Morant’s Curve

Morant’s Curve is a roadside viewpoint at the western end of the Bow Valley Parkway, where the railway bends alongside the Bow River beneath the Lake Louise peaks. A small parking area sits across the road from a railed concrete viewing deck, so this is a quick stop rather than a hike. Cross carefully and enjoy the view from the deck.

The curve became famous for railway photographs, but freight trains have no visitor timetable and a pass is never guaranteed. Some people wait a long time and still miss one. The river and mountain view is worth the stop without a train; if one comes, keep to the viewing deck and well away from the tracks.

Mount Fairview is the most prominent peak behind the bend. Mount St. Piran, Niblock, Whyte, Saddle, Sheol and Haddo also line the view. The railway and river make the curve easy to read, while the forested banks lead your eye up to the ridgeline.

The curve is named for Nicholas Morant, a Canadian Pacific Railway staff photographer whose mid-20th-century train images made this stretch famous. He was hired to create railway photographs, and his pictures helped sell the journey through the Rockies as much as the destination.

The lot is small and can be busy in summer. Plan this as a scenic pause, not a meal stop; nearby Lake Louise is the practical place to arrange food and other visitor facilities. Morning light is a good bet for the classic composition, but don’t time a visit around one particular train pass.

A recurring overnight wildlife restriction affects the eastern 17 kilometres of the Bow Valley Parkway from March 1 to June 25. Morant’s Curve is at the western end near Lake Louise, outside that restricted segment, but check the current route notice if you are planning a through-drive from Banff.