Moraine Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in Banff National Park, but in the past few years it’s also been one of the most difficult lakes to visit. While the move by Parks Canada to close the Moraine Lake Road to private vehicles has made it easier to see Moraine Lake, it’s also created some confusion for visitors. In this post, I’ll share the best ways to see Moraine Lake at sunrise in 2026.
If seeing Moraine Lake at sunrise is on your must-see list during your trip to Banff, then you’ll want to read on. There are a lot of options to make this happen, some more flexible and cheaper than others… Just be ready for a very early morning to see that stunning sunrise at Moraine Lake!
This post contains compensated links.
Is Moraine Lake Really Easier to Get to With the Road Closure?
If you plan ahead, then I believe it is easier to get to Moraine Lake now. In the past few years, social media has caused an explosion of interest in seeing Moraine Lake. For us locals who have been around for a while, we recall a time when it was a hidden gem and we could easily drive up to Moraine Lake at any time.
In recent years, the competition to get to Moraine Lake and find Moraine Lake parking increased to the point where visitors were arriving at the Moraine Lake parking lot at 2 am. It also caused Parks Canada to control the traffic which meant no driving up the road unless there were spots available.
The area really doesn’t have anywhere where you can park to wait for a spot or even drive around waiting for the road to open when a few spots become available. This made it very difficult for anyone wanting to see Moraine Lake and didn’t want to arrive at 2 or 3am.
Parks Canada has been running a Moraine Lake shuttle for several years, but many visitors weren’t aware of it or weren’t planning to use it. All this was causing frustration for everyone involved.
Fast forward… the road is now closed to private vehicles (unless you have an accessible parking placard or you are staying at the Moraine Lake Lodge). So now everyone needs to book a shuttle bus, tour or even bike to Moraine Lake. In response to that, there are several new ways to get to Moraine Lake including some sunset and sunrise shuttle options for Moraine Lake.
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Don’t miss our post on the best ways to get to Moraine Lake in 2026! If sunrise isn’t for you, you can find a ton of other great options.
Using Parks Canada Shuttles to see Moraine Lake at Sunrise
With the addition of the Alpine Start Shuttle, Parks Canada now has an option for visiting Moraine Lake at sunrise. This Alpine start shuttle leaves from the Lake Louise lakeshore parking lot.
This is different than the Parks Canada Moraine lake shuttle that leaves from the Lake Louise ski resort, which requires driving through the Whitehorn wildlife corridor. The road to the Lake Louise Ski Resort has a nightly closure from 8pm to 6:00am.
Important
Parks Canada is offering an “Alpine Start Shuttle” with two departures at 4am and 5am. This sunrise shuttle to Moraine Lake is intended for climbers, scramblers and hikers who require more time before the last return shuttle, but can be used by visitors to see Moraine Lake at sunrise.
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.
To be honest, this option isn’t always the best choice. Why? Because the times don’t change with the sunrise, like the other sunrise shuttle and tour operators. You should compare the sunrise time with when you will arrive.
The 5 am shuttle would barely get you there for sunrise at the end of June and early July when the sunrise is at 5:30 am, so you’d need to take the 4 am shuttle.
Towards the end of August and for anyone visiting Banff in September, the sunrise is 7 am or later. Leaving at 5 am would end up with a lot of time sitting in the dark. After mid-September, you’ll be waiting up to two hours for sunrise. That doesn’t seem like the best use of time.
With the regular Moraine Lake shuttle bus leaving the Lake Louise Ski Resort at 6:30 am and the drive to Moraine Lake being approximately 25 minutes, you might arrive in time for a Moraine Lake sunrise near the end of September or if you are visiting Banff in early October.
How to Visit Moraine Lake at Sunrise
Now that you know a little bit about Moraine Lake and why some of the changes were made, let’s get right into how to visit Moraine Lake for sunrise.
Local Tip
I recommend reading to the end of this post as I’ll share more on the area, what to bring for sunrise at Moraine Lake and what else you can do after sunrise at Moraine Lake.
Here are the best ways to get to Moraine Lake for sunrise:
1. Moraine Lake Bus Company
We’ve taken the Moraine Lake Bus Company to experience sunrise at Moraine Lake and have nothing but good things to say! Moraine Lake Bus Company is operated by a local Banff couple who saw a need to offer a sunrise option to Moraine Lake.
They’ve got excellent drivers who are extremely knowledgeable about the area!
Not only do they offer a sunrise shuttle to Moraine Lake, but they also offer shuttle service throughout the day with select time slots stopping at Lake Louise.
