WHAT MONTHS TO VISIT

Unlike Lake Louise and other Banff hot spots, Moraine Lake does have a closing time due to the high avalanche risks and how restricted the lake is with the mountain elevation. Moraine Lake usually opens the third week of May, and closes the week after Thanksgiving weekend. So basically if you want to visit Moraine, then go between the months of June - early October. Now you know why tourism is flooded in the summer months, because Lake Louise + Moraine Lake are the top destinations and only 15 minutes apart in driving.. so people want to visit in the summer months!
TIP : Try to go June or Late September when most people are back in school. You will deal with less crowds and be able to soak in the view without tons of people standing in front of you.

This photo was actually taken in late September 2019! Of all my trips to Moraine Lake, this was the first time I saw a dump of snow like this on the lake in the fall. I loved it - so magical!

WHAT TO WEAR

Speaking of snow in September, this hot spot can have the most unpredictable weather. I have seen it all .. one minute the sun is shining and you are wanting to wear shorts, the next clouds roll in and you are drenched from head to toe. This is Alberta weather for you, and having grown up and raised here - I just know to bring extra stuff now JUST incase the weather turns. Bring a rain jacket, umbrella, warm clothes EVEN if it’s July or August. It doesn’t hurt to have extra things packed in your backpack incase and you will be so grateful if you are presented with rain, hail, or crazy winds.

Also, bring hiking boots! The hike up to the top is actually not bad at all in terms of distance (probably takes you 10 minutes), BUT it is steep and the stairs can be especially slippery if it has rained in the past 48 hours. So I say, bring sturdy boots. If you are planning to do a photoshoot up top, bring heels in your bag, but wear runners while you hike up! Plus if you are navigating through the massive rocks up top, you will need good grip -

ACCESS TO MORAINE LAKE

I SWEAR that every year I visit Moraine it gets busier and busier. I never used to have issues getting into the parking lot 5+ years ago, but now they have the whole road monitored with paid Parks staff. This means that 90% of the time, from 7am - 7pm (ish), the road will be closed off due to the overload of tourists. The only way to access during this time frame is through the Lake Louise Shuttle Buses. When driving from Banff to Lake Louise, you will see signage pointing to the shutte bus pick up station about 5 minutes outside of Lake Louise. That is where you can park your vehicle, hop on the shuttle, and enter the road during the closure time. Downfall of the shuttle? The wait. But you can go online and book for the shuttle in advance HERE.
**Thank you Kim for that reminder :)

Since there are tons of people wanting to visit this one of a kind spot, you may be in line for a while. Most online sites recommend giving yourself a 1-2 hour flex time for the whole process depending on the day.

DON’T WANT THE SHUTTLE? ME EITHER.
SOLUTIONS..
1. GO THERE STUPID EARLY. IM TALKING 3-5AM EARLY.
Although you can’t park your vehicle there over night, you are more than welcome to be a crazy lady and drive in at 3am and sleep in your car until the sun sets. I mean, the more you wait till the sun rises, the more it will be packed and Staff will be stepping in, so it’s your call. YOLO!!!!!

2. HIRE ME!! haha {subtle advertising, duh} You get epic photos AND we can enter the lake even when it’s packed. I pay yearly for a permit with Moraine Lake which allows me and my client to gain access into the road even when the road is closed during busy season. Usually my clients will do the shoot, and then spend another hour or two hiking and exploring the area.
Pre warning that I am soo obsessed with sunrise + sunset light, that I will still probably drag you out at a less ideal hour, but that is only because I love having more privacy for our shoot and the lighting during those times are DROOL WORTHY!

Photo edited by my dear friend Monica from Red Bloom Photography

WHAT TO DO AT MORAINE LAKE

CANOE!! I mean, it is a lake afterall. Moraine Lake Lodge offers canoe rentals daily from 9am - 5pm.
Prewarning… it isn’t cheap to rent straight from the dock. You are looking at $120CAD per hour!!
Many people ask me.. Can I bring in my own canoe? Yes, Yes you can! This goes the same for majority of the lakes around Banff as well. Of course, you will need a proper vehicle to haul it if you are renting a canoe, but many of my clients will rent a canoe from Calgary or Canmore and then haul it to Moraine Lake so they aren’t limited to hourly. Plus they can then use it to canoe in other lakes too like Lake Minnewanka or Barrier Lake. It’s worth it in my opinion!

Another common thing people do is walk along the main pathway, which will take you to the opposite side of Moraine Lake. Basically, the more you walk along the path and get away from the main crowded area, the less you will be fighting for a view. Unfortunately you cannot walk the whole way around the lake as it is blocked off half way by the massive rocky mountain - but you can pop into the guest shop at the Moraine Lake Lodge, and then have a stroll. If you are wanting to do a more legitimate hike, you can also explore the Larch Valley + Sentinel Pass. According to Travel Alberta, the hike has a steady ascent with 535 m (1,755 ft) elevation gain over 4.3 km (2.67 mi) of trail. The round trip to here can take up to four hours – depending on how much time you spend soaking up the killer views.

BEST LIGHTING

The best time to go for lighting (especially if you are taking photos) is sunrise + sunset time. Now, NORMALLY in the city that means I go an hour before sunset or an hour after sunrise time. However, since the mountains are incredibly tall and cover the sun quite quickly, I recommend going 2 hours before sunset, or 1-2 hours after sunrise for the sun to peak right above the mountains.

For example, if the sunset time says it will be 8pm, the sun will actually hit the top of the mountain at Moraine Lake closer to 6:30pm and then hide behind it for the other hour.

ALSO!!!!!
Sunrise + Sunset times are less busy because they’re either bright and early or past supper time.

VIEWPOINTS

Once you park, the Lake is literally right there. So you shouldn’t have any issue seeing that beautiful teal water.
There are also walking paths you can take right next to the main view point that allow you to see the other side of the lake. This path doesn’t take you the entire route around the lake as the opposite side has quite a steep mountain interfering, but you can get a different view of the lake which is nice. Like I said before, the more you walk on the paths, the less busy it will be - so take a stroll!

Here is the view from the pathway…

To get up to the top for that EPIC VIEW,
When you park, you will see some washrooms off to the side. If you go past those, you will see an opening from the wood fence. Turn left and follow that over a small bridge and up the stone steps. It is a bit of a steep walk, so if you are traveling with someone who has mobility issues, consider that first. The hike is only about 7-10 minutes to the very top and the steps are well laid out. From there, you will get this view… YES PAALEEAASSEEEE!!! {drool emoticon haha}

Along the hike up, you can find some exits that will take you into the spruce trees with a more classic Banff perspective. Trees for DAYYSS! Have I sold you yet? JUST GO TO MORAINEEEEE!!!

WANT TO BOOK A SHOOT WITH ME?

All the photos above are couples that booked with me when they visited the Banff area. I LOVE Moraine Lake so much that the 5 hour round trip is WORTH it to shoot couples, family, maternity, etc. I crank some tunes + stop at pretty much every McDonald’s along the way :) Anywho, if you are visiting this gem of a place.. message me! I’ll send over my info and you can decide if we are the right fit! <3

Safe Travels xo