In my opinion, the lakes in Banff National Park are the most beautiful I have seen so far in my travels! We traveled to the Canadian Rockies in 2015, but couldn't come through the area without seeing them again!
We left Radium Hot Springs, driving through Kootenay NP in BC, and continuing into Banff NP in Alberta to arrive at the Lake Louise ski area parking lot- park and ride.
We avoided the town of Banff on purpose and entered highway 1, off of hwy 93, north of Banff. In my opinion, Banff is so commercialized and if you have been there, you do not need to go again- if you haven't been, go, but don't plan on staying long unless you truly like the city thing, which as everyone knows, I do not.
There is very limited parking at Lake Moraine with only about 150 primo spots available and not many more than that at Lake Louise. These lakes draw thousands of daily visitors and crowds are a problem, thus they created a reservation system for shuttle busses that start at the park and ride.
I was lucky to be able to sign up for an account with Parks Canada on their web site reservations.pc.gc.ca and make reservations Saturday night for a 11am Sunday shuttle to Moraine Lake.
It was well worth the $17 total cost (no parking cost, just 3 ride tickets) for us to ride the shuttle 12 miles on the winding mountain roads to Moraine Lake.
Moraine Lake is truly the most beautiful Lake ever. The vibrant blue color comes from the reflection of the sun off of the mountain glacial silt suspended in the water!
After checking out Moraine Lake and hiking to the Rockpile then down the Lakeshore, we took a shuttle to Lake Louise (no extra cost, our shuttle ticket covered this too).
Lake Louise is incredible to see as the lake itself is in a basin surrounded by mountains with the pricey Chateau Fairmont Lake Louise Hotel at it's shore. We stayed there 1 night in 2015 and it was a great stay, but now 800-1000 per night at minimum.
Lake Louise is a little less vibrant, but still amazing.
One big reason I like Moraine Lake best is crowd control. It used to be there were only so many spots for parking and that's how many people were there. Now it is limited parking and limited shuttle seats, so still some control of the number of people hiking and visiting.
Lake Louise is easier to get to, with more parking, more shuttle seats and it was sooooo crowded. We hardly got a free place on shore to take the pics that we did!
Lake Louise is very popular and so much different and more crowded from when we here 7 years ago!! So if you plan to go, I would say it's more of a day trip as part of your whole trip, unless you stay on site.
Peyto lake is another phenomenal Banff Lake that we visited and consider a must see. It was about a .5 hike one way, uphill again, to the viewpoint.
When we were here before, Erick was with us and we hiked and looked for a way down to the lakeshore with no success. We have had to settle for the overlook view like everyone else! Worth the uphill hike to the overlook for the incredible views!
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