12 Alternatives to the Parks Canada Shuttles (to Moraine Lake & Lake Louise)

As getting to the famous Moraine Lake and Lake Louise has become increasingly difficult in recent years, Parks Canada has introduced shuttle buses that run to the lakes during the summer months. At $8 a ticket, these shuttle buses are the most affordable way to reach the brilliantly blue lakes. However, the Parks Canada reservation system is a bit clunky and confusing, and the buses sell out incredibly fast between June and September.

Thankfully, there are other ways for visitors to experience Lake Louise and Moraine Lake beyond the government shuttle buses. Yes, they all cost a bit more, but the hassle and headache you may save may be worth considering on vacation.

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Private Operators

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Moraine Lake Bus Company

Moraine Lake Bus Company is one of the main companies that offers shuttles to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. Their services start at sunrise and run all throughout the day to both lakes. As this is a shuttle service to the lakes and not a tour, this option is best for those with a car and who want a flexible schedule while visiting the lakes.

We usually recommend Moraine Lake Bus Company to those who want to spend extra time at the lakes, whether hiking, canoeing, or both!

The sunrise shuttles to Moraine Lake leave Samson Mall as early as 4 a.m. The rest of their shuttles leave from the Lake Louise Park & Ride every day. This means you’ll have to get yourself to the lot to hop on this shuttle.

This service starts at $49 for a round-trip ticket and utilizes variable pricing, with sunrise tickets at 4 a.m. costing more. Shuttles leave throughout the day, so it’s really best to check their schedule here and see if it fits with your plans!

Radventures

Radventures is one of the primary tour operators in Banff and runs many popular tours to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. The top-selling tour on this blog is their Radventures Earlybird Explorer. This is their small 14-person guided sunrise tour to Moraine Lake. After Moraine Lake, there is a stop at Lake Louise after the sunrise, but it’s still well before the crowds start to arrive. During the tour, you can enjoy complimentary hot drinks while waiting for the sun to rise at Moraine Lake, and their expert guide will help visitors get set up for awesome photos.

They also have a Golden Hour tour where guests can enjoy Moraine Lake in the evening after most others have left for the day. After catching Golden Hour at Moraine Lake you’ll head to Lake Louise, and then finish the night by driving the Bow Valley Parkway back to Banff to search for wildlife.

Their other option is their Best of Banff Tour, which is 8 hours long and goes to Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, and finishes the day at a local Banff secret spot!

All Radventures tours start and end with hotel pick up in Banff and are guided by a local expert!

Fairview Limo

Fairview Limo is based in Lake Louise and brings guests to Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, or BOTH. Their shuttle rates are some of the cheapest you’ll find besides the Parks Canada shuttles, so if you’re visiting Banff on a budget, we highly recommend booking with them! Fairview Limo leaves right from the Lake Louise Inn, making them an ideal choice for those already staying in Lake Louise.

If you have a large dog, Fairview Limo is the only operator we know that accepts larger dogs (for a fee). So, if your dream is to experience Moraine Lake with your large furry best friend, Fairview Limo is your best bet!

Via Via

Via Via is a local company operating small shuttles to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise from Canmore and Banff. This is not a tour but a shuttle that will transport you to Moraine Lake at sunrise, and throughout the rest of the day. Because of their many departures from the lakes, you can have a flexible day hiking or paddling if you would like.

They also offer Moraine Lake and Lake Louise combo tours running all summer. Their prices are quite competitive, starting at $99 for a sunrise shuttle, and fluctuate from there based on time and day of the week.

Discover Banff Tours

Discover Banff Tours runs an incredibly popular tour that begins in Banff in either the morning or afternoon and gives visitors a quick taste of Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. The tour is just four hours long, ideal for those who want to see the lakes on a half-day trip but not dedicate any time to hiking or paddling on the lakes.

Once you have been picked up and have left Banff, you can enjoy the drive to the famous lakes and hear stories about Banff National Park, its history, and the local wildlife. Arrive at Lake Louise and Moraine Lake and admire the Fairmont Château Lake Louise from the outside with a tour guide who will take as many photos as you need in front of the Valley of Ten Peaks and Victoria Glacier.

