Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in the Canadian Rockies

Itineraries: Detailed travel itineraries in Canada (Free)

These two lakes in the Rocky Mountains are strikingly beautiful thanks to their color and the snow-capped mountains surrounding them.

It is recommended to stay in one of the successful hotels on the shores of the lakes overlooking picturesque views.

Recommended hotels in Lake Louise:

♦ The most luxurious and impressive hotel in Lake Louise is: Fairmont Château Lake Louise. A 4-star hotel situated right on the lake shore, staying here is an experience in itself. The hotel offers breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding mountains with 554 rooms and suites suitable for 2-5 people. The hotel features a spa, gym, heated indoor pool, and a selection of six restaurants. The hotel offers guests a variety of activities including kayaking and horseback riding.

♦ Another successful, more affordable 3-star hotel is: Paradise Lodge and Bungalows offering 45 rooms, suites, and cabins suitable for 2-4 people. The hotel is located one kilometer from Lake Louise and is surrounded by gardens that include children's playground equipment and barbecue facilities. Every room has a refrigerator, and some rooms feature a kitchen or a balcony with mountain views.

Recommended hotel at Moraine Lake

♦ At Moraine Lake there is also a quality hotel called: Moraine Lake Lodge which includes 33 double rooms, each with a private balcony overlooking the turquoise lake.

Lake Louise

Lake Louise is located about 60 km northwest of Banff. It is a stunningly beautiful lake with a turquoise color that originates from silt brought by melting glacier water from nearby mountains.

Guided tours in the area available for purchase on Viator:

On the shores of the lake stands the luxurious hotel Chateau Lake Louise, which on one hand detracts from the natural look of the lake and its surroundings, but certainly also adds a very special touch to it thanks to its beauty and size.

The lake is extremely popular among travelers in the Rockies, so there is usually high crowd density at the site, and finding parking can be difficult. The promenade near the hotel gathers crowds of tourists, making it challenging even to find a spot free of people to take a photo.

Small rowboat rentals are available on site for boating on the lake ($35 for half an hour, $45 per hour).

Several hiking trails start from the hotel area. A recommended trail south of the lake, although steep to climb, is called Fairview Lookout (1.6 km long), which reaches a high, beautiful viewpoint over the lake and hotel. There are also many additional trails, some easy ones along the lake shore and others longer that climb to viewpoints over the lake, mountains, and nearby glaciers.

Moraine Lake

About 14 km south of Lake Louise lies Moraine Lake. This lake is also very popular, and its parking lot may fill up quickly.

It also features a turquoise color, and the scenery surrounding it is perhaps even more beautiful than at Lake Louise. Nearby, there is a short hiking trail leading to the top of a rocky hill, offering a fantastic view of the lake and surrounding mountains. It is also worth walking a short distance along the lake trail to get a bit away from all the tourists and better experience nature in all its glory. Boat rentals for lake rowing are available near the parking lot.

Wildlife in the Canadian Rockies:

Important Tips:

1. It is recommended to dedicate a full day to both lakes, Louise and Moraine, rather than trying to combine them into the drive day from Jasper to Banff or vice versa.
2. Accommodation around Lake Louise is fairly limited and very expensive. It is better to stay in Banff or Canmore, drive about an hour to Lake Louise, and on the way back for another night in Banff, stop at Moraine Lake.