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Today I'm going to tell you everything you need to know about visiting Lake Morain , which you can combine with a visit to Lake Louise.

From how to get there , which is the big topic of this place, to what to see and what routes to take in Lake Morain.

Having completed the tasks of obtaining the eTA visa on the official Canadian government website, purchasing the required travel insurance, checking the validity of our passport , buying the necessary plug adapter , purchasing a SIM card for mobile internet in Canada , booking tours and activities , and packing our bags with the essentials, leaving the unnecessary items at home, we can now depart for Canada and its breathtaking landscapes!

On our 21-day road trip through the Canadian Rockies , one of the must-see spots in Banff National Park was the area around Lake Louise and Lake Morain. Two of the essential glacial lakes to see in Canada.

These two lakes were undoubtedly the most beautiful we saw on our entire route. 

If you want my honest opinion, I'll tell you straight up. If I had to make a list of our favorite lakes, from 6 of the 7 national parks in the Canadian Rockies that we've visited, they would be: Lake Morain, Lake Peyto , Lake Boom, Emerald Lake, Lake Louise , and Lake Bow.

They're all stunning for their colors and the glacial mountains that surround them. But Lake Boom has something the others don't: its tranquility. It's a much less visited lake, probably because of the 10 km hike required to reach it. Make a note of it; it's well worth a visit.

If you want a special, uncrowded and beautiful place, here is this first preliminary tip: Don't forget to also visit Lake Boom within Banff National Park.

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7 Initial Tips for Your Visit to Lake Morain

Before you start reading this entire guide carefully, consider these essential initial tips:

AN IMPORTANT TIP: Don't travel to Canada without a good travel insurance, avoid big problems. It is one of the first requirements that they tell you on the Canadian government website along with the processing of the And so.
We recommend you the Iati Star We hired this insurance after a good comparison and study of the different ones on the market. It is the only one that exceeds one million euros of coverage. Without a doubt, it is the best for North America, where breaking a leg costs you €150.000, as happened to a friend of ours in the USA. Another positive thing is that Iati has an app for virtual visits.
I leave you here a link where you have a 5% off for any Iati travel insurance.

Tips:

1. Book with at least 3 months or more in advance the Access to Lake Morain.Last-minute access is like an impossible mission during the summer months. We were able to prove it, as I tell you below.
2. Book a full day for Lake Morain if you canThere are many walking routes in each place and the place is well worth spending time there. If you only have one day to see Lake Louise and Morain, don't worry.You can do it without any long walks. Take the shuttle buses connecting from one lake to the other, included in the same park & ​​ride + bus ticket.
3. Get up very early and see if you can get there first thing in the morning to enjoy Lake Morain without people.
4. Carries water and food enough to avoid paying an arm and a leg at the Lake Morain restaurant.
5. Carries Bear spray and speak loudly If you are going to do any of the trail run emerging from Lake Morain.
6. Doing canoe at Lake Morain is like a dream. It really is something worthwhile. But you should know that in Emerald lake, it is also a dream and it costs you 50 dollars less the canoe that in these two lakes.
7. If you rent canoes and are 2 adults and 2 childrenYou should know that the one who leaves more weight in the same canoe are those of the lake louise. They have larger canoes. At Lake Morain it depends on the weight, but if not you will have to rent two canoes, which will cost twice as much. At Lake Morain we had to rent two canoes, which cost twice as much as at Lake Louise.

TIP FOR GETTING INTERNET IN CANADA: Internet is essential in Canada, although coverage outside of towns leaves much to be desired—I'll tell you that right now! We used a Holafly SIM card with unlimited data and it worked great. You can buy it with a 5% DISCOUNT through this link.

Location of Lake Morain

Lake Morain is one of the most beautiful glacial lakes to see in Banff National Park.

It is located just 10 km from Lake Louise town , the second largest town in Banff National Park. Although Banff town is much larger and has many more services and accommodations.

Where to stay to visit Lake Morain 

The best place to stay near Morain Lake is in the village of Lake Louise itself. It's a small village with only 11 accommodations located right in the center of Lake Louise . Alternatively, there are some apartments in Morain Lake, though they are very expensive.

However, since there are only a few accommodations, you might arrive late and find them all booked. The other option is to book one of the 50 accommodations in Banff itself . This option can be cheaper and is a better base for exploring Banff National Park. It's only a 40-minute drive from Banff to Lake Louise, so it's not too far.

The last option you have, which is also very good, is to stay in one of the 66 accommodations in Golden . It's an hour from Lake Louise and definitely has the best prices for lodging in Banff National Park.

Lake Morain by RV, Camper or Tent

Finally, if you're looking to stay overnight or camp in a motorhome, campervan, or tent near the entrance to Lake Moraine, there are many campsites within Banff National Park . These are all public campsites, managed by the National Park itself. Reservations must be made online in advance, although some are first-come, first-served.

There aren't any at Lake Morain. In fact, you can't access it with any vehicle in the summer , and going up in a campervan is strongly discouraged. Even when you can, the winding road is difficult. Besides, the Lake Morain parking lot is tiny.

There's a campground in Lake Louise Village , right at the entrance to the village. Campingq offers a free shuttle to downtown Lake Louise and to the park and ride point for the bus that goes up to the lakes. However, this campground requires advance reservations, so book quickly because the sites fill up fast.

How to access Lake Morain: the 4 options in summer

There are four options I'll try to explain to you for getting to Lake Morain. In the summer, the road is completely closed, and these are the only four alternatives available.

1 By car, parking at the Lake Louise Village Park & ​​Ride and taking a shuttle bus to Lake Morain (with reservation)

This option is undoubtedly the most convenient and best way to visit both lakes, especially to see Lake Morain, which in summer has no option to go up by private vehicle.

