Moraine Lake is one of the most visited lakes in Banff National Park, and for good reason. With its bright turquoise-blue water, mountain backdrop and easy access to some of the best scenery in the Lake Louise area, it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. But seeing Moraine Lake takes a bit more planning, which is where the Moraine Lake Shuttle comes in.
As locals who visit Moraine Lake regularly, we’ve used the Parks Canada shuttle and we’ve helped plenty of Banff travellers sort through the different ways to get there. The biggest thing to know is that Moraine Lake Road is closed to private vehicles, so you can’t just drive up and park like you used to.
For most visitors, the Parks Canada Moraine Lake shuttle is the simplest and most affordable way to guarantee you get to the lake. There are also other Moraine Lake shuttle options, private transfers, tours, and Roam Transit options from Banff, so it’s worth understanding how they all work before you book.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the Parks Canada shuttle to Moraine Lake, including where it leaves from, how to book tickets, what it costs, how the Lake Connector shuttle works, and what to do if shuttle tickets are sold out. If you’re still comparing all your options, you’ll also want to read our full guide on How to Get to Moraine Lake, which covers every realistic way to visit.
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Parks Canada Moraine Lake Shuttle: Quick Overview
The Parks Canada Moraine Lake shuttle is the main shuttle option for most visitors going to Moraine Lake. It’s affordable, reservable, and runs from the Lake Louise Park and Ride to Moraine Lake during the summer and early fall season.
For most travellers, this is the easiest way to guarantee a visit to Moraine Lake without booking a tour or private transfer. You’ll reserve a specific departure window, park at the Lake Louise Park and Ride, check in for your shuttle, then take the bus up Moraine Lake Road.
One of the biggest benefits of booking the Parks Canada shuttle is that your ticket also includes access to the Lake Connector shuttle. This allows you to visit both Moraine Lake and Lake Louise on the same day, which is a great option if you’re trying to make the most of your time in the Lake Louise area.
The main thing to know is that this is not a “show up whenever” system. Moraine Lake shuttle reservations can sell out, especially for popular dates and morning time slots. Even as locals, we book our Moraine Lake shuttle reservations early and plan our visits well ahead of time. We highly recommend booking your Moraine Lake shuttle in advance instead of hoping for a walk-up spot.
Where the Parks Canada Shuttle Leaves From
Parks Canada operates their shuttles to Moraine Lake from the Lake Louise Park and Ride, located at the Lake Louise Ski Resort off Whitehorn Road. This allows visitors to park their vehicle in the designated lot and get on a bus to Moraine Lake or Lake Louise, depending on the shuttle ticket purchased.
It takes around 25 minutes to get to Moraine Lake from the Park and Ride, as there are no other stops along the way.
2026 Moraine Lake Shuttle Dates
The Parks Canada shuttle operates to Lake Louise Lakeshore from May 15 to October 12, 2026, and to Moraine Lake from June 1 to October 12, 2026. Similarly, the Lake Connector shuttle between Lake Louise and Moraine Lake operates from June 1 to October 12, 2026.
If you are visiting Banff in June, you may be interested to know that Moraine Lake may still be covered in ice. An ice covered Moraine Lake and the snow-capped Valley of the Ten Peaks are still very beautiful, just in a different way, For more information, please read When do Banff Lakes Thaw.
How to Book Moraine Lake Shuttle Tickets
You need a reservation for the Parks Canada Moraine Lake shuttle, but not all tickets are released at once. Parks Canada releases 40% of shuttle tickets in advance, then the remaining 60% are released two days before departure.
This means it’s worth checking early, but don’t panic if your date is already sold out. You may still have another chance to book a Moraine Lake shuttle reservation when the 48-hour ticket release opens.
If there is space left, you can also book last-minute spots online or by phone before your departure window. Just don’t count on buying tickets in person when you arrive. There is no guaranteed walk-up line at the Lake Louise Park and Ride, so it’s best to have your reservation sorted before you go.
Moraine Lake shuttle reservations for 2026 can be made starting Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 8:00 am MDT. The shuttles to Moraine Lake will begin June 1 until mid-October (October 12 for 2026). You can select a one hour time block for when you want to take the shuttle to Moraine Lake.
