15 Tips for Seeing Banff Lakes: Lake Louise to Moraine Lake and more

Last Updated on May 6, 2024 by Deanne

Banff National Park is known for its stunning scenery famously accented by majestic mountains, and intense, turquoise-colored lakes. From Lake Louise to Moraine Lake, you’ve likely seen pictures of Banff lakes adorned on screensavers, calendars, book covers, art prints, and much more.

These lakes are world-renown, but they aren’t the only two lakes in Banff worth visiting. There are dozens of lakes in the Canadian Rockies that will make your jaw drop.

Visiting these spectacular lakes in Banff is a bucket-list items for travelers, but there are some things to know before you visit. We’ve compiled 15 tips to help you make the most of your Banff lakes experience, including best viewpoints, time of day, and lake adventures you won’t want to miss.

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Banff lakes viewing tips

1. Visit the Canadian Rockies lakes outside of peak season.

Summer is the most popular time to visit Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies lakes. These lakes get very crowded. Standing shoulder to shoulder with others while trying to soak in the magic may not be the experience you envisioned. So, consider visiting Banff in September when crowds have lessened a little. You won’t be alone (Banff lakes are wildly popular), but fewer people mean more opportunity to find a secluded little part of the surrounding landscape to sit and admire the masterpiece.

There are other advantages to traveling in the fall besides fewer crowds. Sometimes you’ll wake to a light dusting of snow around the lake which can make for a captivating scene. Plus, embarking on long hikes around the lakes is easier done in cooler temps.

2. Get an early start to see world-famous sunrises.

Waking up early on vacation may not sound very enjoyable, but getting out the door in time for a Canadian Rockies sunrise over a world-famous lake is worth every ounce of missed sleep. Instead of lying in bed dreaming, you can be fulfilling yours.

Sunrises at Moraine Lake and Lake Louise are known around the world. The way the sun hits the surrounding mountain tops reflecting in the tranquil, turquoise water below is breathtaking. And even though you won’t have the lake all to yourself, the whole experience feels more peaceful in the early morning.

Seeing the morning mist rise from the water is an added bonus – not to mention it’s easier to find a parking spot before the lot fills up (which happens frequently at more popular destinations like Lake Louise).

(Note: You are not allowed to drive to Moraine Lake – the road is closed to personal vehicles. Read this article to find out How to See Moraine Lake at Sunrise.)

And while the iconic sunrises at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake should definitely be in your Banff itinerary, don’t forget about other lesser-known lakes with unbelievable sunrises.

Two Jack Lake in the village of Banff has a gorgeous sunrise not to miss. Take a look:

3. Lodge on the shores of a Banff lake, if possible. (It makes #2 much easier.)

Staying in a lodge right on the lake means you can roll right out of bed and view stunning sunrises over the lakes in a matter of minutes. Even if sunrises aren’t your thing, exclusive access to these iconic lakes means you can enjoy them before the day trippers arrive and after they’ve gone.

But this one does come at a price – and it can be steep. Moraine Lake Lodge on the shores of Moraine Lake and the Fairmont Château at Lake Louise are two of the most exclusive accommodations around. They’re not for the budget-conscious, but they offer benefits that might make them splurge-worthy. Read a detailed review of Moraine Lake Lodge, including a cost breakdown that factors in all the free amenities guests of the lodge receive.

If the lodges at Moraine Lake and Lake Louise aren’t in your budget but you want a similar experience, reserve a night at Emerald Lake Lodge on the shores of Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park. Which brings us to #4…

4. Fit Yoho National Park’s Emerald Lake into your itinerary.

Yoho National Park borders Banff National Park and is easy to fit into your Canadian Rockies itinerary. You can venture in just for the day to see the enchanting Emerald Lake or stay overnight at the Emerald Lake Lodge and spend more time exploring Yoho’s rugged scenery. Emerald Lake is just over a 30-minute drive from Lake Louise. (Click here to read all about our detailed 7-day Banff itinerary including Yoho!)

5. See Banff lakes at different times of day.

While sunrise is the ideal time to view Banff lakes, other times of day offer dramatic scenes as well. The evening’s golden hour often casts stunning hues across a lake as the sun starts to go down. Some lakes in Banff you’ll view during the middle of the day and be just as impressed as bright blue ripples twinkle in the sunlight. With the wide variety of lakes in Banff National Park and surrounding areas, you’ll want to fit as many of them into your day’s schedule as possible – morning, noon, and night!

 

6. Don’t trust the weather forecast (and that’s a good thing!)

While exploring the lakes in Banff we noticed the weather was always changing – and mostly for the good. Positioning ourselves next to a sea of photographers at Moraine Lake for sunrise, we heard one photographer lament that the clouds were never going to clear. He packed up his things, gave up his prime viewing spot, and left. Minutes later, the clouds lifted, and we were blessed with views of the sun hitting the mountaintops.

