No trip to Alberta is complete without visiting the aqua blue waters of Moraine Lake. Also known as "The Valley of the 10 Peaks", Moraine Lake is located in Banff National Park. You can access it via 13km twisting Moraine Lake Road, which starts about 5 minutes off of Highway 1. The road is closed October to May due to inclement winter weather, but a definite must in the remaining months.
The lake itself is not large and in about 30 minutes you can walk the lake's northern shore trail to reach the other end. A full loop around the lake is not possible, but the 30 minutes is more than enough to get you beautiful views of the surrounding area and is ideal for your morning exercise. For those wanting something a bit longer and more strenuous, various other trails connect from here leading you into more backcountry.
Once you return from your hike, you will definitely want to climb the steep (300 metres) Rockpile Trail to get to the best and easiest vantage point of the lake and mountains. From a top, you will be able to take in the full glory of the area and its 10 mountain peaks. Ideally if the sun is overhead, you will get no shadows and you will have the opportunity to get your picture perfect shot of the lake and mountains. While standing a top of the rock pile, you can sometimes hear the roar and bear witness to small avalanches on the surrounding mountains in the distance. Overall, you can find yourself lose track of time as you take in the grand beauty around you, so be sure to allocate plenty of time to relax and enjoy.
If the weather is nice, the modest boat house offers canoe rentals, which lets you take in the scenery from the middle of the lake. Before you head off, if you are looking for some souvenirs or refreshments or a washroom, the seasonal Moraine Lake Lodge is located at the lake's entrance.
Some say Moraine Lake is even more majestic then Lake Louise and we would have to agree, if you only have time to visit one, this should be it.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice.
Please confirm details with location in question before visiting.
