Parking
There is no personal-vehicle access to Moraine Lake. Arrive by Parks Canada shuttle, tour bus, or licensed commercial transit; the trail begins just beyond Moraine Lake Lodge.
Overview
About Moraine Lake Lakeshore Trail
Why go
- Mount Fay and Fay Glacier views from beside the lake
- A short, easy walk with minimal elevation change
Heads up
- Shuttle or other commercial transit is required
- Trees screen some stretches of the lakeshore
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Banff map
Full mapElevation1,866–1,910 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active Banff alerts
- ClosureJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area closedJohnston Canyon Trail and Day Use Area are closed to all traffic and travel through December 11, 2026, because construction work requires protecting public and workers’ safety.Official details
- ClosureBaker Lake and Hidden Lake campgrounds closed to campingCamping is prohibited at Baker Lake and Hidden Lake campgrounds through December 1, 2026, because a grizzly bear entered campsites and investigated tents and gear; the closures reduce risk to…Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Banff Tour Guide
Your drive to Moraine Lake Lakeshore Trail, 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.
See the Banff audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Moraine Lake Shuttles at the Park and Ride0:00 / 0:30
“You're approaching Lake Louise Park and Ride by the ski resort, the boarding point for Parks Canada's seasonal Moraine Lake shuttles.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Banff Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- A Snail’s Floating Feeding Ground
- A Movie Camera and Sixteen Horses
- An Osprey’s Grip on a Fish
- A Cave Beneath the Icefield
- 185 audio storiesacross Banff’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Brown Bear, Gray Wolf, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 162 trails, 90 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.”
Trail guide
Hiking Moraine Lake Lakeshore Trail
The easy lakeshore walkThe Moraine Lake Lakeshore Trail is an easy out-and-back beside the lake: 1.3 km (0.
The Moraine Lake Lakeshore Trail is an easy out-and-back beside the lake: 1.3 km (0.8 mi) each way, or 2.6 km (1.6 mi) round trip. Allow about 45 minutes. The official trail description calls the elevation change minimal, making this a gentle way to get down to the water without taking on a climb.
Along the shoreStart just beyond Moraine Lake Lodge and follow the shoreline path to its far end, then return…
Start just beyond Moraine Lake Lodge and follow the shoreline path to its far end, then return the same way. Forest screens some stretches, with openings that bring the turquoise water back into view. Keep this mileage to the lakeshore route; the nearby Rockpile walk is a separate uphill trail.
The mountain viewMount Fay and the Fay Glacier are the main payoff across the lake.
Mount Fay and the Fay Glacier are the main payoff across the lake. The wooden shore boardwalk gives you a clear foreground for a photo, with water and the glacier beyond it.
Getting to the startMoraine Lake Road is closed to personal vehicles year-round.
Moraine Lake Road is closed to personal vehicles year-round. Reach the lake by shuttle, tour bus, or licensed commercial transit, then begin beyond the lodge. Dogs may walk the trail on leash. Non-service pets on Parks Canada shuttles must ride inside a small carrier held on the passenger’s lap.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Banff
123 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
150 sightingsBrown BearMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
44 sightingsGray WolfMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
12 sightingsRiver OtterMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
69 sightingsMooseMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
466 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 9 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Banff. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
