Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
The two most beautiful lakes in the Canadian Rockies - sheets of glacier-fed turquoise cradled by soaring peaks, among the most photographed scenes in all Canada.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
UNESCO World Heritage
Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are the two most beautiful lakes in the Canadian Rockies and among the most photographed scenes in Canada. Lake Louise is a sheet of glacier-fed turquoise beneath a hanging glacier and a grand chateau, while Moraine Lake, cradled in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, glows an even more vivid blue. Their unreal colour comes from fine glacial silt suspended in the meltwater.
What you actually see
- Lake Louise - the turquoise lake below its glacier and grand chateau.
- Moraine Lake - the vivid blue lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks.
- Canoeing - paddling on the glassy turquoise water.
- The lakeshore trails - the walks and teahouse hikes above the lakes.
When to go
Mid-June to September, once the ice melts and the colour is at its most vivid and the access roads open; the lakes are frozen and Moraine Lake's road closed the rest of the year. Sunrise light on the peaks is spectacular.
Honest expectations
Access is now tightly managed: private cars are barred or full by dawn, so you must use the park shuttle or a booked bus, which sell out ahead, especially for Moraine Lake; plan and reserve. The colour needs sunlight to glow. It is stunning but very crowded in peak season.
Nearby
Banff town and the Icefields Parkway to Jasper are close; Yoho National Park adjoins.
What to pack for Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