Departs from: Lake Louise Village for sunrise shuttles only (Lake Louise Park and Ride for all other departures)
Duration: 35 minutes to Moraine Lake / 20 minutes return
Cost: starting at $99 for sunrise shuttles (other shuttles times start at $54 for adults / $39 for children)
Accessible: No
Pets allowed: Small dogs in carrier on lap.
Time at Moraine Lake: Select your return time when booking.
Includes other stops: Select shuttle times include a 1 hr stop at Lake Louise.
Other: Sunrise options available. Climbing equipment can be accommodated.
First shuttle / Last return shuttle: 4:00 am / 6:20 pm
2. Fairview Limousine
Fairview Limousine is a Lake Louise based company that provides shuttles to both Moraine Lake and Lake Louise. Fairview Limousine has added a sunrise option for Moraine Lake. They also have plenty of options throughout the day.
They offer a 4 am sunrise shuttle to Moraine Lake, but if you’d rather not be there so early, you can also book an early bird shuttle bus at 5:15 or 6:30 am
Departs from: Lake Louise Inn (parking is roadside or in the back parking lot)
Duration: 30 minutes to Moraine Lake
Cost: $75 for sunrise shuttles (starting at $35 for shuttles later in the day)
Accessible: No
Pets allowed: Yes, you will need to reserve for large dogs who need a seat.
Time at Moraine Lake: Choose return time when booking.
Includes other stops: No
First shuttle / Last return shuttle: 4 am / 10:15 pm for Moraine Lake.
3. Radventures Moraine Lake Sunrise & Lake Louise Golden Hour Tour
Radventures Moraine Lake Sunrise Tour offers a multi-hour *small group* sunrise tour of Moraine Lake that includes an early morning visit to Lake Louise. You get to visit both iconic Banff lakes in one tour.
This tour includes pickup from select Banff or Lake Louise village locations, a guide that helps you find the perfect sunrise locations, time for a hot breakfast (purchasing breakfast is an optional add-on) from Trailhead Cafe, and a stop at Lake Louise before all the big busses arrive!
You’ll get to spend 1.5 to 2 hours at each of these incredible Banff lakes before the crowds arrive. This tour costs $250 per person.
If sunrise really isn’t your thing, they also offer a Moraine Lake and Lake Louise Sunset & Wildlife tour.
Departs from: Various pickup locations in Banff & Canmore
Duration: Depends on pickup location
Cost: $250 per person
Accessible: No
Pets allowed: Yes, you will need to reserve for large dogs who need a seat.
Time at Moraine Lake: Choose return time when booking.
Includes other stops: Yes, includes a stop in the Lake Louise Village for breakfast followed by 1.5 – 2 hours at Lake Louise
4. Stay at Moraine Lake Lodge
While definitely the priciest option, it’s the one that will get you the most sleep! Staying at the Moraine Lake Lodge means you can drive up the Moraine Lake Road to the lodge.
You won’t have to worry about making a separate booking to get a ride up to Moraine Lake for sunrise! In addition, you can go back to your room for a nap, then head out on one of the many amazing hikes around Moraine Lake.
Our Experience Visiting Moraine Lake at Sunrise
Sunrise in the summer months is early! For our visit in early June at Moraine Lake, sunrise was around 5:30 am. We booked our shuttle with Moraine Lake Bus Company at 4 am. We were to arrive 10 minutes early to check-in and board the shuttle.
Since we live in Canmore, we opted to stay in Lake Louise for the night to avoid getting up before 3am. As it was, we still needed to set our alarm at 3:20 am to get the kids out of bed, get to the car and drive the few minutes down to Lake Louise Village. We felt having that extra hour of sleep was well worth it!
We arrived at the Lake Louise Village and parked at Samson Mall. Two Moraine Lake Bus Company shuttles were already there and waiting for us when we arrived at 3:40 am. With everyone on board, we left at exactly 4am!
Prefer to listen? I did a podcast episode on “Is Moraine Lake sunrise worth it?”
We arrived at Moraine Lake well before sunrise at around 4:30 am. The shuttle bus drivers set up a small table with coffee and pastries for the guests. This was a nice surprise, since we hadn’t left time to eat and had packed just a few snacks.
We made our way up the steps to the top of the Rockpile (an easy, short hike at Moraine Lake where you get that iconic Moraine Lake sunrise picture) to scope out our spot to watch the sunrise. There’s always competition to get the “best” spots on the Rockpile, but as a whole Moraine Lake or the Rockpile definitely didn’t feel busy.