You can book a Parks Canada shuttle for either Lake Louise or Moraine Lake. Included in your reservation is a Lake Connector shuttle, allowing you to easily visit both Lake Louise and Moraine Lake in one day.
Local Tip
Always take a screenshot of your reservation or print it before you go. The cell service varies from not-great to non-existent in this area!
Moraine Lake Shuttle Cost
Booking Moraine Lake shuttle tickets will cost $12.75 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4 for 17 children 17 years and under. This is the total cost of the return trip and includes the Lake Connector shuttle between Moraine Lake and Lake Louise.
You’ll also have to pay a $3.50 transaction fee per Moraine Lake shuttle reservation (not per ticket but for the entire reservation). Your national park entrance fee is NOT included with your shuttle ticket. See more on getting your Banff Park Pass here.
Parks Canada Reservation System
The Parks Canada reservation system is not always intuitive or easy to use. We recommend creating an account and familiarizing yourself with the system prior to when reservations open. The Parks Canada Shuttles are found under the Day Use tab.
Wondering how things go when reservations open? I’ll be honest, that first day is a repeat of when camping reservations open!
Take my advice: create your account in advance and know how to navigate the site. Some people have issues even creating accounts, so you don’t want to deal with that on the day reservations open.
If you get prompted about signing in with a Canadian bank account, don’t worry. You can sign up for a GCKey instead.
Once you have your account set up and know where to find the shuttles (under the Day Use tab), you are ready for reservation day! On that day, get on your computer and log in before 7:30 am. Around 7:30 am, everyone on the site is put into a waiting room where you’ll be assigned a random spot in the queue at 8 am.
Everyone that gets on the site after 8 am goes to the end of the queue.
Last year, my spot in the queue was in the 17,000s. It took me about 20 to 30 minutes to get in. Shortly after 8:30 am, most of the 6:30 – 7 am time slots in July for Moraine Lake were sold out. Then shortly after that, early July morning slots were sold out and a lot of June was gone too.
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What to do if Advance Shuttle Tickets are Sold Out
If you’ve missed advanced booking, additional shuttle seats are released at 8:00 am MDT, two days before departure. Alternatively, you can use a service like Schnerp to scan for any tickets that become available!
How the Lake Connector Shuttle Works
If the Moraine Lake shuttles aren’t available for the day you want to visit, you can make a reservation for the Lake Louise shuttle then take the Lake Connector shuttle to Moraine Lake. The Lake Connector is included with your shuttle reservation, but you can only use it after booking a shuttle ticket and checking in at the Park and Ride.
There are two exceptions to the Lake Connector check-in rule:
1. Roam Super Pass holders that take the Roam Bus to Lake Louise Lakeshore also get access to the Lake Connector shuttle between Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.
2. Guests at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and Paradise Lodge & Bungalows can book a Parks Canada shuttle, but just catch the Lake Connector in the Lake Louise lakeshore parking lot, instead of driving down to the Park and Ride at the ski resort. Have your proof of lodging and shuttle reservation on hand.
Moraine Lake Shuttle Times
To catch your Parks Canada Moraine Lake shuttle, you’ll need to arrive at the Lake Louise Ski Resort Park and Ride during your one hour window listed on your shuttle reservation. There is plenty of free parking at the Park & Ride.
The Moraine Lake shuttle runs every 30 minutes from 6:30 am to 5:00 pm. The last return bus on the Moraine Lake shuttle schedule is at 7:30 pm. Always confirm the times when booking shuttles and making plans as they are subject to change.
One of the best things about taking a Parks Canada shuttle to Moraine Lake is that once you are there, you can stay as long as you want. This gives you ample time to enjoy the views from the Rockpile of one of the best hikes in Moraine Lake. There are plenty to choose from, but our favourite is the Wenkchemna Pass Trail.
The Lake Connector shuttle frequency is every 30 minutes starting at 7:00 am. The last Lake Connector shuttle runs at 6 pm, regardless of the direction. The Lake Connector shuttle between Lake Louise and Moraine Lake is on a first-come, first-served basis and is part of your shuttle reservation.
For Sunrise
Parks Canada is offering an “Alpine Start Shuttle” with two departures at 4:00 am and 5:00 am. This sunrise shuttle to Moraine Lake is intended for climbers, scramblers and hikers who require more time before the last return shuttle.
