Morant’s Curve is a scenic viewpoint near Lake Louise of a dramatic bend along the Bow River where trains pass through the Canadian Rockies. As trains pass around the bend they have a spectacular backdrop of the Lake Louise mountains and surrounding valley.
The famed photo spot is along the Bow Valley Parkway and is a very popular location for photographers. It’s a fabulous stop for visitors who plan to take a leisurely drive down the parkway.
Morant’s Curve
The famed photo spot is a short drive from Lake Louise and you can even see the mountains that surround the glacial lake. Its location is off the Bow Valley Parkway, an alternate scenic route that connects Banff and Lake Louise.
Photographers plan their time here strategically and to catch a shot of a train heading west in the morning light is certain to be a winner. However, anyone can appreciate the spectacular view so it’s well worth a stop for anyone driving along the parkway.
Mount Fairview is the most prominent mountain background, but also Mount St. Piran, Niblock, Whyte, Saddle, Sheol, and Haddo Peak. If you’re curious Lake Louise sits to the North of Mount Fairview.
Morant’s Curve gets its name from Nicholas Morant a photographer working for the Canadian Pacific Railway. He was hired by the railway to produce promotional material, but his extensive work in the Candian Rockies was used to promote tourism to Western Canada.
His images of Emerald Lake and Moraine Lake were used as sources for the banknotes that featured the two iconic lakes. It’s said that the curve was his favorite location to photograph.
Directions To Morant’s Curve
The fastest way to Morant’s Curve is from the North end of the Bow Valley Parkway. It is one of the first notable stops along the parkway from this direction and takes about a five-minute drive.
It’s pretty tough to miss the viewpoint as there is a nice concrete viewpoint constructed when the view opens up. Across from the viewpoint is a small parking lot with enough room for a dozen vehicles.
Tips For Visiting Moran’s Curve
If you hope to catch a train traveling along the train tracks it’s best to visit on a weekday. The train line service business along the railroad so it sees the most frequent traffic during the business days and during working hours.
If you visit during the weekday trains come almost every hour. However, there is no guarantee, and the railway company does not post schedules for security reasons.
You can visit the viewpoint during any season and it always looks magical. However, after a big winter storm, they prioritize plowing the TransCanada before clearing the Bow Vallely Parkway.
Tips For Photographs at Morant’s Curve
The classic shot for photographers is of a red Canadian Pacific train traveling westbound in the morning light. On that matter, morning is the best time to photograph the location. However, it’s always worth a stop to grab a photo of the stunning landscape.
Most of the trains that pass along Morant’s Curve are freight trains and for security reasons, they do not post their schedules publicly. You can find the schedule of the passenger train the Rocky Mountaineer in the summer months, but the train is far less dramatic than a large freight train with a red CP train leading the way.
My favorite photos of the Morant’s Curve are taken during the winter months. After a fresh snowfall, the trains really pop out amongst a sea of frosted trees and frozen mountains. Of course, it’s an amazing photo location any season of the year!
My personal preference is a fast shutter speed as it captures a sharp train versus the slow shutter speed and movement.
