12 Moraine Lake Hikes With AMAZING Views

If you’re looking for some of the best Moraine Lake hikes, we have you covered. After many days hiking around Moraine Lake and taking in all its beauty, I can confidently share the most popular hikes around the lake and provide all the details so you can experience them.

I’ve attempted to rank these hikes in difficulty based on my own personal experience with them. If you want to add more hikes to your Banff itinerary, check out our list of the best ones at the end.

All of these Moraine Lake hiking trails start right from the shoreline of Moraine Lake and are certain to have views of the stunning turquoise lake, the Valley of Ten Peaks, surrounding mountains, and awe-inspiring glaciers.

Amazing Moraine Lake Hikes

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Rockpile Trail

• Trailhead: Begins from the parking area
• Distance: 0.8 km loop
• Elevation: 30m
• Time: 45 minutes (return)

The Rockpile Trail at Moraine Lake brings you to the aptly named “Twenty Dollar View” because it is the scene used on the former Canadian twenty-dollar bill and shot by almost every photographer. We like to consider it one of the best views in the world, and it’s usually the one trail that most visitors will hike up while visiting Moraine Lake. From the top, you can see Moraine Lake’s deep blue, which is backed by the famed Ten Peaks, which are ten towering snow-capped peaks.

Starting from the parking lot, look for the Rockpile Trail on your left-hand side (if facing Moraine Lake). It’s a short walk up to the top of the Rockpile, a natural dam. The trail switchbacks along the backside of the rocky moraine and takes just five to ten minutes to reach the top. Several stone and log steps make it accessible to most able-bodied people. Watch for pikas and chipmunks frequently darting in and out of the rocks, but please do not feed them!

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Moraine Lake Lakeshore

• Trailhead: Begins at the canoe docks.
• Distance: 3 km
• Elevation: Minimal
• Time: 45 to 60 minutes (return)

Anyone visiting Moraine Lake should embark on this easy trail. This flat trail from the Moraine Lake canoe docks works its way along the lake’s shoreline and back. It’s a wonderful trail that moves in and out of the forest, with great lake views and mountains.

You’ll be shocked at how few visitors to Moraine Lake venture on this trail. Instead, most just stick to the Rockpile Trail, get their photo, and leave. However, you’ll find fewer crowds and still spectacular scenery on just this short trail around the lake.

It’s the easiest Moraine Lake trail, and almost any visitor to the lake can complete it. At the end of the hike, there is a boardwalk near the waters flowing down from Wenkchemna Pass.

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Consolation Lakes Trail

• Trailhead: Begins from the bottom of the Rockpile Trail
• Distance: 6.5 km roundtrip
• Elevation: 150 meters
• Time: 2-3 hours (return)

This is a family favorite in Banff as it can be paired with the Moraine Lake Rockpile, and it’s pretty easy with very little elevation gain. It’s an excellent step up from the Lakeshore Trail that steps away from the crowds as the terrain is more difficult with greater elevation gain and a short section that crosses over a boulder field. You also get the bonus of seeing the two beautiful Consolation Lakes, in addition to Moraine Lake.

Along the hike, you get views of the scree slopes from the Tower of Babel. The hike passes through the old-growth forest before arriving at an alpine field and wetlands with the Consolation Lakes at the end. To reach the shores of Consolation Lakes, hikers should be prepared to cross over a talus field, which may be difficult for those with mobility issues.

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 if you have the energy!

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Eiffel Lake Trail

• Trailhead: Begins at canoe docks
• Distance: 11.7 km
• Elevation: 370 meters
• Time: 3 to 4 hours

You can witness amazing views of the Valley of Ten Peaks as you climb to two mesmerizing glacial lakes on the Continental Divide. The trail from Moraine Lake is pretty easy to follow up to the fork for Eiffel Lake or Sentinel Pass.

The route up to the fork is pretty demanding as it climbs 350m at a relatively high grade for about 40 minutes. From the fork, you take the less-traveled path to the Eiffel Lakes (there’s a sign ensuring you don’t miss it). Past the lakes lies Wenkchemna Pass Trail that passes through the mountains into Yoho National Park. The top of the pass provides stunning views of the Ten Peaks.

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Wenkchemna Pass

• Trailhead: Begins at canoe docks
• Distance: 19.4 km round trip
• Elevation: 720 meters
• Time: 6-8 hours

Up for a challenging longer hike past Eiffel Lake? Consider trekking beyond Eiffel Lake to reach Wenkchemna Pass. On this trail, you’ll cross a beautiful alpine meadow and then ascend a rocky slope. Most of the trail is pretty easy going, but the last bit to the pass will have you panting a bit. The last stretch involves a relatively effortless scramble, though it’s easy to lose sight of the path as you make your way over some large boulders.