I found a spot I was happy with and set up the tripod. The kids set up their own spot to watch the sunrise. They chose to watch the sun rise looking east, while I was focused on watching a stunning Moraine Lake sunrise that lit up those mountain peaks.
We spent a peaceful hour at the top of the Rockpile watching the sunrise. It was truly and a truly memorable experience.
When our Moraine Lake sunrise experience was over, we headed back to the the parking lot and the Moraine Lake Bus Company shuttles were there shortly after to leave back for Lake Louise Village (exactly on time again!).
The overall sunrise experience at Moraine Lake was incredible and didn’t feel like it was inconvenient (over taking our own car). In fact, this was much more convenient and enjoyable because we never had to stress about whether we’d get Moraine Lake parking!
Where to Watch Sunrise at Moraine Lake
Thankfully, you don’t have to go far from the parking lot at Moraine Lake to get incredible views! There are two excellent places to see the Moraine Lake sunrise:
1. The Rockpile
The Rockpile trail is an easy Moraine Lake hike with views down over the lake. This is the most popular spot for Moraine Lake sunrise pictures. The very top and far end of the Rockpile has the most unobstructed views. The Rockpile trail is a short 0.8 km where you’ll climb stairs all the way to the top. It leaves directly from the Moraine Lake parking lot (near the toilets) and is worth the climb for the views!
While the sun hitting the peaks surrounding Moraine Lake is definitely the star of the show, don’t forget to look back behind you for to watch the sun come up!
2. Moraine Lake Lakeshore
You can find a spot along the lakeshore trail, though the first opening in the fence is the spot with the largest area where you can sit on a log or rock to take in the sunrise. There’s another spot that’s just before the Moraine Lake canoe rentals. The entire Moraine Lake lakeshore trail is 1.4 km (2.9 km return), but the best views are along the first section of the lake.
Banff National Park requires you to fill out a self-certification permit before entering any body of water in Banff National Park. If you are coming from BC, Alberta or one of the territories, your watercraft must be dry for a minimum of 48 hours before entering a new body of water. If you are coming from anywhere else, your watercraft must be dry for a minimum of 30 days. This is to help reduce the spread of invasive species.
What Time is Sunrise at Moraine Lake?
Depending on when you visit Banff National Park, you might not need to get up quite so early to reach Moraine Lake. We recommend doing some research on the Moraine Lake sunrise time for the time of year you’ll be visiting Moraine Lake.
Here are some approximate Moraine Lake sunrise times in the months that you can access Moraine Lake.
- June: 5:30 am
- July: 5:32 am to 6:07 am
- August: 6:08 am to 6:55 am
- September: 6:57 am to 7:43 am
- October: 7:45 am to 8:03 am (the Moraine Lake Road closes around mid-October, typically right after Canadian Thanksgiving)
You might be wondering why the shuttles leave so early? They leave early to get visitors to Moraine Lake with plenty of time to get positioned before sunrise.
When Does The Road To Moraine Lake Open And Close?
The Moraine Lake Road typically opens June 1 until mid-October, though these dates can vary each year depending on the conditions. The shuttles will be allowed to run from June 1 until October 12th in 2026.
If you are visiting Banff outside of June through mid-October, then visiting Moraine Lake may be unfeasible.
Can you Visit Moraine Lake During the Winter?
The road to Moraine Lake travels through dangerous avalanche paths, so you shouldn’t visit Moraine Lake in the winter unless you are are knowledgeable about avalanches and have the proper gear. Visiting Moraine Lake in the winter is not recommended.
You can cross-country ski up the Moraine Lake Road in the winter, but it will only be groomed and trackset up to a certain point. There’s a sign that indicates where you should turn around before entering dangerous avalanche terrain.
Why Visit Moraine Lake for Sunrise?
You might be wondering if visiting Moraine Lake at sunrise is worth it? I’d say that now that the pressure is off to get parking, it’s an experience that’s worthwhile for anyone that wants to get that iconic Moraine Lake image with the glowing peaks.
Other benefits are that the mornings are often calm and you’ll get that still water with a reflection of the ten peaks. You aren’t as likely to get that mid-afternoon, though the water color will still be stunning!
Once you’ve enjoyed the sunrise at Lake Moraine, you can take in one of the incredible Moraine Lake hikes in the area.
Moraine Lake Sunrise or Sunset?
What about Moraine Lake sunset? While the light can be great for Moraine Lake sunset pictures, you need to keep in mind that the sun doesn’t set until 9 or 10 pm (depending on which summer month you visit).
If you’d prefer to visit Moraine Lake at sunset, there are companies who offer a sunset shuttle like: Canmore Travel, Radventures and Fairview Limousine.
