If you haven’t yet been to or heard of Banff National Park, you NEED to add it to your bucket list! There are a ton of stunning lakes you can visit, and trails you can hike and explore. I went to the most popular destinations, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, and they exceeded my already-high expectations. 

I’ll be sharing my experiences at both lakes, including information on how to get there and what you can do when you’re there. Make sure you bring bear spray; our hotel had it for us to rent, or you can buy it at most of the local shops around downtown. 

Banff National Park is an absolute must-visit, especially in the summer when the weather is warmer and the lakes are open. I promise you won’t regret it!

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Lake Louise

lake louise banff national park

Getting There

I highly recommend taking a shuttle or other group/public transit. There is not a lot of parking for cars, and if you drive your own car, you won’t be able to easily access Moraine Lake. 

We opted for the Super Pass Reservation from Roam Transit. The Super Pass gives you the ability to get to Moraine Lake as well.

If the shuttles are fully booked when you look, don’t fret! You are still able to wait in line in person as standby if people do not show up, or the bus isn’t full. 

We had booked tickets on the 7am shuttle, and there were maybe 8 other ticketed seats; everyone waiting in line got on the bus easily. Granted, it was also 7am, so I can’t speak for the later shuttles!

Activities

Hiking: I don’t want to say you NEED to hike…but if you want to get these insane views of the water, you will need to hike. Lake Louise Lakeshore is an easy, accessible walk around the lake, with no elevation. 

We hiked Fairview Lookout, which was surprisingly challenging, as it is basically just uphill the entire time. The view is SO worth it though. It is an out-and-back trail, however it is not as well maintained, so we just walked back down the way we came up.

lake louise banff national park

Kayaking: The Fairmont has a monopoly on the kayak rentals, which makes it pretty pricey! We did not end up renting a kayak. It looked stunning though, and like a really great way to explore the lake. 

You can’t make reservations; it is first come, first serve. So, if you want to do this, I recommend coming early to get in line. Hotel guests have first priority and have their own line.

Food + Facilities

Since the Fairmont is right on Lake Louise, you are able to stop there for food & restrooms. I was pleasantly surprised by their breakfast options and prices; they had breakfast sandwiches, oatmeal, pastries, and coffee!

Moraine Lake

moraine lake banff national park

Getting There

Again, you are not able to take a personal car here, so you will need to make a bus or shuttle reservation. Transport to Moraine Lake was included with our Super Pass shuttle ticket. It was about 25 minutes from Lake Louise, and was so easy to get on the shuttle. We were definitely ahead of the crowds, but had no issues getting on the shuttle.

Activities

Hiking: The hiking at Moraine Lake is much more relaxed! There is an accessible Moraine Lake Lakeshore trail, which will take you around the lake with no elevation. 

We hiked the Rockville trail to get to the top for the views! This was much easier than the Lake Louise hike, and arguably more stunning. The water is sooo blue like Gatorade, it is actually insane!

moraine lake banff national park
moraine lake banff national park

Kayaking: You can also kayak here, and it is a bit cheaper than at Lake Louise (though not much). This is also first come first serve, but looked to be a lot less crowded than at Lake Louise.

Food + Facilities

There is a lodge with some food options, but I personally did not order anything from here so can’t speak too much to it. We brought protein bars for this part, and only spent about an hour at Moraine Lake.

However, in terms of the restroom…there is no running water, so they are basically fancy port-a-potty’s. They warned us before getting on the shuttle too. Definitely advise going to the restroom at Lake Louise before going to Moraine Lake, but it’s not the worst if you have to go. I used them and am here to tell the tale.😂

Drop any questions you have in the comments below, or send me a DM! And make sure to follow along on Instagram for more Banff + travel content!

💙mariss