White Mountain Adventures

This is ideal for the active bunch who want to take a guided hike while visiting Moraine Lake. The hike starts at 8 a.m. with a pick-up behind the Mount Royal Hotel in Banff, and then travels to Lake Louise for a stop, and then continues onward to Moraine Lake.

Once at Moraine Lake, take in the sights before setting out on a 7km round trip hike to Consolation Lakes, which few tour operators offer. Consolation Lakes is a nice and easy Moraine Lake hike with minimal elevation gain. Although this is an easy hike, new hikers might appreciate having the safety of a guide with them in the Rockies! Lunch is even provided!

Wow Banff

Wow Banff is unique in offering an open-top shuttle service to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. This is the transportation to take if you want to sit outside and breathe in the fresh mountain air as you go to the lakes. On the bus, a knowledgeable host will give you insights about the area. Once at Moraine Lake or Lake Louise, you can take as much as you want to enjoy the lakes.

There’s a shuttle from Lake Louise every 45 minutes to Moraine Lake and every 45 minutes from Moraine Lake back to the parking area at the Lake Louise Ski Resort. As per the schedule, riders can board any shuttle from Lake Louise to Moraine Lake and from Moraine Lake back to the ski resort, which means you have complete freedom with your day to do what you would like.

This is the ideal tour if you want some information on the drive to the lakes but also want to have your own free time around Moraine Lake and Lake Louise and not rely on anyone else’s schedule. If you want to hike, we recommend looking into the Plain of Six Glaciers or Lake Agnes Teahouse!

Hop On Hop Off

The Banff Hop On Hop Off Bus is a fun and popular option for those who want to spend a full day literally hopping off at multiple stops in Banff, like at Johnston Canyon, the Lake Louise Summer Gondola, Lake Louise Lakeshore, and Moraine Lake. Yes, the bus is exactly what it sounds like—a bus that lets you hop on and off when you want and spend as much time as you want at the stop.

The bus starts in Banff, either at Moose Hotel and Suites or the Banff Heritage Train Station. It makes stops at Johnston Canyon, Lake Louise Gondola, Lake Louise, and Moraine Lake. The first bus departs early, and we recommend getting on that one so you can stop at all the stops! The buses return to Banff at 4:55 PM and 6:00 PM.

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Public Transport

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Roam Route 8X

The Roam Transit Route 8x runs daily to Lake Louise from Banff. However it does not run to Moraine Lake. The Roam Route 8X: Lake Louise Express runs from Downtown Banff to Lake Louise Lakeshore along the Trans-Canada Highway, with a stop at Lake Louise Village.

It costs $10 per adult and reservations are recommended. This Roam route does sell out during the summer months. Though its possible to still walk up to the fare boxes. Children 12 and under are free but still require a reservation.

Roam Bus 10

The Roam Transit Moraine Lake Regional Express Route 10 runs to Moraine Lake only during the larch season, between September 16th and October 14th, 2024. There are no stops between Banff and Moraine Lake and reservations are recommended. Bus stops are located downtown Banff in front of the Banff High School, and the cost for this trip is $20 round-trip for an adult and $10 for Seniors and Youth.

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Drive Yourself

We don’t recommend this option, but it is still possible to drive yourself and park at Lake Louise, but not to Moraine Lake. If you want to drive yourself to Lake Louise, it’s important to know that parking is limited and fills up fast during the summer months. We recommend you aim to get to Lake Louise well before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. to try and get parking between mid-May and October. There are rarely any issues driving and parking at Lake Louise during the winter months.

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Bike

If you don’t mind working for your views, the most active way to get to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise is to cycle. You can rent bikes at Wilson Sports in Lake Louise Village, or at the Lake Louise Summer Gondola. From both locations, it’s all uphill to both lakes, but at least that makes the way down super fun. eBikes and pedal assist bikes are allowed on the roads, though keep in mind you’ll be sharing the road with buses and cars.

Rest assured that no matter what, you’ll still be able to see Moraine Lake and Lake Louise on your trip – even if you didn’t get Parks Canada shuttle tickets. If you have any other questions, leave a comment or see our Canadian Rockies faq page.