Best Things to do at Moraine Lake after Sunrise
Now that you’ve checked off sunrise at Moraine Lake from your Banff bucket list, you might be wondering what else you can do in the area?
Hike at Moraine Lake
If you have the energy, we highly recommend doing one of the Moraine Lake hikes. You can hike to Larch Valley then continue hiking to Sentinel Pass for some stunning views. This is one of the best larch hikes in the area for anyone visiting in larch season (around the third week of September).
We also love the Eiffel Lake hike and with enough time continuing hiking to Wenkchemna Pass.
If you are looking for an easier hike, the Consolation Lakes trail is one we love doing with our kids.
Rent a Canoe on Moraine Lake
If you want to get out on the water, we recommend renting a canoe at Moraine Lake. Canoe rentals at Moraine Lake are $140.00 per canoe for a one-hour rental. The canoes can hold 2-3 people and life jackets are provided. Canoe rentals are only available mid-June to mid-September due to water levels.
Can you bring a private canoe, kayak, or SUP to Moraine Lake?
Effective Spring 2026, personal 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.
Visit Lake Louise
It is possible to visit Moraine Lake and Lake Louise in the same day. If you’ve taken the Parks Canada Alpine Start shuttle, then you’ll just get on the Lake Connector back to Lake Louise. You’ve already paid for parking, so it’s a great time to enjoy Lake Louise. Otherwise, many of the shuttle companies offer a Lake Louise add-on to the sunrise option.
If you decide you don’t need to see Moraine Lake at sunrise, you can visit Lake Louise and Moraine Lake using Parks Canada shuttles, Moraine Lake Bus Company and several other options mentioned in our getting to Moraine Lake post (listed above).
While at Lake Louise, you can do one of the amazing Lake Louise hikes or get out on the water by renting a canoe at Lake Louise.
Best Places to Stay in Lake Louise for Visiting Moraine Lake
Moraine Lake Lodge (Luxury Option)
With a guiding philosophy about getting away from it all, you won’t find any televisions or phones at the Moraine Lake Lodge (although they have started to offer complimentary Wi-Fi to all guests). In addition to Wi-Fi, other complimentary amenities at the Moraine Lake Lodge include free breakfast, concierge service, free canoeing on Moraine Lake and free parking.
Non-guests need to pay $140/hour to rent a canoe on Moraine Lake, but the most valuable included amenity at the Moraine Lake Lodge is the free parking.
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (Luxury Option)
The only hotel which can rival the Moraine Lake Lodge for scenery is the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel. Surrounded on all side by towering Rocky Mountains, the Chateau Lake Louise is the the only hotel on Lake Louise.
This envious lakeside location offers guests magnificent views of the massive Victoria Glacier and the emerald waters of Lake Louise itself.
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Still unsure about staying at the Chateau Lake Louise? Read our full review of the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
HI Lake Louise Alpine Centre (Budget Option)
Located next door to the posh Post Hotel, the HI Lake Louise hostel has a wide variety of room offerings. As you’d expect with a Lake Louise hostel, the standard offering here is shared accommodation with 4-6 beds per room. But, this Lake Louise hostel also offers private rooms ranging from a basic double bed, rooms with a private washroom.
Guests looking for affordable, comfort food will enjoy having Bill Peyto’s cafe onsite. If you are looking to self-cater during your visit to Lake Louise (a great way to travel to Lake Louise on a budget), you are free to use one of the two onsite guest kitchens.
Lake Louise Inn (Family-Friendly Option)
The Lake Louise Inn is a large, kid-friendly Lake Louise hotel with a heated indoor pool and hot tubs. There are a wide variety of room options available at the Lake Louise Inn. As a family, we appreciated the ability to rent a 1-bedroom apartment, as the extra space helps everyone get a better nights sleep. When we stayed at the Lake Louise Inn with our two children, our room was recently renovated and was nicely appointed.
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Still looking for more options? Read more about the Best Lake Louise Hotels here.
What to Bring for Moraine Lake Sunrise
We were very fortunate with an almost perfect forecast for our sunrise at Moraine Lake. We know all too well that you can’t always depend on the forecast and because we went with kids, we made sure we were well prepared for the temperatures before and after sunrise.
Here’s what we brought for our Moraine Lake sunrise experience:
- Fleece jackets
- Down jackets
- Toques & small gloves for the kids
- Blanket (for the kids to sit on)
- Water bottles
- Snacks
- Bear spray
- Headlamps (which we didn’t use)
- Tripod
- Camera
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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.