Stunning Lake Moraine

Sunday, July 5, 2026

We awoke at 06:00, brushed our teeth, and quickly dressed. At 06:30, we started our drive toward the Summer Gondola at Lake Louise, where we planned to park before catching the shuttle to Lake Moraine. Our shuttle was scheduled to depart at 07:25, so we had a 15-minute wait to drink coffee (from our Thermos) and eat pastries (Pastel de Nutta) before boarding.

We rushed to the Lake Moraine shuttle and made it just in time (the last ones to board) before the 07:25 departure. Our shuttle made a brief stop at the Samson Mall (our guide mentioned Trailhead Cafe as a great coffee shop) before continuing on to Lake Louise. It took about 40 minutes to reach Lake Louise.

Our first order of the day was to follow the Rockpile Trail to the best overlooks of Lake Moraine. In a short time, we ascended the rocky steps, reaching multiple overlooks. We marveled at the turquoise waters of Lake Moraine and took hundreds of photos.

Lake Moraine is one of the most famously beautiful bodies of water in the world. Nestled in the rugged Valley of the Ten Peaks in Banff National Park, this glacially fed lake sits at an elevation of roughly 1,884 meters (6,181 feet) and is globally renowned for its brilliant, surreal turquoise water. 

Why It's Famous

• The "Twenty Dollar View": The iconic vantage point from the top of the Rockpile—looking out across the intense blue water framed perfectly by the towering, jagged backdrop of the Ten Peaks—was famously featured on the reverse side of the Canadian twenty-dollar bill issued in 1969 and 1979.

• That Vibrant Turquoise Color: The lake's striking hue is completely natural. As glaciers melt in the late spring and summer, they deposit fine particles of rock silt (often called "rock flour") into the water. When the sunlight hits these suspended particles, it refracts and scatters light, creating an intense, milky blue-green color that peaks in intensity by late June or July.

Seeing calm waters below and multiple canoes on the water, we decided to try canoeing next, while the weather held. There was plenty of sunshine, without a cloud in sight, and almost no wind.

At the Canoe Rental boathouse, we signed several electronic legal forms before being handed life jackets. We were led to a standard red canoe. As the chief paddler, I sat down in the back first, while Inna sat in the center and Alex sat in front.

At 10:05, we paddled quickly across the glassy Lake Moraine, enjoying the beautiful views of the nearby Canadian Rockies and lush surroundings. We paddled around the entire lake, while taking multiple photos and recording several videos. We returned our canoe at 11:05, having thoroughly enjoyed exploring the lake.

We decided to walk along the Lake Moraine lakeshore, and we did so, reaching the end of the trail in 30 minutes. Inna decided it would be a great time (and location) for a snack, so we grabbed our pre-made Italian sandwiches and started eating.  

On the way back along the shoreline, we stopped for hot coffee at the local Lake Moraine Cafe:

• Boris: Cappuccino
• Inna: London Fog
• Alex: Hot Matcha
• Dessert: Banana Bread

My cappuccino was not bad at all, and Inna enjoyed her London Fog. After we rested for a bit, we decided to start hiking the main hike to Consolation Lakes.

The Consolation Lakes trail is one of the best "high-reward, low-effort" hikes starting from the iconic Moraine Lake area in Banff National Park. If you want spectacular alpine scenery, towering mountain backdrops, and a dramatic glacial lake without a grueling all-day climb, this is a fantastic choice.

Because it branches away from the heavily trafficked trails like Larch Valley or Sentinel Pass, it also offers a much quieter, more serene experience. 

Trail Profile 

Metric	Details
Distance	6.0 km (3.7 miles) round trip
Elevation Gain	~120 meters (393 feet)
Duration	1.5 to 2.5 hours
Difficulty	Easy to Moderate (mainly due to uneven footing at the ends)
Trailhead	Moraine Lake (just past the Rockpile)

Route Breakdown 

1. The Start & The First Talus Field

The hike begins right near the Moraine Lake day-use area. Follow the path toward the famous Rockpile trail, but look for the distinct signage branching off to the left for Consolation Lakes. Almost immediately, you will cross a 200-meter boulder field—the ancient remnants of a rockslide from the towering Tower of Babel on your right. The path through these rocks is well-defined and easy to track, but it requires a bit of deliberate footing. 

2. The Forest Walk & Babel Creek

Once past the initial rocks, the trail plunges into a dense, old-growth subalpine forest. This stretch is a gentle, steady, but very manageable uphill grade. The trail runs roughly parallel to Babel Creek. Keep an eye out for roots underfoot and occasional muddy patches, especially in the early summer as the high-elevation snowmelt runs down the valley. 

3. Arriving at the Meadow and Lakes

As the forest thins out, you’ll enter a wide alpine meadow that opens up to spectacular, rugged mountain views. To reach the actual shoreline of the first Consolation Lake, you have to navigate a large, scrambling talus field of massive boulders.

We really enjoyed our hike to Consolation Lakes, especially walking across the snow and climbing large boulders at the Meadow (at the end of the hike).

After the hike, we stopped by for another coffee at Lake Moraine Cafe and browsed the nearby Gift Shop (finding nothing worth purchasing, as all the T-shirts were made of polyester).

Since we still had time (before our shuttle arrived), we decided to take another stroll along the Lake Moraine lakeshore trail. We enjoyed it a second time, too!

We returned to our shuttle stop at 16:00, right as it started to drizzle. We actually boarded the 16:00 shuttle, not the 16:15 designated on our ticket. The shuttle driver was very accommodating.

After a quick shuttle ride back to the Summer Gondola parking lot at Lake Louise, we drove our Hyundai Kona back to Storm Mountain Lodge. Since we wanted an early dinner, we talked to the receptionist and had our dinner time moved to 18:15 instead of 19:30.

Lake Moraine Review

Highlights

• Canoeing on the amazingly beautiful, turquoise Lake Moraine
• Enjoying superb views of the lake from the Rockpile trail
• Hiking the lakeshore trail around Lake Moraine
• Hiking to Consolation Lakes (discovering unmelted snow)

Lowlights

• Need expensive, advanced shuttle reservations to reach Lake Moraine. There are no other easy ways to reach Lake Moraine.
• Large crowds of people