This shuttle leaves from the Lake Louise lakeshore parking lot, which will require paid parking of $42 for the day in addition to the cost of the shuttle.
Lake Louise Park and Ride for the Moraine Lake Shuttle
The Parks Canada shuttles operate from the Park and Ride at the Lake Louise Ski Resort. The Park and Ride is located off Whitehorn Road, less than 5 km from Lake Louise Village. It’s an easy location to get to and there are over 2,000 parking spots.
Since you are already at the Park and Ride, you should consider taking the Lake Louise Sightseeing Summer Gondola, which operates from the ski resort. The Lake Louise gondola is considered one of the best opportunities to see a grizzly bear in Banff National Park. And, as you can see from the picture below, you can enjoy some pretty epic scenery of Lake Louise and the surrounding mountains.
Directions to the Lake Louise Park and Ride
Local Tip
You can take a Moraine Lake shuttle to the Paradise Valley trailhead. There will be no access to Moraine Lake Road to park at the Paradise Valley parking lot. Just be sure to tell the driver where you want to get off! When we did this, we were able to get back on the shuttle by flagging it down on the road.
Other Moraine Lake Shuttles
There are other shuttles to Moraine Lake that are not operated by Parks Canada.
Moraine Lake Bus Company
For many, seeing the sunrise at Moraine Lake is a bucket-list item. The Moraine Lake Bus Company makes this easy with sunrise shuttles to Moraine Lake, plus daytime shuttles with some departures that stop at Lake Louise. All their shuttles leave from either the Lake Louise Village (sunrise) or the Lake Louise Ski Resort Park and Ride.
We took the Moraine Lake Bus Company to see Moraine Lake at sunrise. It was an amazing, stress-free experience. The shuttles left right on time, and the drivers were knowledgeable and happy to answer questions.
Explore Banff Tours & Transfers
Explore Banff Tours & Transfers offers visitors a choice of a private transfer or a shared transfer from Canmore or Banff to Moraine Lake. The owner works with the visitors to ensure they have the best possible experience by finding departure and return times that work. For the private transfers, groups can choose when they depart and their return time.
Tours and Private Transfers to Moraine Lake
While the Parks Canada Moraine Lake shuttle is the best option for many visitors, it’s not the only way to get to Moraine Lake. In fact, a tour or private transfer can be a much better option if shuttle reservations are sold out, you don’t want to deal with the Park and Ride, or you want to visit Moraine Lake from Banff without renting a car.
Some tours are best for travellers who just want an easy ride to Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. Others are better if you want sunrise at Moraine Lake, a local guide, hotel pick-up, or a more flexible private experience.
The biggest trade-off is cost. Tours and private transfers are usually more expensive than the Parks Canada shuttle, but they can also take a lot of the stress out of visiting Moraine Lake, especially if you’re planning a short Banff trip or visiting during peak summer dates.
Discover Banff Tours
Discover Banff Tours offers a guided Lake Louise and Moraine Lake tour that works well if you want to visit both lakes without figuring out the shuttle system yourself. Their Lake Louise and Moraine Lake tour includes hotel pick-up from most Banff hotels, a guide, and time at both lakes, which makes it a good option for first-time visitors who want a simple sightseeing day.
This is not the option I’d choose if you want several hours at Moraine Lake for hiking or a slow lakeshore visit, but it can be a great fit if your main goal is to see both Moraine Lake and Lake Louise with easy transportation and some local interpretation along the way.
Travel Banff Canada readers can get a 5% discount on this Moraine Lake Tour when booked with GetYourGuide. To get this deal, and many others, visit our Banff discounts page.
Radventures Moraine Lake Sunrise Tour
Radventures is a strong option if seeing sunrise at Moraine Lake is high on your list. Their Moraine Lake Sunrise and Lake Louise Golden Hour Adventure visits Moraine Lake early, then continues to Lake Louise before the biggest crowds arrive.
This tour is best for travellers who don’t mind an early start and want the experience to feel a little more guided and personal. It includes a small-group format, a local guide, hot drinks, hotel pick-up from select Banff and Lake Louise locations, and breakfast, which makes it a more comfortable way to do a very early Moraine Lake morning.
Travel Banff Canada readers can get 5% off Radventures tours with our Banff discounts.
