ice, you can refill your cooler with ice from the liquor store in Samson Mall.