At the top, you’ll find yourself standing on the Continental Divide, with a breathtaking view of British Columbia to the west, the majestic length of the Valley of the Ten Peaks, and the rocky expanse of the Wenkchemna Glacier.

This is a great Moraine Lake hike if you are up for a full-day adventure out. As it’s nearly 20km (round trip) and almost 1000 meters of elevation gain, you should prepare accordingly and bring plenty of snacks/lunch.

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Sentinel Pass via Larch Valley

• Trailhead: Begins at canoe docks
• Distance: 12 km
• Elevation: 725 meters
• Time: 2.5 to 4.5 hours round trip

This is the quintessential Canadian Rockies hike. It’s fairly challenging, hugely popular, and offers some of Canada’s most stunning natural scenery. This Moraine Lake hike follows a similar route to the Eiffel Lakes hike but departs at the fork before it veers up into the Larch Valley.

The pass is most well known and attracts hundreds of photographers and hikers during the larch season in late September, so don’t expect to be here alone, unless you’re one of the first on the trail. For the best chance at a quiet experience, hike this one on a weekday or get to Moraine Lake at sunrise and hightail it to the trailhead. You’ll get fantastic peek-a-boo views of the Ten Peaks as you climb higher and higher, and you’ll also pass lakes you never knew were there, like Minnestimma Lake (photo above).

During the larch period, the valley trees turn to a bright golden color, and the mountains are topped with the first signs of the new season’s snow. It’s a soul-stirring scene that can easily be considered one of the best day hikes in the world.

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Paradise Valley Trail

• Trailhead: Moraine Lake canoe docks, or at Lake Louise
• Distance: Around 20 km
• Elevation: 800 meters if going from Moraine Lake to Lake Louise
• Time: 6-8 hours

If the Larch Valley trail up to Sentinel Pass is a bit too crowded for you, we have a great idea for you. However, this hike is a pretty long day and requires strong legs and some surefootedness.

The Paradise Valley Trail connects Moraine Lake to Lake Louise and is a 20km point-to-point hike. In 2020, we only had one car, so we couldn’t complete this hike even though it had been on our list for years. However, in past years, with the use of the Moraine Lake shuttle bus system, we could easily grab the shuttle to Moraine Lake from the Park and Ride, and once we reached Lake Louise, we caught the shuttle back.

The hike was exactly what we were looking for – quiet, amazing views, and a sea of golden larches in September. Although the hike up to Sentinel Pass was busy in September, as soon as we dropped down into Paradise Valley, it was exactly like we expected – humanless.

This trail is best completed in the larch-changing season, as you’ll see plenty of golden larches on the route. Stopping at Lake Annette is a real treat and a good place to recharge and eat lunch on your journey between lakes.

You can complete the Paradise Valley trail from Moraine Lake to Lake Louise or vice versa. I recommend starting at Moraine Lake, so then you can hike down into Paradise Valley rather than hike up to Sentinel Pass. If you start your hike in Lake Louise and hike to Moraine Lake, you can see in the photo above what you’ll have to climb. It’s not impossible, but definitely Type 2 fun.

Bear in mind that the terrain connecting Sentinel Pass to Paradise Valley is pretty rough and requires good shoes and sure-footedness. There was a light dusting of snow when we completed this and we were extremely thankful we had poles.

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Lake Annette

• Trailhead: Paradise Valley Trailhead off Lake Moraine Rd.
• Distance: 11.4 km
• Elevation: 245 meters
• Time: 3-4 hours

I mentioned Lake Annette above and that’s because if you hike the Paradise Valley Trail you’ll hit Lake Annette. However, if you don’t want to commit to the entire Paradise Valley Trail, it’s possible to hike just to Lake Annette from Moraine Lake Rd.

Look for the trailhead to the Paradise Valley Trail/Lake Annette right off of Moraine Lake Rd. The Parks Canada Moraine Lake shuttle makes a stop here; just inform the bus driver if you intend to get off here. The trail in Lake Annette is easy-to-moderate with less than 400 meters of gradual elevation gain. You’ll be in the forest for most of the trail, but you’ll get some stunning views of Mount Temple.

Once you reach Lake Annette, sit back and take in the most majestic views of the Rockies. Mount Temple is to your right, and Little Temple is directly in front of you.

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Saddleback Pass/Sheol Valley

• Trailhead: Lake Louise, Lake Annette, or Moraine Lake, depending on which way you hike it.
• Distance: 14 km (many variations that make distance hard to determine)
• Elevation: 500 meters give or take, depending on how you take this trail
• Time: 3-6 hours

The Saddleback Pass hike is an uncrowded hike in the Moraine Lake/Lake Louise area that is always forgotten about. I’m pretty happy about that because it’s a stunner and really let us escape the crowds. This hike is best done from Lake Louise, but we connected it with our long day on the Paradise Valley Trail, so we have included it in our Moraine Lake hikes list.

