Moraine Lake Tours

Lake Minnewanka
Choose one or more items to build your trip:
The view of this turquoise lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks has been immortalized on countless postcards and on the back of 20-dollar bills in Canada.

Moraine Lake is one of the most photographed scenes in Canada. The “Twenty Dollar View” takes in the turquoise lake and ten surrounding mountains. The vista was once the picture on the back of 20-dollar notes in Canada, and the nickname stuck. Most visitors spend several hours soaking up the views and snapping pictures. The scene of rugged snow-capped peaks and crystal-clear water surrounded by larch trees is postcard-perfect. There are hiking trails around the lake and canoes for rent. The lake is only accessible June through September, as the road is blocked by snow in winter.The lake is 8.7 miles (14 kilometers) from Lake Louise and about 1 hour’s drive west of Banff. From the parking lot, it’s a short walk, roughly 980 feet (300 meters), up a rocky hill to a viewing platform, where you’ll get the best view. The glacial lake gets its startling blue color from the minerals in the water that come down from the surrounding mountains. The Valley of Ten Peaks has the third-highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies. The peak of Mount Temple is 11,500 feet (3,540 meters) high. Take all this in from the viewing platform.The lake is brightest during the day when the sun is directly overhead. This is also when the lake is the most crowded, and it can be hard to find parking. Come before 10 a.m. and stay to watch the changing colors on the lake – the water’s surface reflects the ten peaks.There are miles of hiking trails surrounding the lake. Hiking can be dangerous, because there are often bears roaming the area. Call Parks Canada for a safety update before you set out. Always walk in groups of four or more.

Plan a trip to see Moraine Lake

Monki-Di Executive Suites - Alura
New Apartments in Cranston by GLOBALSTAY
Hotel 11, MOD A Sonesta Collection
Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Reviews of Moraine Lake

4.8
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
244
" "5 - Excellent 81.60535117056857%
4 - Good
43
" "4 - Good 14.381270903010034%
3 - Okay
10
" "3 - Okay 3.3444816053511706%
2 - Disappointing
2
" "2 - Disappointing 0.6688963210702341%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Oct 11, 2019

Climb up the rockpile trail (takes 1 min) and enjoy a scenic view of the lake.. For experience climbers, hike up to the tower of Babel.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveler
Sep 24, 2019

Too crowded with no parking!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Sep 24, 2019

Beautiful lake! Definitely our favorite!

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Sep 11, 2019

Beautiful lake close to Lake Louise. Amazing colors. Definitely worth a visit.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Sep 9, 2019

I saw a lot of gorgeous blue lakes on my trip to Banff and Jasper, and Moraine Lake was the prettiest and most breathtaking.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Sep 3, 2019

Take the first bus out to Lake Louise and then buy a shuttle pass to Lake Moraine IMMEDIATELY. Otherwise, you may as well skip it. But you cant skip it because lake moraine is the absolute BEST. If you want to drive there, the parking lot is full by 5AM. You'll have to camp overnight the night before in your car.

Popular places to visit


Best Lodging Options Near Moraine Lake

Lake Louise Inn
Lake Louise Inn
3 out of 5
210 Village Road, Lake Louise, AB
Lake Louise Inn
Baker Creek By Basecamp
Baker Creek By Basecamp
3 out of 5
Bow Valley Parkway, Lake Louise, AB
Baker Creek By Basecamp
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
4 out of 5
111 Lake Louise Drive, Lake Louise, AB
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Paradise Lodge & Bungalows
Paradise Lodge & Bungalows
2.5 out of 5
105 Lake Louise Drive, Box 7, Lake Louise, AB
Paradise Lodge & Bungalows
Mountaineer Lodge
Mountaineer Lodge
2.5 out of 5
101 Village Road, Lake Louise, AB
Mountaineer Lodge
Deer Lodge
Deer Lodge
3 out of 5
109 Lake Louise Drive, Lake Louise, AB
Deer Lodge
Post Hotel & Spa
Post Hotel & Spa
4 out of 5
200 Pipestone Rd, Lake Louise, AB
Post Hotel & Spa
Family Superior Two Bedroom Cabin
Family Superior Two Bedroom Cabin
Lake Louise
Family Superior Two Bedroom Cabin
Baker Creek | Two Bedroom Cabin
Baker Creek | Two Bedroom Cabin
Lake Louise
Baker Creek | Two Bedroom Cabin
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.