The weather forecast for our morning at Lake Louise called for full clouds all day. We were happily surprised, then, when we arrived at Lake Louise and the sun was peeking through. There was plenty of morning sunshine to create this awesome view:

7. Hike to get different perspectives.

This is an important one. If you’re physically able, you really should take time to embark on some scenic hikes around the lakes. A few lakes you must trek to in order just to reach them – like Mirror Lake near Lake Louise,

and Minnestimma Lake in Larch Valley near Moraine Lake.

Even walking part way around a lake can give you a different perspective of the beauty and get you away from the crowds.

8. Pick at least one Banff lake to canoe on.

While canoeing on all the lakes would be fun, you’ll probably just pick one for that experience since canoe rentals can be costly. Plus, you might not have time for more than one paddling escapade.

Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, and Emerald Lake all rent canoes. So, pick your favorite (there isn’t a bad choice). Take your time paddling. And soak in your surroundings – while taking plenty of epic pictures.

9. Your phone camera works great capturing Banff lake views.

If you have professional camera gear that you bring along on all your travels, great. But if not, don’t worry. Your phone camera will likely take amazing pictures of the dramatic scenery. All the pictures in this article were taken using just my iPhone. A big fancy camera is nice, but the ease and convenience of a simple phone camera can’t be beat.

Tips for specific Banff lakes

10. Peyto Lake

Peyto Lake is another stunning Banff lake found just off the Icefields Parkway 27 miles north of Lake Louise. This is a definite must-do while traveling through the Canadian Rockies. Visiting Peyto Lake is easy as it’s just a short stroll from the parking lot to the viewpoint overlooking the turquoise water.

Peyto Lake gets almost as busy as Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, and most people flock to the crowded viewing platform. Definitely take in those views, but then weave your way down onto the hill along the side of the viewing platform where you can escape the crowds and still get jaw-dropping lake views.

11. Waterfowl Lakes

After viewing the picturesque Peyto Lake, make another quick pit stop off the Icefields Parkway at Waterfowl Lakes just 10 miles north of Peyto Lake. These lakes (upper and lower) don’t take long to see (you can literally pull off the highway and snap a picture) but they’re gorgeous. The still, serene waters reflect the surrounding summits and groves of pine trees so exquisitely – it’s another picture-perfect panorama.

12. Moraine Lake

The Moraine Lake area used to get so congested with cars, people, and tour bus traffic they had to close the road permanently to personal vehicles. Now the only way to get to Moraine Lake is by taking a shuttle bus (unless you’re a guest at Moraine Lake Lodge, then you’re given special access.)

Once you get to Moraine Lake, you’ll want to climb the short Rockpile Trail. This is where you get the most iconic views of Moraine Lake. Even with the road closure, Moraine Lake is still super popular, but the good thing is there are so many rocks, nooks, and ledges you can easily find a spot to get uninterrupted views. Climb up and around the rocks to get slightly different perspectives of the lake.

13. Emerald Lake

Emerald Lake was the last lake we saw during our week in the Canadian Rockies. We almost skipped it thinking we had seen so much insane beauty that maybe another lake wouldn’t wow us. But it did! The best part about Emerald Lake is walking the trail around the lake. It’s peaceful, charming and you stroll by the Emerald Lake Lodge cabins interspersed among the trees. We highly recommend spending time walking around this lake.

14. Lake Louise

While hiking around the Banff lakes can give you a different perspective, the trails around Lake Louise need to be especially noted. The variety of steep but doable trails lead to extraordinary views overlooking the bright blue water below, especially the Big Beehive Trail. Lake Louise literally took on a different color the farther up we hiked!

Plus, as you hike up Big Beehive, you’ll get to visit another spectacular lake – Lake Agnes.

15. Lake Agnes

Lake Agnes is a beautiful mountain lake near Lake Louise. A hike beginning at the Fairmont Château on the shores of Lake Louise takes you up a steep trail to access the lake located at 7,000 ft. This lake is worth seeing for its surrounding mountain beauty and to enjoy the tea house located there. Open since 1905, the Lake Agnes Tea House is popular among hikers. Be prepared for long lines.

One final tip as you sit and relax eating a snack on the shores of Lake Agnes. Watch out for the birds! As I was putting the final bite of a sandwich into my mouth, an aggressive bird swooped down and stole it out of my hand (and practically my mouth!) Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Have you seen these tranquil, turquoise Banff lakes in the Canadian Rockies? Which is your favorite? Have any tips to add to our list? Leave us a comment. We’d love to hear from you!