Consolation Lakes: The Easiest Hike from Moraine Lake

The Consolation Lakes trail is a family favorite in Banff as it can be paired with the Moraine Lake Rockpile while visiting the famous Moraine Lake.

Out of all the hikes around Moraine Lake, Consolation Lakes is the easiest and most accessible, with very little elevation gain. It’s an excellent step up from the Lakeshore Trail and steps away from the crowds at the Rockpile. Hiking this short trail also gives you the bonus of seeing the beautiful Consolation Lakes, in addition to Moraine Lake

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Trail Information

As you go up the Rockpile, this hike begins to the left, with a sign noting the trail. Pass the sign and follow the trail over a small boulder field. Depending on the time of year, you may have to step carefully to avoid getting your foot wet here.

Along the hike, you get views on your right of the scree slopes from the Tower of Babel. Eventually, you’ll find yourself in an old-growth forest where it’s possible to see some wildlife. Last time we saw a porcupine on the trail, a real treat!

You’ll eventually arrive at an alpine field and wetlands in no time. To reach the shores of the first Consolation Lake, hikers should be prepared to cross over a large talus field, which may be difficult for those with mobility issues. It’s about 10-15 minutes of navigating over fairly large rock and requires sure footing. This is the most difficult part of this hike.

Once at the first lake, you’ll get tremendous views of Quadra Mountain, Mount Babbel, and Mount Fay, topped by glaciers from the lakes. Most people stop here, but you can continue to the second lake with the energy!

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When is the Best Time to Hike This Trail?

The best time to hike to Consolation Lakes, and really the only time, is between June 1st and mid-October, when Moraine Lake Road is open.

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Trailhead Info

From Moraine Lake Lakeshore, take the trail going up the Rockpile Trail. As you start to climb up the stairs, you’ll see a sign on your left for Consolation Lakes. Veer off the Rockpile Trail here and continue on the well-defined trail.

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Trail Duration

At just over 6.5 km round trip, this hike is fairly short. An average hiking pace is 5km per hour. Most hikers should be able to complete the Consolation Lakes trail in under 3 hours, allowing plenty of stops to take in the views and a bit of time at the first lake. If you venture to the second lake, which isn’t super common, account for another hour of time.

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How Hard is the Trail?

This hike is considered easy for most hikers. It’s a gradual climb to reach the lakes with very little elevation gain. However, it should be noted that to reach the shores of Consolation Lakes, hikers should be prepared to cross over a large talus field, which may be difficult for those with mobility issues.

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Trail Notes

• As you hop on the Consolation Lakes trail, you’ll notice a large, somewhat intimidating sign of a bear. This signifies that you are entering prime bear country, and there is a recommendation to travel in a group of 4. It should be noted that unless the sign says it is MANDATORY to travel in a group of four, this is just a recommendation. In all our years living here, we have never seen the group of four rule become mandatory at Consolation Lakes. Regardless of what it says, you should be prepared to run into a bear. This means hiking with bear spray and making noise on the trail to prevent an encounter.
• Although this trail is rated as easy, it’s not very accessible due to the large talus field you’ll have to cross to reach the lakes.
• Because of the travel and parking restrictions at Moraine Lake, you’ll need to time your visit to Moraine Lake with the Consolation Lakes hike in mind. Most private bus operators will ask you for a return bus time. However, the Parks Canada shuttle buses are more flexible. This article should give you a good idea of how long to spend at Moraine Lake.

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Getting to Moraine Lake

You cannot drive to Moraine Lake, instead you’ll have to utilize an alternative option. There are few ways to get to Moraine Lake, including the Parks Canada shuttle (cheapest option). If you want to see Moraine Lake at sunrise we recommend booking with Moraine Lake Bus Company or Fairview Limo!

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Other Moraine Lake Hikes

While this is the easiest hike around Moraine Lake, it’s not the only one! There are plenty of other trails in the area. A fan favorite is the trail up to Sentinel Pass, and if you’re looking for a scramble, read up on Tower of Babel.