HopOnBanff
HopOnBanff is a good option if you want a more flexible sightseeing day from Banff. Their route includes Moraine Lake, Lake Louise, Johnston Canyon, and the Lake Louise Gondola, so it works especially well for visitors who want to see several major Banff stops without renting a car.
This is a better fit for sightseeing than for a long Moraine Lake hike, since your day will depend on the bus schedule. I’d consider this one if you want a car-free Banff day with more freedom than a traditional guided tour, but less planning than trying to piece everything together yourself.
Moraine Lake Big Bus
Moraine Lake Big Bus offers a double-decker shuttle to Moraine Lake from Deer Lodge in Lake Louise. This can be a great option if you’re already planning to spend time in Lake Louise, since Deer Lodge is only a short walk from the Lake Louise lakeshore and parking is included.
This option is especially useful if you want to combine Lake Louise and Moraine Lake without using the Parks Canada Park and Ride. It’s still important to pay attention to the schedule and return times, but for some visitors, the Deer Lodge departure point can make the day feel much simpler.
Travel Banff Canada readers can get a 5% discount on the Moraine Lake Big Bus when booked with GetYourGuide. To get this deal, and many others, visit our Banff discounts page.
Roam Transit Bus from Banff to Moraine Lake
There is a regional bus that runs between Banff and Lake Louise. Roam Route 8X takes visitors from the town of Banff to Lake Louise Village or directly to the Lake Louise lakeshore.
Roam Route 8X can also be used to get to Moraine Lake from Banff, but you need to book the Roam Reservable Super Pass. With the Super Pass, visitors can take Roam Route 8X to Lake Louise lakeshore, then use the Parks Canada Lake Connector shuttle to continue on to Moraine Lake.
This means you can travel by Roam bus from Banff to Lake Louise lakeshore, then use your Roam Super Pass to board the Parks Canada Lake Connector shuttle to Moraine Lake. This option is reservable, which I highly recommend, and currently costs $30 for adults, $15 for youth and seniors, and is free for children 12 and under, though children still need a reservation.
At the end of the day, you’ll need to take the Lake Connector shuttle back to Lake Louise lakeshore, then return to Banff on Roam Route 8X. Your trip also needs to start in Banff. You cannot park at Lake Louise lakeshore and use your Super Pass to board the Lake Connector shuttle to Moraine Lake.
As part of our Banff travel planning services, we’ve seen that visitors often get confused by the difference between Parks Canada shuttles and Roam Transit. To help clear that up, we’ve written a full post about Parks Canada vs Roam Transit for Lake Louise and Moraine Lake.
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Where to Stay at Moraine Lake
The only accommodation option at Moraine Lake is the Moraine Lake Lodge. The best thing about staying here is that you have zero parking hassles! Moraine Lake is right out your front door!
If you want to stay closer but Moraine Lake Lodge isn’t an option, here are the best Lake Louise hotels that we recommend. If you are staying in the Lake Louise area, don’t miss our 2-day Lake Louise Itinerary for summer.
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Moraine Lake Shuttle FAQs
Do You Have to Take a Shuttle to Moraine Lake?
Yes, in 2026 you will need to take a shuttle or book a tour to Moraine Lake. The Moraine Lake Road is closed to private vehicles unless you are staying at the Moraine Lake Lodge.
How Much Is the Shuttle to Moraine Lake?
The Parks Canada Moraine Lake Shuttle is $12.75 for adults, $6.00 for seniors, and $4.00 for kids 17 and under for the return trip. A shuttle to Moraine Lake through a commercial operator will cost between $35 to $99 for a return trip depending on time of day of the visit. Sunrise is most expensive.
Where Do You Get the Moraine Lake Shuttle?
Visit Parks Canada shuttle reservations to book your shuttle to Moraine Lake. Once you have made a shuttle reservation for Moraine Lake, you can get on the shuttle at the Lake Louise Park and Ride at the Lake Louise Ski Resort.
How Do You Get to Moraine Lake Without a Car?
If you are visiting Banff without a car, you can get to Moraine Lake by taking Roam Transit to Lake Louise with a super pass then using the Parks Canada Lake Connector Shuttle to Moraine Lake. Alternatively, there are several shuttle companies that do pickups in Canmore and Banff, making this a much easier way to get to Moraine Lake from Canmore or Banff.
