#17 of 177 trails in Banff

Banff National Park, AB

Eiffel Lake Tr

A quieter Moraine Lake hike to a turquoise alpine lake beneath the Ten Peaks

Length
11.4km
Time
4.5hr
Elev. change
464m
Difficulty
Moderate
  • Dogs allowed
  • High point 2,339 m

Hear the audio tour

Pikas: The Alpine Haymakers of Banff

Overview

About Eiffel Lake Tr

Why go

  • Big Valley of the Ten Peaks views and a turquoise alpine-lake destination
  • Quieter and gentler after the shared Larch Valley climb
  • A clear alpine turnaround without continuing to Sentinel Pass or Eiffel Peak

Heads up

  • The opening switchbacks are steep and often busy
  • Substantial elevation gain and uneven high-country footing
  • Moraine Lake access requires shuttle, transit, or licensed commercial transport
Eiffel Lake is the quieter branch from Moraine Lake’s busy Larch Valley approach, with open views across the Valley of the Ten Peaks and a turquoise alpine lake beneath the surrounding peaks. The route shares the first climb with Larch Valley, then follows a gentler traverse toward Eiffel Lake. It is a rewarding destination for hikers who want high-mountain scenery without continuing to Sentinel Pass.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy go

Map & elevation

The route

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Full map
Elevation1,875–2,339 m
TrailheadMoraine Lake Lodge51.32777, -116.18254
Keep this map with you offline in the Parkwolf app

Plan your hike

Before you go

Parking

Personal vehicles are not permitted on Moraine Lake Road. Reserve Parks Canada shuttle or Roam transit access, or use a licensed commercial service, then start just beyond Moraine Lake Lodge. Toilets and day-use facilities are at Moraine Lake, not along the trail.

Safety

Carry accessible bear spray and follow current Parks Canada wildlife, trail, and group advisories. The route has a sustained opening climb, uneven rocky and rooty tread, some scree, lingering early-season snow, and rapidly changing mountain weather. Turn around if conditions make the route unsafe.

8 active Banff alerts

  • ClosureRed Deer River valley bottom closed for ceremonial bison harvestThe Red Deer River valley bottom is closed to the public during an Indigenous ceremonial bison harvest taking place through November.Official details
  • ClosureLake Minnewanka and Aylmer area closureLake Minnewanka Trail, Aylmer Pass Trail, and campgrounds Lm8, Lm9, Lm11, Lm20, Lm22 and Lm31 are closed to all users because black bears are displaying food-seeking behaviour.Official details
See all 8 alerts
A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone
Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Banff Tour Guide

Your drive to Eiffel Lake Tr, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Banff National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

Recorded for this area

Pikas: The Alpine Haymakers of Banff
Listen
“If you're up high on a rocky slope and hear a sharp ‘eep!’, scan the boulders for a pika. They look like a small, round potato with ears, and are actually related to rabbits.”

Plays near this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.

More stories near here in the app

  • The Famous 'Twenty-Dollar View' at Moraine Lake
  • Mountain Weather 101
  • Golden Larches of the Valley of the Ten Peaks
  • Lynx and Wolverine: Banff’s Ghost Predators
  • 178 audio storiesacross Banff’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
  • Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Brown Bear, Gray Wolf, and 13 more
  • Works offlinemaps, 177 trails, 236 places, and audio download before you lose signal
  • CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
★★★★★
“…Loved the commentary as you drove thru. I’m sure the app can do more than I know but the tips were very helpful. I’m gonna use it when we go to Banff next month.”
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4.7 from 8,600+ ratings

Trail guide

Hiking Eiffel Lake Tr

The route, distance, and timeThis is an out-and-back of about 11.4 km (7.1 miles) total.

This is an out-and-back of about 11.4 km (7.1 miles) total. The mapped line is stored once in the outbound direction, from the Moraine Lake access past the lodge to Eiffel Lake; the visitor distance is the full round trip. Allow about 4–5 hours, with roughly 560 m (1,837 ft) of elevation gain. Begin just beyond Moraine Lake Lodge, climb the shared Larch Valley switchbacks, and take the signed Eiffel Lake branch. Follow the trail as it traverses beneath the Ten Peaks to the lake, then return the same way.

What it feels likeThe opening climb is the steepest part and can be busy.

The opening climb is the steepest part and can be busy. After the junction, the route becomes quieter and more gently graded, with packed dirt, rocky and rooty sections, and some scree. Views open toward the Valley of the Ten Peaks and the surrounding alpine bowls; larches and wildflowers add seasonal color. The route ends at Eiffel Lake, not at Sentinel Pass or Eiffel Peak.

Difficulty and hazardsModerate overall, with a sustained opening climb, substantial elevation gain, uneven footing,…

Moderate overall, with a sustained opening climb, substantial elevation gain, uneven footing, and high-country exposure to changing weather. Carry layers, rain gear, water, navigation tools, and accessible bear spray. Snow can linger early in the season, and rocks or scree may be slick. Follow all Parks Canada wildlife, trail, and group advisories.

Access and practicalitiesPersonal vehicles are not permitted on Moraine Lake Road.

Personal vehicles are not permitted on Moraine Lake Road. Use the Parks Canada shuttle, Roam transit, or a licensed commercial service and plan reservations before visiting. Start just beyond Moraine Lake Lodge; day-use facilities and toilets are at the lake, not along the trail. Dogs must be leashed, and transport providers may have their own pet rules.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Banff

All Banff wildlife maps

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Banff. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.

Keep exploring

Near Eiffel Lake Tr

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Parkwolf’s Banff ranking

Top-rated trails in Banff

All 177 trails
  1. 1Moraine Lake RockpileEasy · 0.8 km
  2. 2Larch Valley and Sentinel PassChallenging · 11.1 km
  3. 3Sentinel PassChallenging · 11.3 km
  4. 4Parker Ridge TrailEasy · 5.5 km
  5. 5Big Beehive TrailModerate · 10.5 km
  6. 6Sunshine Meadows LoopModerate · 11.9 km

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