You can park your car in the Lake Louise gondola parking lot and take the shuttle bus from there. There's one bus that goes up to Lake Louise and another that goes up to Lake Morain.

It's an easy way, but on the other hand, it requires careful planning. You must book your shuttle ticket to Lake Louise and Moraine Lake well in advance, at least 3 months prior , on the Banff National Park website , under the "Day use" option where you can purchase the ticket.

To book, you must do so at a specific bus departure time , with some leeway within that hour. Then pay $11 per adult . Children are free.

Once you arrive at the parking lot, you must have your reservation confirmation on your phone or printed out. Show it at the check-in booth , and they will give you your bus ticket. You can choose either bus, the one to Lake Louise or the one to Lake Morain. Once you're at one lake, if you want to visit the other, there are buses that connect them. You don't have to go back down.

If there are no early access tickets left for Park & ​​Ride + Bus

You should know that if there are no more advance tickets available on the website, you still have a chance. You can check the website again two days before your desired date. Last-minute tickets go on sale at 8:00 AM , but be warned, they sell out fast!

We had a reservation made months ago. But we wanted to go up a second day to do an extra long hike, and there was no way we could get in. We tried three or four days in a row, trying every day at 8:00 a.m. sharp, and nothing. It felt like a marathon, haha.

2 Tour from Banff or Calgary to the best glacial lakes in Banff National Park (with reservation)

If you're staying in Banff or Calgary, there's an ideal option that includes a guide and guided tour: A tour of the best glacial lakes in Banff National Park.

You'll take a bus from Calgary or Banff, with different departure times in the morning. Accompanied by an English-speaking guide, you'll spend about 10 hours visiting Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, the Crowfoot Glacier (located on Bow Lake), Peyto Lake along the Icefields Parkway, and finally Herbert Lake, where the panoramic views are breathtaking. In my opinion, this tour is one of the best in terms of value for money . If you're staying for 7 or 10 days, it's definitely a great option.

3 By shuttle bus from Banff (with reservation)

If you are staying in Banff, there is a second public transport option which is the best option in these cases.

There is the Roam of route 8X Lake Louise/Lake Morain that goes directly from Banff to Lake Louise or Lake Morain.

Round trip costs $65 for adults and $32,50 for youth ages 13 to 18 and children under 12 are free.

I reiterate that if you are staying in Banff town, this is the option you should look at first without hesitation.

4. Going up on foot: 56 km round trip. Only suitable for mountain experts

There's a 2.9 km (1.5 mi) trail called the Louise Creek Trail, which runs from the town of Lake Louise to Lake Louise . It takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour to walk. It's the only pedestrian option, as you can't walk along the road.

This route starts at the Samson Mall in Lake Louise and goes to the Bow River Bridge . Once you cross the bridge, the marked route begins to the left and continues down.

The downside to this option is that there's no parking in the town of Lake Louise. So, it's only a good option if you're staying at Lake Louise Village or its campground .

To reach Lake Morain on foot , the distance increases considerably. The route from Lake Laouise to Morain is over 25 km , passing through Sentinel Pass . The total round trip will be 56-58 km . It's impossible to do it in one day , so if you do, you should find a place to camp at Lake Morain before starting the descent.

What to see and do in Lake Morain

Once you reach Morain Lake, there are several options for sightseeing and hiking . Let's look at the main ones.

Canoeing on Lake Moraine 

From Lake Louise, there is a shuttle bus to Lake Moraine, another of the beautiful lakes in Banff National Park.

In summer , only buses are allowed on that road , and it is closed to private vehicles.

Circular route along the shore of Lake Moraine 

Once you arrive at Lake Moraine, you have several routes to choose from. The easiest and most accessible for everyone is the circular route along its shore. It 's 1,5 km long, very flat, and offers plenty of access points to the lake for taking photos or simply admiring the beautiful scenery.

Climb to Lake Morain Rockpile Viewpoint  

The best photo of Lake Morain is undoubtedly at this viewing point. A viewing point that is accessed by a very short but steep route via steps to Rockpile. These iconic rocks offer views of the lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks.

The Rockpile route is circular and only 800 meters long with a 35-meter elevation gain , making it a very easy route.

Route to Eiffel Lake or Larch Valley and Minnestimma Lakes from Lake Moraine 

If you're looking for moderately difficult routes, you'll find the Eiffel Lake trail, a 12 km round trip with 370 meters of elevation gain . Or the Larch Valley and Minnestimma Lakes trail, a 10 km round trip with 535 meters of elevation gain.

Sentinel Pass, Larch Valley and Paradise Valley from Lake Moraine 

Finally, and only for experienced mountaineers, a legendary Rocky Mountain route begins here at Morain Lake : the Sentinel Pass Trail . This route leads to two famous and beautiful valleys: Larch Valley and Paradise Valley.

A path through 725 m of elevation gain and 6 km one way , 12 km round trip.

Tips for visiting Lake Morain late

To finish and after explaining the main activities you can do at Lake Morain, here are 4 tips:

• Lake Morain is the lake that we found most beautiful in the Canadian Rockies, but just as beautiful It's overcrowded, so prepare yourself.
• Book your Park & ​​Ride and shuttle ticket at least 3 months in advance bus to go up to Lake Morain / Lake Louise.
• Book your accommodation or campsite at least 6 months in advance. Or you probably won't find anything at a decent price under 1000 euros per night (no joke).
• Get up as early as possible to enjoy this incredible lake without people. For us it was one of the best lakes on our route. It is worth it.

From here on out, I just want to say that I hope this article has been helpful in planning your stay and visit to Lake Morain. If so, I look forward to reading your comments below . Happy travels, friends!