What Is the Best Time to Visit Moraine Lake?
The best time to visit Moraine Lake is anytime between June 1 when the road opens back up and before it closes (typically after Canadian Thanksgiving). The third week in September is an incredible time to visit Moraine Lake, as it’s peak season for the golden larch trees which can be seen along the Larch Valley hike that leaves from the shores of Moraine Lake.
When Does Moraine Lake Open?
Moraine Lake opens sometime between the third week of May and early June, depending on the conditions in the given year. The Moraine Lake road will open in 2026 in early June, once the road has been cleared.
Why is Moraine Lake Closed Seasonally?
The road to Moraine Lake is closed each year after Canadian Thanksgiving (2nd Monday in October) until early June. Moraine Lake road closes because of heavy snowfall and dangerous avalanche terrain in the winter.
How Long Do You Need at Moraine Lake?
Many people visit Moraine Lake to climb the Rockpile or do a short walk along the Moraine Lake Lakeshore Trail. It’s possible to stay much longer and enjoy one of the many spectacular hikes around Moraine Lake.
Can You Bring Your Own Canoe to Moraine Lake?
Effective Spring 2026, canoes, paddleboards, kayaks, etc. are no longer permitted on Moraine Lake.
In order to protect this ecologically sensitive lake, Parks Canada has declared Moraine Lake a Water Preservation Zone. Prohibited activities at Moraine Lake now include:
- Paddling and large inflatables
- Motorized boating
- Fishing with waders or wading boots
For complete details, please refer to the Parks Canada page on Water activity restrictions in Banff National Park.
Is There Accessible Parking at Moraine Lake?
There is no accessible parking at Moraine Lake anymore, so visitors with mobility needs still need to use the Parks Canada shuttle system. You don’t need to register in advance for an accessible vehicle. Just arrive with your shuttle ticket and let Parks Canada staff know you have mobility needs, and an accessible vehicle will be arranged as needed.
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Celine Brewer, a local Canmore resident, is the co-owner of Travel Banff Canada. She has a passion for being out in the mountains any time of year. In the summer, you'll often find her hiking or mountain biking. In the winter, she enjoys cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and winter hiking the most.
As much as she loves the mountains, she also loves travel! When she's not playing outdoors at home, she's either traveling the world with her husband and two kids or working on their other two travel sites: Family Can Travel and Baby Can Travel.
Celine-
A close friend of mine is connected to you for Banff information. However, they are out of the country and have asked me to view the ZOOM meeting regarding the shuttle service to Moraine Lake and the Banff area.
However, I would need the link to view the presentation, tonight at 6:00 PM MST. If you could please send that link to the email address provided, I would appreciate it. I understand there is a charge, which I am prepared to cover.
Thank you.
John
Hi John,
I just sent you an email with the link to sign up for my workshop tonight. You can also find it here: https://banfftravelplanning.com/shuttles-workshop/
Thanks!
Celine
Alright your sight is my “go to” sight for Banff area stuff. So if I am trying to snag a last minute reservation for a 9/16/24 Lake Moraine shuttle on the Parks Canada sight that is released at 8 am two days before…do I have to be signed in (in other words have an account) or can I just go on the day use link and do it. I see when you “sign in” it asked for banking info. or a GC Key. I don’t remember any of that when I got my Parks Canada Pass. I’m not giving anyone any banking info. so do I need to sign up for a GCKey?
Yes, have your account ready to go. You’ll need a GC Key (don’t use the banking info if you aren’t from Canada – you need to do the GCKey option and sign up for one). This is required for all Parks Canada reservations (not for the park pass). The shuttle reservations are on the Day Use Tab (easier to see on a computer, if you are on your phone you’ll need to scroll to the right at the top to get to the tab that says Day Use).
hello
I am staying at Lake Louise Campground with my wife.
Shuttle reservation failed.
I’m thinking about using a private bus.
Is it possible to visit Moraine Lake in the early morning by taxi?
I would like to know if it is possible to visit Moraine Lake by taxi.
have a good day
You could try to book a taxi in Lake Louise, but you’ll have a much better chance of going up with one of the local shuttle companies like Fairview Limo: https://fairviewlimo.zaui.net/booking/web/#/default/p2p?vendorId=392&date=2024-07-01