Saddleback Pass is one of the best larch hikes in the area; from Lake Louise, you’ll start towards the trail to the Fairview Lookout and continue on the trail up to summit Fairview Mountain. From the pass, you’ll enjoy views of Mount Temple, Haddo Peak, and Sheol Mountain.

When you get to the top of the pass, there is signage to continue through Saddleback Pass to the Sheol Valley, or you can continue up Saddle Mountain (easy mountain summit) or Mount Fairview (scree slog). All are great quiet options that you could hit on a single day if you have the time.

We highly recommend taking the Sheol Valley Trail that loops around Saddle Mountain on a well-distinguished trail until you make it back to the lake connector trail.

As mentioned, we had a long 24 km day that allowed us to cross Saddleback Pass off the list. With a start at Moraine Lake, up to Sentinel Pass, through the Paradise Valley Trail to Lake Annette, and onwards through the Sheol Valley to Saddleback Pass, up to summit Saddle Mountain and down to the Chateau, it made for very long, but utterly epic day in Banff.

Hiking Gear We Recommend

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Scrambles Around Moraine Lake

This is for experienced hikers and people who have spent their fair share of time in the outdoors. These are easy to moderate scrambles but occur on very serious mountains with real hazards that can result in death.

Every year tourists are evacuated by Search and Rescue on one, if not all, of these hikes/routes. If you plan to tackle any of these, please plan accordingly and be prepared for the elements. An “easy” scramble can easily become hard or even a mountaineering experience if the weather is not ideal. Also, wear a helmet to protect yourself from the loose rock.

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Tower of Babel

• Trailhead: Begins at Rockpile Trail
• Distance: 2.9 km
• Elevation: 518 meters
• Time: 2.5 to 4 hours

This is the most well-known scramble in the Moraine Lake area and is appropriate for entry-level scramblers. From the top, you’re guaranteed some awesome views of Moraine Lake, Consolation Valley, and the Bow Valley below. While it’s not a true summit, the Tower of Babel is a sub-peak in the area that’s pretty easy to access.

The route heads up a gully right off Moraine Lake and has a steep, consistent climb to the top. It’s a bit of a scree bash (loose rock), but it’s a pretty well-worn trail due to its popularity. It’s a tough workout for novice hikers who may underestimate the 518m climb to the top as it’s literally straight up.

The biggest threat on this route is loose rock falling down the gully from a party above; I strongly recommend wearing a helmet! It’s also best to start early and try to be one of the first to the top in the morning so you don’t have loose rock falling on you from hikers above. Of course, if you are one of the first hikers, be mindful of those below you.

Don’t look at the elevation and length, and take this Moraine Lake trail lightly – it’s a tough climb. However, since it’s a quick route, you can opt for a light backpack, like a trail runner pack, to go with you to the top.

The reward for climbing the Tower of Babel is amazing views of Moraine Lake and Mount Temple. It’s probably one of the best views for the effort required in all of Banff.

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Eiffel Peak

• Trailhead: Begins at canoe dock
• Distance: 11.3 km
• Elevation: 1,270 meters
• Time: 5 – 8 hours

The climb to the top of Eiffel Peak is one of our favorite Moraine Lake hikes. It’s an amazing climb with astounding views of Paradise Valley, Valley of the Ten Peaks, Mount Temple and Moraine Lake. At 10,095 ft in elevation, it’s no little mountain and is one of the highest in the region.

The views at the summit are astounding, and it’s a worthy challenge for hikers and scramblers. Next to Mt. Temple, it’s one of the highest mountains in the area you can climb without mountaineering or rock climbing experience. That being said, it’s a moderate scramble as the elevation, and the use of hands are real considerations you shouldn’t take lightly.

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Mount Temple

• Trailhead: Moraine Lake Parking Lot
• Distance: 14.6 km
• Elevation: 1,682
• Time: 8-12 hours

Mount Temple is a source of accomplishment for many hikers and scramblers who enjoy the Canadian Rockies. It’s a gorgeous mountain in Banff and an endless source of inspiration. At 11,627 ft in elevation, it’s the second-highest mountain in Alberta.

It’s well known as a proving ground for various sports, whether that’s a hike/scramble to the summit, ski descent of the Aemmer Couloir, or climb up the East face.

The scramble is a gorgeous day out in the mountains. At 1,682 meters in elevation gain, along with its high altitude, it is a very serious mountain that only people with experience scrambling in the Canadian Rockies should attempt. It’s a long day out and needs to be summited at the right time of year, too.

Typically, Mount Temple has a very short window for summiting as scramblers have to wait for the snow to melt off enough for a safe summit and also time it right before the next season’s snowfall in late September/October.

If you hope to summit Mount Temple, August would be the best time, but it’s essential to keep an eye out on trip reports before attempting. There have been avoidable deaths on Mount Temple, and we must repeat again, that Mount Temple is not a hike.

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Moraine Lake Parking / How to Get to Moraine Lake

Personal vehicles are no longer able to drive up to Moraine Lake. The Moraine Lake Parking lot is reserved for the Parks Canada shuttles and private tour operators only. The only exception is for those visitors with a blue accessibility tag, who are permitted to drive to Moraine Lake.

To access Moraine Lake, we recommend the Moraine Lake Shuttle operated by Parks Canada or taking the Moraine Lake Bus Company, Fairview Limo, or Via Via shuttle from Banff/Canmore to get there early in the morning. Though there are also a few other ways to access Moraine Lake, we detail all those options here.

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Tours to Moraine Lake

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Where to Stay at Moraine Lake?

There aren’t many places to stay at Moraine Lake. Actually, there is only one place to stay on the stunning lake – that is Moraine Lake Lodge. Recently renovated and open for guests in 2022 after two years of closure, the Moraine Lake Lodge is accepting bookings, and if you find availability it’s best to book immediately. Despite their high rates, they book months in advance.

You won’t forget your time here if you can score a reservation and dish out the $1000+ a night. There’s something special about being some of the only people to watch the night sky on top of the Rockpile trail – and then getting to retreat back to your luxurious room when you get cold.

If you want to stay at Moraine Lake Lodge you also get access to park at Moraine Lake. It’s recommended to book well in advance as Moraine Lake Lodge sells out well in advance, for obvious reasons.

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Best Time to Hike Around Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake is only accessible once Parks Canada opens Moraine Lake Rd. This typically happens around the last week of May or first week of June, this year it is set to open on June 1st. Moraine Lake Rd will stay open until the second week of October. It usually closes the Tuesday after Canadian Thanksgiving, but this all depends on snow conditions.

Seeing that Moraine Lake is only open between June and mid-October, this would be the best time to go and the only time to hike around Moraine Lake. If you’re really determined, you can bike to Moraine Lake before the road opens to vehicles, usually around the last week of May, and complete a hike like Consolation Lakes or scramble Tower of Babel, but you must be wary of avalanche conditions during this time.

My favorite times to visit are July, August, and late September for the larches in Larch Valley. However, these time periods are also the busiest times in the park.

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Advice on Hikes in the Canadian Rockies

• If this is your first time hiking in the Rockies take a conservative approach. Pick an adequate hike for your fitness, plan for plenty of time, pack water and food, and don’t be afraid to turn around. If you want to learn more about what to wear hiking we have a great post.
• For long hikes, set a turnaround time at the departure. Any time we set out for an objective I determine a time at which we need to turn around in order to arrive at the parking lot or campsite by dark. I would recommend not hiking in the dark as it’s easy to get lost and it’s not fun in bear country.
• Always carry bear spray if you plan to hike in the park. We carry ours in the neighborhood, and bears are known to stroll through town and busy parking lots. Always practice wildlife awareness when you’re on a trail, and please give animals space.
• Keep in mind your mountain fitness in mind — as it’s different than the gym. The low end of the times in this post is a constant fast pace uphill with little to no breaks and a brisk pace downhill. Most hikers should plan for a middle of the road time with the estimated duration.
• A GPS tracker could save your life – it’s one of those backpacking essentials I like to have on me just in case I need to hit SOS.
• Alltrails is our favorite app to have on a hike. It shows the correct trail way, elevation, and other hiker reviews. Keep in mind it’s not always 100% accurate, and you’ll have to combine using it with a bit of your hiker and wilderness skills and common sense, but it’s a great tool to use with other guidebooks and trip reports, and we love that we can access it right on our phone. We paid the subscription fee so that we could download all the data we needed to our phones.
• Purchase a map. Yes a real paper map! We know this is a lot of information and if you are not familiar with the area, all these trail names probably mean nothing to you. If you’re a visual person, a map can be a lifesaver.

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Other Banff National Park Hikes

Of course, there are so many more hikes in Banff and tons of exploring. We have a great guide, if you’re looking for some easy Banff hikes for the family. Or check out our ultimate Banff hiking list, as we rank our favorite hikes around the park and share all of the details in this guide to experience the best in the park.

You’ll find on many of these hikes in Banff high alpine passes lined with wildflowers, jagged peaks topped by glaciers, and a healthy dose of turquoise blue Banff lakes.

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